Health & Human Services – Health Unit

|Green Lake County Health Department|

|Mission|
The mission of the Green Lake County Health Department is to promote and protect health and prevent disease.

|Vision|
We will become a leader in Public Health in Green Lake County promoting healthy people, thriving communities and safe environments.

 

 

THE GREEN LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT. CAN BE REACHED OR PAGED AFTER HOURS FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS BY CALLING THE SHERIFF’S DEPT. DISPATCH AT 920-294-4000.

About Us

|What is Public Health?|

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. Public health is concerned with protecting the health of population as a whole. (CDC Foundation)

 

|Staff|

Rachel Prellwitz – Health Officer

Lauren Olson – Deputy Health Officer/Health Educator

Nancy Gimenez – Public Health Nurse

Allison Davey – Public Health Nurse

Lisa Rollin – LTE Public Health Nurse

 

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Communicable Disease

|Communicable Disease|


A communicable disease, or contagious disease is an illness that can be transmitted from person to person. Communicable disease investigations include sexually transmitted diseases, food-borne and waterborne illnesses, tuberculosis, and vaccine preventable diseases.

If you are a provider that needs to report a Category I communicable disease, please call the health department at 920-294-4070.

For general information on communicable diseases, click here.

For provider information, including state statutes and reporting requirements, click here.

 

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Community Health Assessment (CHA) & Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

|Community Health Assessment|

|Community Health Improvement Plan|

This report outlines the findings of the community health assessment (CHA) which identified the top health priorities that the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) will address. The top health priorities that were identified in the 2023 Community Health Assessment are access to care (medical and dental), mental health, and substance misuse.

Green Lake County Health Department 2023 Community Health Assessment & Improvement Plan

CHA Appendix

For more information contact the Green Lake County Health Unit at (920)294-4070.

 

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COVID-19

|COVID-19 Information and Updates|

 For the most up to date information, please visit DHS website.

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have questions, please click here to learn more.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and have questions, please click here to learn more.

If you have specific questions regarding COVID-19 or if you have questions regarding your symptoms or exposure to COVID-19, please call the Health Department directly at 920-294-4070.

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Diabetes Prevention Program

The Green Lake County Health Department schedules programs regularly throughout the year. Please contact us for more information about upcoming sessions.

For information about Pre-Diabetes visit: PreventDiabetesWI.org

To find out if you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, take the free Pre- Diabetes Risk Test here.

If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming Green Lake County Diabetes Prevention classes, please complete our Interest Form and one of our staff will contact you.

 

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East Central Alliance for Nicotine Prevention

|East Central Alliance for Nicotine Prevention|

The East Central Alliance for Nicotine Prevention serves Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, and Waushara Counties. Our mission is to create nicotine and tobacco-free environments in which we live, work, and play, while promoting healthy lifestyles through education, advocacy, and policy.


Cessation
Make today YOUR day!

The following resources can help you:

For Wisconsinites:


1-800-QUIT-NOW
Text “READY” to 34191

For American Indians

1-888-724-7848

For Veterans

SmokefreeVet | Text VET to 47848

For Pregnant People, New Moms, and their Families

Visit First Breath for more information.

For Teens and Young Adults
                                

This is Quitting                                 Text2Quit                                Live Vape Free
Text DITCHVAPE to 88709           Text READY to 34191          Text VAPEFREE to 873373


Other Free Quit Tobacco Resources


Wisconsin Wins
Are you a tobacco retailer in Wisconsin?

WITobaccoCheck.org provides free state-approved retailer training on Wisconsin tobacco sales laws. WITobaccoCheck.org helps retailers avoid fines and prevent underage sales.

GET TRAINED TODAY!
WI Tobacco Check- FREE Employer Retail Training


Learn More

For Parents
Tobacco is Changing
Talk With Your Teen about E-Cigarettes
How to Support a Youth to Quit Vaping

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Emergency Preparedness

|Public Health Emergency Preparedness|

This program involves community preparedness planning and exercises to respond to natural disasters, pandemic influenza, mass clinic operations, natural disaster events, and other public health threats.

Be Informed

Build A Kit

Find out what you need in your emergency kit, click here.

Volunteer
Are you interested in helping during a public health emergency or disaster?

Click the link to learn more about how to register as a volunteer on the Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry.

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Environmental Health Services

|Environmental Health|

Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with monitoring and lessening factors in the environment that affect human health and disease.  Environmental staff investigate and resolve human health hazard complaints, provide lead risk assessments and investigations of homes with at-risk children, follow-up on animal bite cases for the rabies control program, and provide information and education regarding indoor radon gas, drinking water quality and vector-related diseases like Lyme.

For more information about Enviromental Health services, please click Here.

Environmental Health Services are provided by the Tri-County Environmental Health Consortium. The Consortium consists of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara counties. Waushara County is the lead agency for this program.

 

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Food and Recreational Licensing

|Food and Recreational Inspection Program|

This program regulates facilities that fall into the categories of:

  • Restaurants and Retail Food
  • Lodging
  • Public swimming pools
  • Campgrounds
  • Recreational education camps
  • Tattoo and body piercing

For more information specific to the Food and Recreational Licensing program, please click Here.

Tri-County Environmental Health Consortium is a contract agent for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), providing licensing and inspection activities in retail food establishments and recreational facilities.  This consortium is made up of the health departments of Waushara, Green Lake and Marquette Counties.  Waushara County is the lead agency of this program.

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Green Lake County Healthy Living and Resource Guide

Immunizations

|Immunizations|

Routine health care should include immunizations whether they come from your personal health care provider or from your local health department. Immunizations is one of the best ways to protect individuals from diseases.

Vaccines are by appointment only! Please call our office to make an appointment with one of our nurses at a time that works for you. 920-294-4070

VFC Program

Provides vaccines to children through 18 years of age and:

-Medicaid eligible or enrolled

-Underinsured: health insurance coverage does not include vaccines or only covers selected vaccines

-Uninsured: no health insurance

-American Indian or Alaska Native

VFA Program

-Provides vaccines to individuals who are age 19 and older, and are underinsured or uninsured.

For more information on which vaccines are available, click HERE.

 

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Lead Poisoning Prevention for Children

|Lead Poisoning Prevention for Children|

Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement.

What is Lead Poisoning?

  • Lead poisoning happens when you swallow or breathe in lead, or drink water from lead pipes.
  • Children under 6 years old are most at risk.
  • Most children get lead poisoning from paint dust in homes built before 1978.
  • Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities and behavior problems.
  • A lead test is the only way to know if a child has lead poisoning.

How Lead Affects the Body

Even if there are no clear signs of lead poisoning, lead still affects the body. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

  • Behavior problems and hyperactivity
  • Lower IQ and learning problems
  • Slowed growth
  • Hearing problems
  • Anemia

Facts for Families

Blood Lead Levels!  What Do They Mean?
How to Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children
Prevent Lead Poisoning During Pregnancy

Keeping Homes Safe

Learn about Lead
About Lead Based Paint

More Information

Lead-Safe Wisconsin
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention-CDC
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Radon

|Radon Gas|

The Green Lake County Health and Human Services Department is part of a four County Radon Information Center (RIC). The information center was started in 1996 and also serves Dodge, Marquette, and Waushara Counties. Our RIC has compiled information and resources to educate residents about radon, associated health risks, testing procedures and methods of reduction.

What is Radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemically inert gas. It is a byproduct of naturally occurring decay of uranium in rock, soil and water. It can be found in all 50 states. Radon can be easily inhaled and damage lung tissue due to the gas’s radioactive properties. Lung tissue damage can lead to cancer over time.

How does Radon get into my house?
Trapped gasses build up pressure in homes. As air leaves the attic of a home, a negative pressure field is formed, drawing soil gasses through floors and walls.

Very high Radon in water can add to levels in the home. Typically, Radon levels in water must be extremely high to make a significant contribution to the overall Radon gas level in a home. This is normally not seen in this area of Wisconsin.

Image: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

What are the health effects associated with Radon?
The Surgeon General has warned that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. Only smoking causes more cases of lung cancer. Smokers exposed to elevated Radon levels have a much higher risk of lung cancer.

Radon exposure does not cause any short-term health effects such as shortness of breath, headaches, respiratory illnesses, coughing or headaches.

My neighbor doesn’t have high Radon. Do I need to test?
Yes. Radon levels can be different from home to home depending on a number of factors. This is commonly seen in our area. Typically, radon differs due to distance from the source but can also be affected by soil types and construction techniques.

How do I test for Radon?
You can test for radon with an EPA-listed kit or by hiring an EPA-listed contractor to test you home for you. Kits can be purchased on-line and at most local hardware stores. The Green Lake County Department of Health & Human Services – Health Unit offers kits to county residents for a cost of $7. The kits distributed by the consortium are simple, easy to use, and come with full instructions.

What level is considered “safe”?
The EPA states that any radon exposure may carry some risk, however; they recommend that homes be fixed if an occupant’s long term exposure will average 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

Can the problem be fixed and for how much?
Yes, the radon problem can be fixed with a mitigation system installed that meets the needs of each individual home. Costs differ based on the home but can run anywhere from $600 to $1200. Although we highly recommend that you use a licensed radon contractor, sometimes homeowners can install the systems themselves.

Radon resistant construction can be incorporated during building. Costs typically will be under $100 for the materials. Contact the information center for more information.

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Resources for Additional Services

  • Adult Abuse investigation – Call Adult Protective Services at (920)294-4070
  • Birth and Death Certificates – Call Wisconsin Vital Records at (608)266-1371
  • Child Abuse and Neglect investigation – Call Green Lake County Human Services Child Protection Help line (920)294-4070
  • Emergency – 911
  • Home Health Care – See Home Health Services in the Yellow Pages
  • Poison Control Center -1-800-222-1222
  • Urgent or Emergency Health Care – See “Physicians” or “Clinics” in the Yellow Pages
  • Medical Assistance can be found at – https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/index.htm or www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp
  • Medicarewww.medicare.gov
  • Children with Special Health Care Needswww.northeastregionalcenter.org/
  • Pandemic Influenza (Flu) Informationhttp://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/
  • Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
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Water Testing

The Green Lake County Health Unit has water test kits to test your water for:

  • bacteria
  • fluoride
  • nitrates

The test kits are sent to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for analysis.

There is a fee for each test and results take approximately one week.

Private wells should be tested annually to ensure good water quality.

For more in formation contact the Green Lake County Health Unit at (920)294-4070.

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Well Badger Resource Center

Well Badger Resource Center is your one-stop connection to community, social, health, and government programs — a place to find what you need, when you need it.

Statewide resources are available at:

 

 

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Wisconsin Well Women Program

|Wisconsin Well Woman Program|

The Wisconsin Well Woman Program provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to women with little or no health insurance. The Winnebago County Health Department coordinates the program for women in the: Calumet, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Outagamie, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago.

Get connected to a Wisconsin Well Woman Program Coordinator today!
You can text the WWWP Coordinators at 920-249-5111 during office hours; Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

What does the program pay for?

  • Breast and pelvic exams
  • Mammograms (breast cancer screening)
  • Diagnostic screenings and tests, such as ultrasounds and biopsies
  • Pap tests (cervical cancer screening)
  • HPV screening

You may qualify if:

  • You are a woman 40-64 years old
  • You are a woman 35-39 years old with symptoms or concerns
  • You do not have health insurance or your insurance policy has a high deductible for screenings or tests
  • Your income is within the program guidelines.

How to apply:

  • Fill out this form, or
  • Email us, or
  • Call us at (920) 727-8650 or 1 (800) 807-0522
  • Your healthcare provider can also help you enroll.

 

The Wisconsin Well Woman Program pays for many, but not all, follow-up tests to diagnose breast or cervical cancer. Contact your program coordinator for details.
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WIC (Women, Infants and Children)

|WIC (Women, Infants, Children)|

WIC Clinics
Please call 1-800-942-5330 or 1-920-787-5514  to schedule a WIC appointment.

For more information regarding WIC (Women, Infants and Children) please go to the following website: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/

Visit our local WIC program on Facebook! Family Health La Clinica WIC

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