Beyond the Data: How Waukesha County is Listening to the Community

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.

This year marks an important milestone as Waukesha County Public Health collaborates with Froedtert Health & the Medical College of Wisconsin, ProHealth Care, Aurora Health Care, and Ascension to conduct a coordinated assessment of community health needs. Together, we are working to better understand not only the health challenges facing residents, but also the strengths, opportunities, and community assets that can help improve health outcomes for years to come.

The Community Health Assessment serves as the foundation for the next Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which will guide collaborative community health efforts across Waukesha County. To ensure this work reflects the realities of residents' lives, the assessment process includes multiple opportunities for community input.

1. The Community Health Survey

The Community Health Survey, currently open through June 30, provides valuable information about residents' health concerns, behaviors, and priorities. Survey responses help identify trends and highlight areas where residents may be experiencing challenges related to physical health, mental health, access to services, and overall well-being.

Click here to take/view the Community Health Survey.

2. Bringing Community Perspectives to the Table

However, surveys can only tell part of the story. Numbers help us understand what is happening. Conversations help us understand why. Throughout August, Waukesha County Public Health and community partners will host a series of Community Conversations. These facilitated discussions will provide residents with an opportunity to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas about the factors that influence health in their communities. Participants will discuss topics such as:

• Community strengths and assets
• Access to resources and services
• Neighborhood environments
• Social connections and support systems
• Economic and housing challenges
• Emerging issues impacting health and quality of life

These conversations help uncover the lived experiences behind the data and provide valuable context that cannot be captured through survey responses alone.

Scheduled Community Conversations will be released in the upcoming month.

To support participation, attendees who complete a Community Conversation session will receive a $20 gift card. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, may attend only one session, and registration will be limited due to space constraints.

3. Stakeholder Focus Groups - Looking Beyond Healthcare

In addition to engaging residents, Public Health along with the Hospital systems will facilitate a series of stakeholder focus groups representing sectors that influence health throughout the community. These discussions will bring together leaders and organizations from healthcare, education, housing, business, local government, social services, and other key sectors.

The focus groups will explore major drivers of health and well-being, including:

• Population health and well-being
• Health infrastructure
• Physical environment
• Social factors
• Economic factors
• Policies, systems, and community voice

Stakeholders will help interpret survey findings, identify emerging issues, explore root causes, and discuss opportunities for collaboration that can improve health outcomes across Waukesha County. These discussions are designed to move beyond identifying problems and toward identifying practical solutions and partnerships that can create lasting impact.

4. Building the Next Community Health Improvement Plan Together

The Community Health Improvement Plan is most effective when it reflects both data and lived experience. By combining survey results, resident conversations, and stakeholder expertise, Waukesha County Public Health and its healthcare partners are working to create a comprehensive picture of community health.

This approach recognizes that health is shaped by much more than healthcare. Factors such as housing, transportation, education, employment, social connection, access to healthy environments, and community resources all play an important role in determining health outcomes.

As this work continues, community members, organizations, and partners are invited to save the date for a community health data event on the morning of November 19, 2026, at the WCTC Education Center.

During this interactive event, participants will explore key community health data and trends that help tell the story of health in Waukesha County. The information shared is intended to spark discussion, inform planning efforts, and provide a valuable resource for organizations working to improve health and well-being across the community.

Whether you are involved in healthcare, education, local government, nonprofit services, business, or community advocacy, you'll leave with insights and data that can support decision-making, planning, grant applications, and community initiatives. More details and registration information will be shared in the coming months.