At the 2025 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference, Public Consulting Group (PCG) partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for a dynamic session. This session offered attendees an inside look at how strategic in-person engagement can amplify the impact of major HCBS initiatives, highlighting practical approaches for improving outcomes and driving systemic change in home and community-based services.

The HCBS Summit demonstrated that convening diverse stakeholders, including state leaders, providers, and community partners, creates a powerful multiplier effect. By fostering opportunities for shared learning, relationship-building, and collective problem-solving, the summit turned a single initiative into a broader, more effective program with lasting impact.

“In a moment when HCBS can seem societally undervalued, a provider summit is a great way to reaffirm the value of the work HCBS providers do, to the wider public, to legislators, and to the people actually doing that work day-to-day.” — Peter Buzby, Sr. Manager Communications, Public Consulting Group

PCG and WDHS shared concrete strategies for:

• Encouraging stakeholder engagement: Bringing key voices together ensures diverse perspectives inform program design and implementation.
• Driving actionable outcomes: Structured discussions and follow-up planning turn ideas into measurable improvements.
• Strengthening program sustainability: Collaborative frameworks help initiatives continue to grow and adapt beyond the summit.

“One of the most exciting outcomes was the success of outreach efforts and the funding of programs that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. Particularly, the long-term impacts of several awarded grants. Notably, initiatives to expand transportation and improve community access, the construction of a fully accessible playground, and the integration of technology to better support individuals in the HCBS community.” — Jennifer Wingenbach, RN, BSN, CPHQ, Sr. Program Manager, Public Consulting Group.

Through real-world examples and lessons learned, the session highlighted that collective effort and strategic planning are essential to scaling successful HCBS initiatives. By reflecting on Wisconsin’s HCBS Summit, we share our commitment to advancing collaboration, driving innovation, and strengthening communication across the field of home and community-based services.

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