Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Walworth County.

Walworth County has again received a silver-level Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation. The Healthy Communities program is intended to recognize and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin communities, and to promote cooperation across multiple sectors. Walworth County had previously received silver-level designation in 2018, and this renewal is recognition of local communities’ continued work and progress towards improving local health.

“Walworth County is proud to be among the 28 Wisconsin communities that received designations this year,” says Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom. “This designation shows that Walworth County has continued to prioritize multi-sector collaboration and sustainable solutions to improve health for all.”

The designation recognizes Walworth County’s community-health improvement efforts and partnerships. Initiatives highlighted for the designation include the Walworth County Breastfeeding Coalition, Walworth County Drug & Alcohol Coalition, Walworth County Community Alliance, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and partnerships to improve ground water quality.

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 an 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.