Impact Marathon County Health Priorities

WAUSAU – A consortium of local funders awarded $83,600 for six community projects that address the key health priorities identified by the Marathon County Community Health Assessment 2006-2010. Collaborative funding partners include the Judd S. Alexander Foundation, Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Aspirus Health Foundation, Saint Clare's Hospital, Marshfield Clinic, and the United Way of Marathon County.

In a competitive process, eleven of twenty projects were invited to submit a full proposal for innovative projects and programs that are designed to facilitate community action and improvement in:

• Alcohol Use and Misuse
• Health Care for the Elderly
• Obesity and Related Disorders
• Tobacco Use and Exposure
• Suicide and Mental Health
• Utilization of Prenatal Care
• Concerns with the Cost of Health Care

Six projects were selected for funding.

American Red Cross Marathon County Chapter Community Health Screenings: $18,500

Promotion of health and wellness through regularly scheduled, free screenings for hypertension and diabetes.Program targets the elderly, poor, Hmong and Hispanic persons. Offers individualized healthy lifestyle education.

Building Responsible Alcohol Values and Options (BRAVO) and
The Marathon County Alcohol and Other Drugs Partnership Council, Inc.
Bravo for Youth! Preventing Underage Drinking: A Social Norms Campaign: $10,200

To decrease underage drinking and decrease the perception of underage drinking by the youth and adults in the community through development of a social norms campaign. Perceived use of alcohol is higher than actual use. Because behavior follows perception, the campaign is working to change perceptions and reduce alcohol consumption.

Healthy Babies for Marathon County Back to Crib, Back to Sleep: $10,000

Implementation of a local chapter of "Cribs for Kids," a safe-sleep education program for low-income families to help reduce the risk of injury and death of infants due to unsafe sleep environments.

Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Coalition Footprints to Health – Nutrition Program: $28,500

Expansion of education and technical assistance on nutrition related issues to support entities that are not a part of the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Footprints to Health (FTH) program. Consultation to schools, foodservice operators, day care and worksite wellness committees.

Marathon County Tobacco Free Coalition Quit Tobacco Now: $6,000

Community based, collaborative, comprehensive and cost effective group concept adult tobacco treatment program in Marathon County to increase the number of individuals who successfully quit using tobacco.

Suicide Prevention Action Team Suicide Prevention: $10,400

Reduction of suicides, identification of those at risk and raising awareness of risk factors through information, community awareness, and trainings.