The Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) has released its 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA), providing a comprehensive overview of the city’s health and well-being. This assessment, built using quantitative data and direct input from over 3,400 Milwaukee residents, examines how social factors, lived experiences, and built environments shape health outcomes over time.
Key Findings
Based on community input, the CHA identifies five priority health issues:
- Chronic Disease: Conditions such as heart disease and diabetes continue to affect a significant portion of the population.
- Maternal and Child Health: Disparities in infant mortality rates and access to prenatal care remain pressing concerns.
- Mental Health: Increased reports of depression and anxiety highlight the need for accessible mental health services.
- Substance Use: The prevalence of substance abuse underscores the importance of prevention and treatment programs.
- Violence and Injury: Injury and violence are leading drivers of premature death and disability in Milwaukee.
The assessment also documents disparities in education, housing, infant death rates, and life expectancy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Health Improvement Plan
In response to these findings, MHD supports MKE Elevate, a community-driven agenda aimed at improving health outcomes. The 2023-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) focuses on four priority areas:
- Racism and Health Equity: Addressing systemic inequities to ensure all residents have equal opportunities for health.
- Maternal and Child Health: Enhancing services to support mothers and children, particularly in underserved communities.
- Healthy Built Environment: Promoting safe and healthy neighborhoods through improved infrastructure and resources.
- Safe and Supportive Communities: Fostering environments where residents feel secure and supported.
These initiatives aim to create a Milwaukee where all people are thriving in safe, healthy, and equitable neighborhoods.
Community Involvement
Community input has been instrumental in shaping these priorities. A citywide survey conducted between May and September 2022 gathered responses from over 2,000 residents, identifying top concerns such as healthy foods and nutrition, crime and neighborhood safety, mental health, drug use, and healthcare services.
Residents are encouraged to participate in ongoing discussions and initiatives to address these health challenges. For more information and to get involved, visit the MKE Elevate website.