Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers has halted some programs having to do with nutrition, promoting exercise and revitalizing southside neighborhoods and waterways, a spokesperson said.
The programs were housed within Sixteenth Street’s Department of Environmental Health and Community Wellness, but the reason for halting them remains unclear. A total of five staff members were laid off on May 14, said Mari Maldonado, a spokesperson for Sixteenth Street.
Maldonado declined to provide the job titles of the staff members.
The programs that were halted are:
Sixteenth Street did not provide a clear explanation for ending the programs, despite repeated questions.
“We were just evaluating the programs that we offer and looking at how we’re aligning the programs with our greater long-term growth potential, sustainability and ensuring that we’re meeting our mission,” Maldonado said.
When pressed for a reason these particular programs were halted, Maldonado declined to elaborate, saying, “That’s neither here nor there.”
Maldonado said the program cuts had nothing to do with changes at the federal level under President Donald Trump’s administration or under consideration by federal lawmakers. Congress is debating cuts to Medicaid spending, on which community health centers like Sixteenth Street heavily rely. Trump’s administration has sought to cut federal spending across the board.
“We are incredibly proud of the work these programs have accomplished over the years,” Maldonado said. “In particular, the community members who have participated in (Líderes por la Salud) are truly remarkable. They are empowered, passionate and well-equipped to carry this work forward.”
Sixteenth Street has clinics throughout Milwaukee’s south side and in Waukesha that provide primary and mental health care primarily to residents living in poverty. It serves more than 40,000 patients per year, most of them Hispanic.
Sixteenth Street also runs programs meant to address social and environmental issues that affect residents’ health, such as access to healthy food and exposure to lead paint hazards.
Sixteenth Street’s lead outreach program is not affected by the program cuts, Maldonado said, and remains active and ongoing.
Sixteenth Street, which has more than 600 employees, is the largest community health center in Milwaukee. The others are Milwaukee Health Services Inc., Progressive Community Health Centers and Outreach Community Health Centers.
Community health centers are located in low-income urban and rural areas and primarily provide care to people covered by Medicaid programs, such as BadgerCare Plus, or who are uninsured.
Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.
Sarah Volpenhein can be reached at svolpenhei@gannett.com or at 414-607-2159.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sixteenth Street halts some programs focused on nutrition, exercise and revitalizing Milwaukee’s southside neighborhoods
Reporting by Sarah Volpenhein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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