Sauk Prairie Healthcare, Prairie du Sac, 2024 Community Benefits
Bringing Mental Health Education and Resources Our Communities
The 2022-24 Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted by Sauk Prairie Healthcare, identified mental health as a top priority. It’s an essential part of overall health, which is why Sauk Prairie Healthcare partnered with local organizations to offer education, support, and resources.
In March 2023, Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation sponsored an event in collaboration with Farmer Angel Network, an organization that offers mental health and suicide prevention education and resources to farmers across Sauk County, Wis. The event focused on mental health and featured Tim Markle, founder and author of the Forgiveness Factor, who presented on the role of forgiveness in suicide prevention.
Sauk Prairie Healthcare also provided funding to bring CredibleMind to Sauk County. CredibleMind provides free and confidential access to the largest library of mental health and wellness resources. Whether someone is anxious or depressed, wants to tackle that “something-isn’t-right” feeling, or wants to maintain their current level of wellbeing, CredibleMind has thousands of resources for everyone.
Provided by the Sauk County Health & Wellness Steering Committee, CredibleMind officially launched in Sauk County in May 2023.
In March 2023, Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation sponsored an event in collaboration with Farmer Angel Network, an organization that offers mental health and suicide prevention education and resources to farmers across Sauk County, Wis. The event focused on mental health and featured Tim Markle, founder and author of the Forgiveness Factor, who presented on the role of forgiveness in suicide prevention.
Sauk Prairie Healthcare also provided funding to bring CredibleMind to Sauk County. CredibleMind provides free and confidential access to the largest library of mental health and wellness resources. Whether someone is anxious or depressed, wants to tackle that “something-isn’t-right” feeling, or wants to maintain their current level of wellbeing, CredibleMind has thousands of resources for everyone.
Provided by the Sauk County Health & Wellness Steering Committee, CredibleMind officially launched in Sauk County in May 2023.
Growing Our Workforce in High School and Beyond
Sauk Prairie Healthcare collaborates with local organizations to grow the healthcare workforce with trainings for high schoolers, community members, and healthcare employees.
In September 2023, Sauk Prairie Healthcare donated equipment and supplies to furnish the new Medical Careers classroom at Sauk Prairie High School.
The school district – supported by Madison College, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and Sauk Prairie Healthcare – are helping people get licenses in phlebotomy and specimen processing, and CNA certificates with hands-on training. Sauk Prairie Healthcare donated items such as hospital beds, bedside stands, bedside chairs, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and more to furnish the new classroom.
In addition to classroom work, program students will also receive clinical training at Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s acute care unit.
“There’s a critical shortage of healthcare workers throughout our state and nation. This innovative program is a tremendous opportunity for students of all ages to explore healthcare careers,” said Shawn Lerch, CEO of Sauk Prairie Healthcare. “We’re excited to partner with the schools to offer such a valuable career building program available to our communities.”
Jeff Wright, Superintendent of Sauk Prairie School District, adds, “We are proud of this ongoing partnership with Sauk Prairie Healthcare.”
In addition to working with the high school, Sauk Prairie Healthcare partnered with Farmer Angel Network to host a training in October 2023 featuring a Behavioral Health Specialist from Eyes on the Horizon Consulting, LLC. The speaker helped local healthcare and behavioral health providers understand the farming dynamic and how they can best support their approach to care, especially in mental health. This was part of Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s Continuing Medical Education Program and open to Sauk, Richland, and Iowa County partners working to improve mental health in the area.
In September 2023, Sauk Prairie Healthcare donated equipment and supplies to furnish the new Medical Careers classroom at Sauk Prairie High School.
The school district – supported by Madison College, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and Sauk Prairie Healthcare – are helping people get licenses in phlebotomy and specimen processing, and CNA certificates with hands-on training. Sauk Prairie Healthcare donated items such as hospital beds, bedside stands, bedside chairs, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and more to furnish the new classroom.
In addition to classroom work, program students will also receive clinical training at Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s acute care unit.
“There’s a critical shortage of healthcare workers throughout our state and nation. This innovative program is a tremendous opportunity for students of all ages to explore healthcare careers,” said Shawn Lerch, CEO of Sauk Prairie Healthcare. “We’re excited to partner with the schools to offer such a valuable career building program available to our communities.”
Jeff Wright, Superintendent of Sauk Prairie School District, adds, “We are proud of this ongoing partnership with Sauk Prairie Healthcare.”
In addition to working with the high school, Sauk Prairie Healthcare partnered with Farmer Angel Network to host a training in October 2023 featuring a Behavioral Health Specialist from Eyes on the Horizon Consulting, LLC. The speaker helped local healthcare and behavioral health providers understand the farming dynamic and how they can best support their approach to care, especially in mental health. This was part of Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s Continuing Medical Education Program and open to Sauk, Richland, and Iowa County partners working to improve mental health in the area.
