Posts by Waukesha County

Most people probably don't think about a community health improvement plan when they think about local government. Yet behind many of the programs, partnerships and prevention efforts happening in communities across Wisconsin is a deliberate process for understanding what residents need most and deciding where public health and its partners can make the greatest difference.

County Trunk Highway E (CTH E) continues to be closed to through traffic between CTH Q and CTH VV following the failure of a concrete box culvert, approximately one-half mile north of CTH VV. Emergency repair construction is scheduled to start on Monday, August 24, 2026, and Waukesha County anticipates reopening CTH E to traffic on Monday, September 14, 2026, weather and site conditions permitting.

Waukesha County Public Health, a division of Health and Human Services, has been recognized with the prestigious Pathways Recognition by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers national accreditation and recognition programs, which aim to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.                      

This year, Waukesha County Public Health and the county's four major health systems have formalized their partnership through the Waukesha County Community Health Collective (WCCHC). While our organizations have collaborated on previous Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans, the Collective represents a deeper commitment to planning, learning, and acting together.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and Waukesha County are informing drivers of a temporary traffic pattern change at the intersection of County ES and Edgewood Avenue beginning the week of July 13, 2026.

It is with great sadness that we share Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow has lost his battle with cancer. Farrow, 61, fought bravely and with a smile since being diagnosed in 2024 with mucinous adenocarcinoma, a rare type of cancer. Throughout his journey, Paul chose to publicly document his treatment to help others battling cancer. His family, friends and staff all stood by his side along the way hoping for a better outcome.

As Waukesha County Public Health and our healthcare partners work to complete the 2026 Community Health Assessment, one thing is clear: understanding community health requires more than data alone.

Positive, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health, even lowering the risk of cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer's and dementia. Incorporate some or all of these habits into your life to help maintain a healthy brain. Take charge of your brain health today — it's never too early or too late to start.

by Alzheimer's Association 

Governor Tony Evers has proclaimed May 2026 to be Aging, Disability, and Independent Living Network Professionals Appreciation Month in Wisconsin!

At the 2026 Wisconsin Public Health Association Conference, Waukesha County Public Health's Frances Thomas and Courtney Nathan, MPH, presented The Community Health Strategist Era: A Next-Generation Approach to Partnership, highlighting how public health has evolved from primarily providing services to helping convene, align, and mobilize community partners around shared goals.