CHALLENGE

Local and tribal health departments (LTHD) face challenges making progress with community health discussions when using terms like “health equity” that have become polarizing and politicized in many areas. They struggle with creating a safe space for open dialogue and ensuring that all voices are included in these important conversations.

APPROACH

LTHDs do not need more health equity training — they need spaces where community members and decision-makers can collaboratively explore what defines a healthy community. LTHDs should not carry this responsibility alone, but they need to be active participants in the process.

To address these challenges, Extension partnered with public health organizations statewide and held six deliberative dialogue sessions in three Wisconsin counties. These dialogues were facilitated using an issue guide the group created around what makes communities healthy — without using polarizing language. This method aimed to cultivate trust between community members, Extension educators, decision-makers, and LTHDs by facilitating conversations on the complex topic of community health. The sessions sought to understand community perceptions of health equity and work toward a shared understanding to advance health and reduce disparities. A key goal was to identify lessons that could be applied to other communities.

OUTCOME

Extension educators in three counties — Adams, Jackson, and Marinette — partnered with their LTHD to hold six deliberative dialogues. Seventy-five participants from all three counties engaged in these dialogues, demonstrating the method’s effectiveness in bringing community members together to address challenging community issues. Participants reported increased confidence in their ability to hold civil discussions, with renewed interest in creating healthier communities. As one participant from Adams County noted, “We are interdependent and cannot solve these issues without one another.”

This project highlighted deliberative dialogue’s potential for fostering collaboration and respect in addressing complex health concerns. The lessons learned offer a blueprint for replicating the approach in other communities. In 2024, Extension is partnering with LTHDs and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service to expand training aimed at enhancing community capacity for deliberative dialogue and focusing on its application in Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans.