With local and tribal public health departments regularly asked to do more work with limited resources, there is value in highlighting examples of successful cross-county collaboration — particularly initiatives that demonstrate how shared processes or pooled resources can benefit communities across county borders.
The August Spotlight highlighted initiatives where two county health departments worked together — whether by scaling an idea or sharing resources — to create a broader impact in Wisconsin public health.
Presenters Gary Garske (Portage County Division of Public Health) and Kristie Egge (Wood County Health Department) outlined the following guidance for cross-county collaboration and resource sharing.
Guiding Principles for Shared Resource Strategies for Local and Tribal Health Departments
-
Start with Shared Goals
- Align on a common vision for community health outcomes.
- Identify overlapping priorities (e.g., maternal health, chronic disease, emergency preparedness) to focus efforts.
-
Build Trust and Transparency
- Establish clear communication channels and decision-making processes.
- Be open about constraints, capacities, and expectations from the start.
- Contact UWPHI for additional resources on
- 1:1
- Self Interest
- Build a Charter
-
Leverage Complementary Strengths
- Map out each department’s unique assets—staff expertise, data systems, community relationships, fiscal capabilities etc.
- Share what each department does best to avoid duplication and maximize efficiency.
-
Center Equity
-
- Ensure that shared resources are used to reduce disparities, not reinforce them.
- Involve community voices in planning and evaluation to ensure relevance and accountability.
-
Create Flexible, Scalable Models
- Pilot shared initiatives (e.g., joint grant writing, shared epidemiologists, mobile clinics) that can grow over time.
- Use data and evaluation to adapt and scale what works.
-
Formalize Agreements
- Develop MOUs or shared service agreements to clarify roles, responsibilities, and resource contributions.
- Include mechanisms for conflict resolution and regular review.
-
Invest in Relationships
-
- Collaboration is sustained by people, not just plans.
- Schedule regular check-ins, joint trainings, and shared learning opportunities to strengthen the partnership.