Public Health

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.

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.

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.

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.

At the Community Health Partner Summit, nearly 250 partners across sectors shared insights that were captured in a collaborative community map. This visual reflects both our strengths and areas for growth and helps bring context to the data we collect. Elements shown in gray highlight areas for growth, while the colored sections represent community strengths and assets. Incorporating these perspectives alongside traditional data provides a richer understanding and strengthens our advocacy for the community’s needs. Together, these efforts ensure we are grounding our next CHIP in both data and lived experience.

CHIP Insights Newsletter April 2026

Every few years, Waukesha County Public Health invites residents to take part in the Community Health Survey, an important opportunity for people who live in Waukesha County (18+) to share their experiences, concerns, and priorities.

For several years, Daniel Shine, Director of Friendships Unlimited, and Amanda Huber, a Health and Human Services Coordinator, who works closely with youth, have co-chaired the CHIP Mental Health Action Team, working together to identify gaps, elevate priorities, and advance strategies that support community well-being.

Through that collaboration, one theme continued to emerge: momentum around youth mental health was growing, and community programming needed to grow with it.

Waukesha County HHS is excited to launch a new Hiring One-Pager designed to help job seekers quickly explore what it’s like to work at HHS—our mission-driven culture, our values, and the benefits available to employees.

Waukesha County Public Health has confirmed a case of measles in an adult resident who contracted the disease while traveling internationally.