Wisconsin, known as "America's Dairyland," is a leader in the production of milk, cheese and other dairy products. The state also has a strong manufacturing sector. Wisconsin is in the Great Lakes region, bordered on the north by Lake Superior and on the east by Lake Michigan. Wisconsin covers 54,310 square miles, with a 2010 estimated population of 5,686,986 people – 1,544,904 living in rural Wisconsin (USDA-ERS). Madison, the capital, is located in the southern region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 86.2% of the state’s population is white, 6.3% is African American/Black, 2.3% is Asian, 1.0% is American Indian & Alaska Native, and 5.9% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2010).
There are 124 hospitals in Wisconsin, 60 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 59 hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (Sept. 2010). There are 50 Rural Health Clinics in Wisconsin (Kaiser, 2011), and 16 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 66 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). Most Wisconsinites have some form of health insurance coverage, although 10.0% of the state's residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2008-2009).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Wisconsinites in 2009 was $37,373, although rural per-capita income lagged at $32,706. 2010 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 13.1% exists in rural Wisconsin, compared to a 13.3% level in urban areas of the state. 2010 ACS data reports that 11.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 10.1% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Wisconsin is at 8.9%, while in urban Wisconsin it is at 8.1% (USDA-ERS, 2010).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
For the latest updates, see the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health’s Rural Reporter or their Twitter feed.
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts; USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets; North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center; Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center (GPTRAC)
State/regional organization
One of five telehealth resource centers. Assists
health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Wisconsin (CDBG)
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
IFF (IFF)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides loans to nonprofits in IL, IN, IA, MO, and WI, which serve low-income or special-needs populations. Loans can be used for facility or equipment projects such as community health centers, including construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, purchase of equipment or furnishings, and facility improvements to leased or owned space.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region (NN/LM-GMR)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Works with extension professionals, researchers, and partners to enhance rural development outcomes. Serves a 12 state area in the North Central region which includes ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, IN, MI, and OH.
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC)
State/regional organization
Works to support and enhance rural health and quality of care through a variety of products and services with an emphasis on developing integrated networks among freestanding entities.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Wisconsin (HUD)
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
University of Wisconsin Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
State/regional organization
Works to respond to the agricultural safety and health needs of Wisconsin farming communities.
USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM)
Academic/Research
Consists of a rural education program within the MD Program curriculum at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. Aims to develop the skills of medical students who wish to participate in a rural setting as well as to improve the supply of physicians in rural Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Area Health Education Center System (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the supply, distribution and quality of health care professionals in Wisconsin. Develops community-based health professions training programs. Oversees the seven regional AHEC areas in Wisconsin, which are the Northwest, Northern Highland, Northeast, Milwaukee and Southeast, South Central, Scenic Rivers, and North Central.
Wisconsin Child Support Program
State government
Contributes to the well-being of children through the establishment of paternity and the establishment and enforcement of court-ordered child support and medical support obligations.
Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP)
State/regional organization
Serves Wisconsin's low-income people and promotes the development of resources which demonstrate progress toward the elimination of poverty. Includes the Wisconsin Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP), which helps support rural community infrastructure.
Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to improve the oral health of Wisconsin residents. Supports projects which provide dental health care for the disadvantaged such as Mission of Mercy, Mentoring Program, and Donated Dental Services.
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
State government
Provides development assistance in Wisconsin in the areas of marketing, business and community finance, exporting, small business advocacy, and manufacturing assessments.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
State government
Responsible for a variety of areas, including child welfare, long term care, disability programs, substance abuse, mental health and public health programs, regulation and licensing of facilities, operation of care and treatment facilities, the food stamp program, medical assistance and health care for low income families, elderly and disabled persons.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Bureau of Long-Term Support
State government
Administers programs including autism services, brain injury, children's long-term support, community integration and relocation, developmental disabilities, and family support.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Mental Health Programs
State government
Administers mental health programs including prevention treatment and recovery, forensics, client rights, and psychiatric hospitals and secure treatment facilities.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Minority Health Program
State government
Serves as the primary point of contact on minority health for the Department of Health Services and develops initiatives to advance the health of racial and ethnic minority communities in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Substance Abuse Services
State government
Provides services relating to substance use and abuse, gambling awareness, reducing tobacco sales to minors, and recovery.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Special Education Team
State government
Provides statewide leadership, advocacy, technical assistance for Wisconsin's special education services. Promotes collaboration among parents, educators, students, communities and other agencies to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
State government
Serves as the state agency charged with building and strengthening Wisconsin's workforce.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
State government
Provides employment services and counseling to people with disabilities, arranges for services to enable individuals to go to work, and provides training and technical assistance to employers regarding disability employment issues.
Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center (WGEC)
State/regional organization
Serves as a formal consortium of academic and health care organizations, for the purpose of creating educational resources and training opportunities in geriatrics for health professionals, faculty, practitioners, and students in Wisconsin. Operates the Low Cost Denture Program.
Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA)
State/regional organization
Membership organization which represents 62 Head Start Programs in Wisconsin, including American Indian and Migrant/Seasonal programs.
Wisconsin Health Information Technology Extension Center (WHITEC)
State/regional organization
Wisconsin State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA)
State/regional organization
Works to provide quality health care services and initiatives to Wisconsin communities. Provides education and training opportunities.
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)
State government
Works with lenders, developers, local government, nonprofits, community groups and others to implement its low-cost financing programs.
Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
State/regional organization
Dedicated to improving the quality of health for rural and underserved communities in Wisconsin. Collaborates with health care organizations and systems, community based providers and individuals, and educational organizations to develop programs and provide resources designed to enhance life in rural communities.
Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association (WPHCA)
State/regional organization
Represents a statewide network of Community and Migrant Health Centers. Works to provide access to community-oriented primary health care services.
Wisconsin Rural Partners
State/regional organization
Serves as a network of Wisconsin public and private sector partners who promote collaboration, innovation, diversity, and community-based priorities.
Tools
AgrAbility of Wisconsin
Web site
Promotes success in agriculture for farmers with disabilities and their families. AgrAbility of Wisconsin is a partnership between the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension and Easter Seals Wisconsin.
EMS Resource Guide for Critical Access Hospitals
Web site
Provides information and resources to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to help them strengthen and improve rural emergency medical services (EMS) capacity in local communities. Covers infrastructure, human resources, funding sources, legislation and regulation, and more.
ERS State Fact Sheet: Wisconsin
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin
Web site
A multi-year study which examines the current status and trends in agriculture and rural life, explores constraints and opportunities, and develops specific action and policy recommendations for Wisconsin's agriculture sector and rural communities.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Wisconsin
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Greater Midwest Region: Wisconsin Resources
Web site
Overview of the state, with links to resources for Wisconsin.
Physician Perspectives on Rural Medicine
Web site
Provides access to video and audio recordings of a presentation given at the 2009 Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) Symposium.
Rural Health Careers in Wisconsin
Web site
Provides information regarding career opportunities in rural Wisconsin hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. Includes clinical and non-clinical positions for physical therapists, pharmacists, nurses, lab technicians, radiology technicians.
State of Wisconsin: ACCESS
Web site
Allows Wisconsin residents to apply for benefits online. Programs covered include Medicaid, BadgerCare, the Family Planning Waiver Program, and FoodShare.
Voices of Rural Wisconsin
Web site
Collection of audio files representing the memories, perspectives, and the future hopes of Wisconsin's rural citizens.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Well Woman Program
Web site
Provides preventive health screening services to women with little or no health insurance coverage. Well Woman pays for mammograms, Pap tests, certain other health screenings, and multiple sclerosis testing for women with high risk signs of multiple sclerosis.
Wisconsin Health Care Provider Directories
Web site
Lists agencies licensed or certified to serve Wisconsin residents. Listings are by county and city and include ambulatory surgical centers, end stage renal dialysis providers, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation centers, personal care agencies, rural health clinics, and swing bed hospitals.
Wisconsin Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Wisconsin KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Wisconsin Office of Rural Health: Dentist Recruitment
Web site
Provides information on general dentist positions in towns and cities of all sizes located throughout Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Office of Rural Health: Physician Recruitment
Web site
Helps place physicians in rural Wisconsin communities. Available employment opportunities are listed by specialty and by region.
Wisconsin Public Health Profiles
Web site
Annual publications of health and demographic information about the state of Wisconsin and its counties. Separate PDF files are available on this webpage for state-wide, regional, and county-level profiles.
Wisconsin QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Wisconsin State Health Facts
Database
Provides the latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
2012 Midwest Garden Grant
Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs.
Agricultural Medicine: Occupational and Environmental Health for Rural Health Professionals
Provides basic information and skills to enable the health care professional to function in the anticipation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of occupational illnesses and injuries in the farm community.
Annual Monato Rural Essay Prize
Annual award for the University of Wisconsin's best rural health paper regarding networking, cooperatives, and rural communities .
Assistance to Needy Veterans and Family Members
Grant program for veterans that provides limited financial assistance to those in need and who have exhausted all other sources of aid.
Cargill Community Scholarship Program
Scholarship to high-school seniors living in communities near Cargill operations in the U.S.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Community action grant priorities include education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.
Humana Foundation Community Grants
The Humana Foundation supports charitable activities that promote healthy lives and communities.
IFF
IFF is a nonprofit community development lender providing affordable, flexible and accessible loans to nonprofits serving low-income or special-needs populations.
Low Cost Denture Program
This program provides low-cost dentures to Wisconsin residents who have no remaining teeth.
Otto Bremer Foundation Grants
Funding to help build healthy, vibrant communities.
Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation Grant
The grant program's main objective is to provide financial support to efforts aimed at providing dental care to the underserved and other philanthropic endeavors related to dentistry throughout Wisconsin.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
100 New Physicians a Year: An Imperative for Wisconsin
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Hospital Association
Provides recommendations and options for increasing physician supply in Wisconsin. Calls for concerted and collaborative action to address a looming physician workforce shortage.
Date: 11 / 2011
Access For All Wisconsin: Strategies For Increasing Access to Primary Health Care
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
Summarizes strategies that may work to assure all Wisconsin’s residents have access to primary health care services. Addresses the role of workforce development and of Community Health Centers’ (CHCs) in closing gaps in the current health care delivery system.
Date: 01 / 2009
Aiming Higher for Health System Performance: A Profile of Seven States That Perform Well on the Commonwealth Fund’s 2009 State Scorecard
Author(s): Greg Moody, Sharon Silow-Carroll
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Demonstrates that high levels of health system performance are achievable and sustainable, and provides useful examples of policies and practices in Vermont, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Delaware that may be associated with health system improvement.
Date: 10 / 2009
Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Accident Fatality: Wisconsin Rural-Urban Trends and Observations
Author(s): Zachary J. Baeseman
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Medical Society
Study that compares alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatalities in rural versus urban Wisconsin. Also addresses such accidents where alcohol was not a factor. Displays county-level data.
Journal citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal Volume 108 Issue 7 Pages: 359-364
Date: 10 / 2009
Burden of Injury in Wisconsin
State and county-level statistics on the burden of injuries to Wisconsin residents from 2002-2004.
Date: 2006
Case Studies on Transit and Livable Communities in Rural and Small Town America
Author(s): Sean Barry
Sponsoring organization: Transportation for America
Collection of 12 case studies providing examples of how small cities, towns and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities.
Date: 09 / 2010
Connecting Rural Wisconsin: The Economic Necessity of Broadband
Discusses why broadband access is critical to the future development of rural counties. Benefits include improved access to health care, more higher education options, improved public safety, and a stronger infrastructure.
Date: 11 / 2011
Demographic and Economic Profile: Wisconsin
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, health care services, and employment. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 12 / 2008
Disappearing Docs
Author(s): Brennan Nardi
Describes how a projected shortage of primary care providers is changing health care and how this affects rural Wisconsin.
Date: 10 / 2009
Effect of the Physician J-1 Visa Waiver on Rural Wisconsin
Author(s): Byron J. Crouse, Randy L. Munson
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Medical Society
Reports the results of a study evaluating the retention and acceptance of J1 Visa Waiver physicians in rural Wisconsin.
Journal citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal Volume 105 Issue 7 Pages: 16-20
Date: 2006
Financial Effects of Wisconsin Critical Access Hospital Conversion: Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Author(s): Dale Gullickson, Richard Donkle
Sponsoring organization: Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Analyzes the financial condition of Wisconsin critical access hospitals.
Date: 2011
Health Care in Wisconsin: An AARP Survey of Residents Age 18 to 64
Author(s): Erica L. Dinger
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Reports findings of a phone survey that explores the opinions and experiences of Wisconsin residents age 18 to 64 on healthcare issues in their State.
Date: 04 / 2007
Marshfield Clinic: Health Information Technology Paves the Way for Population Health Management
Author(s): Douglas McCarthy, Kimberly Mueller, Sarah Klein
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Illustrates how Marshfield Clinic serving rural Wisconsin can improve patient outcomes and
reduce costs by undertaking a population-based approach to ambulatory care management
supported by information technology.
Date: 08 / 2009
Oral Health: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss Success Stories
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Describes successful oral health programs in Arkansas, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Date: 2010
Past Silos and Smokestacks: Transforming the Rural Economy in the Midwest
Author(s): Mark Drabenstott
Sponsoring organization: Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Discusses a development strategy that includes regional cooperation, innovation, and a leveraging of all strengths for the rural Midwest to transform its economy.
Date: 2010
Profiles of State Innovation: Roadmap for Managing Long-Term Supports and Services
Author(s): Alice Link, Suzanne Gore, Lindsay Barnette, Stephen Somers
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
Identifies five states that demonstrate expertise in managed care approaches for individuals with long-term care needs. States included are Arizona, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Date: 11 / 2010
Review & Commentary on Health Policy Issues for a Rural Perspective-February, 2009
Sponsoring organization: Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Discusses healthcare workforce shortage issues affecting primary care in rural Wisconsin. Features interviews from rural health care advocates and presents strategies to address and reverse the shortage problem.
Date: 02 / 2009
Small Business Profile: Wisconsin
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 02 / 2011
Strong Rural Communities Initiative (SRCI) Program: Challenges in Promoting Healthier Lifestyles
Author(s): Syed Ahmed, Tim Size, Myron Crouse, Leslie Patterson, et al
Sponsoring organization: Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Discusses leadership assistance given to six rural communities in Wisconsin to develop and implement new, collaborative interventions that addressed the specific health needs of each community.
Journal citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal Volume 110 Issue 3 Pages: 119-131
Date: 06 / 2011
WIRED for Health: Wisconsin's Health Information Technology (HIT) Strategic and Operational Plan
Sponsoring organization: WIRED Wisconsin
Describes the HIT and HIE (health information exchange) goals and objectives Wisconsin aspires to achieve and the strategies and operational details on how Wisconsin proposes to accomplish the goals and objectives. Includes specific measures that address rural and workforce shortage areas.
Date: 08 / 2010
Wisconsin Health Center Fact Sheet
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
Provides a description of what health centers are, and the most recent state-level data available for health center patients, services provided, staff, patient visits, and costs of care.
Date: 12 / 2010
Wisconsin Quick Health Facts 2010
Author(s): Leigh Purvis
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Presents data on Wisconsin including demographics, health expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, Medicare and Medicaid, and access to care.
Date: 07 / 2010
Wisconsin Rural Health Clinics Alphabetical by Name
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Lists all rural health clinics in the state of Wisconsin.
Date: 01 / 2011
WisKids Count 2009-2010, Jobs Count: Helping Wisconsin Families Thrive Through New Opportunities
Provides links to a collection of indicators of child well-being in the State of Wisconsin. Information available by county and state totals.
Date: 2010
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Partners in Agricultural Health Program
PAH was designed to strengthen existing occupational health services within three county health departments and five participating hospitals by providing educational programs and preventive screenings for farmers and their family members, creating an educational program for health professionals to enhance their understanding of the unique healthcare needs of farmers, and developing an interactive Web site to market the project and disseminate educational information.
Emergency Medical Services Frequent User Program
Informs patients who frequently access emergency medical services about appropriate services and how to access them, reducing the number of patients using these costly emergency services.
Hispanic Health Outreach Project
The Hispanic Health Outreach Project provided outreach, education, and case management services to Hispanic residents in Portage and Waupaca counties.
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