MENOMONIE, Wis. (WEAU) – The Dunn County Health Department hosted the 2024 Health Dunn Right Kick-Off event.
“I’m so excited that the community really showed up for the health Dunn right community health improvement plan process today. We’re gonna work together to identify how we can do work to address community identified priorities.” Dunn County Health Department Director, KT Gallagher said.
Earlier this year, the Health Department sent a survey to Dunn County residents asking for their input on what the top challenges in the area are.
“So, the health priorities this year are housing, access to childcare, access to healthcare, we are focusing on mental health care with this group and then healthy environment and access to safe childcare.” said Gallagher.
One reason residents are struggling to get the health care that they need is due to the closures of area hospitals earlier this year.
“Definitely seeing a reassortment of folks seeking care and having to navigate access to care so that’s one of the reasons we think it bubbled up in the community health assessment.” Gallagher said.
Healthcare access, affordable and safe childcare and housing are some of the top priorities that the Dunn County Health Department are hoping to have a positive impact.
They have partnered with United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys to create a plan to help those in need.
It all starts with ALICE.
“Alice is an acronym that stands for asset, limited, income constraint, employed. And ALICE is more than one in three households in our area when you include people who are at or below the federal poverty level. ALICE is above the federal poverty level, but below the threshold where they are able to be thriving financially. And so, the people that are experiencing childcare challenges, housing challenges, it’s not just folks who are affluent, it’s really folks who are hit hardest who are ALICE.” Steve McCarthy, Executive Director, United Way and Red Cedar Valleys said.
Dunn County and United Way hope that they can give residents the access that they need to local resources.
Copyright 2024 WEAU. All rights reserved.
Dunn County’s New Health Plan
