MONROE — Green County recently earned bronze level Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation.
This new statewide program is designed to encourage achievements in community health improvement and promote cooperation across multiple sectors. The Green County Health Community Coalition, led by Green County Public Health and Monroe Clinic, applied for the recognition, citing collaborative projects inspired by three key initiatives:
● Growing the Farmer’s Market: Green County worked with farmer’s market organizers to introduce a “Double Your Dollars” benefit for food share redemption to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables for the underserved population while supporting local growers.
● Investing in Breastfeeding: Various healthcare and human services agencies came together to share a united message about the benefits of breastfeeding, which is shown to nurture heathy development and lower obesity rates, across Green County. They also committed to increasing the number of certified lactation consultants available in the county.
● Green County Wellness Week: 30 area businesses and organizations participated in this year’s “Get Spotted Moo-ving” program, which challenged employees with community-wide exercise opportunities spotlighting local exercise resources, from natural trails to local fitness centers. This annual event aims to inspire healthy exercise routines year-round.
Green County is one of 31 Wisconsin communities to receive “Wisconsin Healthy Communities” designation this year. The Healthy Communities Designation program encourages participation from communities of all shapes and sizes, both rural and urban. The definition of “community” is broad and can include counties, municipalities, neighborhoods and other self-defined, place-based communities in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation is a new initiative offered by the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health group of the UW Population Health Institute, in collaboration with diverse statewide groups. The Healthy Communities Designation program, funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, is designed to recognize and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin.
To learn more about the program, visit the program website: www.wihealthycommunities.org.
