Due to the school district closing tomorrow, Jan. 23, the WAWM Recreation & Community Services and the WAWM Activities & Fitness Center will be closed and will no longer be available as warming sites, as originally stated. Warming sites are listed at www.WestAllisWI.gov/news
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold watch from Thursday night (Jan. 22) through Saturday morning (Jan. 24), with wind chills potentially reaching -25 to -40 degrees. For warming sites, cold-weather safety information, and tips on avoiding frozen pipes, visit www.WestAllisWI.gov/news
Garbage/recycling pick-up will be adjusted for Thanksgiving. Find the schedule at WestAllisWI.gov/news. City facilities, including City Hall, Southwest Suburban Health Department, West Allis Public Library, West Allis Senior Center, West Allis Farmers Market, and the Municipal Yard, will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28.
Southwest Suburban Health Department (SWSHD) Awarded National Accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)!
Accreditation through PHAB demonstrates the Southwest Suburban Health Department’s commitment to excellence in serving the community and meeting foundational needs.
The Southwest Suburban Health Department is pleased to announce that it has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.
“We are very pleased to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said SWSHD Health Commissioner, Bob Leischow, MPH. “We believe this achievement demonstrates to our community members, partners, funders and our elected officials that the services we provide are as responsive as possible and are meeting the foundational needs of the communities we serve.”
The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. Standards emphasize Foundational Capabilities and are aligned with the 10 Essential Public Health Services. More than 80 percent of the U.S. population now reap the benefits of being served by a health department that has undergone PHAB’s rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets a set of quality standards and measures.
"National accreditation through PHAB has benefits that extend far beyond the health department itself," said PHAB President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP. " The accreditation process helps health departments identify key areas for improvement, ensuring they provide the highest level of service to their communities. With this accomplishment, communities served by accredited health departments can trust that their department is strong, capable, and committed to protecting and promoting public health."
Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Across the nation, health departments provide services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.
Save the date! Join the Southwest Suburban Health Department for the 2nd Annual West Allis Hope Walk on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 4-6 p.m. at Greenfield Park Picnic Area #3a off of Lincoln Avenue to boost mental and behavioral health within our community.
The West Allis Hope Walk offers an uplifting path to connect with nature, practice mindfulness, and promote positive mental health habits.
Learn about the many mental and behavioral health resources available in our community, see the new Mental Health Tip signs placed throughout Greenfield Park, check out vendor tables with mental/behavioral health resources and giveaways, get a free popsicle from Pete's Pops, and paint on our community canvas!
Save the date on Facebook.
Update: The Municipal Yard Drop Off-Site will be adjusting hours starting next week. The new hours will be Monday, Aug. 25 through Saturday, Aug 30 from 7:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. The site will remain closed on Sunday. Additionally, community dumpsters and curb-side special collections have been extended through next week. Please continue to follow the guidelines listed at www.WestAllisWI.gov/FloodRecoveryPlan
An important message from Mayor Dan Devine regarding the floods, recovery, and FEMA.
Good afternoon:
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management is working directly with Wisconsin Emergency Management in preparation for the anticipated arrival of FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency. This visit is the next step in FEMA’s Public Assistance Program process. Following their visit, FEMA will make a recommendation on the issuance of a Presidential disaster declaration, allowing for the authorization of federal disaster assistance.
Once FEMA teams are deployed to Milwaukee, they will visit communities to verify damage, focusing on key geographic areas. OEM or other emergency management staff will accompany FEMA during these assessments.
Please know that anyone coming to your home to assess damage will introduce themselves and provide official credentials. For your own safety, always verify identification before allowing anyone inside or sharing any personal information. You can report instances of suspected fraud by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov or calling 866-223-0814.
I realize that the last 10 days have been simply awful for so many residents and businesses in our community. I’m deeply thankful to our emergency management, public health, and first responder teams for their relentless efforts in assessing the damage throughout West Allis and the county, disseminating crucial information, and linking residents to essential resources during this challenging period. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, non-profits, and businesses that have rallied around the community, generously donating supplies, time, and resources.
I am hopeful that by working together, we will overcome this challenging time and emerge stronger than ever.
Information and resources continue to be regularly updated on our Flood Recovery Plan: www.WestAllisWI.gov/FloodRecoveryPlan and our Community Flood Resources page: www.WestAllisWI.gov/CommunityFloodResources
Thank you, West Allis!
The Municipal Yard Drop Off Site will be closing early today (Saturday, Aug. 16) at 4 p.m. due to reaching storage capacity. The drop off site will also be closed tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 17). It will re-open on Monday, Aug. 18 at 8 a.m. Unfortunately, there are time limitations on when crews can bring materials to the landfill that will determine the duration of the drop-off site being open. We will have the drop-off site open on the weekends only until we reach full storage capacity. Again, we appreciate everyone’s patience.
The City of West Allis has initiated a comprehensive flood recovery plan. Please read the announcement online for detailed information and instructions.
