Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation - Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in Wisconsin and is the leading cause of death and disability among women of all racial and ethnic groups in the state. Wisconsin has had a WISEWOMAN Program since 2008. During the last 15 years, the Wisconsin WISEWOMAN Program has provided services to 2,000 women and established a strong infrastructure to facilitate our ability to provide services to reduce CVD, particularly hypertension risk factors among low-income uninsured and underinsured women in our state. Differences in access to primary care and preventive services, healthy and affordable food, transportation, safe and affordable housing, and other social determinants of health (SDoH) drive persistent cardiovascular health disparities and inequities. With a current population of 555,640 residents, Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin. Southeastern Wisconsin, including Milwaukee County, is also home to 85% of Wisconsin’s African American population and 36% of the Hispanic/Latino population, with the majority residing in the city of Milwaukee. Historically, most women participating in Wisconsin’s WISEWOMAN Program have been Hispanic/Latino and African American who are disproportionately affected by heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. The purpose of the Wisconsin WISEWOMAN Program is to provide additional preventive health services to women who are participants in the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP), our state’s component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. These extended preventive services will be provided by working with health care provider and healthy behavior support organizations. The extended preventive services will focus on extended cardiovascular risk factor assessment, risk reduction counseling and self-management interventions to support cardiovascular health. In partnership with the Well Badger Resource Center, we will also provide social and support services to link WISEWOMAN clients to resources for transportation, utility assistance, healthy food sources, housing, and childcare needs. In year 1 we are proposing to provide services to 450 women with two healthcare provider organizations in Southeastern Wisconsin.
