Press Release

Monona Community Team Working to Improve Kids Health

A newly organized community health coalition is guiding the Monona County kids' health activities of the new "Got 2 Move" project funded by the new Wellmark Foundation grant.

The $93,558 grant has already made an impact in Onawa. Group members have handled the purchase of all new fitness and recreation equipment for Gaukel Park, Central Elementary School and the Onawa Community Center. The program "Be An 11" was presented for West Monona High School with grant funds. A new staff person will soon start to guide student activities at Gaukel Park.

Plans are now underway to showcase program goals and messages at the West Monona Elementary Summer Extravaganza set for 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14 and other community sites.

School activities will be in full swing in August.

Sue McLaughlin and Michele Kirkendall, diabetes education program members of Burgess Health Center, organized the coalition in initial meetings last summer to address the needs of Monona County area children. The response was immediately enthusiastic, according to McLaughlin.

“Each of our coalition members work every day to meet the needs of area residents, so they were right here to give us input and support for the Wellmark grant application,” Sue says. “Developing the project and writing the grant took a lot of effort and everyone has been helpful. By working together, we will truly make a difference.”

The coalition also is organized to use a team approach for other future healthcare needs in Monona County, Kirkendall says.

The organizations and members are:

Burgess Health Center and Burgess Foundation: Sue McLaughlin, Michele Kirkendall, Shirley Bruegger, Ann Phillips, Claudia Boss, Kate Garred, Jean Pekarek

West Monona Community Schools: Mary Black, Kathy Westergaard, Dan Kell, BJ Richards

Monona County Public Health Nursing: June DeLashmutt

Onawa Public Library: Lori Beck

Onawa Community Center: Clint Weaver

Onawa Parks and Recreation: Jill Hausman and Renee Sweers

Monona County Extension: Cheri Hardison

Family Medicine Clinic: Dr. Mary Groda Lewis

A Monona County Health Health Coalition has formed to guide the Monona County kids' health activities of the new "Got 2 Move" project funded by the new Wellmark Foundation grant. Most of them, gathered here at a meeting at Burgess Health Center are front, from left: Cheri Hardison, Mary Black, Kathy Westergaard, Ann Phillips, Jean Pekarek and Clint Weaver. Back from left: Sue McLaughlin, Michele Kirkendall, BJ Richards, Kate Garred, June DeLashmutt and Shirley Bruegger.