Background
Alliance to HEAL launched in August of 2018 as a response to the growing substance abuse crisis in our area. Years of increased local data showing an upward trajectory of drug use and drug overdose deaths demanded a coordinated community effort to patch the many gaps in our continuum of care for people with substance abuse disorder.
That's why La Crosse Community Foundation, La Crosse County Health Department, Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare, and Gundersen Health System joined resources to initiate the Alliance. The Alliance joins together La Crosse area public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations to improve the well-being of individuals suffering the impact of opioid and other drug addiction.
The Alliance contracted with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a leading innovator in health and healthcare improvement worldwide, to guide the local implementation of their road map for reducing the opioid crisis. This road map is know as the Driver Diagram (see below) and provides direction to communities on how exactly to reduce opioid crises.
Alliance to HEAL launched in August of 2018 as a response to the growing substance abuse crisis in our area. Years of increased local data showing an upward trajectory of drug use and drug overdose deaths demanded a coordinated community effort to patch the many gaps in our continuum of care for people with substance abuse disorder.
That's why La Crosse Community Foundation, La Crosse County Health Department, Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare, and Gundersen Health System joined resources to initiate the Alliance. The Alliance joins together La Crosse area public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations to improve the well-being of individuals suffering the impact of opioid and other drug addiction.
The Alliance contracted with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a leading innovator in health and healthcare improvement worldwide, to guide the local implementation of their road map for reducing the opioid crisis. This road map is know as the Driver Diagram (see below) and provides direction to communities on how exactly to reduce opioid crises.
Today, over 100 community members are working on Alliance to HEAL across nine work groups. Each work group is addressing different gaps in the local continuum of care for people with substance abuse disorders:
Work group 1- Improve prescribing practices/provider education
Work group 2- Diversion Of Opioids
Work group 3- Alternative Pain Management
Work group 4- Adolescent and Community Education
Work group 5- Uniform Assessment and Navigation
Work group 6- Improve Funding for Residential treatment/medical based detox center
Work group 7- Enhance Capacity of MAT
Work group 8- Enhance availability of supportive services during & after treatment
Work group 9- Increase Naloxone Availability & Sharps collection
Work group 10 - Policy
Driver Team
The work of Alliance to HEAL is supported by a full-time La Crosse County health educator and the Driver Team. Members of the Driver Team include one representative from each of the four agencies of Alliance to HEAL, the past co-chairs of the Heroin and Other Illicit Drug Task Force, and a community member with lived experience.
Driver Team Members:
Al Bliss, La Crosse County Health Department Health Educator (Staff Lead)
Katie Berkedal, Program Director, La Crosse Community Foundation
Sandy Brekke, Senior Population Health Consultant, Gundersen Health System
Joe Chilsen, Mayor, City of Onalaska
Josh Court, Behavioral Health, Gundersen Health System
Chris Eberlein, MD, Gundersen Health System
Tanner Holst, Vice Chair - Administration, Mayo Clinic Health System
Jane Klekamp - Associate County Administrator, La Crosse County
Jennifer Rombalski, Director, La Crosse County Health Department
Driver Team Members:
Al Bliss, La Crosse County Health Department Health Educator (Staff Lead)
Katie Berkedal, Program Director, La Crosse Community Foundation
Sandy Brekke, Senior Population Health Consultant, Gundersen Health System
Joe Chilsen, Mayor, City of Onalaska
Josh Court, Behavioral Health, Gundersen Health System
Chris Eberlein, MD, Gundersen Health System
Tanner Holst, Vice Chair - Administration, Mayo Clinic Health System
Jane Klekamp - Associate County Administrator, La Crosse County
Jennifer Rombalski, Director, La Crosse County Health Department
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