Partnership for Prevention

We all want to live in a healthy community, but how do we decide what to improve and how? Every 3 years, Public Health Sauk County conducts a Community Health Assessment to see what is needed to make our community healthier. We assess our community’s health in partnership with the Sauk County Health & Wellness Steering Committee, Sauk County Data Council, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Sauk Prairie Healthcare, SSM Health St Clare Hospital, and the Ho-Chunk Nation. We last completed this process in 2024 and will do so again in 2027. After gathering data from surveys, focus groups, interviews, and secondary sources, we choose health focus areas.

Our focus areas for 2024-2027 are  mental health ,  housing , and substance use  prevention  &  response . To address each of these topics, we facilitate community-based action teams or coalitions that are open to everyone. These groups analyze the underlying reasons for these community problems and act on strategies that create real change.

Sauk County Partnership for Prevention (P4P) is a community-based coalition established by Public Health Sauk County in 2017.

Mission: Through collaborative and strategic action, we empower communities to prevent the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.​

Vision: Healthy, supportive communities for everyone.​

Learn more on our website:  www.P4PSauk.org  

Like us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/saukp4p 

P4P’s primary focus areas are youth use of alcohol and vapes. In addition, the coalition works to address prescription drug misuse among county residents ages 12 and older. We distribute free lock boxes to safely store medications and free deactivation kits to safely dispose of medications at home. Learn more at  https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/publichealth/medication-storage-and-disposal .

Sauk County Partnership for Prevention meets the 4 ^th  Thursday of the month from 1:00 – 2:15 pm, either in person or online. In addition, the team hosts regular meetings of its action teams. To join us or learn more, contact Kate Hansen, Public Health Sauk County Health Educator and P4P Coalition Coordinator, at 608-355-4325 or  Kate.Hansen@saukcountywi.gov .

In the 2023 Youth Behavior Risk Survey, 32% of Sauk County High School Youth reported that they had ever tried vaping. 15% reported that they had vaped in the past 30 days (currently vape).

In the 2023 Youth Behavior Risk Survey, 54% of Sauk County High School Youth reported that they had ever drunk alcohol. 28% reported that they had drunk alcohol in the past 30 days (currently use alcohol).

 Learn more about Sauk County's Community Health Improvement efforts.