What Does Public Health Mean for you?

It means everyone has equal opportunity to attain the health outcomes they want. 

Focused on preventing harm before it happens, public health professionals around the state connect Wisconsinites with their neighbors to proactively work toward promoting healthier lives for this generation and the next (and the next).

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Ensuring Everyone is Living Their Best Life

Public health is a continuous, daily effort to improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities. Sometimes that involves monitoring data trends and other times it means bringing together locals and creating coalitions to unite around a singular goal. Here’s a glimpse into how local public health teams are impacting their fellow Wisconsinites.

Creating Safe Drinking Water

In 2025, the Wisconsin Oral Health Program awarded more than $178,000 in grants to 15 communities to improve water operations, benefiting an estimated 532,000 Wisconsinites for years to come.

Improving Breastfeeding Rates

Wisconsin received a WIC Breastfeeding Performance Bonus Award for 2025 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS). The award recognizes Wisconsin WIC’s outstanding achievement in significantly improving breastfeeding rates in our state.

Providing Cancer Screenings

Wisconsin's Well Woman Program professionals served approximately 4,000 un- and under-insured women across our state by offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Strengthening Children’s Dental Health

Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile provided school-based dental services at 1,162 schools and Head Start centers in 58 of 72 counties, serving more than 87,000 Wisconsin children with an estimated $17.6 million in preventive services during the 2024-25 school year.

Tracking Communicable Diseases

Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Bureau of Communicable Diseases (BCD) professionals track more than 100 communicable diseases every day to ensure they can rapidly respond to threats of spread and keep Wisconsin’s communities healthy.

Modeling Public Health Cybersecurity

Wisconsin is now a national model in public health cybersecurity by working with the U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to create a Cybersecurity Assessment template for Wisconsin that is now being leveraged nationwide.

  • Carissa Pagel-Smith, LaCrosse County ADRC Manager

    "Ever since I was a young girl, I just have always had such desire to help older people. I remember hanging out with my grandfather and his friends all summer long. I would hang out in the lunch kitchen with the older adults and listen to their stories over coffee and donuts. They have done so much to carve the way for each and every one of us. And, so this job allows me to be able to give back, even a little bit, and say thank you. It is important to me to help people age gracefully." 

  • Tessa Kohler, Asthma Program Coordinator and Public Health Strategist for Kenosha County Public Health

    "The best part of working in this position is being able to see parents and families really understand what to do with their asthma and how they can better manage it. I am always happy to give them supplies that we know are not always affordable for most families, while also helping them reduce asthma triggers in their home."

  • Amber Barnes, Clinical Manager at Milk Bank WGL

    “Donor milk is lifesaving for medically fragile babies. Many of the smallest patients’ care plans rely on this essential nutrition. The families that are able to donate this invaluable resource are superheroes. The Appleton Department of Public Health establishing a milk depot is really an amazing community asset for our generous donors.”

The Structure of Public Health In Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 84 local public health departments and 11 Tribal health departments protect and promote the health of our communities. They collaborate with a network that includes the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, community-based organizations, health care systems, nonprofits, schools, Tribal allies, and businesses - all coming together to give everyone the opportunity to thrive.

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Support Across the Entire State

From the upper peninsula to Lake Michigan and our southern border, there are specialized, collaborative statewide programs dedicated to addressing a variety of different public needs. These committed organizations are ready to guide Wisconsinites to the information and resources needed for them to discover a better and healthier life–wherever they work, live, and play.

Standing up for Healthier Communities

Public health impacts the life of everyone in Wisconsin. Get involved by sharing our resources and showing your support for public health.

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