Strengthening Community Health Across Wisconsin: The Regional Community Health Team
OVERVIEW
The Regional Community Health Team (RCHT) is an initiative of the Health & Well-Being Institute to provide training, technical assistance, and resources to strengthen community-based partners’ ability to address health priorities. Launched in Spring 2024, the RCHT expands HWB’s statewide reach and impact in advancing community health.
The RCHT provides training, technical assistance and capacity building to local and Tribal health departments, community-based organizations, and coalitions in support of community health assessment and planning processes. The program focuses on three key areas:
Authentically engaging community in health assessments, planning, and decision-making
Enhancing community health assessment activities
Turning data into action using evidence-based strategies The RCHT aligns with statewide public health efforts, supports public health system transformation, and advances the Wisconsin State Health Improvement Plan.
Statewide partners include the UW Population Health Institute, Wisconsin Association for Public Health, Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health’s Office of Policy and Practice Alignment.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since launching in March 2024, the RCHT hired a supervisor and three regional coordinators serving the Southwest, Northeast, and Northwest regions of Wisconsin. These roles are initially intended for rural areas with limited community health resources.
In 2024, the RCHT led trainings on food security, coalition-building, community assessment, and data-driven grant writing. The team also provided technical assistance for county health departments engaged in deliberative inquiry and qualitative data analysis, coalitions developing strategic plans, and multi-sector partners evaluating programs.
PARTNER ENGAGEMENT
Since April 2024, the RCHT has prioritized partner engagement to understand Wisconsin’s community health landscape. The team intentionally collaborates with Extension colleagues and community partners at local, regional, and statewide levels to assess needs and refine priorities.
Through partner engagement, the RCHT identified key opportunities to provide technical assistance and capacity-building in 2025.
Contact communityhealth@extension.wisc.edu to learn more about RCHT services.
