Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers: Health Workforce Well-Being

An Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Landmark Initiative – Health Workforce Well-Being

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) is partnering on a transformative five-year initiative focused on strengthening health workforce well-being across Wisconsin. Through practical resources, evidence-based tools, education, and training, WHA will support hospitals, health systems, and health care settings across the continuum of care in building and sustaining well-being programs. Whether organizations are just beginning their well-being journey or have established programs in place, this effort will help them identify strengths, address gaps, and advance their strategies to better support their health workforce.

By examining the systems, processes, and organizational cultures that shape the daily experience of health care workers, this initiative will provide a structured approach to identifying opportunities for improvement and creating lasting impact.

Our Vision

To make Wisconsin the best destination for our health workforce to thrive—because a thriving health workforce creates better health outcomes for all.

Stay Informed 

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Upcoming Events

September 10, 2026 - Save the Date and Register: Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers – Healthcare Workforce Well-Being Summit, Sun Prairie, WI. 

Our Partners

Together, we will design and implement sustainable, evidence-based strategies tailored to Wisconsin's unique needs. This effort is in partnership with:

What this Initiative Offers

Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers offers resources, tools, training, and collaborative opportunities designed to strengthen workforce well-being programs, build on existing efforts, and advance shared priorities across Wisconsin's health care community.

Timeline | June 2025 - May 2030

Phase 1

Phase 1 is open to organizations at any stage of their well-being journey. This phase focuses on reviewing credentialing applications to ensure they are free from intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language that can discourage health care professionals from seeking needed support. 

To learn more about Phase 1, view the Caring for Wisconsin's Caregivers Well-Being First Champion Challenge Kickoff Webinar, held in January 2026. During the webinar, national and Wisconsin leaders discussed the importance of licensing and credentialing reform, progress made in advancing well-being-focused practices, practical implementation strategies, and resources available to help organizations align their processes with best practices and achieve Well-Being First Champion recognition.

Learn from Your Wisconsin Colleagues

Wellbeing First Champion — A More Inclusive Path for Credentialing 

Article written by Maggie Fuchs, CPMSM, CPCS, Regional Director Medical Staff Services – WI Region, SSM Health/St. Mary’s Hospital & President of the Wisconsin Association of Medical Staff Services (WAMSS)

Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers Panel Discussion | June 9, 2026, Rural Health Conference Recording 

Recording of the 2026 Wisconsin Hospital Association Rural Health Conference Panel Discussion, where leaders from Sauk Prairie Healthcare and SSM Health - Wisconsin Region highlighted the importance of building organizational cultures that support caregiver well-being. Through sharing their experiences, challenges, and successful strategies, they explored how workforce well-being influences patient safety, staff retention, and overall health system performance.

Become a Wellbeing First Champion! 

Here's how you can begin the credentialing challenge in your organization:

1. Create your account to get started
2. Review and update your licensing or credentialing applications
3. Submit your revised applications for verification
4. Be recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion!

Phase 2

Launching in September, 2026, Phase 2 is designed to help organizations move from commitment to action by strengthening the systems, practices, and culture that support workforce well-being. Organizations are encouraged to engage a multidisciplinary team, recognizing that workforce well-being requires collaboration across leadership, clinical care, operations, quality, safety, and human resources.

A key component of Phase 2 is The Breen Scale™, a nationally recognized assessment tool that helps organizations evaluate their current environment, identify strengths and opportunities for improvement, and establish priorities for action.

Findings from The Breen Scale™ will help organizations develop a roadmap for advancing workforce well-being and prepare for Phase 3, which will focus on implementing sustainable well-being strategies and improvement projects.

Interested in Participating? 

• Review the Phase 2 One-Pager
• Join us at the in-person Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers – Healthcare Workforce Well-Being Summit on September 10th in Sun Prairie, WI, 
• Contact WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen today to schedule a conversation with our team and learn how your organization can assess, strengthen, and advance workforce well-being efforts.

Phase 3 

Planned for early 2027, Phase 3 will focus on implementing sustainable workforce well-being strategies through a collaborative, action-oriented learning model. Building on findings from Phase 2, and the priority needs identified through the Breen Scale™ assessment process, participating organizations will work together in a year-long learning collaborative to translate assessment results into action. 

Each collaborative will focus on the Breen Scale™ assessment category identified as a statewide priority. While all participating organizations will engage in learning around a shared topic, each hospital, health system, or health care organization will identify, develop, and implement its own improvement project based on its unique opportunities and strategic goals.

Over the course of the initiative, we anticipate offering three learning collaboratives, each focused on a different priority area. Lasting approximately one year, these collaboratives will provide opportunities for shared learning, peer support, and the exchange of best practices.

In the News

• February 3, 2026: The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act Reauthorized Through September 2030
• February 9, 2026: More Than 3 Million Health Workers Gain Path To Support As National Effort To Remove Mental Health Barriers Heightens

A Statewide Network of Wellness Champions and Stakeholders

Convened in August 2025, and comprised of 20+ representatives from hospitals, health systems, health associations, and state leaders, will guide efforts to support a thriving health workforce across Wisconsin. Together, we will design and implement sustainable, evidence-based strategies tailored to Wisconsin’s unique needs.

The Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers Steering Committee met June 2, 2026 at MCW in Milwaukee, bringing leaders together in person and virtually to share progress, celebrate milestones, and advance statewide efforts to support health care workforce well-being.

Contact Information

Please contact WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen with questions.