Incorporating Health into All Policies

Across Wisconsin, and across the country, opportunities to live a long, healthy life are not shared equally by all. Many of Wisconsin’s health outcomes lag behind national averages, and the state is home to some of the most extreme health disparities in the nation. In response to this problem, Wisconsin local governments, state agencies, academic partners, and nonprofit groups have joined forces to create the Legacy Community Alliance for Health (LCAH). The collaborative was awarded a $1 million Community Impact Grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

LCAH is a 5-year project aimed at increasing the capacity of Wisconsin municipalities to consider the health implications of their policymaking, programming and budgeting. Along with its many partners, COWS will help to build that capacity through training, technical assistance and peer learning, culminating in at least one pilot project in each participating municipality during the five year period.

About the Program

Where We Work

Through our grant, we work with the following cities and local areas in the state of Wisconsin: The City of Appleton, the City of Ashland, the City of Bayfield, Bayfield County, the Village of Egg Harbor, the City of Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, the City of Fitchburg, the City of La Crosse, La Crosse County, the City of Middleton, the City of Monona, the City of New Richmond, the City of Oshkosh, the City of Port Washington, the City of Sheboygan, St. Croix County, and the City of Wisconsin Rapids.

Cities and local counties involved in the Legacy Community Alliance for Health are highlighted on a map of Wisconsin

Future Locations

Our current grant focuses on Wisconsin communities. If your city or local government is interested in exploring Health in All Policies, consider working with us through our technical assistance program to member cities.

Examples of Local Leadership

  • Bayfield County hosted a transportation summit to discuss creative transportation options for rural communities. They used momentum and information from that summit to create a Transportation Coordinating Committee to continue the conversation.
  • Eau Claire County and the City of Eau Claire co-wrote a Health Chapter for the City of Eau Clarie’s Comprehensive Plan that incorporates HiAP. 
  • The City of Fitchburg created its Health Neighborhoods Initiative (HNI) to reduce health and access disparities in its under served neighborhoods and to the develop more grassroots engagement outside of City Hall. The City worked with the Dane County Department of Human Services to fund two Neighborhood Navigators.
  • The City of Wisconsin Rapids convened a rich set of stakeholders to create a local Advisory Board, and then designed and completed a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to inform a senior housing development . The board consists of Wood County Health Department staff, City of Wisconsin Rapids staff, and representatives from several community groups.
  • Appleton (see video below) adopted an ordinance to incorporate and prioritize health in all city policies.

Contact

Interested in learning more? Contact Katya Spear (knspear@mayorsinnovation.org, 608-262-5831).