Staying healthy both physically and mentally is essential to living a great life. Without good health, people face roadblocks around employment and education and are unable to become their best selves. Healthy communities are strong communities, so we must work to improve health and wellbeing county-wide. 

31%

of adults over the age of 21 are considered overweight

8%

of Mower County residents under the age of 65 don't have health insurance

SOURCE

United Way of Mower County is fighting to improve the health for every individual within our community. UWMC is strengthening Mower County through our funded partners. 

Through 2021 funding...

1,500+

individuals served through health care services

1,000+

children received dental treatment at low or no cost

success stories.

Adams Area Ambulance Service

"With our continued funding for up to date training, we are able to keep our members fully trained in CPR and First Aid. On July 3rd 2020, My partner and I were providing coverage for the Stock Car Races in Lansing, MN, in case there was a need for First Aid. Towards the end of the night, frantic spectators and employees began running towards our truck crying and screaming for help. As I grabbed our emergency response bag and AED and ran towards the grandstands, I noticed in the darkness an individual lying on the ground with bystanders performing CPR. 

When I got to the Patients side, I noticed that the individual was not breathing and did not have a pulse. I advised the bystander to continue with CPR, while my partner placed the AED pads on the patients chest. After the AED completed analyzing for heart rhythm, the AED stated Shock advised, a shock was then administered with the AED. I then took over with chest compressions for 2 minutes. The AED again analyzed the heart rhythm, with another shock advised. A second shock was delivered to the patient, with CPR continued after the shock. My partner then began CPR, after about the fourth compression of the chest the patient reached up and grabbed her arm. 

Brandon on right with Cardiac Arrest survivor on left.

CPR was then stopped and patient was then checked for a pulse, with a faint pulse the patient was starting to breath on his own and was becoming more alert. By the time the ambulance and officers arrived on scene, the patient was alert and trying to speak. The patient was then transported to  Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin, and flown to Saint Mary's in Rochester. The patient was given an implanted pacemaker and was released from the hospital  four days later and was back out the race track that Friday night."

recovery is happening

“It wasn’t long after Recovery Is Happening was founded that we had volunteer Peer Recovery Specialists, Melissa and Joe, meeting with the inmates in our jail, facilitating recovery groups and connecting them with community-based recovery support upon release. Peer Recovery Specialists are individuals who they themselves are now living a life of active recovery and are uniquely trained to offer peer-to-peer support services aimed at promoting abstinence-based, long-term recovery.  They serve as a guide and mentor to those who seek to sustain recovery. Because Melissa and Joe have “been there”, they are often able to connect with inmates on a deeper level, and more quickly, than having not had the same experience.  Not only do these jail recovery groups provide and expound on practical new skill sets of recovery, more importantly, it provides a level of support and encouragement that meets the inmate’s need right where they are at in the recovery process.  

Some of the services that Recovery Is Happening provides to inmates are assisting them with identifying potential problems, overcoming barriers, sharing their own experience and knowledge about addiction and recovery, and supporting the inmates by listening, motivating, and encouraging.  

The connections that are being made between Peer Recovery Specialists and inmates while they are in jail is having a great and lasting impact, and the fruit of that labor is quickly paying off.  In less than a year, one former inmate has completed treatment and is on the road to becoming a Peer Recovery Specialists herself.  It all started with a simple yet life-changing conversation in a correctional facility.  A relationship formed and is still maintained for up to a year (or longer) after getting out of treatment.”