In the Ring with Héctor Colón

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Leaders in human services, philanthropy, business and government get real about their challenges associated with removing stigma and barriers to health and well-being for people who are most in need. Every episode will address the what, why and how of creating opportunity for human services organizations to: - Improve, share and build on outcomes across the sector - Pay employees commensurate to their value - Invest in innovation, technology and research

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan


    • Jan 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 35 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from In the Ring with Héctor Colón

    In the Ring Redux: Héctor Colón in His Own Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 33:34


    S3 Ep 12: Season 3 Year in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 51:10


    S3 Ep 11: "Knocking Out Excess Cost in Pharmacy" with Dr. Connie Perry

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 32:08


    S3 Ep 10: "The Truth about Immigration and Refugees" with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 36:43


    S3 Ep 9: On The Issues - The Blue Corner with Tammy Baldwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 38:47


    S3 Ep 9: On The Issues - The Red Corner with Eric Hovde

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 42:44


    S3 Ep 8: Scalable Solutions That Empower America's Youth with Jim Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 36:07


    S3 Ep 7: Improving Lifelong Success Through Early Intervention with Laura Gutíerrez

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 30:00


    S3 Ep 6: Saving Lives and Relationships Through Early Intervention: Lenore's Story by Lenore Epps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 40:41


    S3 Ep 5: Wisconsin Workforce Shortage: A Blow-by-Blow Analysis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 42:37


    S3 Ep 4: The Return on Investment of Early Intervention with Sam Sipes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 40:42


    S3 Ep 3: Overcoming Legislative Pitfalls & Partisanship with Rep. Barb Dittrich

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 35:59


    S3 Ep 2: Flipping the Script with Héctor Colón

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 37:36


    S3 Ep 1: Changing the "Terrible Truth" with Alesia Frerichs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 40:59


    S2 Ep 9: Moving from I/Me/Mine to We/Us/Ours with Mike Victorson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 42:28


    Happy Thanksgiving from Lutheran Social Services!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 0:55


    S2 Ep 8: Fresh Perspectives on Mental Healthcare with Meg Kissinger

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 36:16


    S2, Ep 7: The Power of Peer Support with Brittany Nessel and Sara Kieffer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 51:05


    S2, Ep 6: The Changing Landscape of Mental Health Treatment with Jill Chaffee

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 44:31


    S2, EP 5: Evolving Milwaukee County Mental Health to Prevention-Centered Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 43:22


    S2, EP 4: Making Health Insurance an ”Honest Business”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 37:10


    S2, EP 3: How You Can Get Closer to ”Yes” on State Budget Considerations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 37:07


    S2, EP 2: Maximize ROI by Harnessing Your Organizational Superpower

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 31:05


    S2, EP 1: Amplifying Sector Voices for Change and Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 47:01


    EP. 11: Must-Do Strategies to Increase Excellence, Distinction & Influence in 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 51:01


    Ep. 10: Champion Leaders Address Justice, Innovation, and Mentorship

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 59:06


    Ep. 9: Knocking Out the Real Social Issues in Wisconsin with Governor Evers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 38:10


    In the interview, Colón asks Gov. Evers tough questions about the rise of behavioral challenges in Wisconsin and how he would more broadly address Social Determinants of Health (food insecurity, homelessness, unemployment, etc.). The two discuss the need for improving partnerships between health systems and social services organizations like LSS. Gov. Evers also shares his thoughts on the quality and outcomes of government contracts.

    Ep. 8: Mike Victorson and Chris Kenyon - Not All Employees Are Treated Equal: Delivering Real Outcomes Over Outputs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 40:40


    Ep. 7: Jose Olivieri - Living the Duties of Care, Loyalty and Obedience Over Self

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 36:31


    Ep. 6 - Frank Cumberbatch: Humanity Up Close at the Heart of Humanity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 40:02


    Ep.5 - Davide Duea: Mental Health Crisis Demands Intervention. Bold Asks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 38:25


    LSS President and CEO, Héctor Colón, sits down with David Duea, President and CEO of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, to discuss how bold, aggressive advocacy and unashamed appeals for funding is vital for success. David describes how his organization's push for big gifts and proactive partnerships with other agencies have taken Lutheran Community Services Northwest to the next level and helped countless more in need. David also stresses how early intervention programs are vital to the health and well-being of everyone, including those working in social services agencies. This work is transformational, and it is important to have specific professionals to focus on each type of situation. Concentrated, direct devotion to each individual and family gives agencies the best opportunity to make an impact.

    Ep. 4 - Tracy Wareing-Evans: Accelerating Public Trust through Sector Alignment, Investment.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 43:18


    Ep.3 -Charlotte Haberaecker: If Not Us, Who? Human services shift social challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 32:42


    Too much emphasis for funding in the social sector has focused on providing services after problems have occurred. A lack of innovation and prevention dollars create larger gaps among certain demographics and fail to correct long-term problems for individuals and communities. Developing healthy, productive children and adults who live with purpose and meaning is critical to solving societies largest problems – and the social services sector can lead the charge. LSS President and CEO Héctor Colón chats with Charlotte Haberaecker, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America, as she talks about creating a disruption, not waiting for one to happen. Charlotte and Héctor also discuss the workforce shortage in the sector and how it impacts its members, the services they provide, and the ability to meet the whole needs of people. They also break down the need for upstream funding through innovation and prevention, and how strategic partnerships and stakeholders can help fuel philanthropy that provides flexible spending to fulfill essential needs.

    Ep. 2 - Kathy Markeland: Demystifying social services: Pathways beyond healthcare that lead to sustainable well-being for all

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 32:29


    As the social services sector fights to provide equitable support across demographics, its leaders must question how the current systems create disparities in different regions and communities. The industry also faces a perception concern, where many view social services like a charity instead of a fully functioning workforce designed to empower people and lead them to successful futures. Through targeted investments and partnerships, particularly within healthcare, government and the sector as a whole, more doors and funds can be opened to both appropriately compensation its employees and deliver comprehensive and sustainable services needed to truly empower vulnerable populations to thrive. LSS President and CEO Héctor Colón speaks with Kathy Markeland, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children's Agencies (WAFCA). Kathy shares her expertise and insight into how WAFCA and its members are “Wisconsinizing” the report, A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America. Kathy and Héctor also discuss the social services' perception problem. That many view the sector as a one-dimensional charity and do not see it as the missing piece to whole person care that empowers health and wellness. Highlights 7:24 – It is center to our mission in charge within the human services sector: To be questioning how our systems can be better formed to provide for more equity in the ability for people to move forward and actually realize their full human potential, which is really, ultimately what we hope for our families and the individuals we serve.”  (7:46) 9:46 – We all will be touched by the need of human services. At some point in our life we are going to intersect with that ecosystem of services. And that it's not about who needs and who doesn't need, it's about that we all have need and ultimately we'll all tap into a human services…point.” (10:06) 13:28 – That perception that we are simply charity or somehow only charitable entities, and not recognizing that fundamental value of social services as a core component of delivering what we need for our communities.” (13:44) 16:03 – At the core, when you think about some of the fundamental services that we provide, whether they be in the community or in foster care, these are not things that are optional. These are things that we as a community have stepped up to say we need to provide for this.” (16:18) 18:02 – So we found ourselves sort of at a difficult point where you also are left with some disparities around what can be done in various regions of the state. Some places do have more prevention services than others. I think that that inequity and disparities is another piece that, because of the design of our systems that really is stark in Wisconsin. (18:24) 25:36 – One of the messages that I hear from our members is they are looking for ways to be better partners with the healthcare system, to be able to be part of an integrated package of services. And that we have specialty to bring to that work that we would really like to see recognized in partnership with them more.” (25:44) 27:21 – We have to double invest. We need to put some investment in prevention in order for us to realize that win – that return on investment in the long run. I think putting some additional dollars towards that. Recognizing and paying our workforce in a way that helps us sustain and grow and really further professionalize some of our areas, particularly in the direct care workforce, would be huge for in the state. (27:47)

    Ep. 1 - Susan Dreyfus: Causing Disruptions: Upping the Social Services Game Across the Sector

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 32:20


    Summary: If the social services sector is going to make a greater impact, then leaders must work together to elevate preventative services to the level of healthcare. Sector leaders need to help advocates who are not typically involved in direct client care (e.g., policy makers, philanthropists, etc.) proximate to our work in order to experience what it takes to holistically and sustainably improve lives. To reach this level, it will take a collective disruption by sector leaders to push towards increased partnerships including mergers and acquisitions, data and information sharing and more robust funding across the board. LSS President and CEO Héctor Colón speaks with Susan Dreyfus, a respected social services thought leader, to discuss her thoughts and experiences on how the sector as a whole can up its game. The time is now. Let's go! Highlights: 7:12– Social and environmental determinants of health are more important to your health and my health than all of the primary care services that we could be providing to people. (7:22) 11:55 – If you gotta make one investment, make it in early childhood, because it's our one hope. (12:00) 16:12 – In order for us to do our very best work and to put investment in things like advocacy; to put investment in things that build our capacity through the lens of innovation and technology….We can't do that without margin. (16:28) 19:36 – What we're stewards of is a mission. The organization is the mechanism to which that mission is achieved. If we can create a better mechanism to achieve that mission – and not just for the provision of programs and services, but larger influence and capacities in our organizations – that's what we're stewards of. (19:55) 22:28 – I think our boards of directors – we like the who's who of community – they have a level of access that I think we underestimate and underutilize. (22:37) 26:21 – Identify your core policy champions. Get them proximate to your organization. Not just for the mission moment at a board meeting. Get them proximate to the neighbors and the communities that you engage and support, and you will have a champion going forward. (26:38) 27:23 – And I think our sector competes too much with one another. We're competing for contracts – bottom line. And I think we have to understand we're stronger together. (27:33)

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