Iowa County earns Bronze Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation

31 communities in Wisconsin receive designations

Iowa County has been recognized for its work to improve local health by receiving a Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation. This new program is intended to recognize and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin communities, and to promote cooperation across multiple sectors. “Upland Hills Health is proud to be a leader and partner in identifying and working to improve health disparities in Iowa County. It’s an exciting point of pride that Iowa County earned a Bronze recognition as a Wisconsin Healthy Community. We work hard with our community partners for a healthier county,” said Lisa Schnedler, president and CEO of Upland Hills Health. The designation recognizes Iowa County and the bronze level for the collaboration between Upland Hills Health, the Iowa County Department of Social Services, Community Connections Free Clinic, City of Dodgeville and Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program. Specifically noted were school nutrition education programs, including the Upland Hills Health Foundation-funded Jump with Jill program performed at area schools; the Stop the Bleed campaign collaboration between Upland Hills Health Emergency Department and area EMS organizations; and Upland Hills Health’s Cancer Empowerment program. The Healthy Communities Designation program is designed to be accessible to communities of all shapes and sizes, both rural and urban. The definition of community is broad and can include counties, municipalities, neighborhoods and other self-defined, place-based communities in Wisconsin. The program uses a three-tiered approach – gold, silver and bronze – which are meant to provide a trajectory and serve as a guide for communities as they continue to strive toward better health.

The Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation is a new initiative offered by the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) group of the UW Population Health Institute (UWPHI), in collaboration with diverse statewide groups. The Healthy Communities Designation program, funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, is designed to recognize and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin. To learn more about the program, visit the program website: www.wihealthycommunities.org