WPS Health Insurance adds 1,845 mental health care providers to its networks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Insurance adds 1,845 mental health care providers to its networks

MADISON, Wis.—May 15, 2023—WPS Health Insurance answers the call for mental health care providers in response to growing needs. In 2022, it added 1,037 mental health providers to its networks; in 2023, it has added an additional 808 so far for a total of 8,022. These numbers are in addition to the mental health care practitioners available through Teladoc^® telehealth services. Included in these numbers are all types of mental health care providers, from therapists and alcohol and other drug abuse counselors to midlevel nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychiatrists.

WPS reports show the need for mental health services peaked in 2021 but remains high. From 2020 to 2021, WPS received 11% more claims for mental health services, a 23% increase in total charges for mental health services and a 15% increase in total customers getting mental health services.  

“WPS has focused on growing our mental health networks by seeking out providers with cultural competency to treat customers who have historically been underserved. We know that we need to offer not only enough providers but also a diverse provider population to meet the needs of our communities,” Heather Oliva, WPS Senior Director of Provider Contracting and Strategy, said.

Oliva added, “WPS takes into consideration the complexity and variety of customer needs. To effectively meet these needs, we are always evaluating whether we have the right mix of providers, including substance abuse practitioners and other types of counselors. WPS further focuses on recruiting providers with the knowledge, expertise, and lived experience to best serve underrepresented and underserved communities, including, but not limited to, people who are LGBTQ+, have limited English proficiency, or are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Hiring culturally and linguistically competent providers coupled with establishing trust leads to better health outcomes, thus making health care easier for the people we serve.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness each year, and more than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. A Kaiser Family Foundation brief, “The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use,” found 50% of young adults (ages 18–24) reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023, making them more likely than older adults to experience mental health symptoms. 

About WPS Health Insurance

As one of the largest health benefits providers in the state, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Insurance) remains not-for-profit and offers high-quality health plans to the public and private sectors. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., WPS Health Insurance offers Preferred Provider Organization health plans for individuals and groups, third-party administrator services, and Medicare supplement insurance plans. Visit wpshealth.com for more information. 

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Mentoring Positives: Muriel’s Place Opening Empowers Disadvantaged Youth to Further a Good Cause That Tastes Great

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 11, 2023
CONTACT: WILL GREEN @ 608-345-1064
will.g@mentoringpositives.org

Madison-based Mentoring Positives is set to open Muriel’s Place, a commercial kitchen where disadvantaged teens gain confidence, develop job skills and build relationships – all while making, marketing and selling Off The Block™ homemade pizza and salsa.

With operations now under one roof, Muriel’s Place is open to the public every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am – 2 pm for lunch and 5-7 pm for dinner. Off the Block™ pizzas come in seven varieties. They can be ordered hot or frozen, with dine-in and carry-out options available. Two flavors of homemade salsa are also available. All proceeds go directly back to Mentoring Positives, a transformational program serving youth in the Darbo-Worthington Park neighborhood.

RIBBON CUTTING SLATED FOR THURSDAY, MAY 18 @ 4PM
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting event for the grand opening of Muriel’s Place, 2844 E Washington Ave, located on the ground level of the new Ella Apartments Building. Guest speakers include Chamber President Zach Brandon and City of Madison staff.

“In the throes of the pandemic, standing outside, physically distanced, Will laid out his vision for a new space for Mentoring Positives,” said Zach Brandon, President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. “It is exciting to see the official opening of this space, which serves as a monument to Will and Becky’s unrelenting commitment to inspiring, guiding and serving as champions for young people in this community.”

MORE SPACE MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Previously, Off the Block™ products were produced in a shared commercial space leased at FEED Kitchens on Madison’s north side. They are sold at several Madison area locations, including Willy Street Co-op, Metcalfe’s Market and Regent Street Market.

“FEED Kitchens has been a nurturing space as our youth have built and grown the Off the Block™ brand,” said co-founder Becky Green. “Our success there has been a springboard for our kids to further stretch their entrepreneurial skills.”

“At Muriel’s Place, they can see, learn and touch every aspect of the business, from sourcing Wisconsin ingredients to managing a pizza assembly line, taking care of equipment, marketing their products and delivering excellent customer service,” Becky Green said.

With more ways to buy Off the Block™ products, the group hopes to increase sales and invest even more in the people who will eventually become adult leaders of the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood and beyond.

MURIEL’S PLACE NAMED AFTER BELOVED MOM
Founded in 2004, Mentoring Positives utilizes group mentoring, athletics and entrepreneurial opportunities to guide and empower disadvantaged youth. A former star UW-Eau Claire basketball player, Will Green uses the basketball court as his meeting place for building relationships with young people.

With backgrounds in psychology and social work, the Greens first met while working at the Eau Claire Academy, a residential treatment center for youth with emotional and behavioral problems. It was there that Will and Becky, both raised by devoted single moms, cemented their collective passion for helping young people chart their path to adulthood.

Muriel’s Place is named after Will’s mom, Muriel Pipkins, who died at age 46 of breast cancer.

“She is my hero and my motivation for helping kids”, said Will Green. I turned my pain into passion after her death.

“I grew up without a father and my mom made heroic sacrifices so I could succeed. I want to give that same love and affection she showed to our family, friends back home in our community in Gary, Indiana,” Green added. Our youth in the Madison community face monumental challenges. If we mentor and wrap them in love and support, while equipping them to succeed, I believe they will have a bright future.”

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Make Music Madison Registration Closes May 25

Host sites and musicians are invited to sign-up to participate in this citywide musical celebration held on the summer solstice, June 21. The 2022 event featured 474 registered concerts at 172 locations presenting music by over 1000 individual artists. This we hope to top 500 registered shows!

Interested hosts or musicians can learn more at www.makemusicmadison.org.

Make Music Madison welcomes performers of all genres and experience levels. The organization aims to engage every sector of Madison’s music industry and provide all Madison communities with free and accessible music, while encouraging the public to support local artists, and invest in our creative economy.

Each year the event fills the city with music from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at venues hosted at community centers, museums, retailer shops, restaurants, parks, theaters, places of worship, private residences, and other locations. Anyone can perform and anyone can host a performance, as long as the event is within the City of Madison, free, accessible to the public, and maintains a clearance on the sidewalk for pedestrian passage.

Make Music Madison is part of Make Music Day, an international summer solstice music celebration occurring in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Beginning in 1982 in Paris as Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day brings our community together to celebrate the power of live music. All varieties of live sound creation are welcome, as Make Music Madison’s motto is performed by anyone, enjoyed by everyone.

“This is a rare opportunity to support musicians and be part of a truly magical community event, which spreads joy and entertainment throughout the city” says Make Music Madison Board Secretary Kristian Petrov Iliev. 

There are no registration fees or limits to the number of musicians or locations who can participate. Sponsors and volunteers are welcome. For complete details on Make Music Madison, visit www.makemusicmadison.org.

Wisconsin Technology Council: Holy cow! New Glarus Brewing co-founder Deb Carey to accept ‘Seize the Day’ award June 1 in Milwaukee

Deb Carey, co-founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Co., will receive the Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” award June 1 during a luncheon at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.

The conference at the Italian Community Center returns to the Cream City to celebrate the region’s rise as a startup and scale-up hub within the Midwest. Registration is open at witrepsconference.com or linked here.

Launching in 1992 with her brew-master husband, Deb Carey became the first woman to found and operate a brewery in the United States. The first barrels rolled out in November 1993 — the fastest microbrewery start-up ever. Daniel and Deb have combined their business management and brewing professionalism with a philosophy based on individuality, cooperation and use of 100% natural ingredients to produce world class, hand-crafted beers such as “Spotted Cow.”

Wisconsin native Carey attended Carroll College in Helena, Mont., majoring in marketing and graphics. An entrepreneur at heart, she started her first business at 16, followed by a succession of training and hands-on experiences. Today, New Glarus Brewing ranks among the top dozen craft breweries and top two-dozen U.S. breweries of any description.

Judged on the quality of its beers, New Glarus Brewing was named a “top 10 brewer in the world” by RateBeer.com.

The award, which celebrates entrepreneurial leaders who have been crucial to Wisconsin’s economic growth, is named in honor of the late Ken Hendricks, a Beloit businessman and 2006 “Seize the Day” award winner who died in an accident in late 2007.

The Tech Council produces the May 31-June 1 Entrepreneurs’ Conference and administers the award, which has gone to entrepreneurs who have shown persistence in building their companies.

Past winners include Don Weber of Logistics Health Inc. (2004); Bob Cervenka of Phillips Plastics (2005); Ken Hendricks of ABC Supply (2006); Jan Eddy of Wingra Technologies (2007); Michael Cudahy of Marquette Medical Systems (2008); Toni Sikes of The Guild and Guild.com (2009); Bill Linton of Promega (2010); Bob Hillis of Direct Supply (2011); Kay Koplovitz of USA Network (2012); Fred Foster of Electronic Theatre Controls (2013); Craig and Lea Culver of Culver Franchising System Inc. (2014); Jim Berbee of Berbee Information Networks Corp. (2015); Mark Gehring of HealthMyne (2016); Zach Halmstad of Jamf (2017); Dude and Kerry Frank of Comply365 (2018); Sue Marks of Cielo (2019); Kevin Conroy of Exact Sciences (2020); Don Zietlow of Kwik Trip (2021) and Cory Nettles of Generation Growth Capital (2022).

“Crossroads of innovation” is the theme of the 21^st annual conference, where entrepreneurs from around the state will showcase their ideas, services and technologies. Seven panel tracks formed under three unique stages of “launch,” “grow” and “succeed” will appeal to entrepreneurs in all stages. Detailed panel information will be posted soon at witrepsconference.com.

Produced by the Tech Council, the Entrepreneurs’ Conference is among the largest and affordable events for entrepreneurs and early stage investors in the Upper Midwest. Other highlights will include:

• Diligent Dozen: Top 12 finalists from the Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off on the afternoon of May 31 
• Charles Ross, Milwaukee native and chief executive officer of International Business Innovation Accelerator, to keynote morning of June 1
• Governor’s Business Plan Contest “Diligent Dozen” awards announcements June 1 
• Innovation Showcase featuring exhibits from Wisconsin companies
• Plenty of chances to network with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors over food and refreshments, including a May 31 reception at the Italian Community Center

Sponsors thus far are: Aberdean Consulting, Affiliated Engineers, Alliant Energy, Amazon, American Family Insurance, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, AT&T, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, Business Fitness, Center for Technology Commercialization, City of Fitchburg, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), DeWitt, Findorff, First Business Bank, Foley & Lardner, Godfrey & Kahn, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, Insperity, J.P. Morgan, Lost Boys Interactive, Madison College, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ HEY! Communications, Marquette University, Microsoft, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, Perkins Coie, Quarles & Brady, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Ruder Ware, Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction, Technology Entrepreneurship Office at UW-Madison, Technology Innovation Center – Milwaukee, UMOS One Workforce – TechStars, University Research Park, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Innovate Network, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement, UW-Madison Office of University Relations, Venture Investors, Versiti, WE Energies, WIPFLi, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin Technical College System and WiSys.

To become a sponsor, contact Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. For more information, visit witrepsconference.com or call 608-442-7557.

Wisco Barbell Club Brings Fun and Fitness with Their Grand Opening Extravaganza

Madison, Wisconsin – Wisco Barbell Club is proud to announce their Grand Opening taking place on May 13th from 12-4PM. This free event will be a celebration of food, fitness, and fun for the whole family.

Expect a jam-packed day of activities including mini strength competitions, bouncy houses, local vendors, raffle prizes, live performances… and so much more! And for those who love their furry friends, there will even be a dog costume contest with guest judges Grace and Beni from Petphoria.

Food trucks will be on site serving up delicious fare and tasty drinks. This event truly has something for everyone, from fitness fanatics to foodies and families alike.

President and Head Trainer, Dakota Selje, says, “We’re so excited to welcome the community to our new gym and to show everyone what we have to offer. Our goal is to bring fitness and fun together, and we can’t wait to see everyone have a great time.”

Whether you’re a gym regular or a curious newbie, Wisco Barbell Club’s Grand Opening Extravaganza is the perfect opportunity to discover what this fitness community has to offer. So come on down to Wisco Barbell Club on May 13th and join in the festivities!

For more information, visit the Wisco Barbell Club website at wiscobarbell.club, or follow them on the socials at @wiscobarbellclub.

EVENT DETAILS:
May 13th, 12-4PM
539 Tasman St, Madison, WI 53714
Free parking on site
wiscobarbell.club/events

EVENT TIMELINE:
12:00PM –   Food Trucks, Vendors & Bouncy House
12:15PM –   Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
12:30PM –   Mini Strength Competitions
1:00PM   –   Live Performances
2:00PM   –   Raffle Prize Winners 
3:00PM   –   Dog Costume Contest

VENDORS:
Crescendo Coffee
Petphoria
Pro Nutrition
The Black Sapphire Tattoo
Soho Gourmet
Fun Time Bounces

ARTISTS:
BOiNK! Dance & Film
Just For Fun
Lindsey Wismans
Paxfat
Sarah Krajewski
Sexe Dance Company

RAFFLE PRIZES FROM:
Doundrins Distilling
Wildewood
The Racoon Society
Dancing Goat Distillery

ABOUT: 
Wisco Barbell club is an employee owned 24/7 open gym that offers daily HIIT classes and affordable personal training. Month to month plans start at $55 with no sign up fees or long term contracts.

MARKETING MATERIALS

CONTACT INFO:
LAUREN ADDISON | COO + MARKETING
lauren@wiscobarbell.club
www.wiscobarbell.club
@wiscobarbellclub
(608) 200-3115