Project Summary:
Wisconsin faces significant health challenges, with 56% of the population affected by diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, conditions often linked to inadequate nutrition access. These challenges are particularly difficult in rural communities and disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, with obesity rates reaching 51.8% among Black adults compared to 32.5% of white adults. With Wisconsin ranking 49th out of 50 states in public health funding, there is a critical need for innovative approaches to community health improvement, particularly in rural areas where social connections and resources are often limited.
The Empowering Community Health Learning Collaborative aims to improve nutrition access for over 350 families vulnerable to poverty across four rural Wisconsin communities - Fond du Lac, Green, La Crosse, and Marshfield. Led by local United Way teams in partnership with health systems, businesses, government, and philanthropy partners, each community will implement tailored models for nutrition access through different gathering points, including daycare centers, family resource centers, schools, and direct home connections.
Connected to The White House Initiative on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, this project aims to create models for rural community health improvement while developing sustainable infrastructure through United Way-led multi-sector teams. Each community will develop unique approaches, from farm to early childhood education programs to Community Health Worker-led home education, creating tested models that can be replicated across Wisconsin. The initiative will highlight how rural communities can engage new partners and build lasting health resource infrastructure to address both immediate and emerging health needs.
Community Partners: Wisconsin Community Health Empowerment Fund, United Way of Wisconsin, SSM Health, Department of Health Services, United Way of Fond du Lac, United Way of Green County, United Way of Marshfield, Great Rivers United Way