New deputy director announced for clearinghouse

Kathryn Wolf has been named new deputy director of the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources (WCPR), a unit of University Health Services at UW–Madison.

Wolf fills the position formerly held by Stephen Braunginn, who has become the chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Madison.

WCPR is the state information center on alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse. It provides education and early intervention materials on child abuse and neglect prevention; community empowerment; resiliency; violence, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and suicide prevention; and voluntary community service and civic involvement.

“Kathy has displayed a depth of leadership, a commitment to building strong communities and healthy families that is the essence of the work of the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources,” said Carol Lobes, director of WCPR. “Her savvy and ability to move an agenda forward will assure that we continue to provide the effective, quality resources that are critical in a rapidly changing world. We are extremely pleased to have Kathy join us.”

Wolf leaves 10 years of service as director of the UW-Adolescent Alcohol/Drug Abuse (AODA) Intervention Program. Her background includes previous employment at the Mental Health Center of Dane County, Dane County Department of Human Services and Lutheran Social Services.

She has a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling psychology from UW–Madison and two undergraduate degrees, in psychology and human development, from UW-Green Bay.

Wolf has served on a number of consortiums, task forces and committees in Dane County and throughout Wisconsin. She co-authored a three-year rural AODA prevention grant funded through the State Bureau of Substance Abuse and helped develop a premier AODA training project for pediatric residents. This program has become an integral part of medical school training at UW–Madison and was highlighted in the 1995 Academic Medicine Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Other experiences include serving as team leader for the development of Uniform Patient Placement Criteria through the State Bureau of Substance Abuse; vice president of the Wisconsin Association of Alcohol and other Drug Abuse; leader on the Wisconsin Task Force to Reduce Underage Drinking; and, for the past eight years, a member of the advisory board for the Wisconsin Clearinghouse.

“The Wisconsin Clearinghouse has helped to expand the definition of prevention to include innovative ideas and research based strategies,” says Wolf. “Of particular interest to me has been the development and facilitation of citizenship initiatives, such as the Family and Community Town Suppers which help to strengthen the bonds between and among families and communities. Health and resiliency are being addressed in holistic and creative ways … it’s exciting to be a part of it.”