Community health needs assessments are conducted to enable local health care systems and public health departments to learn about the true needs of community members. The assessments typically happen every three years and provide action-oriented plans for health organizations to focus their resources on the greatest needs in communities. A new local assessment process is underway, and health partners are currently working together to gather updated information and insights through a community well-being survey.  

Survey Purpose and Participation 

The survey, available in English, Hmoob and Spanish, takes about 10 minutes to complete. Anyone 18 or older living in Calumet, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee, Shawano, Outagamie, Waupaca, Waushara, or Winnebago counties is asked to participate by January 17.

To access the survey, go to:
English Well-being Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RZDZKSB
Spanish Well-being Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VHV68YT
Hmoob Well-being Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7L3CJZ8 

You will not be asked for any personal information such as your name and address, only your opinions. Survey responses will be used to create updated community health action plans designed to help make communities a better place to live for all. 

“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. “Well-being is a person’s perception of to what extent they are living their best possible life. Are they able to do the things they want to do? Do they feel safe in their community? Do they have the social supports needed for both physical and mental well-being?” 

In past surveys, issues like mental health, substance abuse, early childhood needs, food insecurity, and transportation, came to the forefront. 

“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 said. “It will help us to better understand what community health improvement strategies we can provide for populations who might need additional support.” 

New Collaborative Model for Assessment and Planning

A new Tri-County Community Health Improvement Coalition has been created to combine efforts and resources to focus and expand its collective impact across Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties. Multiple health organizations and partners in the region will engage in current and future Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans using this new, collaborative model. 

For the first time, the four nonprofit hospitals in the area – ThedaCare, Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Health and Children’s Wisconsin – are joining with the public health departments of the cities of Appleton and Menasha, as well as Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties to conduct the entire Community Health Needs Assessment in the tri-county area, including the well-being survey. Numerous local nonprofit organizations are also involved. Public health agencies in the rural counties that ThedaCare serves are also supporting the well-being survey. 

“All not-for-profit hospitals are required by law to conduct community health surveys every three years,” Morgen explained. “In the past, each of these entities conducted their own surveys and created independent plans. Bringing all the hospitals and agencies in the greater Fox Valley area together to conduct this assessment, evaluate the results and create joint plans is a monumental positive shift for all our communities. We will be able to do so much more when we are all focused on the same priorities together. We are excited about the opportunity this collaboration provides.” 

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (with grant support from its Community Vision Fund under the focus area of community and neighborhood development), United Way Fox Cities and the U.S. Venture Foundation provided funding to facilitate the first phase of bringing all the health focused organizations together to align around the new coalition model. 
The Community Health Needs Assessment process is funded by the health systems and public health departments.

“We are grateful to the many public health agencies and healthcare systems in our region that invested a significant amount of time to reimagine a more efficient, action and results focused way of collectively advancing community health priorities to help everyone flourish,” said Tammy Geenen, Vice President of Community Engagement with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.