Marshfield Clinic grants make area a better place

Marshfield Medical Center-Ladysmith has announced the recipients of the 2023 Community Health Grant Program, which includes the Chippewa County Department of Public Health. These grants provide support to local communitybased organizations, to enhance or implement programs, or services, that will improve the overall health and well-being of communities served by the Ladysmith location.

This was the first time this Community Health Grant Program was offered.

Initiatives receiving funds will increase local services for multiple youth programs, enhance ongoing local community and school-based projects, support new or existing projects, and all will encompass to improve the availability of programs, activities and services to community members. A subcommittee of the hospital’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) reviewed submissions for this first round of the Community Health Grant Program.

The community health priorities were identified through a needs assessment in 2021, in collaboration with community members and organizational leaders. These priorities include alcohol and substance abuse prevention; behavioral health; chronic disease prevention; and social determinants of health or aspects in the physical, social and economic environment, that influence a person’s ability to be healthy.

“The number of qualified applicants was a real surprise,” said Mary Jane Nelson, member of the CAB Community Health Sub-Committee member. “The quality of their requests, and the benefits and effects of what they requested the grant for, was truly inspiring. The community will be a better place to live, work and play when these awardees get their funds, and put the grant to work to accomplish what they wanted to do.”