Walworth County Health and Human Services board accepts 2024 public health annual report, approves car-seat grant application

The Walworth County Health and Human Services Board on April 23 accepted the department's 2024 public health annual report and approved pursuing a Buckle Up for Life grant that would provide 50 car seats for community distribution.

The annual report, described by a public health staff member as “our mandated report,” summarizes 2024 public‑health programming and outcomes across newborn home‑visit services, WIC participation, lead‑testing changes, vector‑borne disease outreach and suicide‑prevention efforts. Board members voted by voice to accept the report so the department could submit it to the state.

The report said the county completed its first full year of the Hello Baby home‑visit program in partnership with Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and later Mercy Health. Public‑health staff reported meeting with 442 families in the program’s first year; about half of those families accepted a home visit and 151 visits were completed, which staff said produced an estimated contact with roughly 375 parents, caregivers and infants. The report cited screening outcomes: 26% of mothers had a positive mental‑health screen for depression, anxiety or PTSD; 15% had concerning physical symptoms that led to referrals; 13.5% had conditions identified that required emergency care or referral; 9% of families…