Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam launched a Community Health Grant Program as part of the hospital’s efforts for community benefit and health and well-being. The program provides local not-for-profit organizations with up to $10,000 to develop new ideas or enhance existing projects that improve the health of Dodge County area residents. 

The program was developed in response to Marshfield Medical Center–Beaver Dam’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for Dodge County. The assessment identified alcohol and substance use prevention, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, and social determinants of health (the physical, social, and economic environment that influence a person’s ability to be healthy) as priority health concerns.
“We believe that engaged, community well-being work is best performed by those closest to the issues,” said Angelia Foster, Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam president. “As we align our organizational community health efforts with the health concerns identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment, one way to begin efficiently addressing these issues is to provide funds to our local partners.” 

Six community-based organizations received funding for a variety of projects, including starting a children’s grief support group, stocking personal care items at a food pantry, mentoring and tutoring youth, and offering parenting classes.

“We have had tremendous success in the past two months,” one recipient reported. “Our parenting seminars, one-on-one parent education, and restoration workshop have proven to be a huge asset to our program participants.”

The Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam Community Health Grant was offered in 2021 and 2022 with hopes to offer the grant in future years.