Single Moms Power of 10 groups discusses issues facing them today

The Power of 10 group: Single Moms met to discuss issues facing single women parents on a daily basis. Some of the issues most pressing are isolation within the community, transportation needs for the family, financial needs, babysitting, time to themselves and finding balance in their lives. Several face these situations, but complicating that is the fact that many women are the only parent to their chidren. And yet with all of their worries and concerns, a room full of women wanted to help others. They went down the list, identified the top issues they were facing as single mothers and participated in brainstorming how to help single moms. Next meeting: Mid-January 2011.

Submitted by Kelly Laux

Women’s Fund group donates $10,000 to Christine Ann dental program

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Strong emotions filled the hearts of those presenting and receiving funds to aid the health needs of women who’ve been abused.

Several members of the Health Care Power of 10 focus group on Wednesday presented a $10,000 check to staff at Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Inc. in Oshkosh to support its community dentistry program.

“If you can imagine being abused and losing teeth as a result, and then applying for jobs and having to go out on interviews and smile — it means a lot to have the money for this,” said a misty-eyed Julie Denton, who is a Christine Ann staff member. “I can’t tell you how mind blowing it is that you’re doing this. It’s so awesome!”

Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services provides a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of victims, their children and communities in Winnebago and Green Lake counties.

“We are very gratified. One of the things we are working on is how to leverage this money by working with dentists in the community who are willing to help us out with reduced costs,” said Annette Beattie, client services manager for Christine Ann.

“(Being able to get their teeth fixed) are life-changing procedures for some of the people. It really is a start of a whole new life for them.”

The Power of 10 is the 10th anniversary initiative of the Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Ten focus groups are charged with identifying the issues and obstacles facing women of all ages in our community. The participants then discuss, debate and decide where their $10,000 would be best put to use.

The health care focus group met three times during summer and narrowed the focus of their grant toward dental care for women and children.

“I found it to be very impressive to be able to learn from the people in the group, people who are from all different aspects of the community,” said Tiffany Krings, a health care focus group participant. “I didn’t know about Christine Ann’s dental program and now I can take that back to the nurses (at her job) and share that with them. … It was a great way to raise awareness.”

The organizations represented by the participants on the forum included Oshkosh Area School District, Affinity Health System, Aurora Health Care, Women’s Care of Wisconsin and Healthy Living Community Clinic.

The health care focus group is the sixth of 10 groups made to donate $10,000 toward an initiative that will create social change for Oshkosh girls and women.

To learn more about the ‘Power of 10’, visit http://countmein.oshkoshareacf.org.

Since 1998, the Women’s Fund has provided more than $400,000 in grants to make resources available for causes of interest to women; foster among women a sense of empowerment and philanthropy; and increase awareness of women’s issues. For more information, please call 920-426-3993 or visit http://Women.OshkoshAreaCF.org.

Single moms needed for Women’s Fund grant project

OSHKOSH, WI – Single moms will get the chance to do something extraordinary in December. They will give away $10,000 to a local nonprofit to benefit other women just like themselves.

The Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation is calling on single moms from the Oshkosh area to participate in its Power of 10 focus group. The Power of 10 is the Women’s Fund’s 10^th anniversary initiative designed to identify the issues and obstacles facing women of all ages in our community.

The group will meet to discuss, debate and decide how to allocate $10,000 to help single moms in the community. Participants will not only meet other women just like them, but also have the opportunity to express their needs, discuss the challenges they face and finally, feel empowered as a philanthropist in their selection of the grant recipient.

Women from all facets of the community are encouraged to join this Power of 10 focus group.

The group will meet at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, at the 20^th Ave YMCA, 3303 W. 20^th Ave., Oshkosh. Each meeting lasts about 90 minutes. Drop-in child care and dinner will be provided at no cost.

To participate, please contact Karlene Grabner at 920-426-3993 or Karlene@OshkoshAreaCF.org. Please respond by Nov. 19.

To learn more about the ‘Power of 10’, visit http://countmein.oshkoshareacf.org.

Health care group focuses on dental health

The health care-focused Power of 10 group met for their second meeting on June 22. After much conversation about the health care needs of women and girls in Winnebago County, the health care representatives – from Oshkosh Area School District, Affinity Health System, Aurora Medical Center, Women’s Care of Wisconsin, Healthy Living Clinic and an area dentist – selected dental care as their topic of focus.

The health care representatives agreed that proper dental care is important to overall health, as well as mental health. Furthermore, dental care options are needed for those who live in Oshkosh who do not have the means to travel outside of our community for free or reduced care, the group discussed. The group also discussed the possibility of providing care beyond acute care to help those with more complex dental issues.

The group will take time in the coming weeks to research dental options and possibilities that promote social change for girls and women in the Oshkosh community and will then generate a more solidified idea as it relates to dental health care at the final meeting. The next meeting will be held July 13.

Submitted by: Mandy Wimmer, Women's Fund Communications Committee

Power of 10 kicks off health care group

Late last week, the first health care-focused Power of 10 group meeting was held. Health care officials from throughout the city gathered to discuss the health care needs within the Oshkosh community. The organizations represented by the participants on the forum were: Oshkosh Area School District, Affinity Health System,Aurora, Women’s Care of Wisconsin, Healthy Living Clinic and an area dentist.

The group discussed the needs of women and girls at all age groups andthroughout many stages of life. After much discussion of the healthcare needs in our community, the group narrowed down the needs to afew key areas, which they will further discuss during the next two meetings. Key areas they will focus their next conversation are on transportation, diabetes management, dental care and the isolated elderly. From there, the group will decide how to spend $10,000 tomake the lives of girls and women better in our community.

The group of health care professionals will meet again Tuesday, June 22 to narrow down their ideas and begin discussion on how to spend themoney to make resources to help the health and well-being of girls andwomen in our community more available or accessible. The final healthcare discussion will take place June 29.

Submitted by: Mandy Wimmer, Women’s Fund Communications Committee

Dads Unlimited Ideas

On Wednesday, January 20th the Power of 10 group Fathers of Daughters met with Wendy Schwalbe from Parent – Connection Family Services to discuss the needs in the community, current programs and future opportunities.

Parent Connection – Family Services currently offers free programs for dads in the Oshkosh area called “Dads Unlimited.” The program offers baby basics classes, a dads & kids play group, home visitations, family wellness workshops, and a teen parent program.

Wendy shared future ideas of hosting “daddy & daughter dates” and launching an awareness campaign before Father’s Day that included an essay contest focused on how children see their fathers as heroes.

The fathers were very pleased to learn more about the programs offered and see a lot of potential to grow this into something BIG. Keith, a Fathers of Daughters group participant, stated “I am so proud to be part of this initiative.”

The next step is to fine tune their ideas for the programs in order to create social change in the lives of fathers of daughters.

To see the program's already available through "Dads Unlimited" visit the Family Services website at www.familyservicesnew.org.

*Submitted by: Mindie Boynton, Women's Fund Communications Committee*