Fox Cities News

Community Health Needs Assessments help local health care systems and public health departments understand the needs of community members. These assessments occur every three years and guide health organizations in focusing resources on community priorities.

This year, partners are collaborating to gather data through a well-being survey available in English, Hmoob, and Spanish. Residents 18 or older in Calumet, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee, Shawano, Outagamie, Waupaca, Waushara or Winnebago counties are encouraged to complete the survey by January 17, 2025. The survey can be accessed at surveymonkey.com/r/RZDZKSB.

Responses will inform future community health plans aimed at improving individual lives and enhancing community living conditions.

“The goals of this well-being survey are to identify trends in well-being and to learn how local not-for-profit hospitals, public health agencies, and other partners could make the lives of people in our communities better,” said Paula Morgen, ThedaCare Director of Community Health Improvement. “The mission of ThedaCare is to improve the health and well-being of the people in the communities we serve."

Previous surveys highlighted issues like mental health challenges, substance abuse concerns, early childhood needs, and social issues such as food insecurity and transportation difficulties.

“The information we gather will help us determine where we should focus our resources and energy to get upstream of critical health challenges in our communities,” Morgen added. “It will help us to better understand what community health improvement strategies we can provide for populations who might need additional support.”

For the first time, four not-for-profit hospitals—ThedaCare, Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Health and Children’s Wisconsin—are collaborating with public health departments from Appleton and Menasha cities as well as Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties for a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment including the well-being survey. Several local non-profits are also participating. Rural county public health agencies supported by ThedaCare are involved too.

“All not-for-profit hospitals are required by law to conduct community health surveys every three years,” explained Morgen. “In the past each of these entities conducted their own surveys... Bringing all the hospitals and agencies together... is a monumental positive shift for all our communities."

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region along with United Way Fox Cities and U.S. Venture Foundation provided initial funding for this collaboration's first phase. The actual assessment process is funded by participating health systems and public departments.