In October of 2018, community stakeholders from various sectors gathered to discuss the priorities and process for this collaborative health plan.  Guided by a planning committee comprised of leadership from the Wilson County Health Department, Wilson County Department of Social Services, Wilson Forward, Wilson Medical Center, United Way of Wilson County, and the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson, the group convened 10 collaborative planning sessions with community partners from numerous organizations representing most sectors in Wilson.

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Through these planning sessions and building upon the successful work of two previous community plans led by Wilson Forward (the Beyond 21 and the Youth Master Plan of Wilson County), the group identified 7 interconnected focus areas to guide the process, priorities, goals and actions of the Wilson Wellness Collaborative plan development:

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• Nutrition/physical activity/obesity

• Substance misuse

• Food insecurity

• Affordable housing

• Mental health and trauma

• Early screenings and detection

• Teenage pregnancy and STI’s

• PreK/early intervention

In May of 2019, the Wilson Wellness Collaborative plan was presented to over 70 community partners. A culmination of 8 months of collaborative planning and community partner input, the Wilson Wellness Collaborative plan was drafted to guide the strategic work of the initiative in its area of focus. Designed as a living document, the plan works to both guide the Wilson Wellness Collaborative towards its identified goals, and adapt as new opportunities and challenges are presented to the community.

The Wilson Wellness Collaborative meets 6 times per year to provide updates on new and ongoing initiatives, identify and implement new strategies for community support and strengthen community partnerships that support the work of the WWC.