WEST ALLIS, Wis. — The City of Greenfield and the City of West Allis announced on Wednesday they will combine health departments.

The Greenfield Health Department and the West Allis Health Department will now be known as the Southwest Suburban Health Department.

The Greenfield and West Allis Common Councils approved an intergovernmental agreement that will establish the Southwest Suburban Health Department for a term of five years.

The organization will be funded mutually by the City of West Allis and City of Greenfield. It will receive additional funds through grants from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services.

“West Allis Health Department has enjoyed a long, collaborative relationship with their partners at Greenfield Health Department,” noted Dan Devine, mayor of West Allis, in a press release. “The opportunity to formalize our mutual approach to serving our communities through the creation of the Southwest Suburban Health Department will allow us to more strategically and effectively meet the needs of the public.”

The two departments merging will allow for increased efficiency, better communication and "more robust services to the public within these jurisdictions," according to health care officials. The new department's mission will seek to improve health and wellbeing of Wisconsinites through education and disease prevention while promotion diversity, connection and partnership. 

“We are pleased to introduce the Southwest Suburban Health Department to the West Allis and Greenfield communities,” added Michael Neitzke, mayor of Greenfield, in a press release. “The unification of our public health department with West Allis will allow for a more streamlined and focused delivery of community and environmental health services to all residents we serve.”