A Window Into Walworth County
Through a rural public health immersion experience, students explored the communities behind the data and the people working to serve them.
Before they ever stepped inside Walworth County’s Health and Human Services building, Master of Public Health students got their first introduction to the community through their bus windows.
Traveling through southeastern Wisconsin’s patchwork of farmland, small towns, growing cities, and lakeside communities, they began connecting the statistics they’d studied in class to the places those numbers represent. From bustling downtowns and university campuses to quiet rural roads and agricultural landscapes, the drive offered a glimpse into the diverse communities that make up Walworth County and the people who call it home.
“We are headed to Walworth County Health and Human Services for a rural health department immersion experience where our learners will be able to engage with different health professionals and see the intersection between public health, behavioral health, and community services,” said Liz Bush, instructor for the Evidence-Based Decision-Making class that is partnering with Walworth County. “We did a windshield survey on the bus ride, and we’re really looking forward to networking with some of the professionals and touring the facility.”
This behind-the-scenes opportunity came through a partnership between UniverCity Alliance and Walworth County, providing MPH students the opportunity to learn more about rural public health. The collaboration is helping the county explore solutions to a challenge it has already identified through community assessments and conversations: improving access to health care for uninsured and underinsured residents in Walworth County.
Lack of access to health insurance can create barriers to physical health care, mental health services, substance use treatment, and pain management resources. County leaders are looking for ways to close those gaps before residents reach a point of crisis.
But knowing a problem exists and having the capacity to investigate possible solutions are two very different things. That’s where the students come in.
As part of Walworth County’s opioid settlement strategy, student teams are researching topics the county has identified as priorities, including community health workers, recovery housing, and community paramedicine. Their work will ultimately result in recommendations and implementation plans that county leaders can use to inform future programs and investments.
“Students are working hard to research their topics, learn about our community, and provide us with important recommendations,” said Mallory Betke, community health supervisor in Walworth County. “Today, we’ve had the opportunity to share more about the work we do here, and also learn more about the students and find how we can continue to support each other in public health.”
For many students, the visit transformed a class project into something much more tangible.
Instead of reading reports and datasets from afar, they spent the day meeting the people behind the work. Representatives from across the department shared how their programs operate, what challenges they face, and how they work together to support residents. Students toured the facility, asked questions, and heard personal stories from employees who have dedicated their careers to serving their community.
For MPH student Nolan Fromm, those conversations were among the most memorable parts of the visit.
“The crew here at DHSS has been really welcoming and they’ve had a lot of energy. They’ve had representatives from just about every department come and talk to us, giving us overviews of their duties and what their roles look like on a day to day basis,” Fromm said. “One of the coolest things was getting a little window into what it looks like to be on the ground at a local health department. It’s been very cool to see such an optimistic group here.”
Fromm’s group is examining whether a community paramedicine program could be a good fit for Walworth County, one of several approaches being considered to help connect residents to care before health concerns become emergencies.
The site visit also gave him a chance to see the broader context surrounding his team’s work.
“We’re investigating the feasibility of a community paramedicine program here in Walworth. This has been a great opportunity for me to get some face-to-face time with [our partners] and hear a little more about the context we’ll be working in, get to know Walworth a little more, and get to ask them some questions about the specifics of our project,” Fromm said.
By the end of the day, students left with more than notes for a class assignment. They gained a clearer picture of what public health looks like on the ground: dedicated professionals, complex community challenges, and countless opportunities for collaboration.
And for Walworth County, the partnership provides something equally valuable: extra capacity to explore big questions and fresh perspectives that can help shape future solutions.
It’s exactly the kind of connection UniverCity Alliance was created to make possible, bringing communities and universities together to tackle real-world challenges, one project at a time.
Watch on YouTube
Hear directly from an MPH student and Walworth County staff member as they talk about their site visit experience and what they hope to accomplish through their UniverCity Alliance partnership project.