Population Health Institute
Translating Research for Policy and Practice

Wisconsin Healthy Communities Silver Designees

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

Beaver Dam

Population: 16,564
Lead Applicant: Blue Zones Project Dodge County

Beaver Dam is the home of beautiful Beaver Dam Lake, twenty-one parks, and has top education and healthcare systems.

Initiatives:

  • Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

  • Activity Programs for Older Adults

  • Community Center- The Watermark Senior Center

  • Bicycle Paths, Lanes, and Tracks

  • Community Gardens

  • Complete Streets and Streetscape Design

Dodge County

Population: 88,000
Lead Applicant: Blue Zones Project Dodge County

Dodge County is located in south-eastern region of Wisconsin. Known for its lakes, streams, and small towns, Dodge County offers a peaceful rural environment located within an hour drive of Milwaukee, Madison and Fox Valley metropolitan areas. The County is comprised of four cities- Beaver Dam, Mayville, Juneau and Horicon- and over 30 villages and townships. Since 2017, Dodge County partners in health improvement have been working towards comprehensive community transformation, exceeding targets to engage individuals and organization and to implement policy changes within organization and municipalities. In summer of 2020, Dodge County became a certified Blue Zones Project community, meaning it achieved the resident engagement, organizational commitment, policy changes, and improvements in health and well-being set by Blue Zones LLC.

Initiatives:

  • Blue Zones Project Health Schools Checklist

  • Moais

  • Juneau Tobacco-Free Parks

  • Mobile Food Pantry Relocation

  • Food Insecurity Screenings and Recovery Meals Program

  • Increasing Biking/Walking Infrastructure through Complete Streets Policies

  • Walking School Buses

East Central Wisconsin Region

Population: 630,000
Lead Applicant: East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

The East Central Region is comprised of eight counties: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago. The region is made up of rural, suburban, and urban communities, with three urbanized areas of 50,000 or greater: Appleton (Fox Cities), Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac.

Initiatives:

  • Regional Safe Routes to School Program

  • Walking School Buses

  • Appleton (Fox Cities) TMA and Oshkosh MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

  • Complete Streets

  • Mixed-use development

  • Zoning regulations for land use policy

  • Green Space & Parks

  • Places for physical activity

Fond du Lac County

Population: 102,000
Lead Applicant: Fond du Lac County Health Department

Recognized for abundant outdoor recreation opportunities on land and water, as the jurisdiction surrounds the foot of Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac County is comprised of a growing diverse population and yet has a fairly-even rural/urban distribution. With a new slogan of “C’mon in, and stay a while” the Fond du Lac County area is respected as a welcoming and safe place to call home for families and businesses.

Initiatives:

  • Multi-Unit Smoke-Free Housing
  • Living Smart Cancer Screening Event
  • Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County (DFC)
  • Destination Zero – Reducing Suicide in Fond du Lac County
  • Building Community Capacity through Health Coaching (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) (Trauma-informed approaches to community building)
  • Fond du Lac Area YScreen Program
  • Well City Fond du Lac
  • Save a Smile Dental Program
  • Living Well FDL Coalition
  • Food Forest

Greenfield

Population: 37,221
Lead Applicant: Greenfield Health Department

The City of Greenfield is a community of over 37,000 residents in the southwest corner of Milwaukee County. It is known for the Greenfield Farmers Market, Dan Jansen Family Fun Fest, and being recognized as a City under “Tree City USA” and a “3B Community” (Bee, Birds, and Butterflies [monarchs]). Over the past 10 years, the City has dedicated efforts to serve as a leader in Milwaukee County by implementing new and innovative programs and services. Through strong partnership and collaboration among the Healthiest Greenfield Coalition, City Departments, and key partners and stakeholders, the City lives out its motto, “Pledged to Progress”.

Initiatives:

  • Community-Based Health Team

  • Strengthening Families

  • Green Infrastructure (GI) Program

  • City of Greenfield Breastfeeding Policy

  • City of Greenfield Ch. 10.07: Smoking Prohibited in Certain Areas

  • EBT/SNAP Benefit Program at Greenfield Farmers Market

  • Workforce Development through the Nurse Residency Program

  • Cultural Competency Training for Public Health Staff

  • CAARE Program: Drug Diversion Program/Proactive Policing

Horicon

Population: 3,656
Lead Applicant: Department of Public Works

Located in South Central Wisconsin, Horicon is “The City on the Marsh”, as the Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater marsh in the United States.

Initiatives:

  • No smoking ordinance in all parks and within 25 feet of playground areas

  • Complete Streets

  • Walking Moais: Community-based social support interventions for physical activity

  • School Nutrition Standards

  • Mixed-use Development

Juneau

Population: 2,718
Lead Applicant: Juneau Chamber of Commerce

As the county seat, Juneau is home to the largest employer in Dodge County and the Wild Goose Trail, a hiking and biking trail connecting Juneau to Fond du Lac. However, the pride of Juneau is its vibrant and active school community and its engaged leadership.

Initiatives:

  • Dodgeland School District updated smoking policy to prohibit smoking and the use of e-cigarettes on campus, in any school facilities and any school sanctioned events

  • Safe Routes to School

  • Walking School Buses

  • Complete Streets Policy for City of Juneau

  • Walking Moais: Community-based social support interventions for physical activity

Marshfield

Population: 19,201
Lead Applicant: City of Marshfield

Marshfield is a unique town, nestled in the midst of rolling cornfields, dairy farms, and cattail-lined marshes. Marshfield embraces cultural diversity, encourages healthy life-work balance, and is home to a modern public library, thriving YMCA, a strong educational system, including University of Wisconsin/Marshfield-Wood County, and Mid-State Technical College, and one of the largest healthcare complexes in central Wisconsin.

Initiatives:

  • Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth – Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Alcohol Sales to Minors

  • Marshfield Clinic Health System Youth Program-Extracurricular Activities for Social Engagement

  • Community Connections Team (CCT) – Community Health Workers

  • Healthy Eating and Food Equity

  • Safe Routes to School – Walk/Bike to School Challenge Program

Village of Menomonee Falls

Population: 38,948
Lead Applicant: Village of Menomonee Falls

Menomonee Falls is located in the northeast corner of Waukesha County and is the largest Village in the state with a total land area of 33 square miles. Today, the Village offers small-town charm while providing outstanding amenities and convenient access to the entire Milwaukee region. Menomonee Falls’ high quality of life is rooted in a thriving local economy, a wide variety of housing choices, safe neighborhoods, a beautiful natural environment, high performing school districts, rich history, and strong local services. In recent decades the Village has transformed into a major regional employment center with an estimated 34,000+ jobs. With the Village serving a growing cross section of age groups, backgrounds, household types, and income levels, the need for initiatives supporting community health is increasing.

Initiatives:

  • Senior Center Activity Programs

  • Fit in the Parks

  • Downtown streetscape improvements & mixed use development

  • Expanding Park & Trail System

  • Dementia Friendly Community

  • Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Block Watch

  • Mental Health Clinics at the middle school and high school level

Oregon

Population: 10,000
Lead Applicant: Oregon Chamber of Commerce

The Village of Oregon is a small family friendly community with hometown appeal approximately 7 miles south of Madison. The Oregon Area Wellness Coalition bring together various community groups to support initiatives that make Oregon a great place to live, work, and play.

Initiatives:

  • No One Goes Hungry
  • Dementia friendly community
  • Active Community focused on walking and biking
  • Easy access to mental health supports
  • Healthy and active schools
  • Planned community health and wellness activities each month throughout the year

Ozaukee County

Population: 88,314
Lead Applicant: Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department

Located 25 miles of the Western shores of Lake Michigan, Ozaukee County provides a beautiful setting for residents and visitors alike, creating the perfect space for residents to be active, healthy, and happy. Ozaukee County has been the healthiest county in Wisconsin for both health outcomes and health factors on County Health Rankings since 2013.

Initiatives:

  • Cultivate (mental health program)

  • Medication Collection

  • Community/School Gardens

  • Cycling Without Age

  • Car Seat Distribution and Education

  • Port ACES (physical activity program)

  • Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

Pierce and St. Croix Counties

Population: 128,402
Lead Applicant: Western Wisconsin Health

Located in northwestern Wisconsin, Pierce & St. Croix Counties are two of the fastest growing counties in the state.

Initiatives:

  • “Make It Ok” Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign

  • Mental Health First Aid

  • Alcohol Policy Change

  • Reducing Food Insecurity

Sauk County

Population: 63,000
Lead Applicant: Sauk County Health and Wellness Coalition

There are four small communities within Sauk County, including Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells, a popular summer tourist destination. The county is also home to the Ho-Chunk Nation tribal land, several Amish communities, and a thriving farming industry.

Initiatives:

  • Community Connections

  • Dental Programs

  • Strong Bodies

  • Wisconsin Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose/Related Deaths Prevention Project

  • Nurse Family Partnership

Sauk Prairie

Population: 21,000
Lead Applicant: Planning & Business Development

The Sauk Prairie Riverway community is situated at the southeast entrance of Sauk County, WI. It is comprised of three villages and thirteen towns, serving as a gateway to the lower Wisconsin River Valley and Baraboo Bluffs.

Initiatives:

  • Sauk Prairie Against Hunger

  • SP Employ-Ability

  • The Great Sauk Trail – Sauk Prairie Segment

  • Heart Zones

  • The Good Neighbor Clinic

  • Hope Sauk Prairie / QPR Training / Mental Health First Aid

Walworth County

Population: 102,000
Lead Applicant: Walworth County Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health

Walworth is a rural county located in southeastern Wisconsin comprised of 29 municipalities and 24 lakes, with Geneva Lake as the largest lake. The main industries in Walworth County include tourism and agriculture, as the beautiful lakes and countryside draw visitors from around the Midwest.

Initiatives:

  • Walworth County Breast Feeding Coalition (WCBC)

  • Drug and Alcohol Coalition (DAC)

  • Delavan Darien Community Alliance (DDCA)

  • Ground Water Quality

  • W3

Washington County

Population: 133,674
Lead Applicant: Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department

Washington County, northwest of Milwaukee, has a landscape carved by glaciers and towered by the historical landmark of Holy Hill. Ranked the 4th healthiest county in Wisconsin according to the 2018 County Health Rankings, Washington County is a rural and urban community focused on improving a variety of health outcomes.

Initiatives:

  • Cultivate: Mental Health Friendly Community Model

  • Cycling Without Age

  • Community & School Gardens

  • Medication Collection