Meet the Communities Putting Prevention to Work Program Coordinator

DaNita Carlson has been a Health Educator for the Wood County Health Department for almost 10 years. Hired in 2001 as the Tobacco Prevention Specialist, she worked on tobacco control initiatives and was instrumental in building a Wood County coalition to support and drive the passage of Wisconsin's comprehensive Smoke Free Air law, implemented July of 2010.


In recent months, DaNita has transitioned into the role of Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Program Coordinator. Her focus will be educating Wood County residents on the obesity epidemic plaguing our nation, state and county.


DaNita has been married for nearly 20 years to Don and has 2 teen daughters named Presley and Peri.

Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Grant UPDATES:

The Leadership Team attended the Action Institute in Saint Louis in June.

Leadership Team
Auburndale School District - Gerald Eichman
Heart of Wisconsin - Connie Loden
Marshfield Area YMCA - John Nystrom
Marshfield Clinic - Ronda Kopelke
Marshfield Mayor - Chris Meyer
Marshfield School District - Bruce King
Nekoosa School District - Wayne Johnson
Pittsville School District - Terry Reynolds
Port Edwards School District - Pat Sullivan
Riverview Hospital - Tina Bart
South Wood County YMCA - Bryan Bailey
UW Extension - Peter Manley
UWSP - Jasia Steinmetz
Wisconsin Rapids Mayor - Mary Jo Carson
Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools - Colleen Dickmann
Wisconsin Restaurant Association - Don Thompson
Wood County Health Department - DaNita Carlson
Wood County Health Department - Sue Kunferman
Wood County Health Department - Kristie Rauter
Wood County Health Department - Jean Rosekrans

Interviews for project staff positions were held in which the best qualified candidates were hired.

Welcome to the team!


Kayleen Magruder
Health Educator
Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Program

Kayleen Magruder has a B.S. degree in Health Promotion from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and an emphasis in nutrition, communication and psychology. Kayleen has been able to enhance her skills as well as develop new expertises while she was an AmeriCorps member this past year for the Healthy Lifestyles Marshfield Area Coalition at Marshfield Clinic. She has been able to enhance and promote health and wellness throughout communities and community-wide coalitions. Kayleen has also been able to design, coordinate, implement and evaluate programs for the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition as well as come alongside the coalition by providing technical assistance, consultation and training in evidence based approaches. Kayleen is very excited to work on increasing physical activity and improving nutrition among the residents of Wood County.

Welcome!!

Welcome to the Communities Putting Prevention to Work Blog presented to you by the Healthy People Wood County Obesity Prevention Team.

Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Grant

CPPW Grant term - March 19, 2010 through March 18, 2012.
CPPW Grant Intent - Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a large amount of money was dedicated to chronic disease prevention efforts administered through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). CPPW is a community capacity building program instituting population-based policy, systems and enviornmental change in communities and schools to (1) decrease overweight and obesity prevalence; increase levels of physical activity; improve nutrition; and/or (2) decrease tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Healthy People Wood County Obesity Prevention Team CPPW Goals:

Goal 1: Project infrastructure assures achievement of project goals and MAPPS interventions.

Goal 2: Create a functional and effective leadership team and community coalition.

Goal 3: Increase physical activity among residents of Wood County.

Goal 4: Improve nutrition among resident of Wood County.