Oneida County Health Department outlines ambitious goals

Presenting the Oneida County Health Department’s annual report to the Oneida County Board of Supervisors this month, health department director Linda Conlon touted a long list of departmental accomplishments and laid out a whirlwind agenda for the coming years, including an emphatic focus on substance use, mental health, housing, and child care.

Speaking to supervisors, Conlon said the county health department (OCHD) uses a framework called Foundational Public Health Services, a model that outlines the unique responsibilities of governmental public health and defines the minimum set of foundational capabilities and foundational areas that must be available in the community to provide fair and just opportunities for all to be healthy.

“This ensures essential services are accessible, consistent, and sustainable across all communities,” Conlon said. “This model also helps us stay grounded in both our everyday operations, which of course is important, but also long-term operations as well.”

The annual report also highlighted the department’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). According to the report, the CHIP is a strategic plan developed using findings from a community health assessment (CHA). 

“It outlines goals, strategies, and actions to address prioritized health needs, improve outcomes, and reduce disparities,” the department report stated. “Together, the CHA and CHIP provide a framework for understanding health issues in Oneida County and working together to achieve lasting improvements in community health.”

The plans are important, the report asserted, because both a CHA and CHIP are vital for identifying and addressing a community’s health needs. 

“The CHA provides a clear understanding of health challenges and resources, while the CHIP uses this information to create actionable strategies,” the report states. “By focusing on data-driven priorities, the CHIP will improve health outcomes (by targeting key health issues to enhance overall well-being); promote collaboration (uniting community partners to pool resources and expertise); reduce disparities (by addressing social determinants of health and inequities); and ensure accountability (by tracking progress toward shared goals over time).”

Conlon said the five-year CHIP is based on broad community input. 

“We have surveys, focus groups, listening sessions,” she said. “We invite people to talk to us and tell us about the issues that they feel we are facing in Oneida County. Our priorities for the next five years are substance use, mental health, housing and child care.”

Conlon said there were more than 75 local leaders and partners participating in the assessment project. 

“So really it is more than just a plan,” she said. “It is the commitment of shared vision across many, many sectors — local businesses, nonprofits, health care providers, schools and community members. We work together to address these priorities and hopefully improve for everyone.”

The coalition

Conlon said much of the department’s work is coalition driven.

“Coalition work really drives many of our community initiatives because we need input from others on the work that we do,” she said. “Some of our coalitions are the Northwoods Tobacco Free Coalition, we have a substance use coalition, a social connections coalition, and mental health.”

Conlon said the department also has a new child care coalition and has established a community outreach information network.

“This is really about teamwork,” she said. “It’s across businesses, school, nonprofits, health care and residents.”

More specifically, the report states, the Tri-County COPE Mental Health Coalition is dedicated to supporting those affected by mental health issues and suicide through education, intervention, and prevention. The coalition works with the community to provide resources and information that improve the well-being of residents in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties, creating a safe and supportive environment, the report states.

Among other accomplishments, the coalition, in partnership with the Tavern League of Wisconsin for the Tri-County area, has distributed 22,500 men’s mental health awareness coasters and numerous posters to local restaurants and bars across three counties.

Faced with the reality that commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the state, the department leads the Northwoods Tobacco-Free Coalition (NWTFC), which represents Florence, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Vilas and Langlade counties. Its vision is to create a community where every individual has the opportunity to live a healthy life, free from the harms of commercial tobacco, the report offers.

The program’s goals are to prevent commercial tobacco use initiation; eliminate the exposure of secondhand smoke; address big tobacco’s target marketing to underserved populations and advance fair and just opportunities for health.

The Social Connections Coalition (SCC) supports Oneida County residents aged 65 or older and individuals with disabilities by helping them stay connected and valued, the report states. 

“Funded by a Social Isolation and Loneliness grant, SCC offers resources, monthly activities, and programs that foster friendships, promote inclusion, and build a sense of belonging,” the report states. “Through events, volunteer opportunities, and more, we’re creating a caring community where everyone feels supported and engaged.”

According to the report, the social connections coalition is relevant because social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke; Type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety; poorer sleep quality; suicidality and self-harm; dementia; and earlier death.

The report says 42 percent of Oneida County residents have indicated experiencing a great degree of loneliness.

Another coalition is the substance use coalition, which the report says authentically engages partners from different sectors of the community, including schools, health care, and law enforcement. 

“A comprehensive approach is used to understand and address substance use concerns in Oneida County,” the report states. “The Oneida County Health Department provides leadership to help grow capacity through the development of the coalition. Each partner plays a unique role and provides access to data and available resources.”

Its goals include supporting a healthy drinking culture, increase access to treatment, and to reduce youth substance use. Forest, Vilas, and Oneida counties are in the coalition, with 22 local organizations and 45 individuals actively participating.

Other work

In addition to the coalitions, Conlon said the health department is actively engaged in other programs.

“We do conduct food safety environmental inspections to reduce preventable hazards,” she said. “We provide childhood lead poisoning prevention, education, and testing. We offer car seats and safe installation assistance to prevent injuries in older vehicle accidents.”

Conlon says the agency ensures safe drinking water through private well testing and public education. 

“We assist families to get healthy food, nutrition advice, and support for breastfeeding through WIC (Women, Infants, and Children),” she said. “We continue our role in emergency preparedness with local partners. Our Wisconsin Well Women program provides comprehensive health services to women age 40 to 64 in certain populations with breast and cervical screenings and we provide ongoing public education for families and businesses on creating and maintaining healthy environments.”

In yet another area, the health department conducts regular inspection of licensed facilities to ensure food safety, reduce foodborne illnesses, and confirm that establishments follow safety protocols to protect the public. By the end of 2024, there were 1,113 businesses licensed, with 1,091 inspections completed.

“OCHD is responsible for investigation and ordering clean-up of identified health hazards in Oneida County, as outlined in state statutes and county ordinance,” the report states. “Housing continues to be a priority in Oneida County and also the primary hazard complaint intake. Living in unsafe or unsuitable housing conditions can negatively impact health, leading to health problems and chronic disease.”

The focus is to be more efficient in processing cases from intake, until closed, and be more effective with hours available for responding to hazard investigations. In 2024, there were seven cases closed; 23 active cases open at end of year; and 338.5 hours spent on cases.

The health department participates in the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council, Inc. (OCBWTC). 

“OCBWTC is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about health and physical activity, safety, and economic benefits of trails; educating the public about the essential components of trail development; building cooperation between partners to develop and maintain a comprehensive biking and walking trail network in Oneida County; and assisting communities with all aspects of trail development including fundraising, grant-writing, meeting facilitation, landowner relations, and public education,” the report states.

The report also states that the agency is actively engaged in the state’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program. Activities included developing, educating, and implementing a county building crisis plan, conducting a full-scale medical counter-measure exercise, September through November; presenting on Oneida County Medical Countermeasures at the 2024 Governor’s Conference; and holding routine, internal emergent “RAVE” notification drills, an emergency system that alerts employees with real-time communications about emergencies and other immediate situations.

Then, too, the OCHD investigates outbreaks in schools, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, businesses and more to help identify causes, assist in mitigating spread, and provide resources. Not least, the county investigates all animal bites to prevent rabies, working with law enforcement and veterinarians to assess animals and reduce post-exposure treatment, the report states.

“In 2024, the Oneida County Health Department partnered with community organizations, including local law enforcement, veterinary clinics, and health care providers, to improve communication to assure bite investigations begin within 72 hours of a bite,” the report states.

There’s also participation in the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), which supports brain health and helps prevent memory issues as people age.

“It raises awareness, funds research, and offers resources to promote healthy habits such as exercise, nutrition, and mental stimulation,” the report states. “Oneida County Health Department received grant funding to support this effort.”

Health department officials say the initiative is critical.

“Supporting caregivers with resources and training helps them provide better care while maintaining their own well-being,” the report states. “Increasing recognition of dementia through public safety and healthcare partnerships ensures earlier identification and appropriate responses. Expanding knowledge of available services empowers families to access essential care and support. Promoting brain health and dementia prevention through education and community initiatives benefits people of all ages, creating a more informed and resilient community.”

And that’s not all, folks …

Conlon said the department works hard to secure outside funding.

“I would also like to point out that we have secured additional grant funding, which I know is always something when we come to budget season that people want us to do,” she said. “We have secured grant funding on youth substance use prevention, healthy brain initiatives, mental health outreach and support, family resilient programming, social isolation prevention.”

Funding really does equal targeted community focused health improvements, Conlon said. 

“These efforts represent the wide range of work our health department delivers each and every day and often quietly,” she said. “The most common comment that we hear is, ‘I didn’t know the health department did that,’ but we always are working toward the goal of protecting and improving the health of Oneida County.”

Conlon said the department is always looking ahead.

“So this annual report is not just about what we’ve done but also what we want to look forward to in 2025,” she said. “Some of those highlights strengthen local coalitions and partnerships, expand accessible service delivery, advance work identified in the CHIP and support Oneida County as a place where every resident can achieve their best health. So in closing, I would like to thank all of you, our community partners and our community as a whole and I want to extend our commitment to preventing things to happening before they actually happen. We really are striving to make Oneida County a healthier place to live.”

Richard Moore is the author of “Dark State” and may be reached at richardd3d.substack.com.