Appleton Health Department

Want to learn more about protecting your brain health as you age? 🧠

Join us for Strong Minds: Understanding and Protecting Brain Health, a free one-hour education session presented by members of the Appleton Health Department in partnership with Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation and GrapeVine.

We’ll take a closer look at memory, thinking, and decision-making, why brain health matters for quality of life, and how healthy lifestyle choices can support brain health and independence over time.

📅 October 20, 2026
🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 Appleton Public Library, Cornerstone Conference Room (200 N Appleton St., Appleton)

Registration is requested. Scan the QR code on the flyer or register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9qy2nyhiSUac_KsUJBgIW4eNFs7OBstFqZDctW6Sa5FUNkM3RTFJSjZSQUNLVlVVOUZZR1kyUVY2QSQlQCN0PWcu&origin=QRCode

More information about the event can be found here: https://wwhf.org/events/strong-minds-understanding-and-protecting-brain-health-3/

Our team doesn’t mind getting a little dirty and rolling up our sleeves to help keep local waterways clean! 🌾💧

Staff recently participated in our biannual Adopt-A-Pond cleanup, removing trash and debris from shoreline areas and checking for erosion, clogged structures, and signs of illegal dumping.

Want to help keep our local waterways clean? Adopt a Pond and get involved in keeping Appleton’s waterways healthy: https://www.appletonwi.gov/government/departments/public_works/stormwater/pondprogram.php

September is Healthy Aging Month! 🌿

Healthy aging is about more than individual health. It’s about creating communities where people of all ages can stay connected, feel supported, remain independent, and continue to participate in the places they call home.

Appleton’s Age-Friendly Action Plan highlights community input and identifies opportunities to support healthy aging through areas like housing, transportation, health services, social connection, and community participation.

Take a look at the Age-Friendly Appleton Action Plan to learn more about this work and how Appleton is supporting a community where everyone can age well: https://appletonwi.gov/government/departments/health/community_health/age_friendly_appleton.php

As Su***de Prevention Month comes to an end, the conversation doesn’t have to.

Supporting mental health and preventing su***de are things we can continue to do throughout the year. A text to check in, a conversation with a friend, or simply letting someone know you’re there can be a meaningful place to start.

And remember, you don’t have to be in crisis to reach out for support. Call or text 988 anytime, 24/7, for yourself or someone you care about.

Keep checking in. Keep listening. Keep connecting. 💜 💙 NAMI Fox Valley

You came for the food, fun, and festivities. Our Environmental Health team came to help make sure it was safe! 🌭🍺

While thousands of people enjoyed Appleton’s Octoberfest, members of our Environmental Health team were behind the scenes inspecting food vendors and providing guidance on things like proper food temperatures, hand hygiene, and safe food handling practices. These efforts help protect the community from foodborne illness while allowing everyone to enjoy one of Appleton’s biggest celebrations.

It’s a great example of the work that happens behind the scenes in Public Health. You may not always see us, but we’re there helping make sure our community events are safe places to gather, eat, and enjoy.

A big thank you to our Environmental Health team for all they do!

We were grateful to join our partners at Pillars, Inc. for this year’s Keys to Hope Fundraiser and show our support for the important work they’re doing in our community. 🗝

It was an inspiring evening centered around hope, connection, and the many people working to ensure everyone has a place to call home. We were especially excited to see the generosity of the community in action, with more than $120,000 raised through the Fund-A-Need paddle raise alone!

Thank you to the Pillars team for welcoming us and for all you do to support individuals and families in our community. We’re thankful to be your partners! 💙

📣 We’re hiring!

The City of Appleton Health Department is looking for a Weights & Measures Specialist to join our team!

This position helps protect consumers and support fair-trade practices by inspecting weighing and measuring equipment, price-scanning systems, and consumer products to ensure accuracy and proper labeling.

If you’re technically minded, detail-oriented, and enjoy problem-solving, this could be a great opportunity to join our team.

Interested in learning more? Check out the full job posting and apply by October 9, 2026.

🔗 www.appletonwi.gov/careers

Happy first day of fall! 🍁

We’re talking about a different kind of fall today.

Falls are the leading cause of injury death among adults 65 and older, but falls can be prevented. There are simple steps older adults and their loved ones can take to reduce fall risk and support staying active and independent.

That can include talking with your health care provider about your fall risk, reviewing medications, making your home safer, and staying active to build strength and improve balance.

Want to learn more about your own fall risk? The CDC’s Falls Free Checkup is a quick questionnaire that can help you identify areas where you may want to take action: https://www.cdc.gov/falls/about/index.html

This fall, let’s focus on staying safe, strong, and independent. 🍂

Leadership isn’t just about your position. It’s about learning, growing, and working together. 🌱

Two members of the City of Appleton Health Department are participating in the City’s THRIVE Leadership Academy, an eight-month program designed to support current and aspiring supervisors as they grow their leadership skills and confidence.

This week, THRIVE participants stepped away from the traditional office setting for a leadership retreat filled with hands-on activities, team challenges, self-reflection, and plenty of opportunities to learn from one another.

From identifying individual strengths to working together to solve challenges, the retreat gave participants a chance to put leadership concepts into practice while building connections with colleagues from across the City.

We’re excited to see our Public Health team members taking part in this opportunity and look forward to seeing how they bring what they’re learning back to their teams and their work in our community!

As we continue recognizing Emergency Preparedness Month, we’re sharing a reminder that preparedness can also start with the everyday habits that help make our homes healthier. 🏡

Think you’re a healthy home pro? Put your knowledge to the test with the 10 Healthy Home Habits Quiz!

The quiz covers simple ways to improve health and safety at home, and the best part? After each question, you’ll find resources to help address areas where you may want to make improvements. No judgment, just helpful information and practical tips.

Take the quiz and see how your healthy home habits measure up! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8708357/Healthy-Home-Habits-Self-Assessment-QUIZ