Healthy Fond du Lac County

About the Community Health Assessment and Background

Every three years the health department, local health systems, and community partners collaboratively engage to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA) in Fond du Lac County. The main purpose of a CHA is to complete a comprehensive collection and analysis of data to identify health issues of primary concern.

The CHA includes data from a variety of sources, such as surveys, interviews, community conversations, and health data from local, state, or secondary sources. Overall, the CHA serves as the basis for the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as it guides the development of strategies to address the identified priority health issues.

Healthy Fond du Lac County is a community based steering committee that oversees the community health assessment process, community health improvement plan, and monitors progress and outcomes. 

Healthy Fond du Lac County Steering Committee

2025 Membership and Roles

• Jeff Butz, Fond du Lac Area Businesses on Health
• Erin Gerred, Fond du Lac County
• Aaron Goldstein, Fond du Lac Police Department
• Sarah Gradinjan, Fond du Lac County Health Department
• Rebecca Guynn, Fond du Lac County Dept. of Human Services
• Dan Hebel, Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Vice-Chair
• Jill Irving, Fond du Lac School District
• Nicole Johnson, Fond du Lac County Health Department
• Debbie Kapp, Aurora Health Care
• Amber Kilawee, Fond du Lac Area United Way, Chair
• Christine Laurent, Marian University
• Amanda Miller, UW-Madison, Division of Extension, Fond du Lac County
• Sue Mitchell-Metz, NAMI Fond du Lac County
• Jeanette Morales, United Way Fond du Lac County / Drug Free Communities
• Kim Mueller, Fond du Lac County Health Department
• Laura Nakielski, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region
• Kate Nickel, Froedtert ThedaCare Health
• Tiffany Parker, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region
• JJ Raflik, Fond du Lac YMCA
• Jolene Schatzinger, Fond du Lac Area Women's Fund
• Heather Schmidt, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region
• Julie Schumann, Advocate Aurora Health
• Cheryl Seelig, Marian University
• Ellen Sorensen, Ripon Community Member
• Kristen Theisen, Moraine Park Technical College
• Jennifer Walters, Aurora Health Care
• Amanda Wisth, Froedtert ThedaCare Health

2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA)

Read the 2024 Community Health Assessment Report here. This report outlines the findings of the community health assessment and identifies the top health priorities that the Community Health Improvement Plan will address. The top health priorities that were identified in the 2024 Community Health Assessment are mental health, substance use, and healthcare access. 

Next Steps

Check back for more updates or sign up here to receive email updates on when opportunities are available to be part of planning sessions, coalitions, or committees that take action towards health goals.

2024 Community Health Survey

The 2024 Community Health Survey by JKV Research was conducted in April – June 2024. This survey provides data on health behaviors, access to healthcare services, and the prevalence of risk factors and disease conditions among the adult population, serving as one data source for the CHA.

• 2024 Fond du Lac County Community Health Survey Report by JKV Research
• 2024 Fond du Lac County Community Health Survey Executive Summary by JKV Research
• 2024 Fond du Lac County Community Health Survey Key Findings Infographic 

Fond du Lac County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

In response to the 2024 Community Health Assessment (report below), three health priorities have been identified: Mental Health, Substance Use, and Healthcare Access. Fond du Lac County Health Department, in collaboration with Healthy Fond du Lac County partners, developed the 2025-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan (available here).

The CHIP is a health improvement plan updated every three to five years. This plan serves as a long-term roadmap to collaborate and coordinate with key community partners to address identified priorities and target resources in a systematic way to improve community health. This planning is critical to building and strengthening partnerships with organizations. 

Three priority action teams were formed to address the health priorities. Interested in joining an action team? Contact the Health Department at 920-929-3085 or email Sarah.gradinjan@fdlco.wi.gov. 

The Mental Health Action Team (MHA), is a community group of local mental health professionals and community partners, working towards shared mental health goals as part of the CHIP. The action team meets regularly to work on strategies that support our shared goals and share resources/information.

Goal 1: Decrease the number of deaths by suicide

Goal 2: Increase access to behavioral health services

Resources:

2023 Workplace Mental Health Toolkit

Pathways to Care Booklet | Spanish Pathways to Care Booklet 

Interested in joining the action team? Contact the Health Department at 920-929-3085 or email Sarah.gradinjan@fdlco.wi.gov.

The Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac Coalition is a group of community partners working towards shared substance use prevention goals as part of the CHIP. The coalition meets regularly or as needed to work on strategies that support our shared goals and share resources/information.

Goal 1: Decrease underage drinking and binge drinking

Goal 2: Decrease binge drinking among adults

Goal 3: Decrease misuse of opioid and prescription medications

Resources:

See our Addiction and Recovery Resources Page

Interested in joining the action team? Contact the Health Department at 920-929-3085 or email Sarah.gradinjan@fdlco.wi.gov. 

The Healthcare Access Action Team is a community group of local health professionals working towards shared healthcare access goals as part of the CHIP. The action team meets regularly to work on strategies that support our shared goals and share resources/information.

Goal 1: Increase utilization of health navigators in the community

Goal 2: Increase knowledge of transportation services available 

Resources: 

Transportation Guide (English) | Transportation Guide (Spanish) 

Interested in joining the action team? Contact the Health Department at 920-929-3085 or email Sarah.gradinjan@fdlco.wi.gov.

Living Well Coalition 

Mission: Coordinating community efforts to support the health and wellbeing of all people in Fond du Lac County by managing chronic disease, increasing access to affordable healthy foods and empowering active lifestyles. 

Vision: Creating a healthier Fond du Lac County. 

Living Well Coalition focuses on 3 goals to support healthy lifestyles. Each goal has a taskforce of community partners working on actionable steps in the focus areas.

Goal 1: Healthy Lifestyles - Decrease chronic diseases and increase healthy lifestyle behaviors

Goal 2: Physical Activity - Increase access to physical activity opportunities 

Goal 3: Food Access & Nutrition - Increase community food security and access to healthy foods  

Resources

• Food Resources

• Healthy Living with Diabetes Workshops - Call Fond du Lac County Health Department at 920-929-3085 for more information. 
  • Diabetes Toolkit

Interested in joining the coalition? Contact the Health Department at 920-929-3085 or email Raine.Bleecker@fdlco.wi.gov.