THE FAMILIES WE SERVE
Our platform and services are not limited to a single diagnosis, but some of the most common diagnoses our families navigate are ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, cerebral palsy, congenital heart defects, Down syndrome, dyslexia, emotional disturbance, epilepsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, hearing impairment including deafness, intellectual disabilities, orthopedic impairment, Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, vision impairment including blindness, and Williams syndrome.
Families benefit from being part of the Building Healthier America community regardless of geographic location. Our funding does determine the amount of localized resources we are able to provide, but much of the value simply comes from families that are willing to help other families.
OUR LEADERSHIP AND BOARD
Our team is made up of people with a breadth of experience in healthcare and human services, all of whom are passionate about improving the lives of those we serve.
Amy Schneider
Executive Director
- St. Croix Therapy
Amy Schneider is the Executive Director at St Croix Therapy, a non-profit outpatient pediatric clinic dedicated to serving youth in the St. Croix Valley with varying abilities and needs. With a BA in Education from Seattle Pacific University, Amy has 20 years of extensive experience in non-profit, mission-driven work. Her expertise spans program development, facility management, volunteer board development, and the oversight of both capital and annual fundraising efforts. Amy has held significant roles in the community, including serving on the St. Croix Valley Foundation as president, past president of the Hudson Daybreak Rotary club, and currently serving as a member of the St. Croix County Council on Aging and Disabilities. Her leadership and dedication have been instrumental in advancing the missions of the organizations she has served. Amy, along with her husband, Nick, and their twin boys, has been a resident of the St Croix Valley since 2009, where they remain actively involved in the community.
Andy Nelson is a co-founder of BHA who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, particularly in the area of healthcare research. From 1990 until 2017, Andy led the HealthPartners Institute, a nonprofit research organization based out of the Twin Cities. He continues to serve in the leadership, governance and steering committee roles on local, national and internationally based health and research networks, including as Senior Research Fellow at the HealthPartners Institute.
Chris Kost
Executive Director
- Hudson YMCA
Chris Kost is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a double major in Exercise Physiology and Public Health Education. He began his YMCA tenure in 2008, overseeing everything from Aquatics to Member Services, and has been Executive Director of the Hudson YMCA since 2015. Chris is deeply passionate about the communities he serves and is active in the Hudson Chamber of Commerce Board and the Hudson Daybreak Rotary Club. He also teaches a variety of courses for the community, including mental health first aid. Chris and his family reside in Hudson, WI, and he spends his free time golfing and cheering on his favorite Minnesota sports teams.
Tom Brinsko is a co-founder of BHA and a retired non-profit executive, most recently as the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Twin Cities. At the YMCA, he oversaw a broad range of work including strategic planning, finance, operations, marketing, governance, and program development. Tom has dedicated himself to serving families and the community and has served on various nonprofit boards. Tom and his family live in Hudson, WI, and, as a lifelong marathoner and triathlete, he enjoys all manner of outdoor activities.
OUR STORY AND VISION
The seeds for Building Healthier America were planted in 1997, when the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the HealthPartners Institute and what is now known as the Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs at the University of Minnesota for a study¹ that identified some of the hurdles that families face when navigating a disability or chronic illness diagnosis.