A Look Back at 2024 (posted April 30, 2025)

By Adam Behnke, Communications Specialist for Brown County Public Health 

Read the Brown County Public Health 2024 Annual Report

In 2024, Brown County Public Health (BCPH) reached significant milestones while continuing to protect and promote the health of all who live, work, and play in our community. From achieving national accreditation to preparing for major upcoming events, our teams worked diligently to improve public health services and outcomes across the communities we serve. As compiled in the Brown County Public Health Annual Report, this edition of the Healthy Herald takes a look back at the highlights of a busy and successful year. 

Milestone Achievement: National Accreditation 

After years of dedicated work, Brown County Public Health officially became a Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accredited public health agency. As the sole national accrediting body for public health in the U.S., PHAB supports health departments to improve quality, accountability, and performance. This recognition demonstrates that BCPH has been measured against national public health standards and successfully improved the quality and performance of our services. The accreditation process, completed in March 2024, resulted in 99% of measures being "Fully Demonstrated" or "Largely Demonstrated", showcasing the outstanding work of our staff and leadership. 

In addition to PHAB accreditation, our division successfully completed the required Wisconsin DHS 140 review, confirming our status as a fully functioning level three health department in accordance with Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 140. The next review will not be required until 2029, allowing us to focus on continued service improvement and community health initiatives. 

Community Health Planning 

A major focus for 2024 was the completion of the 2025-2027 Beyond Health Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). BCPH and City of De Pere Health Department co-facilitate the Beyond Health Steering Committee, which is a collaborative made up of local health care partners, public health, and community partner organizations that work together toward improving health and wellness in the Brown County community. Three critical focus areas were identified by Beyond Health for the next several years: 

1. Mental Health and Substance Use 
2. Healthy and Safe Homes 
3. Pathways to Healthcare 

On February 13, 2025, Members of Beyond Health gathered at the Brown County United Way's City East Center to publicly unveil the 2025-2027 CHIP. Media interviews were conducted following the news conference. 



This planning process involved extensive community engagement, including door-to-door surveying that reached 490 houses with 142 completed surveys. The assessment also used the collaboration of community partners to target our outreach and include diverse voices from aging individuals, rural residents, BIPOC community members, and those experiencing homelessness. 

Strategic Planning Initiatives 

Throughout the year, public health staff worked on implementing priorities from the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, with notable progress in community recovery and resiliency initiatives. Some highlights included: 

• Signing a contract to participate in the WI Department of Health Services Water Testing/Remediation program 
• Distributing approximately 1,220 Tick Kits to community partners and securing a grant to purchase 2,000 new kits. 
• Providing Narcan trainings, distributing harm reduction supplies, and holding Drug Take Back events 
• Supporting the Greater Green Bay YMCA in applying for a public health vending machine to include harm reduction supplies. 
• Developing immunization PSA videos featuring Brown County residents to highlight the importance of childhood vaccinations. 
• Executing the Fall Respiratory Campaign that included education on vaccination targeting school-age/adolescents. Education on pertussis was shared with community, schools, and healthcare providers. 
• Releasing the Milk Map (GIS Map of breastfeeding resources) in collaboration with Brown County Planning.  

2025 NFL Draft

Brown County Public Health spent 2024 actively preparing for the NFL Draft, which was just held in Green Bay at the end of April 2025. Preparations involved reviewing emergency plans, conducting tabletop exercises with stakeholders and community members, and planning for increased licenses for Tourist Rooming Houses (TRH) and food vendors. Members of the Environmental Health unit worked on-site during the three-day Draft event to ensure vendor compliance with health and safety code. 



2024 Facts and Figures 
 

Nursing Unit	Environmental Health Unit	Support Services Unit
4,363 cases managed	4,098 total inspections	2,054 total intake calls

Looking Forward 

As we reflect on an eventful 2024, Brown County Public Health remains well-positioned to serve our community with excellence. The achievements of the past year provide a strong foundation for targeting the health priorities identified in the current Community Health Improvement Plan. 

Brown County Public Health remains committed to our mission of protecting and promoting equitable health and wellness through prevention, education, leadership, and partnerships. With continued community collaboration and the steadfast work of our skilled public health professionals, we look forward to building an even healthier Brown County in 2025 and beyond. 

Stay Healthy, Brown County!