End of Year Reminder

The Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation will be closed for the Holiday Season (December 24th through January 2nd) to allow staff to spend time with their families.

Please continue to offer referrals to First Breath during this time. All individuals referred will be contacted the week of January 5th, 2026.

2025 First Breath Provider Survey Results

Thank you for completing the First Breath Provider Survey! Your feedback makes First Breath stronger and more effective.



• 97% of providers feel comfortable referring clients to First Breath.

• 99% of providers felt First Breath materials and services are appropriate for the community and demographic they serve.

• Many providers shared they have seen an increase in vape and cannabis use.

First Breath Spotlight: First Breath Program Graduate

After trying to quit during her first two pregnancies, one mom found strength to try again during her third pregnancy. Her advice for other participants "Keep going, never give up on yourself."

Ready to refer someone to First Breath?

Use the button to begin a referral in English or Spanish.

Want to read more First Breath participant stories?

Use the button to access the stories of more program graduates.

First Breath Provider Training

We look forward to working with you to support pregnant and parenting people and to improve maternal and child health in Wisconsin!

If you have not already completed since July 2022, we are asking all First Breath sites & referring staff to complete this 1-hour training. 

If you submit First Breath referrals by fax, our number is (855) 746-8502.

Thank you for your support and utilization of the First Breath program!

First Breath is now using data visualization to monitor program utilization and outcomes. Here are reports reflecting First Breath data thus far in 2025 (1/1/2025-11/30/2025). Check them out below!

Congratulations to the First Breath sites with the highest number of referrals for pregnant and postpartum people year-to-date:

• Aurora Health Center Oshkosh - 39
• Ascension St. Joseph Women's Outpatient Center - 29
• Columbia St. Mary's OBGYN Residency Clinic Women's Hospital - 26
• Aurora Medical Group - Marinette - 24
• Milwaukee Women's Care Center - 22
• Health and Nutrition Service of Racine, Inc - 21
• City of Milwaukee Health Department - WIC - 20
• Beloit Health System - Beloit Clinic - 19
• UW Health Union Corners - 18
• Froedtert Hospital Clinics (OB/GYN & MFCC) - 17
• Bellin Generations - Van Buren - 16
• UW Health 20 S. Park Clinic - 16
• Bellin Generations - Development Drive - 15
• United Healthcare Community Plan - Milwaukee - 14

Treating Tobacco Together: Intensive Skills Training

Interested in building on your tobacco treatment skills? This training will help participants build on common counseling skills such as motivational interviewing ad cognitive behavioral therapy. The training will explore assessments, help participants develop effective treatment plans, discuss medication management and review relapse preventions strategies.



The Treating Tobacco Together: Intensive Skills Training will be held virtually January 27th -29th.

Basic Motivational Interviewing

Join a basic motivational interviewing workshop January 20th and January 21st presented by the Association for Addiction Professionals.

Those attending will learn MI, a client - centered, evidence based, goal - oriented method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resoloving ambivalence with the individual.

Women's Health Webinar Series

Using virtual platforms, WWHF's GrapeVine Program is providing a Women's Health Webinar Series. Interested? Find out what sessions are coming up!

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

2:00pm-3:00pm

Topic: Self - Care: Awareness, Acknowledgment, Action

Questions or Feedback?

We'd love to hear from you! Email firstbreath@wwhf.org

First Breath is Wisconsin's program to help people make positive changes to their tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use during pregnancy & beyond.

First Breath is operated by the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation with funding from the Wisconsin Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program, Division of Public Health, & Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

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