A plan to improve the health of Kenosha County residents, developed by the community, was completed recently and is now published on the county website.
The Kenosha County Thrive Community Health Improvement plan is the result of information gathered in a Community Health Assessment survey conducted in 2022, followed by research and input by action groups that met throughout the summer of 2023, said Kenosha County Public Health Interim Director Lori Plahmer.
“This plan was developed by and for the community, all with an eye toward setting public health improvement priorities for the years to come,” Plahmer said. “This effort could not be accomplished without the individuals and organizations supporting the important work that’s being done in the community.”
Through the results of the survey and the input of the volunteer-led action groups, the state-mandated plan sets forth three priority areas:
- Access to affordable health care
- Access to affordable and safe housing
- Mental health and substance use
The plan includes an overview of the planning process, while outlining the objectives, key strategies, and what community members and partner organizations can do to help achieve the goals related to the priority areas.
Going forward, Plahmer said members of the Thrive action teams that developed the plan will continue working together over the next three years to implement the plan and evaluate progress.
“Our collective efforts are enhanced through the input of the community, and there are several ways you can become involved,” Plahmer said.
Plahmer said individuals or organizations that wish to become involved may:
- Join an action team
- Publicly endorse the plan
- Engage in activities that support the plan’s goals
- Sponsor action team efforts
The plan and various supporting documents are available at https://www.kenoshacounty.org/thrive.
For more information about joining or supporting an action team, please send an email to Thrive@kenoshacounty.org.