News
Commitment to the Community (posted February 12, 2025)By Adam Behnke, BCPH Communications Specialist
Brown County Public Health, like local health departments across Wisconsin, is required by law to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) every five years. This plan is a long-term, systematic effort to address public health problems using data gathered from a Community Health Assessment (CHA). These two processes work together toward improving a community’s health outcomes. The assessment (CHA) provides comprehensive information about the community's current health status, needs, and issues. The corresponding plan (CHIP) developed from that assessment decides how efforts and resources should be allocated to best meet community needs over the plan’s timeframe. While state statute requires a CHA and CHIP to be completed every five years, Brown County Public Health operates on a 3-year schedule to better align with the requirements set for our local hospital system partners. Today’s edition of the Healthy Herald will explain the basics of a Community Health Improvement Plan and why it’s important for improving our collective wellbeing.
Why is a Community Health Improvement Plan Completed?
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says state law has required communities since 1993 to develop and implement local health plans that address health conditions affecting their residents and advance the wellbeing of their communities.
A specific statute lays out what local health departments are required to do:
A specific statute lays out what local health departments are required to do:
- Regularly and systematically collect, assemble, analyze, and make available information on the health of the community; including statistics on health status, community health needs, and epidemiological and other studies of health problems.
- Develop public health policies and procedures for the community.
- Involve key policymakers and the general public in determining and developing a community health improvement plan that includes actions to implement the services and functions specified under Wis Stat. § 250.
- Submit data, as requested, to the local public health data system established by the department.
The specific state requirements of a Community Health Improvement Plan (and Community Health Assessment) are explained in this specific DHS Code. The completion of this plan is part of the DHS’ formal review of local health department operations at least every five years. The review verifies that a minimum level of public health services is being provided across the state. Local health departments are categorized into one of three levels, depending on the services provided. Brown County Public Health is proud to have just passed this review in August of 2024 to maintain its status at Level III, the highest possible.
What are the Hallmarks of this Community Health Improvement Plan?
What are the Hallmarks of this Community Health Improvement Plan?
This plan covers the years 2025 – 2027 and was developed and approved by Beyond Health, a steering committee based in Brown County and comprised of leaders from both the public and private sectors. Included are health care partners, public health agencies, and non-profit organizations who work collaboratively to identify actionable priorities, minimize disparities in health, and adapt as needed to new and emerging health concerns.
This plan is aligned with current state-level health goals. Like local health departments, the state of Wisconsin creates a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), which is updated every five years. For this CHIP cycle, Beyond Health aligned its efforts with the priority areas outlined in the 2023-2027 SHIP. Alignment with the SHIP is beneficial, as it helps focus efforts on key issues to make the greatest impact with the available resources.
Beyond Health used data gathered from the most recent Community Health Assessment and the priority areas outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan to develop three focus areas for Brown County. These focus areas identify specific issues and are described in a way that will resonate in Brown County:
This plan is aligned with current state-level health goals. Like local health departments, the state of Wisconsin creates a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), which is updated every five years. For this CHIP cycle, Beyond Health aligned its efforts with the priority areas outlined in the 2023-2027 SHIP. Alignment with the SHIP is beneficial, as it helps focus efforts on key issues to make the greatest impact with the available resources.
Beyond Health used data gathered from the most recent Community Health Assessment and the priority areas outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan to develop three focus areas for Brown County. These focus areas identify specific issues and are described in a way that will resonate in Brown County:
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- GOAL #1: Decrease the number of poor mental health days.
- GOAL #2: Prevent excessive alcohol use.
- GOAL #3: Increase resources to prevent opioid-related overdoses.
- Healthy and Safe Homes
- GOAL #1: Increase access to safe and affordable housing.
- Pathways to Health Care
- GOAL #1: Help people get the right medical care when and where they need it.
With the focus areas and corresponding goals now identified, Brown County Public Health and its community partners are developing objectives to achieve those goals. An addendum explaining the objectives will be forthcoming and is expected to be added to the Community Health Improvement Plan by spring of this year.
Keys to Understanding a Community Health Improvement Plan
A community health improvement plan is a high-level guiding document, and as such can be a bit overwhelming to process. Brown County Public Health has developed three key messages to help anyone understand its importance.
The CHIP uses data to map a healthier future.
The process Brown County Public Health uses to develop a CHIP is built on longstanding best practices, gleaned from top health organizations nationwide and through experience crafting previous plans at the local level. The plan taps into data gathered by a community health assessment, so the focus areas are intended to address identified problems. Despite this programmatic approach, the CHIP should not be seen as a governmental document that is created simply to fulfill a legal obligation and then stashed away in the archives. Every CHIP cycle is an opportunity in which Brown County Public Health renews its commitment to community health.
The CHIP takes small steps with a cumulative impact.
Community health is a complicated, evolving puzzle with many facets. The intended solutions developed for one cycle cannot be counted on to “fit” the next cycle. Health experts agree that a focus on proactive solutions, over time and through multiple cycles, can results in significant improvement to a community’s health and wellbeing “big picture”. These prevention-focused efforts are also proven to save health care costs, which are a well-known burden to families. Also, while the CHIP covers a particular span of years, there is no specific start or end date given because the expectation is that better community health can start right now, provided there is sufficient participation in the plan’s objectives.
The CHIP needs community involvement to succeed.
The Community Health Improvement Plan does not exist on an island. It is not a museum exhibit intended to be viewed from a respectable distance and then forgotten. Research shows health outcomes improve with active community participation. Community-level initiatives like the CHIP have been shown to result in better health metrics for everyone involved. In Brown County, you need look no further than our summary of the previous CHIP cycle’s accomplishments. And that’s why your voice matters in helping shape health policies where you live. Look for opportunities to provide input when a community health assessment cycle is underway or just reach out to Brown County Public Health to say what’s on your mind about community health. We promise we’re always here to listen!
Stay Healthy, Brown County!
Resourceshttps://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/community-health/community-health-improvement-plan/
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lh-depts/chip.htm
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/251/05
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/250
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dhs/110/140/04/1/g
https://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/community-health/community-health-assessment/
https://www.stayhealthybc.com/i/f/files/Business/2022-2024%20Cycle%20Summary.pdf
Keys to Understanding a Community Health Improvement Plan
A community health improvement plan is a high-level guiding document, and as such can be a bit overwhelming to process. Brown County Public Health has developed three key messages to help anyone understand its importance.
The CHIP uses data to map a healthier future.
The process Brown County Public Health uses to develop a CHIP is built on longstanding best practices, gleaned from top health organizations nationwide and through experience crafting previous plans at the local level. The plan taps into data gathered by a community health assessment, so the focus areas are intended to address identified problems. Despite this programmatic approach, the CHIP should not be seen as a governmental document that is created simply to fulfill a legal obligation and then stashed away in the archives. Every CHIP cycle is an opportunity in which Brown County Public Health renews its commitment to community health.
The CHIP takes small steps with a cumulative impact.
Community health is a complicated, evolving puzzle with many facets. The intended solutions developed for one cycle cannot be counted on to “fit” the next cycle. Health experts agree that a focus on proactive solutions, over time and through multiple cycles, can results in significant improvement to a community’s health and wellbeing “big picture”. These prevention-focused efforts are also proven to save health care costs, which are a well-known burden to families. Also, while the CHIP covers a particular span of years, there is no specific start or end date given because the expectation is that better community health can start right now, provided there is sufficient participation in the plan’s objectives.
The CHIP needs community involvement to succeed.
The Community Health Improvement Plan does not exist on an island. It is not a museum exhibit intended to be viewed from a respectable distance and then forgotten. Research shows health outcomes improve with active community participation. Community-level initiatives like the CHIP have been shown to result in better health metrics for everyone involved. In Brown County, you need look no further than our summary of the previous CHIP cycle’s accomplishments. And that’s why your voice matters in helping shape health policies where you live. Look for opportunities to provide input when a community health assessment cycle is underway or just reach out to Brown County Public Health to say what’s on your mind about community health. We promise we’re always here to listen!
Stay Healthy, Brown County!
Resourceshttps://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/community-health/community-health-improvement-plan/
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lh-depts/chip.htm
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/251/05
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/250
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dhs/110/140/04/1/g
https://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/community-health/community-health-assessment/
https://www.stayhealthybc.com/i/f/files/Business/2022-2024%20Cycle%20Summary.pdf