Wisconsin Genetics Advisory Committee
2014
The purpose of the Wisconsin Genetics Advisory Committee is to:
 Advise the Statewide Genetics Program and the Genetics Systems Integration (GSI) Hub.
 Guide efforts to strengthen the genetics infrastructure in Wisconsin.
Overarching Goal
The goal of the collaboration between the Wisconsin Genetics Advisory Committee, the
Statewide Genetics Program, and the GSI Hub is to more seamlessly integrate genetics with
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
public health programs.
Guiding Principles
The Wisconsin Genetics Advisory Committee will use the guiding principles of the Wisconsin
MCH Program. These guiding principles are:
Person/Family-Centered Care
Person/Family-Centered Care recognizes the vital role that families play in ensuring the health
and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and family members of all ages through a
respectful family-professional partnership. It acknowledges that emotional, social, and
developmental supports are integral components of health care. It promotes best and promising
practice in paternal involvement. It honors the strengths, cultures, traditions, and expertise that
everyone brings to the relationship. It promotes the health and well-being of individuals and
families and restores dignity and control to them. Person/Family-Centered Care is the standard of
practice which will result in high quality coordinated and integrated services.
Cultural and Linguistic Proficiency
Cultural Proficiency requires a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come
together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural
situations. Linguistic Proficiency requires the capacity and personnel to communicate effectively,
and convey information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences including
persons of limited English proficiency, those who have low literacy skills or are not literate, and
individuals with disabilities. Cultural and Linguistic Proficiency is reflected in the following: 1)
Access and non-discrimination practices and approaches are embraced; 2) Services and materials
are translated and provided in the preferred language and mode of delivery for the populations
served; 3) Programs and services are designed and tailored to match the unique cultural needs of
the individuals, families and communities; 4) Work is done in conjunction with community
members as full partners in decision-making; and 5) Program outreach and recruitment extends
to include increased natural, informal support from both traditional and non-traditional networks.
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Community-Wide Leadership
Community-Wide Leadership involves a commitment of time, energy, and resources; bringing
people together from many sectors of a community, and recognizing the value of all voices in the
systems that affect peoples’ lives.
Health Promotion, Prevention, and Resiliency
Health Promotion, Prevention, and Resiliency refers to the capacity of infants, children, families,
neighborhoods, and communities to thrive in spite of stressful circumstances by building on the
strengths within the individual, family, community, and society. This approach fosters patterns of
behavior that enhance the quality of life in areas such as communication skills, positive decision
making, and self-esteem.
Outreach
Outreach refers to working through partners and stakeholders to communicate with families and
assisting those families to navigate systems of care, access services, and have their needs met.
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