Reducing the Burden of Substance Abuse in Marathon County

Project Description Narrative:

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Alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse continues to be a top health priority in Marathon County with substance abuse specifically identified in four of the top 10 local health concerns in the most recent community-wide assessment. As community organizations are tasked to do more with less, the AOD Partnership identified the need to move from a coalition structure where the goals and priorities are driven by funding or staff to a collective impact initiative that engages partners across sectors and where they are at in order to further a common agenda of a drug free community. This project aimed to develop a sustainability plan to move the AOD Partnership from a coalition-centric model to a community-centric collective impact initiative that aligns activities, establishes shared measurements, builds public will, advances policy and mobilizes funding to support local efforts to reduce the burden of substance abuse in Marathon County.

Project partners:
AOD Partnership Board of Directors: Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Associated Bank, Center for Well Being, City of Wausau, DC Everest School District, Law Office of Christin E Keele, LLC, Marathon County Social Services, Marathon County District Attorney, North Central Health Care, Northcentral Technical College, Peoples Bank, Professional Services Group, Inc., Wausau Fire Department, Wausau Police Department

Supported by Marathon County Health Department staff