CHAT Community Health Action Teams
Since 2001, ThedaCare has organized Community Health Action Teams (CHAT Teams) to help guide local community health work in each of our hospital markets. These CHAT Teams, comprised of community leaders and those with experience across all sectors (government, public health, business, education, healthcare, philanthropy, non-profit, faith), help make sense of local health improvement opportunities and co-create innovative solutions for positive change.
At the heart of CHAT is an event called a “plunge,” a day-long field trip into the heart of the community to learn firsthand from those most affected by the health issue being studied. ThedaCare has conducted more than 35 plunges with the participation of over 2,000 community leaders to learn about the needs of our communities and find proactive ways to be part of the solution.
CHAT’s Latest Plunge
In 2023, our Community Health Action Teams “plunged” into the topic of Youth Mental Health & Social Media, which impacts all of our communities. For this event, we partnered with National Center of Excellence in Social Media and Mental Health.
Click here to learn more about SMAHRT.
CHAT Health Priorities
Based on ThedaCare’s Community Health Needs Assessments and Plans, CHAT supports actions related to these four priorities:
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- Social Needs
- Strong Start to Life
- Regional Alignment
CHAT Members by Community
Amanda Charis ThedaCare Foundation Ann Schnyder Berlin School District Brooke Zank DHHS Bruce Workman Carly Hirsch Christine Ann Casey Getz River Shores Church Dawn Woodard Marquette County DHHS Jayme Sopha Marquette County Jana Dahms All Saints Berlin Jenise Mischler UW Ext. Kelli Tarlton ThedaCare Primary Care Lisa Hogar
SUPER CHATThedaCare Rural Health Initiative Lisa Schiessl GL County Michelle Cassidy Mindy Collado
SUPER CHATBoys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area Nicole Tank Childrens WI Paula Morgen ThedaCare Rachel Prellwitz Green Lake County Health Dept Tammy Bending ThedaCare Tracey Ratzburg ThedaCare Amy Putzer Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Barb Tengesdahl
Super CHATFirst 5 Fox Valley/Help Me Grow Barbara Beuscher ThedaCare Family of Foundations Ben Vogel Marion University Beth Clay NEW Mental Health Connection Bridget Clementi Children’s WI Chris Matheny Fox Valley Technical College Chuck Sepers Appleton Health Department Dale Gisi ThedaCare Dirk Steinert ThedaCare Doug Gieryn Winnebago County Public Health Eric Broten Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Greg Lemke Rochon Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley Jesus Smith Lawrence University Kristen Gondek People of Progression Laura Jackson Appleton Area School District Lisa Kogan Praska United Way Fox Cities Oliver Zornow Building for Kids Paula Morgen ThedaCare Peter Lee Us 2 Behavioral Health Reiko Ramos Diverse and Resilient Shawn Whitworth Common Ground Tammy Geenen Community Foundation for the Fox River Valley, Inc. Tim Galloway
Super CHATGalloway Company Timber Smith City of Appleton Tracey Ratzburg ThedaCare April Kopitzke New London Area Chamber of Commerce Allyson Hewitt Weyauwega Fremont School District Bill Schmidt
SUPER CHATCommunity Chuck Thompson Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Dave Morack
SUPER CHATWaupaca County Ginger Sowle City of New London Jason Horn DHS Jed Wohlt Waupaca County Public Health Jess Betts-Nelson Feonix – Mobility Rising Lauren Thompson Rawhide Lesley Fuerst ThedaCare, RHI Michael Hall Mission of Hope House & Impact WI Michelle Paustian ThedaCare Patricia Toney ThedaCare, Retired Paula Morgen ThedaCare Scott Bleck New London School District Steve Savides United Church of Christ NL Tracey Ratzburg ThedaCare Kellie Diedrick ThedaCare Alegra Fowler Sweetgrass Behavioral Health Dr. Allie Wolf Andrew Warner United Church of Christ Brian Grieves Grieves Chiropractic and Menominee Tribal Clinic Dr. Mindy Frimodig
SUPER CHATThedaCare Erin Prey Shawano School District George Lenzner Shawano Sheriff’s Office Hung Nguyen Jen Bisterfeldt Safe Haven Jennifer Frost Shawano County Deprartment of Human Services Kellie Diedrick Matt Hendricks City of Shawano Megan Suehring UW Madison, Div of Extension Shawano County Michael Sleeper Morgan Fuller ThedaCare Nancy Schultz United Way Patty Woeslaw Family Services of NEW Paula Morgen ThedaCare Peter Thillman Shawano County Economic Progress, Inc. Pilar Gauthier University of Wisconsin-Madison Rhonda Strebel Rural Health Initiative Dr. Rob Chelberg Menominee Tribal Clinic Robyn Shingler Shawano School District Stacey Cicero State of Wisconsin Tracey Crawford ThedaCare Terri Harmala Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Dept. Wendy Crawford
Super CHATBoys & Girls Club Andy Behrendt Trinity Lutheran Church Aaron Holt CORE Treatment Ben Warren Brian Hoelzel Waupaca Police Gerry Hamm ThedaCare Gregory Grohman Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce/City of Waupaca/School District of Waupaca Jed Wohlt Waupaca County Public Health Jeff Mikorski Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation Larry Thomas Laura Colbert City of Waupaca Parks & Rec Laurie Schmidt
SUPER CHATSchool District of Waupaca Nick Schultek Weyauwega Fremont SD Paula Morgen ThedaCare Rachel Lockwood Waupaca Foundry, Inc Ryan Brown Waupaca County Planning & Zoning Shawna Hansen
SUPER CHATWaupaca County Department of Health and Human Services Tara Knaack ThedaCare Taylor Wilcox Waupaca Library Tracey Ratzburg ThedaCare Kellie Diedrick ThedaCare Amanda Burmeister ThedaCare Family of Foundations Allen Luchini Waushara County Ashley Podoll CAP Services Bridgette Henschel Treehouse Colin Mitchell
SUPER CHATFamily Health La Clinica Craig Hayes School District of Wild Rose Deb Paavola Jewel Mucklin Wautoma School District Mandy Mayek Fox Valley Tech – Wautoma Mary O’Bara Family Health La Clinica Patti Miller Paula Morgen ThedaCare Sharon Woodruff Waushara S.H.I.N.E.S. RCO Stephanie Eldridge
SUPER CHATWaushara County Health Department Tammy Bending ThedaCare Tracey Ratzburg ThedaCare
Super CHAT
Following a 2022 CHAT Retreat, a Super CHAT team was formed. Super CHAT has 2 CHAT representatives from each CHAT team. Super CHAT determines the Plunge topic, so all teams plunge on the same topic at the same time.
Recent News & Events
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ThedaCare Community Health Action Teams Address Local Health Concerns
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Building Up Recovery Housing in Wisconsin
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Supporting Child Development in Local Communities