Green Bay Reporter

Green Bay, WI — UW-Green Bay has launched a pilot program aimed at educating health and human service professionals, agencies, and other engaged individuals in Sheboygan County. The Community Access and Navigation Training Certificate program is designed to help local community members overcome barriers that may hinder access to essential services. The initiative aims to connect individuals with vital county resources to ensure their well-being.

Developed by Healthy Sheboygan (HSC) with funding from HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, the curriculum focuses on understanding an individual’s drivers of health. “Our greatest opportunity to improve patient access and improve health outcomes is by better understanding an individual’s drivers of health,” said Justin Selle, President and CEO of HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital. “The Community Access and Navigation Training program will equip providers with the skills needed to develop a patient-centered treatment plan and referrals based on the patient’s unique needs and abilities.”

United Way Sheboygan County is offering sponsorships for the program, which also has full endorsement from the Sheboygan County Public Health Department, making it a county-wide collaboration.

The training includes online sessions and one required in-person session. Online coursework will be available from September 1 through November 8, with the in-person session scheduled for November 8 at UW-Green Bay's Sheboygan Campus. Participants will have opportunities to network, connect with local resource providers, and discuss practical applications of the online content.

“Healthy Sheboygan County is excited to see years’ worth of collaboration and discussions take shape through the Community Access and Navigation Training Certificate program,” said Starrlene Grossman, Health Officer-Public Health Division Manager at Sheboygan County Health and Human Services. “This program will provide a way for Sheboygan County nonprofits and service providers to grow in their knowledge about system navigation and to network across systems to improve referrals and system access issues.”

The online coursework covers various topics including crucial conversations, trauma-informed care, equitable & inclusive services, customer service & wrap-around care, and social determinants of health.

Julie Preder, Executive Director of Mental Health America-Lakeshore stated: “Assisting individuals with health and social needs to reach their objectives hinges on the presence of community-based health and social resources... A comprehensive understanding of the navigation process is essential to steer individuals toward the correct resources.”

Participants who complete the training will earn a UW-Green Bay digital badge that can be shared on resumes or social media.

For more information about the Community Access and Navigation Training in Sheboygan County or inquiries about initiating similar programs elsewhere, contact Program Specialist Melissa Betke at betkem@uwgb.edu.

About UW-Green Bay:

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay serves over 10,000 students annually across its four campus locations in Northeast Wisconsin. It offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates aimed at fostering growth through education since its inception in 1965.