The Advancing Behavioral Health Initiative Learning Community
Over the course of the past eight years, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) supported a Learning Community for the 10 behavioral health coalitions to support skill building, peer support, expert training, and collaborative work. The paper “” (PDF) shares some of the initial lessons and experience.

Year One (2016-2017): Building the Learning Community
During year one, the Learning Community met monthly and focused on:
- Developing their goals, strategies, and metrics for the next seven years;
- Learning best practices in collective impact for building effective coalitions; and
- Building a supportive peer community.
Year One Goals and Challenges

Goals and Challenges
Years Two through Four (2017-2019): Peer Support and Collaboration
During years two through four, the Learning Community met quarterly, visiting a different community each session for 1.5 days that enabled the coalitions to do three things:
- Update peers and get feedback on the progress of their strategies and coalitions;
- Dive more deeply into the host coalition’s experience, innovations, and lessons; and
- Provide responsive training and support to issues or needs identified by the community.
Years Two through Four Goals and Challenges

Goals and Challenges
Years Five and Six (2020-2022): Covid
The pandemic had many impacts on the Learning Community:
- The coalitions’ progress was halted as partners closed offices and shifted priorities;
- Many coalitions worked closely with or were housed in health departments whose work was diverted to Covid response;
- Many coalitions partnered closely with schools that were closed; and
- Mental health needs became more widespread and acute.
Years Five and Six Goals and Challenges

Goals and Challenges
Years Seven and Eight (2023-2024): Phase Three and Beyond
The third ph