Overdose continues to impact families and communities across Wisconsin, making access to naloxone, recovery support, and community education more important than ever. Start Healing Now works to meet this need by expanding overdose prevention resources, supporting individuals in recovery, and helping communities become better prepared to save lives. This work is made possible through strong partnerships with community supporters, including the Terry Fritz Memorial Foundation.

2026 Six-Month Progress Update: January–June 2026
Turning Strategic Priorities into Action

At the beginning of 2026, the Start Healing Now Board of Directors adopted four strategic priorities to guide our work throughout the year. Six months later, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, donors, community partners, and supporters.

While there is still important work ahead, the first half of 2026 has brought new partnerships, expanded overdose prevention efforts, increased community outreach, and continued growth across our organization. This update highlights progress made toward each of our four strategic priorities during the first six months of 2026.

Prevention: Expanding Access to Lifesaving Resources
Increasing access to naloxone remains one of SHN's highest priorities. During the first half of
2026, we:

• Launched the O.A.K. Memorial Installation Program, giving families a meaningful way to honor loved ones while helping protect others.
• Installed memorial O.A.K.s in Hartford and Fond du Lac.
• Installed two O.A.K.s at Bridges of Dodge County’s Joe’s House sober living residences.
• Partnered with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the first Planned Parenthood affiliate in the nation participating in the Clinton Foundation’s Overdose Response Network.
• Continued expanding our O.A.K. Program, which now serves more than 60 school buildings in over 20 Wisconsin school districts.
• Distributed naloxone, fentanyl test strips, educational materials, and overdose response resources through community partnerships.

Every new partnership, installation, and training opportunity expands access to lifesaving resources and helps communities become better prepared to respond when every minute matters.

Recovery Support: Investing in People and Hope
Supporting recovery means investing in people, recognizing those making a difference, and creating opportunities for hope. During the first half of the year, SHN:

• Awarded the 2026 Start Healing Now Youth Volunteer Award and a $500 scholarship to Kianna Geschke in recognition of her volunteer service, leadership, and dedication to helping others.
• Strengthened partnerships with recovery organizations and community advocates across Wisconsin.
• Participated in Recovery Night with the Milwaukee Bucks, connecting with individuals and families while sharing prevention and recovery resources.
• Continued expanding our Healing in Focus series, sharing stories that inspire hope, reduce stigma, and highlight recovery.

Community Engagement: Building Awareness Across Wisconsin
Education, outreach, and community partnerships continue to be at the heart of SHN’s mission. During the first six months of 2026, we connected with individuals, families, educators, businesses, healthcare professionals, and community organizations across Wisconsin through events, trainings, and public awareness initiatives. Highlights included:

• Participating in Recovery Night with the Bucks, the We Heart You Community Event, and the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries Conference.
• Providing overdose response training to more than 250 Bergstrom Automotive employees at 30 Wisconsin locations.
• Providing 192 kits of Naloxone across 19 Planned Parenthood locations in Wisconsin and trained over 75 employees on the lifesaving medication.
• Promoting National Drug Take Back Day and supporting awareness of state and federal efforts to expand school access to naloxone and overdose prevention education.
• Continuing to publish our monthly newsletter, expand the blog series, and share educational resources through our website and social media.

Every event, training, article, and partnership helps expand awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage communities to be prepared when every minute matters.

Organizational Sustainability: Growing Our Impact
As an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, strong partnerships and community support make
everything we do possible. During the first half of 2026, SHN:

• Expanded partnerships with schools, healthcare organizations, businesses, libraries, recovery organizations, and community groups.
• Continued improving our educational resources and communications through our website, newsletters, and social media.
• Welcomed an additional Board member, strengthening our volunteer leadership.

The progress we've made during the first half of 2026 would not be possible without our
volunteers, Board members, donors, community partners, and supporters. Together, we are
turning strategic priorities into action—and action into hope for individuals, families, and
communities across Wisconsin. Thank you for being part of this mission.