Since 2012, Thrive Barron County has been an evolving partnership between Barron County Public Health, Cumberland Healthcare, area health systems, community members, businesses  and education representatives. Thrive Barron County has provided a table where stakeholders collaborate to understand the current and future health needs of Barron County through a process of assessing, prioritizing and addressing health needs.

This group drives the Community Health Assessment (CHA) for Barron County. From that, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) evolved. Over 30 organizations, entities and community members are working diligently to find strategies that will help remedy some of the county’s biggest issues. Thrive Barron County has also created community health action teams (CHATs) to bring community members and organizations together to improve the health of residents in Barron County.

Smaller rural counties and municipalities, particularly in northern Wisconsin, face unique challenges in addressing the health needs of their communities. Working together helps to better align efforts among community partners and create a strategic framework for collaborative local health improvement activities.