On Aug. 17, the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department facilitated our 2026 Community Health Assessment event at the College of Menominee Nation. Alongside dedicated community members, local partners and organizations, we dove deep into key data spanning our social determinants of health, health behaviors and outcomes, clinical care and the physical environment.
After thoughtful, open discussion, our community worked together to identify the core health priority areas that will guide our efforts over the next three to five years — mental health, transportation and housing.
These priorities directly reflect the voices, lived experiences and data-backed needs of our residents.
Addressing them isn’t just about changing a statistic; it’s about strengthening the foundational building blocks of health across our two counties.
Why do these priorities matter?
Mental health and physical health are deeply interconnected. Rural communities across Wisconsin often face unique challenges in mental healthcare access, making broad community awareness and early intervention critical.
When we speak openly about mental health, it normalizes people asking for help without feeling embarrassed or ashamed. Learning what to look for in ourselves and in our neighbors helps communities know when to step in give support before tough situations turn into crises or emergency room visits.
Taking care of our minds also does wonders for our bodies. Feeling well mentally helps people handle daily stress, strengthens the immune system and lowers the risk of serious health problems like heart disease. On top of that, when people feel supported, it’s much easier for them to stay active, make healthier choices, and be there for their friends and families.
In rural partially-rural communities like Shawano and Menominee counties, transportation is the key thread connecting people to essential services. Transportation plays a vital role in public health by influencing access to jobs, education, health care, healthy food and social connections.
Public health data consistently shows that lack of reliable transportation leads to missed medical appointments, delayed management of chronic conditions (like diabetes and heart disease) and difficulty accessing grocery stores with fresh foods, according to the Rural Health Information Hub.
Beyond simply getting us where we need to go, transportation shapes the very feel of our neighborhoods. When communities invest in smooth roads, reliable transit, safe sidewalks and volunteer driver programs, it is naturally easier for everyone to stay active, breathe cleaner air and travel safely.
Expanding these options does more than bridge distances; it reduces long-standing barriers to good jobs, schools, and healthcare, bringing the entire community together.
Housing is widely recognized as one of the single most influential social determinants of health.
Adequate, stable housing gives individuals and families a sense of security, stability, control and privacy.
While safe housing provides physical protection, it can also impact child development. Safe, well-maintained housing protects families from structural hazards, mold, lead and extreme temperatures.
Additionally safe, quality housing reduces environmental exposures directly linked to childhood asthma, lead poisoning, accidental injuries and chronic respiratory illness.
Aside from the direct, physical impacts housing can have on health, the financial burden of housing is overwhelming for so many. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, when households face high severe housing cost burdens (spending more than 30-50% of income on rent or mortgages), their budget for essentials shrinks dramatically.
High housing costs force families to make trade-offs between paying rent and affording health insurance, preventive care, prescribed medications and nutritious food. By stabilizing housing, communities can directly improve a family’s financial capacity to stay healthy.
Identifying these priorities is just the beginning. Our next step is to assemble a steering committee of passionate community partners, local leaders and subject-matter experts to develop our Community Health Improvement Plan. By building onto the strengths, skills, and resources that already exist across our communities, we can work together on real, lasting solutions.
Over the next three years, the CHIP will serve as our evidence-based, collaborative roadmap, guiding collective action and targeted investments to measurably enhance the health and well-being of all Shawano and Menominee counties residents.
We invite you to keep an eye on the SMCHD’s Facebook page (facebook.com/SMCHD) and county webpage in the coming weeks, where the full Community Health Assessment report will be published.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to build a healthier community for everyone.
Nick Mau is the health officer for the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department with a master’s degree in public health.
