The Dane County Podcast

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Joining Forces for Families (JFF) Supervisor Mike Bruce to discuss the program—now celebrating its 30th year of operation. The two cover what JFF is, how it came to be, and the critical work teams are carrying out in neighborhoods across Dane County to help address residents’ needs and make our community a better place to call home. Mike also shares how he first got involved with JFF and the impact it has had on his life.

Learn more about JFF:
https://danecountyhumanservices.org/Children-Youth-and-Family/Community-Programs/Joining-Forces-for-Families

Check Out JFF's Contact Information Card:
https://danecountyhumanservices.org/documents/pdf/Family/JFF-Dane-County-Information-Card-2023.pdf

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Public Safety Communications Director Luis Bixler to discuss 911 operations. The two cover multiple 2024 budget investments:

•  expanding Madison's CARES (Community Alternative Response Emergency Services) program to more Dane County communities
• adding crisis counselors to the 911 center that will work with people who call 911 while experiencing a behavioral health emergency
• what the new Dane County Public Safety Communications (PSC) building will have in store

Luis also shares his most memorable call when he served as a 911 call taker and his ongoing partnerships to have more bilingual 911 operators.

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Dane County Regional Airport Director Kim Jones to discuss the airport's new terminal expansion, direct flights, & much more.

Learn More:
Dane County Regional Airport
https://www.msnairport.com/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Trish Grant and Nura Capriglione to discuss Building Bridges—Dane County's school based mental health teams.

The Building Bridges program provides short-term wraparound style case management and service coordination for 4K-9 students who are experiencing mental health challenges within their school setting and require additional supports. Services are voluntary and involve both the student and their parents/guardians.

Learn More:

The Dane County Podcast | https://thedanecountypodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Youth Mental Health Services | https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Behavioral-Health/Child-and-Youth-Treatment

Building Bridges Yearly Measures | https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/documents/pdf/Reports/RPT2022---Building-Bridges-FINAL.pdf

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Heather Allen, Policy Advisor at RENEW Wisconsin, to celebrate Earth Month. Together, the three discuss Dane County government achieving 100% renewable energy status at county facilities—the first county in Wisconsin and only the fourth county in the nation to do so. They also share how everyone can go green and save money under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Learn More:
How You Can Take Advantage of the IRA --
https://daneclimateaction.org/what-you-can-do/federal-funding
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/inflation-reduction-act-breakdown/

Rewiring America’s website to help identify tax credits and up-front discounts --
https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator

For Dane County residents interested in going solar --
http://madisunsolar.com/

RENEW Wisconsin’s programs to help non-profits go solar and purchase electric vehicles --
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/solar-energy/
https://www.renewwisconsin.org/electric-vehicles/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, County Executive Parisi sits down with Dr. Ruben Anthony, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. Together, they discuss the Black Business Hub and Dane County's ongoing partnerships with the Urban League.

Learn more about the Urban League of Greater Madison below:
https://ulgm.org/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Casey Becker, Division Administrator of Dane County Housing Access & Affordability. The two discuss efforts to address homelessness, the Affordable Housing Development Fund, community partnerships, and much more.

Learn More:
The Division of Housing Access and Affordability administers federal and county-funded partnerships with community agencies to prevent and end homelessness, increase access to and development of affordable housing, and support economic and workforce development efforts.

Division of Housing Access & Affordability Website:
 https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Economic-Aid-Healthcare-Housing-and-Jobs/Housing-Access-and-Affordability

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Charles Tubbs, Department Director of Dane County Emergency Management, and Cheryl Wittke, Executive Director of Safe Communities Madison-Dane County. Together, the three discuss the ongoing opiate and fentanyl epidemics, as well as the ways Dane County is working to address the crisis and support those beginning the path of addiction treatment/recovery.

The Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) is a voluntary person and family centered service designed to help all Dane County residents access behavioral health services in Dane County, regardless of insurance status, financial status, age, identity, ability or legal status. The BHRC assists Dane County residents from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life. BHRC services are consumer led and consumer driven, meaning that the individual and family is the expert regarding their needs.

BHRC staff are available to help connect you to resources for your mental health and/or substance use needs:
Phone | (608) 267-2244
Email | [email protected]
Website | https://danebhrc.org/

Other Links:
Safe Communities Madison-Dane County | https://safercommunity.net/
Dane County Emergency Management | https://em.countyofdane.com/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Michelle Orge, President/CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, and Scott Williams, Owner of Garden To Be (a family farm in Mount Horeb) and coordinator of a coalition of more than two dozen Wisconsin farmers. Together, the three discuss Dane County and Second Harvest’s “Farm to Foodbank” program.

Initially created to help families meet basic needs during the pandemic, the “Farm to Foodbank” program has opened new doors to what is possible when local growers connect with agencies that keep people fed. Since its debut, the partnership has brought in and boxed over $20 million in food for families across the area. This provides economic security for local agricultural producers and healthy meals for those struggling to meet the cost of filling a grocery cart.

County Executive Parisi’s 2023 budget continues the Farm to Foodbank program through 2023 with $6 million.

2023 County Budget | https://exec.countyofdane.com/2023-Budget-Initiatives
Garden To Be | https://www.facebook.com/Garden.To.Be
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin | https://www.secondharvestmadison.org/

On this episode of The Dane County Podcast, Joe sits down with Greg Markle, Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start (OFS), to highlight the organization's amazing work in the community and ongoing partnerships with Dane County. The two discuss everything from the Youth Conservation Corps and the driver's license program to plans for a Civilian Climate Corps. They also have OFS participant Eric Romero join the conversation to share his story and experience with OFS.

Learn more about Operation Fresh Start below:
https://www.operationfreshstart.org/