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February is the month of love, and we're tickled pink to share the news of our new staff member, Haley Stowell! She's joining our team as Director of Resource Development and we're so excited to bring her on board. Please read on to learn a bit more about Haley. If you haven't met her yet, be sure to drop her a line and get connected!
Also included in this month's newsletter is the next Program Partner Spotlight and promotion of our upcoming events. We've got so much to be thankful for already in 2023. We're sending warm appreciative wishes to all of you, our valued supporters. Thank you for caring about the health and well-being of the Chippewa Valley as much as we do.
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If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love February. Sure, it’s the shortest month, but I’ve always thought the smallest things pack the biggest punch. And yeah, the cold Wisconsin winters have started getting on everyone’s nerves, but as any true Wisconsinite knows, the cold weather will pass and we’ll have sunny days soon enough!
Maybe I’m a little biased. I was born in February, in Eau Claire, 25 years ago. And having experienced 25 Februarys, I can definitively say that this month is the best month of them all. I love the Valentine’s Day candy (and the February 15th discount candy!), Spotted Cow and football Sundays with my family, and cuddling up with my two cats and my partner, Meagan, to watch rom-coms all month long.
This February, I’ve got another reason to celebrate. That is because I recently started as the new Director of Resource Development at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. As an Eau Claire native and current Chippewa Falls resident, I am thrilled to work for an organization dedicated to supporting the health, education, financial stability and basic needs of the communities I know and love. And isn’t love what this month is all about?
Thank you for allowing me to serve the Chippewa Valley through UWGCV and I look forward to many more Februarys with you all.
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Haley Stowell
Director of Resource Development
United Way of the
Greater Chippewa Valley
Office: (715) 834-5043 | hstowell@uwgcv.org
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Buy your tickets today for this year's Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards! Join us to celebrate the 2022-23 award winners on Thursday, March 30 from 5-7:30 p.m.
We're gathering at The Florian Gardens Conference Center.
More information can be found at bit.ly/CVSA2023.
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Introducing our NEW Program Partner Spotlight!
This is the third edition of our Program Partner Spotlight, we hope you're enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the organizations we work with. Our mission is to highlight a different Program Partner each month to build awareness as to what they do and how we, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV), invest and collaborate with them. We're shining a celebratory light on the amazing programs and people who work humbly to support and strengthen our Chippewa Valley communities every day.
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This month's Program Partner Spotlight is featuring The Open Door Clinic, Inc.:
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When you support UWGCV, you are investing in collaborative, innovative, research-based and results-focused initiatives. These initiatives coordinate the work of local programs, service providers and community stakeholders in the Chippewa Valley. Together, we're working to solve our community's most pressing problems. Each Program Partner is funded under a specific initiative that is driven by a bold goal that keeps everyone working toward the same mission. Each month we'll talk about how the featured program fits into our initiatives.
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HEALTH BOLD GOAL:
Mental Health of Chippewa Valley residents will improve by utilizing prevention and intervention programs.
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Open Door Clinic, Inc.'s mental health services provide both counseling and psychiatric services to residents of Chippewa County who would otherwise have no access to mental health care. The Clinic’s goal is to improve the health of our neighbors, friends, and families in Chippewa County. Caring for our patients' mental health is an integral part of providing the support they need. Over the past year, a higher percentage of patients than ever before have been served by our mental health program. We are proud to be able to provide such essential services to those in need.
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We're here to give you an overview
of what our program partners do to impact our communities. We asked
them to answer a few quick and direct questions for better insight as to what they do, how they do it, how United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV) supports them, any immediate needs they may currently have and any other notes they'd like you to be aware of. Here's what The Open Door Clinic, Inc. had to say.
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Please tell us who you are and what you do to strengthen the Chippewa Valley:
The Open Door Clinic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free basic health care, mental health services and a connection to community resources to Chippewa County residents who are without a healthcare alternative. In advancing our Mission, the Open Door Clinic recognizes and embraces the unique diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences of our volunteers and individuals we serve.
We are located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and have been treating patients free of charge since 2006. Our patients are uninsured or underinsured with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level (annual salary of $27,180 for a one-person household).
Patients are provided with necessary basic healthcare, mental healthcare, lab tests, and medications to improve their health. We also offer everyday basic needs and supplies such as personal care and hygiene products, glucose testing meters, lancets and strips,
orthopedic braces/splints, and nebulizers, all at no cost to patients.
Providing mental healthcare in-house is important to us not only because we believe that a patient’s mental health is of equal importance to their physical health, but also because this service allows our patients to see a medical provider, a psychiatrist, and a counselor while obtaining any necessary lab work, supplies and medication within a
single visit to the clinic. A volunteer social worker offers in-person psychotherapy and counseling appointments, and a contracted psychiatrist is available via telehealth on a consistent basis during clinic hours. This ensures that clinic patients are able to get the holistic care they need as simply and easily as possible.
In addition to delivering high-quality healthcare, Open Door Clinic volunteers work with patients to identify unmet needs for services such as food, housing, and energy assistance. Patients are then connected with other community resources to ensure that
all of their needs are met to the best of the community’s abilities. Finally, we assist our patients with the Affordable Care Act and BadgerCare (State of Wisconsin Medicaid) screening and online application screening.
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How does UWGCV strengthen your program?
The Open Door Clinic is extremely grateful to United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley because they help make it possible for our patients to be able to walk in and receive treatment from our contracted psychiatrist via telehealth on the first three Tuesdays of every month. Up to 35% of our patients have benefitted from this invaluable service, and many have built a strong
relationship with her as they have been able to see the same psychiatrist consistently over the years. The clinic's telehealth psychiatry program is highly successful and valued by our patients as they report significant improvements in their mental health.
What is your greatest
program need?
The Open Door Clinic's greatest program need is for others to spread the word about the services that we provide in order to help increase the impact that we are able to make in the health of Chippewa County residents.
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Telehealth has become an accessible and effective way to provide mental health care to patients in need. It allows for continued connection with little shifting in your daily schedule and no need to travel. Pictured here is nursing volunteer, Mary Wiley, RN, with our telehealth psychiatrist, Dr. Anne Koplin.
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For more information about
The Open Door Clinic, Inc., please contact:
Kim Renaud
(715) 720-1443
coordinator@chippewaopendoor.org
130 W Central St
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
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Or visit their website at, www.chippewaopendoor.org and follow their social platforms.
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Thank you to The Open Door Clinic, Inc. for providing so many great services to Chippewa County residents.
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THANK YOU
for your support!
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Thank you to our event sponsors, Emerging Leaders sponsors, our attendees, our performers Midwest Dueling Pianos and our host event venue Metropolis Resort.
The money raised will be used to support our mission to improve lives and build stronger Chippewa Valley communities by bringing resources together to advance the common good.
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DIGITAL RESOURCE FAIR | MARCH 4 in Augusta
Join us Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Main Street Gym
in Augusta for this free event. Registration is required if you are interested in enrolling
in the Affordable Connectivity Program or purchasing one of the $30 refurbished devices. Only 30 devices are available, income eligibility required and you must be present to purchase.
There will also be Internet Service Providers onsite and Digital Skills Training available. To see if you qualify for the reduced-cost internet, visit GetACP.org
Register at www.uwgcv.org/digital-resource-fair or click the button below.
For more info or questions email ascharenbroch@uwgcv.org or call 715-834-5043.
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Save the Date for our 34th Annual United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley Golf Tournament!
Monday, June 5 at Lake Wissota Golf & Events.
More information can be found at bit.ly/UWGCV_GOLF2023.
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Our annual report was approved at last month's Board of Directors meeting. Annually, all United Ways across the world certify their adherence to standards that include comprehensive requirements for financial reporting, governance and other legal and ethical obligations. United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley has met all certification standards for 2022.
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Keep up to date with all of our future United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley events. From Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards to upcoming Impact Tours, so many opportunities are available. Get involved and give back. Here's what we've got lined up!
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CHIPPEWA VALLEY SPIRIT AWARDS on Thursday, March 30
at Florian Gardens Conference Center
Social from 5-6:30 p.m. | Presentation from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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IMPACT TOUR on Thursday, April 6
Tour begins at the UWGCV office, 3603 Hastings Way, Suite 200
A.M. Tour | Schedule available | Registration now open!
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UWGCV GOLF TOURNAMENT on Monday, June 5
at Lake Wissota Golf & Events
Shotgun Start at 10:30 a.m.
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So, we definitely meant to send out holiday cards during the usual season of celebration in 2022. However, I’m sure many of you know that not everything always goes as planned. We can tell you that we deeply appreciate the flexibility to stay home when we’re ill or when we have to care for family members in need. We’re also grateful for the opportunity to take time off to be with family to celebrate during the holiday season. These little things add up to be the big things and they mean the world to us all here at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley.
Welcome to 2023, our health has returned and our hearts are full. We’re ready to spring into action, with a complete staff to boot! It doesn’t matter what the holiday is, we’re always thankful for your generous support. We’re here to build a stronger Chippewa Valley with your continued volunteerism, donations and collaboration. We’re definitely better together!
We appreciate you and hope you had the very best Groundhog Day!
Warmest regards,
The Team at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley
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Impact in the Chippewa Valley is sponsored by:
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