Accomplishments

An emergency medical kit laid open on a concrete surface, showing various supplies including medication, bandages, antiseptic bottles, and other first aid items organized in mesh compartments.

Community Paramedic Program

Laura Scudiere worked closely with hospital partners and community stakeholders to design the Community Paramedic Program, which brought skilled medical care directly into patients’ homes. The program focused on individuals with complex health and social needs who were frequently cycling through emergency departments without receiving the support needed for long-term stability. Laura played a central role in shaping the program’s proposal, co-developing its structure with partners, and securing start-up funding to make the vision a reality.

Through this collaborative effort, the program reduced unnecessary emergency room visits by 50% since its launch in 2024. By addressing health issues proactively and meeting patients where they were, the initiative provided compassionate, community-based care while relieving pressure on emergency services and improving continuity for high-risk individuals.

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Mental Health Collaborative

Laura Scudiere helped create the Mental Health Collaborative, a cross-sector partnership that brought together schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations to address rising youth suicide rates. She played a leading role in defining the collaborative’s structure, aligning shared goals across diverse partners, and securing eight years of sustainable operational funding through a combination of grants and public-private partnerships.

Through her leadership, the collaborative established a more coordinated and responsive system of support for youth mental health. Laura’s ability to unify stakeholders around a common mission led to lasting infrastructure that continues to strengthen prevention and intervention efforts across the community.

Close-up of a gloved hand holding a syringe and vial, preparing a vaccine or medication.

Contributed to National Research on Vaccine Misinformation

Laura Scudiere served on the research team for a peer-reviewed study examining how online vaccine misinformation appears in search results and affects public understanding. The study found that websites with misleading or false vaccine content were more likely to use emotional language, harder-to-read text, and appeared frequently in common online searches. Laura’s contribution supported a broader effort to improve digital health literacy and help public health professionals counter misinformation with clear, evidence-based communication.

Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35380412

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Sober Living Facility

Working in partnership with Langlade County leadership and local law enforcement, Laura Scudiere helped propose and design a sober living facility specifically for women at high risk of recidivism. She played a key role in shaping the initiative to provide a safe, supportive environment that addresses the underlying causes of substance use and justice system involvement.

The facility was developed as part of a broader strategy to promote recovery, reduce repeat offenses, and support long-term stability for women in the community. Laura’s collaborative approach ensured the program was grounded in both public health and criminal justice perspectives, offering a more effective and humane response to the cycle of incarceration and addiction.

A white police car with flashing orange lights on a city street at dusk or night, with buildings and traffic lights in the background.

Crisis Assessment Response Teams

In partnership with local law enforcement, Laura Scudiere designed and launched a new crisis response system known as the CART Team (Crisis Assessment Response Teams). This innovative model pairs a trained crisis worker with a law enforcement officer to co-respond to mental health-related calls in the community, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive timely and appropriate care.

Laura’s leadership helped shift the response from a traditional enforcement model to one grounded in behavioral health, reducing unnecessary arrests and emergency room visits. The program has resulted in more effective use of law enforcement resources and improved outcomes for both individuals and the broader community.

A group of women and a man in business attire engaged in a discussion at a conference table, with water bottles and notepads in front of them.

Public Health Council

Governor Tony Evers appointed Laura Scudiere to the Wisconsin State Public Health Council, a legislatively mandated advisory body responsible for guiding the state’s public health system. In this role, she contributes strategic insight on public health priorities, workforce challenges, and systems improvement, helping shape policy recommendations that impact communities statewide. Her appointment reflects deep trust in her leadership during a critical time for public health in Wisconsin.

Brick pathway in a garden with colorful flowers on either side, ending at a wooden bench surrounded by trees and greenery.

Community Garden Program

Laura Scudiere founded a community garden program in partnership with the local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and key community partners to promote access to fresh, healthy food and strengthen community connections. She collaborated with local partners to transform underused urban spaces into a shared garden where patients, staff, and neighborhood residents could grow produce, learn about nutrition, and support one another.

The program was intentionally designed to address food insecurity while fostering a sense of ownership, dignity, and well-being among participants. Laura’s leadership bridged healthcare and community engagement, creating a sustainable model that advanced both public health and social cohesion.

A young girl with curly hair, wearing a denim vest and shorts, playing and reaching up to catch a red balloon in the sky with her arms raised.

Youth Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital

Laura Scudiere led the design of a youth inpatient psychiatric hospital to fill a critical gap in local mental health services for children and adolescents. At the time, young people in crisis were often sent hours away to receive care, creating harmful disruptions to their support systems and long-term stability. Laura brought together partners from county human services, healthcare systems, and regulatory agencies to develop a solution that prioritized trauma-informed care, kept youth within their communities, and centered family involvement throughout treatment.

The model she helped build reduced unnecessary hospitalizations by providing timely psychiatric stabilization in a local setting. This approach improved clinical outcomes while minimizing disruptions to school, home life, and recovery. Laura’s work established a care system rooted in access, compassion, and continuity, easing the burden on emergency departments and eliminating the need for frequent out-of-county placements.