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Community Health Action Teams

Advocating for healthier, stronger communities

View Initiatives Created Through CHAT Model

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.

CHAT Health Priorities

Based on ThedaCare’s Community Health Needs Assessments and Plans, CHAT supports actions related to these four priorities:

  1. Mental Health and Substance Use
  2. Social Needs
  3. Strong Start to Life
  4. Reginal Alignment

CHAT Members by Community

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.

The first meeting of the Super CHAT team.

Recent News & Events

  • ThedaCare Community Health Action Teams Address Local Health Concerns

  • The Waushara S.H.I.N.E.S. program launched in May 2022. It’s a six-month transitional living environment for men seeking support in early recovery. Seven men were part of the first wave of residents to move into the home located in Wautoma.

    Building Up Recovery Housing in Wisconsin

  • Supporting Child Development in Local Communities

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