Building Local Coalitions: Positives and Pitfalls

Suites 6 & 7

While much of the push for lead poisoning prevention comes from the federal government, successful efforts need to be tailored to the local community and supported by local leaders.  Indiana has particularly strong local coalitions in Allen County, Lake County and St. Joseph County.  Local coalitions are forming in other communities including Marion County, Wayne County and Vanderburgh County.  Thanks to the leadership of these local coalitions, we have models for success that can be and have been used in other communities. 

This session will provide participants with insights into the pitfalls they may encounter in developing their own local coalitions – and ideas how to overcome them.  They will learn where the dead-ends are and how to find the successful path that has the best chances of success in their community.  

Moderator:       Ellen Schellhause, MSLS – HealthVisions:  Ms. Schellhause is the regional information officer for HealthVisions, a community health organization that focuses on reducing health disparities for the poor and underserved.  She has been a librarian and information professional during her career.  Her most recent endeavor has been to provide research and educational support as a member of the Allen County Lead Safe Coalition, the IKE Coalition, and the ISDH Childhood Lead Poisoning Task Force. 

Speakers:         Sister Annemarie Kampwerth, PHJC – HealthVisions Midwest: Sister Kampwerth is a native of Carlyle, Illinois.  She  has been a member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ since 1963. She received an Honorary Doctor of Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is Director of Education and Partnerships for HealthVisions Midwest and co-chairs the Lake County, Indiana Lead Task Force. She also serves on the board of the Gary Health Foundation and the board of the Family Practice Community Wellness Center in Chicago, Illinois.  She will explain how her coalition has followed the Fort Wayne model with success.

                        Kathleen Kraner – Memorial Hospital South Bend.  Kathleen Kraner is the Children’s Lead Coordinator for Memorial Hospital and the “Get the Lead Out” Task Force in St. Joseph County. As Lead Coordinator she works directly with the county health department and the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka to coordinate programs and services to provide lead safe housing, and lead testing for children in St. Joseph County. Kathleen has spent the last six years working on coalition building and program implementation at the national, state and local level through prevention and health service promotions.

                        Tina Leatherman, MSN, RN, CNS, FNP - HealthVisions. Ms. Leatherman is the regional director of Community Health Issues for HealthVisions, a community health organization that focuses on reducing health disparities in the poor and underserved. She has been involved in building community coalitions for a variety of issues over the last eight years. Most recently, as chair of the Allen County Lead Safe Coalition, she is focusing on community education and testing children for lead poisoning.

                        Richard Hug, Ph.D. - Indiana University. Dr. Hug is an associate professor of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Northwest in Gary. He holds the Ph.D. in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He is a member of the University's Environmental Justice Steering Committee and the State's Advisory Task Force for Childhood Lead Poisoning. He currently serves as co-chair of the Lake County Lead Task Force.