NEWS RELEASE: BEYOND HEALTH RELEASES NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR BROWN COUNTY (posted February 13, 2025)

BROWN COUNTY, Wis. – Beyond Health, a local steering committee comprised of health-focused agencies, organizations and non-profits, has released a new Community Health Improvement Plan for Brown County. Sometimes referred to by the acronym CHIP, the document was finalized and approved in late December. It now serves as a guide for deciding how efforts and resources should be allocated to best meet community health needs for the next three years.

“The Community Health Improvement Plan is part of a long-term, systematic effort to address public health concerns as a community with the goal of improving health outcomes for those who live, work, learn, and play in Brown County,” said Brown County Public Health Officer and Beyond Health Co-Chair, Anna Nick.

Beyond Health used data and community voices gathered from the most recent Community Health Assessment and the priority areas outlined by Wisconsin’s 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 for the years 2025 – 2027, the local public health agencies and healthcare systems within Brown County, along with community partners, are working closely together to develop objectives to achieve those goals,” said Chrystal Woller, De Pere Health Officer and Beyond Health Co-Chair. “These steps are intended to have a cumulative impact on overall community wellbeing.”

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.

“While state statute requires a CHA and CHIP to be completed every five years, Brown County Public Health and De Pere Health Department operate on a 3-year schedule to better align with the requirements set for the local healthcare partners, which means we can align our work for the greatest possible impact in Brown County,” said Sharla Baenen, COO of Emplify Health by Bellin and Beyond Health Steering Committee member.

To review the Community Health Improvement Plan and see the partners involved with Beyond Health, CLICK HERE
 
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Beyond Health is a steering committee based in Brown County and comprised of leaders from both the public and private sectors: 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.