Froedtert ThedaCare Health, North Region, 2025 Community Benefits
ED2Recovery+ Coaches Are A Beacon of Hope for People Experiencing Substance Misuse
Emergency Department to Recovery Plus (ED2Recovery+) provides support services for patients who have experienced an overdose or substance misuse. Peer recovery coaches who have past experiences with substance misuse are better equipped to understand these struggles.
ED2Recovery+ began as a strategy to reduce opioid and stimulant addiction and has since expanded to support patients experiencing other forms of substance misuse, including alcohol. Through ED2Recovery+, a recovery coach provided by Apricity is called when a patient is identified as experiencing substance misuse. The recovery coach comes to the emergency department within an hour. They let the patient know they are not alone and walk with them through their journey to recovery. Recovery coaches offer up to 18 months of support, helping participants navigate steps toward treatment and recovery.
The ED2Recovery+ program began in 2020 at ThedaCare Medical Centers in Berlin, Neenah and Shawano, and by the end of 2021, expanded to include seven ThedaCare hospitals. Recovery coach referrals are now taken from a variety of internal hospital departments, including outpatient care management and birth centers, as well as through community partners such as Green Lake Behavioral Health and Shawano County Crisis.
Over three years, 1,416 individuals have realized recovery is possible through support from recovery coaches. Referrals and intakes have increased each year.
More than 75% of enrollees reported reduced or no substance use at one-, three- and six-month follow-ups.
ED2Recovery+ began as a strategy to reduce opioid and stimulant addiction and has since expanded to support patients experiencing other forms of substance misuse, including alcohol. Through ED2Recovery+, a recovery coach provided by Apricity is called when a patient is identified as experiencing substance misuse. The recovery coach comes to the emergency department within an hour. They let the patient know they are not alone and walk with them through their journey to recovery. Recovery coaches offer up to 18 months of support, helping participants navigate steps toward treatment and recovery.
The ED2Recovery+ program began in 2020 at ThedaCare Medical Centers in Berlin, Neenah and Shawano, and by the end of 2021, expanded to include seven ThedaCare hospitals. Recovery coach referrals are now taken from a variety of internal hospital departments, including outpatient care management and birth centers, as well as through community partners such as Green Lake Behavioral Health and Shawano County Crisis.
Over three years, 1,416 individuals have realized recovery is possible through support from recovery coaches. Referrals and intakes have increased each year.
More than 75% of enrollees reported reduced or no substance use at one-, three- and six-month follow-ups.
Sources of Strength Bolsters Mental Health Through Awareness of Strengths
Sources of Strength is a peer-led, evidence-based youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program. It equips youth to lean on eight possible sources of support during challenging times. A national impact study showed the program reduced new suicide attempts by 29% over a two-year period.
ThedaCare supported the Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Mental Health Connection’s push to implement Sources of Strength in 22 Fox Cities middle and high schools as part of the Healthy Teen Minds initiative. ThedaCare then moved to expand the program into 16 rural middle and high schools with an investment of more than $275,000.
From 2021 to 2023, the percentage of Wisconsin high school students experiencing prolonged, disruptive sadness increased 2%. In contrast, at the six rural high schools participating in Sources of Strength, the percentage dropped between 2% and 19%. Fox Cities’ schools realized similar success. While 42% of the nation’s high school students reported feeling sad and hopeless, only 27% of students at local high schools participating in Sources of Strength reported similar feelings.
“Since joining this program I’ve personally been a lot happier. I’ve become more social and extroverted. I’ve become more positive overall,” Andrea Walby, peer leader and sophomore, Shawano Community High School.
Sources of Strength and its message of hope, health and strength reached more than 19,000 students annually across the nine Central and Northeast Wisconsin counties served by ThedaCare.
ThedaCare supported the Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Mental Health Connection’s push to implement Sources of Strength in 22 Fox Cities middle and high schools as part of the Healthy Teen Minds initiative. ThedaCare then moved to expand the program into 16 rural middle and high schools with an investment of more than $275,000.
From 2021 to 2023, the percentage of Wisconsin high school students experiencing prolonged, disruptive sadness increased 2%. In contrast, at the six rural high schools participating in Sources of Strength, the percentage dropped between 2% and 19%. Fox Cities’ schools realized similar success. While 42% of the nation’s high school students reported feeling sad and hopeless, only 27% of students at local high schools participating in Sources of Strength reported similar feelings.
“Since joining this program I’ve personally been a lot happier. I’ve become more social and extroverted. I’ve become more positive overall,” Andrea Walby, peer leader and sophomore, Shawano Community High School.
Sources of Strength and its message of hope, health and strength reached more than 19,000 students annually across the nine Central and Northeast Wisconsin counties served by ThedaCare.
Rural Transportation Initiative Connects People to Jobs, Income Stability and Well-Being
Transportation is a vital condition that impacts an individual’s health and well-being. And, in rural areas, transportation is a lifeline to employment, education, groceries and social support.For those unable to afford a reliable vehicle, alternate forms of transportation are essential. The ThedaCare-led New London Community Health Action Team recognized transportation barriers were a problem in Waupaca County and decided to do something about it. The team hosted what’s known as a plunge—a day-long deep dive into a specific community health issue—and found that nearly 15% of Waupaca County households faced transportation challenges.
The wheels began turning on a collaborative effort between local businesses, public organizations and private partners. The result was a $3.2 million Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Department of Workforce Development to launch the Waupaca County Catch-a-Ride program in 2022.
Catch-a-Ride operates like other popular rideshare apps but at this time, only provides individuals with employment transportation. The program has connected workers from communities across Clintonville, Manawa, New London, Waupaca and Weyauwega to 76 Waupaca County employers.
Over three years, more than 15,600 rides were provided, improving economic stability for rural families and organizations.
