Agency History

Founded in 1980 as Midstate Epilepsy Association, an expansion in 1999 led to a change of name -- the Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin. As a United Way agency, we are dedicated to providing education, services and advocacy to benefit people with epilepsy, their families and the greater community. We are an affiliate of the national Epilepsy Foundation and we are the past recipient of an “Affiliate of the Year” award. Our mission is to promote health, independence and opportunity for children and adults with seizure disorders, while increasing understanding and acceptance of epilepsy throughout Central and Northeast Wisconsin.

From our beginnings in the home of a Wisconsin Rapids volunteer whose newly diagnosed epilepsy led her to develop much-needed community resources for those with the disorder, the Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin has grown into an agency with two offices, four staff members, a Board of Directors, a Professional Advisory Board and more than 100 volunteers.

With headquarters in Stevens Point and a branch office in Menasha, the Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin serves 21 counties. In our service area as many as 24,500 people are estimated to have epilepsy; 10 percent of the total population will have a seizure sometime during their lives. We provide services to help individuals and families deal with any of the problems that may result: treatment difficulties, medication management, adjustment at school or work, loss of self-esteem, inability to drive or get a job, safety issues, memory loss, economic hardship, lack of health insurance, lingering social stigma, and anger and frustration.

Support groups, case management, individual education and support, information and referral, and emergency funding are among our direct services programs. Also offered are public and professional education, conferences and workshops, school programs on epilepsy, in-service training, media outreach, a quarterly newsletter and a lending library of books and videos.