University of Wisconsin–Madison

Wisconsin Healthy Communities Gold Designees

The following communities achieved a Gold designation from the Wisconsin Healthy Communities program.

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Eau Claire County

Population: 102,965
Lead Applicant: Eau Claire Healthy Communities

The beautiful and historic community of Eau Claire comprises much of the Chippewa River Valley, and is both an urban and rural county. Eau Claire County is a regional hub for education, healthcare, retail, government and features a strong agricultural community.

Initiatives

  • Enforcement of laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors

  • Trauma-informed care

  • Neighborhood associations

  • Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)

  • Proper drug disposal programs

  • Healthy home environment assessments

  • Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training

  • Chronic disease self management program

Jefferson County

Population: 84,832
Lead Applicant: Fort HealthCare, Inc.

Jefferson County is a vibrant, active, rural county in southeastern Wisconsin. It is comprised of a large variety of partnering businesses, local government, organizations, schools, local public health departments, including charitable community health and dental clinics, and a hospital and health system.

Initiatives

  • Establish and support multiple healthy community coalitions to help reduce obesity rates of residents within the Greater Jefferson County area through multi-level diet & exercise strategies.

  • Jefferson County Alcohol Treatment Court and Drug Treatment Court

  • Jefferson County – Park and Recreation Open Space Plan 2013-2018

  • Rock River Free Clinic

  • Seal-A-Smile program through the Community Dental Clinic

  • Behavioral Health Primary Care Integration

  • Computerized Physician Order Entry in the electronic medical record (CPOE)

  • Proper Drug Disposal Programs

La Crosse County

Population: 118,212
Lead Applicant: La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium

La Crosse County is an urban/rural area along the Mississippi River in scenic western Wisconsin that provides a year-round venue for outdoor sports, recreation, and natural beauty. It was originally home to the native Ho-Chunk Nation, who still have a presence today, in addition to German, Irish, and Scandinavian cultures.

Initiatives:

  • Coulee Region Farm2School
  • Strong Seniors
  • Drug Disposal Program
  • Complete Streets Policies
  • Behavioral Health Integration into Primary Care
  • Career Academies
  • Housing First
  • Community Policing
  • Great Rivers HUB (healthcare pathways program)
  • Project Proven (Bridge program for hard-to employ adults)

Watertown

Population: 24,000
Lead Applicant: Get Healthy Watertown Coalition

The City of Watertown is located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison bordering a rural community setting. Watertown’s industry includes: manufacturing, light industries, food processing, education, healthcare, retail and distribution along with a variety of other niche industries. The city also contains numerous parks, trails, and a waterway, the Rock River.

Initiatives:

  • Active programs for older adults

  • Child Passenger Safety-Car Seat Dispense Program

  • Early Childhood Home Visitation Program

  • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP)

  • School Dental Program

  • School Breakfast Program

  • Sharp Corner Park Project

  • Coffective Community Breastfeeding Initiative

West Allis

Population: 60,000
Lead Applicant: West Allis Health Department

The City of West Allis is a suburban community adjacent to the City of Milwaukee, committed to supporting healthy lifestyles for our residents. West Allis offers a lively urban mix of dining, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment, balanced by opportunities to relax, create, or enjoy the outdoors.

Initiatives:

  • Every Student, Every Day Initiative

  • Violence Free West Allis Collaborative

  • Mobile Integrated Health (MIH)

  • West Allis Fire Department Risk Reduction Program

  • Community Development Block Grant Funds Blight Elimination Program

  • West Allis West Milwaukee Healthy Lifestyle Coalition – Mayor’s Challenge

  • West Allis Police Department/Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Crisis Assessment Response Team

  • Book a Librarian

  • Dental Health Program (School-based & WIC)

Wood County

Population: 74,469
Lead Applicant: Wood County Health Department

Wood County is an 809 square mile area of Central Wisconsin, with 37% of the population living in rural areas and 63% in small cities, such as Wisconsin Rapids. Wood County is also home to two health care systems, the largest cranberry assets in the nation, and the paper industry.

Initiatives:

  • Wood County Farm to School

  • Farmers’ Markets

  • Wood County Adult Drug Treatment Court

  • Prescription Drug Disposal Programs

  • Healthy Smiles for Wood County (School Dental Program)

  • River Cities Clubhouse (RCC) and A Better Way Clubhouse (ABW)

  • Maternal Child Home Visiting

  • Safe Kids Wood County: Car seat distribution, installation & education