THE FAMILIES WE SERVE

Our platform and services are not limited to a single diagnosis, but some of the most common diagnoses our families navigate are ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, cerebral palsy, congenital heart defects, Down syndrome, dyslexia, emotional disturbance, epilepsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, hearing impairment including deafness, intellectual disabilities, orthopedic impairment, Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, vision impairment including blindness, and Williams syndrome.

Families benefit from being part of the Building Healthier Community regardless of geographic location. Our funding does determine the amount of localized resources we are able to provide, but much of the value simply comes from families that are willing to help other families.

OUR LEADERSHIP AND BOARD

Our team is made up of people with a breadth of experience in healthcare and human services, all of whom are passionate about improving the lives of those we serve.

Kiki Dickinson

Kiki Dickinson

BHC Community Manager and Navigator

  • St. Croix Therapy

Kiki Dickinson is the Operations Manager and Physical Therapist at St Croix Therapy, a non-profit outpatient pediatric clinic dedicated to serving youth in the St. Croix Valley with varying abilities and needs where she has worked for 30+ years. Kiki has strong relationships within the St. Croix Valley community. Kiki founded North Star Aquatic Therapy to offer aquatic therapy courses for both the pediatric and adult populations and teaches primarily for Aquatic Therapy University (ATU). Kiki teaches custom aquatic therapy classes nationally and internationally for ATU with a focus on the neuro pediatric population. Kiki has helped develop course manuals for several pediatric courses for Aquatic Therapy University (ATU) and has developed several of her own individual classes that she has presented at national and state conferences. Kiki is also one of the instructors for the APTA Academy of Aquatic Physical Therapy Clinical Competency Certificate. Kiki has been an adjunct professor at St. Catherine's University for over 25 years teaching Pediatric Coursework for their Physical Therapy Assistant Program.

Amy Schneider

Amy Schneider

Executive Director

  • St. Croix Therapy

Amy Schneider is the Executive Director at St Croix Therapy, a non-profit outpatient pediatric clinic dedicated to serving youth in the St. Croix Valley with varying abilities and needs. With a BA in Education from Seattle Pacific University, Amy has 20 years of extensive experience in non-profit, mission-driven work. Her expertise spans program development, facility management, volunteer board development, and the oversight of both capital and annual fundraising efforts. Amy has held significant roles in the community, including serving on the St. Croix Valley Foundation as president, past president of the Hudson Daybreak Rotary club, and currently serving as a member of the St. Croix County Council on Aging and Disabilities. Her leadership and dedication have been instrumental in advancing the missions of the organizations she has served. Amy, along with her husband, Nick, and their twin boys, has been a resident of the St Croix Valley since 2009, where they remain actively involved in the community.

Andy Nelson

Andy Nelson

Retired Executive

  • HealthPartners, Inc.

Andy Nelson is a co-founder of BHA who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, particularly in the area of healthcare research. From 1990 until 2017, Andy led the HealthPartners Institute, a nonprofit research organization based out of the Twin Cities. He continues to serve in the leadership, governance and steering committee roles on local, national and internationally based health and research networks, including as Senior Research Fellow at the HealthPartners Institute.

Chris Kost

Chris Kost

Executive Director

  • Hudson YMCA

Chris Kost is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a double major in Exercise Physiology and Public Health Education. He began his YMCA tenure in 2008, overseeing everything from Aquatics to Member Services, and has been Executive Director of the Hudson YMCA since 2015. Chris is deeply passionate about the communities he serves and is active in the Hudson Chamber of Commerce Board and the Hudson Daybreak Rotary Club. He also teaches a variety of courses for the community, including mental health first aid. Chris and his family reside in Hudson, WI, and he spends his free time golfing and cheering on his favorite Minnesota sports teams.

Tom Brinsko

Tom Brinsko

Retired Executive

  • YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

Tom Brinsko is a co-founder of BHA and a retired non-profit executive, most recently as the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Twin Cities. At the YMCA, he oversaw a broad range of work including strategic planning, finance, operations, marketing, governance, and program development. Tom has dedicated himself to serving families and the community and has served on various nonprofit boards. Tom and his family live in Hudson, WI, and, as a lifelong marathoner and triathlete, he enjoys all manner of outdoor activities.

Margi Miller

Margi Miller

Board Member

  • Building Healthier Communities

Margi Miller has lived in the St. Croix Valley for nearly 40 years. She is a parent advocate, with personal experience navigating services for her special needs child, and working toward inclusivity and positive changes. Margi is the retired Chief Operating Officer of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, where she worked with the staff team to provide high standards in integrity and customer service. Margi provided donor development and fund management services to many donors that had family funds with the foundation. She assisted 10 affiliate foundations throughout the valley in their development and best practices. Margi was a founding board member of Bridge for Community Life in Hudson, Wisconsin. Her duties included creating sustainable summer day camps, and recreational activities for Bridge participants. Margi is passionate about helping families connect with each other and the appropriate resources. Margi believes in the mission of Building Healthy Communities because she has lived a life of advocacy for those who have disabilities and knows that families are the key to support.

OUR STORY AND VISION

The seeds for Building Healthier Community were planted in 1997, when the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the HealthPartners Institute and what is now known as the Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs at the University of Minnesota for a study¹ that identified some of the hurdles that families face when navigating a disability or chronic illness diagnosis.

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