Bucks, Froedtert Hospital announce partnership to advance health of Milwaukee residents
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network announced on Monday, July 25th a new long-term partnership focused on advancing the health and well-being of Milwaukee residents.
It is an effort to build up low-income neighborhoods, and get people back to work.
"Together we are going to make this a healthier, safer, more vibrant community," Bucks President Peter Feigin said.
The Bucks and Froedtert will partner on a variety of programs in the coming years in the categories of education and workforce development, chronic disease management, and community health and wellness.
"Together we are committed to fighting chronic diseases by providing more access to regular health screenings in neighborhoods where access to health care is challenging," Feigin said.
On Monday, officials unveiled plans to build the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Learning Center inside Carmen High School of Science & Technology’s northwest campus, near 76th and Silver Spring Drive as part of a multi-million dollar workforce development initiative targeting Carmen students and low-income adults in the neighborhood.
"Because we are part of this larger initiative, called the Choice Neighborhood, it`s basically a no-brainer that this is the place to start," Particia Hoben, head of schools for Carmen High School of Science & Technology said.
The initiative will provide opportunities for both students and adults to receive valuable career training and internships and apprenticeships in the healthcare fields of certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, healthcare customer service, and in IT computer systems support fields.
Additional training will be available through the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center and Milwaukee Area Technical College, with internship and apprenticeship programs for students and adults pursuing the training available at Froedtert & MCW facilities throughout the city.
Over the next five years, more than 300 young people and adults will be trained.
"The focus will be on careers in several high-demand jobs, certified nurse`s assistant, medical assistant, health care customer service and information technology," Cathy Jacobson, Froedtert Health president & CEO said.
The new learning center will open in the summer of 2017 -- but the course and programs will begin in the fall of 2016.
The partnership will also include an NBA fit week and community fitness challenge, which will involve nutrition workshops, fitness boot camps, cooking classes, walks with a doctor and Bucks player appearances. All of that will happen later in 2016.
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