The Division of Public Health's (DPH) Community Health Assessment (CHA) process is guided from the LIFE Report process with DPH staff and HPPC executive members diving deeper into the data. This data deep dive helps identify priority focus areas for the CHIPP.

Portage County Health and Human Services -Division of Public Heath recognizes the importance of the community health assessment process. We are proud that the process not only supports our Public Health Accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), but also fulfills one of the required services of local health departments under Chapter DHS 140 in the development of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

To access the 2023 CHA, click here!

Healthy People Portage County, in partnership with Portage County Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health, worked to develop the 2024-2028 Community Health Improvement Process and Plan (CHIPP). This plan is a finalized product of a collaborative effort between government agencies, non-profits, coalition members, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, and community members. The CHIPP plan assists in mobilizing organizations, community members, and other stakeholders to work together on improving and preventing health issues in Portage County.

For the 2024-2028 CHIPP, PCHHS-DPH utilized National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACHHO) Mobilizing Action through Partnerships and Planning (MAPP) 2.0 process. MAPP is a community-driven strategic planning process to achieve health equity and provides a structure for communities to assess their most pressing population health issues and align resources across sectors for strategic action.

The 2024-2028 CHIPP identified three Health Focus Areas:

Equitable Opportunity to Be Healthy

Mental Health and Social Wellbeing

Building a Safe & Thriving Community

To access the 2024-2028 CHIPP, click here!

The LIFE (Local Indicators for Excellence) Report is completed every five years, with the first LIFE Report of Portage County being conducted in 2007. This report is an initiative driven by the work of the United Way of Portage County. The executive committee of the 2023 LIFE Report included representatives from United Way of Portage County, Portage County Health and Human Services, Central Wisconsin Community Foundation, Aspirus Health Care and Marshfield Clinic Health System.

To view the 2023 LIFE Report, visit here!

In 2025, Portage County Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health and Healthy People Portage County completed three Community Context Assessments (CCAs), otherwise referred to as Community Conversations.

To view the Community Conversation Outcomes, visit here!