When local health officials and staff become involved in the legislative process and share their expertise and experiences with decision makers, local health departments collectively have a stronger voice to support and advance public health initiatives. In order to make these efforts more deliberate, a Policy Team was developed in 2017 to create a process for assessing, promoting, supporting and tracking health policies related to WCHD.

Goals:

1. Maintain an internal infrastructure that allows for advocacy and policy work.

2. Develop, support, and advocate for public health related policies using a Health in All Policies approach.

The Health Equity Team brings together the perspectives of all areas within the health department, working towards building a stronger understanding of and commitment to health equity. The overall vision for our health equity work is: Health outcomes for residents in Winnebago County will not be determined by social identity or socially determined group status such as, but not limited to, ability, gender identify, geography, income or race.

Equity Value Statement

Goals:

1. Build health equity into the infrastructure (policy, practice, procedure) of Winnebago County Health Department.

2. Create an internal culture supporting health equity.