Rachel Prellwitz – Health Officer

Lauren Olson – Deputy Health Officer

Nancy Gimenez – Public Health Nurse

Allison Davey – Public Health Nurse

Lisa Rollin – LTE Public Health Nurse

Diabetes Prevention Program coming to Green Lake County in the Fall of 2022! Stay tuned for more information!

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.

The Green Lake County Health Department continues working in conjunction with state and local agencies to help monitor and respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Here’s what you need to know:

How to Protect Yourself and Others:

There are steps we can all take to reduce our changes of getting COVID-19 and stopping the spread of the virus. Those steps include:

• Avoid close contact with other people other than your household members
• Stay home as much as possible and avoid large gatherings
• Wear a mask or cloth face covering if you do have to go out
• Wash your hands frequently and clean frequently touched surfaces
• Monitor your health daily and be on the lookout for symptoms that could be COVID-19
• If you have a known exposure to COVID-19, quarantine yourself at home to avoid passing on the virus to anyone else

Symptoms of COVID-19:

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If you experience any of the following symptoms you should get tested and stay home while you wait for results:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

NOTE: Not everyone with COVID-19 has all of these symptoms. For many, symptoms are mild, with no fever. You can still spread the virus to others even if you have mild or no symptoms. There are people who may be at greater risk for severe symptoms.

COVID-19 Testing Information and Locations:

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 you should get tested for COVID-19. For information on community testing locations visit:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community-testing.htm

https://www.doineedacovid19test.com/ 

You can also call your primary care provider’s office and talk to them about testing options through their office.

For the most up to date data on COVID-19 Cases in Green Lake County visit:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/county.htm#case%20death 

For Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine Visit:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine.htm

You can also email DHSCOVIDVaccinePublic@wi.gov for specific questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

For More Information on COVID-19 Visit:

Wisconsin DHS COVID-19 Page- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm

CDC COVID 19 Page- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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

COVID-19: Diagnosed | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

COVID-19: What to Do if You Were Exposed | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Please contact the Green Lake County Health Department at 920-294-4070 to make an appointment to get your Covid-19 Vaccine.

To find other a participating vaccination sites near you visit:  www.vaccines.gov.

Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccine guidance by visiting: COVID-19: Staying Up to Date with Your Vaccines | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

• 2022 Annual Report
• 2021 Annual Report
• 2020 Annual Report
• 2019 Annual Report
• 2018 Annual Report
• 2017 Annual Report
• 2016 Annual Report
• 2015 Annual Report
• 2014 Annual Report
• 2013 Annual Report

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. Effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected. Preventing lead exposure before it occurs is the most important step parents, doctors, and others can take. To learn more about childhood lead poisoning prevention reference the following:

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/lead/
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

WI CLPPP (Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program)
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/

EPA
http://www2.epa.gov/lead

HUD
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes/healthyhomes/lead

Below are links with additional information regarding Blood Lead Levels:
Blood Lead Levels!  What Do They Mean?
Blood Lead Levels in Children!  How to Protect Your Children!

Program Description
The Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) provides supports and services to children living at home or in the community who have one or more of the following long-term disabilities:

• Developmental disabilities
• Physical disabilities
• Severe emotional disturbances

The child’s disability is characterized by a substantial limitation in the ability to function in at least two of the following areas:

• Self-care
• Receptive and expressive language
• Learning
• Mobility
• Self-direction

Program Benefits
CCOP funding can be used to provide a range of services and supports that allow the child to remain in the home or community. Allowable services are selected based on an individualized assessment of the child’s needs and a service plan completed by the local county CCOP agency, in consultation with the child’s family. Some examples of covered services include home modifications, respite care, adaptive equipment, transportation, care management, and communication aids. Parents may be required to pay a sliding scale fee, based on the family’s income and service costs. CCOP funding cannot be used to replace services that are available through Medicaid, Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) Medicaid waiver programs, schools or private insurance.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria (must meet all eligibility criteria listed below):

1. 1. Be under 22 years of age.
   2. Be a resident of Wisconsin with intent to remain.
   3. Be living in a home or community setting.
   4. Require a level of care typically provided at an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID), a nursing home or a hospital.

Reporting Communicable Diseases
Wisconsin Statutes requires physicians and child caregivers to report communicable diseases to your local health department. This early reporting will provide the necessary information needed to contact the family and begin an investigation to help control further spread of the disease. Below is a link to Chapter HFS 145, which lists the diseases which are currently reportable.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/diseasereporting.htm

What to Do to Report Diseases
For diseases in Categories I, II and III, follow the procedure below:

• Call your local public health department.
• Identify connection with case, i.e. health provider, daycare worker
• Report illness (also include anyone who has contact with the ill person).
• Give the following information for each case (Categories I and II only):
• Name of the ill person
• Physician of ill person, if known
• Diagnosed or suspected disease
• Address and telephone of ill person
• Age or date of birth of ill person
• Race and ethnicity of ill person
• County of residence of ill person
• Date of onset of illness, if known
• Name of parent or guardian, if a minor
• Immunization history, if the disease is a vaccine-preventable disease
• Phone and address for local public health agencies are listed in the governmental agency section of your phone book under “health” or “public health.”

For fact sheets on these diseases, go to http://www.cdc.gov/health/default.htm

The Green Lake County Health Unit has developed a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

Attached is the most current plan.

• 2019 CHIP Summary
• 2018 CHIP Summary
• 2017 CHIP Summary
• 2016 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

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

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.

For more information about services available through the consortium, visit www.wausharacountypublichealth.com/Food-Program

Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health (BEOH) was awarded a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) project grant to study and prepare for anticipated climatic effects on the public’s health. Click on the link to see how climate can affect your health.

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.

Resources

• Ready Wisconsin
• WI DHS Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Utility Service Interruptions
• Build an Emergency Kit
• Flood Hazards and Recover

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

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

Routine health care should include immunizations whether they come from your personal health care provider or from your local health department. The full range of required childhood immunizations as well as adult tetanus is provided at no charge for individuals on BadgerCare or those who are uninsured or under-insured. Adult Hepatitis B series and Adult Flu vaccine are available for a fee.

We hold immunization clinics on the second Tuesday of every month here at the Health Department. 

Immunization Clinic Schedule 2023

Please call Green Lake County Health Department at 920-294-4070 to schedule an appointment during clinic hours. Parents must accompany kids under age 18. No walk-ins please.

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:

• https://www.wellbadger.org/
• via phone at 1 (800) 642-7837
• via text at (608) 360-9328
• via email help@wellbadger.org

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.

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.

• 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
• Medicare – www.medicare.gov
• Children with Special Health Care Needs – www.northeastregionalcenter.org/
• Pandemic Influenza (Flu) Information – http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/
• Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)

Updated 11/16/2022

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.

Quit Tobacco Resources
The East Central Alliance for Nicotine Prevention does not offer any direct cessation services. We suggest the following resources:

Smokefree.gov
Smokefree.gov is designed to help you or anyone you care about quit. It offers numerous resources that can be combined to create a custom quit plan.

WI Tobacco Quit Line

For free assistance and a customized quit plan, call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW or text “READY” to 200-400. The Quit Line provides free one-on-one phone counseling and information, local cessation program referrals, and starter packs of quit smoking medications like nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges.

First Breath
If you are a pregnant woman and would like help quitting tobacco, First Breath is a great resource for those who are eligible.

Quit for Life
The American Cancer Society teaches people how to become experts in living without tobacco using “The 4 Essential Practices to Quit For Life,” principles based on 25 years of research and experience helping people quit tobacco.

Help Us Quit
This site is dedicated to helping individuals who suffer from Mental Disabilities quit smoking.
Click Here for More Resources

Other Free Quit Tobacco Resources

• SmokeFree TXT    (Español)
  
• Tobacco Cessation Treatment: What is Covered?
  
• Be Through With Chew Resources
  
• My Last Dip
  
• Military- Quit Tobacco
  
• Quit Resources from American Lung Association
  
• Not Ready to Quit? 

Tools for Employers/Businesses
Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, asthma, cancer, and many other chronic health conditions. Smokefree building policies are the only effective means to eliminate this risk. The Coalition is available as a resource to help local businesses develop or expand tobacco free policies.

WI Tobacco Check- FREE Employer Retail Training

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.

Need help getting women’s health checkups? The Wisconsin Well Woman Program pays for clinical breast exam, pap & pelvic exam and mammogram.
You may be eligible for services AT NO COST TO YOU if

• You are a woman age 45-64
• You have little or no health insurance
• Your annual household income meets our guidelines–up to $27,075 for one person, $36,425 for two people* *Net taxable income for farm families and self-employed persons. For larger families add $9,350 for each additional person.

For residents of Green Lake, Marquette, and Waushara Counties, contact
Susan Garcia Franz
211 N Commerical Street
Neenah WI 54956-2690
920-727-8652

WIC Clinics
Please call 1-800-942-5330 or 1-920-787-5514 ext. 225 to schedule a WIC appointment. At this time there are no in-person WIC Clinics scheduled.

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