From Commitment to Collective Action: Reflecting on Waukesha County's 2022-2026 CHIP

Improving community health takes time, partnership and a shared commitment to action.

As Waukesha County’s 2022–2026 Community Health Improvement Plan comes to a close, we are reflecting on the progress made across three community health priorities: Healthy Aging, Mental Health and Substance Use.

Since Action Teams presented their commitments in 2024 (CHIP Launch), our CHIP Action teams have worked hard to strengthen connections, share resources and advance strategies supporting health and well-being throughout Waukesha County.

Here is a preview of some of the progress that will be featured in the upcoming CHIP Progress and Impact Report.

Healthy Aging: Supporting Safety and Connection

The Healthy Aging Action Team focused on two factors that can significantly affect well-being and independence: preventing falls and strengthening social connection.

The team developed a universal measurement tool for community-based programs, along with a consumer-focused tool to capture participant feedback and individual impact. Standardized data collection began during the third quarter of 2025, creating a stronger foundation for demonstrating the collective impact of falls-prevention and social-connection programs across Waukesha County.

The team also developed and distributed educational resources focused on falls prevention and social connectedness. Connections with the county’s Falls Prevention Coalition and Social Connectedness Coalition helped transition this work into existing community structures. Both coalitions received editable versions of the materials and agreed to help keep them current and in circulation.

Mental Health: Expanding Awareness and Access to Support

The Mental Health Action Team focused on improving access to mental health services and increasing awareness of mental health resources among adolescents in Waukesha County.

Through NAMI's Ending the Silence program, 60 presentations reached nearly 2,500 students across 13 Waukesha County schools. Among the 1,180 students who completed a post-presentation survey during the 2024–2025 school year, 96% reported knowing the early warning signs of a mental health condition, and 95% said they knew how to help themselves, a friend or a family member displaying warning signs.

Another subgroup adapted its original plan for school-based awareness days after learning that many schools were already dedicating time and resources to mental health education. That flexibility led to the development of a community-based Mental Health Awareness Day at the Glacial Community YMCA, expanding the initiative to engage youth, families and the broader community.

Substance Use: Strengthening Peer Support and Community Response

The Substance Use Action Team advanced strategies related to harm reduction, peer support, recovery and the connection between substance use and housing.

The team helped expand Waukesha County’s peer-support infrastructure through the All Peer Program and Peer Specialist Drop-In Center. From 2024 through May 2026, the All Peer Program served 96 individuals, while the Drop-In Center served 799.

The team also developed a Harm Reduction Training presentation and trained two facilitators to provide addiction and harm reduction education. The presentation was designed for first responders and could be adapted for businesses, healthcare organizations, educational settings and other community sectors.

Through a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin, qualitative research examined the intersection of substance use and housing. Carroll University students along with CHIP Action Team members, helped develop interactive learning modules informed by the research, subject-matter expertise and Action Team feedback.

The developing work was presented at the first Waukesha County Partner Summit and other community meetings, generating interest from more than local individuals who volunteered to assist with providing subject-matter expertise.

More Than a List of Accomplishments

The forthcoming report will share additional results, lessons and stories from the Action Teams. It will also examine what partners learned about collaboration, meaningful measurement, lived experience, sustainability and knowing when work should transition into an existing community structure, or reach a responsible conclusion.

Most importantly, the report recognizes that community health improvement is not the responsibility of one organization. Sustainable progress requires shared ownership and the continued involvement of residents and partners throughout Waukesha County.

As we celebrate the work completed through the 2022–2026 CHIP, we are also preparing to carry its relationships, infrastructure, data and lessons into Waukesha County’s next Community Health Improvement Process.

We look forward to sharing the complete 2022–2026 CHIP Progress and Impact Report soon and recognizing everyone who helped move this work forward.