Healthy Communities
For 30 years Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County (HCC) has been working toward achieving the highest level of health and wellness for our community. Our team of talented nurses, health educators, volunteer providers, and support staff offers health screenings, health information, programs and events to support healthy lifestyles that prevent disease and improve quality of life. Community outreach efforts appear in every town and corner of the region.
Together with community partners, a sampling of services HCC provides includes:
- Health screenings, medical exams, and flu shots
- Assistance for individuals enrolling in health insurance and obtaining free or low-cost medications
- Screening for food insecurity through primary care offices
- Technical assistance and educational resources to area schools
- Increased access to medication assistance therapy for individuals struggling with addiction
Two Strategies to Improve the Health of Our Community
Healthy Community Coalition works to improve the health and well-being of our families, neighbors, and the communities where we live and work. We have two main strategies:
- Community building. We bring the community together, expanding opportunities for recreation, voluntarism, work, and just getting together to enjoy the company of our neighbors.
- Promotion of healthy behaviors. We work with our partners to promote healthful lifestyles and educate the public about ways to prevent disease and improve the quality of their lives.
Common sense tells us this work matters, but scientists are helping confirm it. A good body of evidence suggests that our first goal -- strong, bonded communities -- can improve longevity and other health factors. HCC works to build our community by bringing people together and assisting them in making changes in our community. We start by asking what our community needs or wants to improve the lives of people who live or work here. Then we strive with the community to help make that vision real. One tool we use to understand the community's vision is the Community Health Needs Assessment, a process administered every 2-3 years involving people from every corner of Greater Franklin County.
Screenings and Information
Many people know Healthy Community Coalition from our 34-foot Mobile Health Unit. Others know us from the Wellness Fairs we offer throughout the community and by the festivals we take part in throughout the year. All of these outreach efforts offer health screenings and information including:
- Cholesterol & Blood Pressure Screenings
- Bone Density Screenings
- Skin Cancer Analyzation
- InBody720 Body Composition Analyzer
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection
- Cancer Prevention Education
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Tobacco Prevention
- Nutrition Information
- Physical Activity
- And much more
A Long History in Our Community
Our roots extend to the late 1960s, when a group of local physicians formed Rural Health Associates. This group had the then-radical notion that prevention should be as important to health care as traditional services like check-ups and hospitalization. Over the years those physicians and nurses formed partnerships with people in the community and worked to prevent disease and tobacco use, and they began to show real success. Healthy Community Coalition was one of the offspring of the work of these local providers, formed in 1989 and formally incorporated in 1992 with seed funding from the Bingham Program.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Volunteers, nonprofit organizations and agencies, and businesses regularly come together to look at the issues in our community. Volunteers work on our mobile health unit or our health displays at community events, helping HCC to educate passers-by on the latest information on being as healthy as you can. Getting involved is a great way to make friends and see real results from your efforts. Contact us to explore opportunities.
Contact one of our staff members below for your community care connections.
Mobile Health Unit Outreach Events: Health screenings, education, resources and special programs.
Community ParaMedicine: Medication management, wound care, home safety evaluation, vital signs, weight checks, lab draws, assisted telehealth visits, and vaccine administration.
- Karen Garland-Kidder: kgarlandki@fchn.org or 207-779-2018
- Tracy Harty tharty@fchn.org or 207-779-2830
Senior Buddies Calling Program: Meaningful connections, resource needs assessment and weekly check-in calls for elderly residents living in Franklin County.
- Karen Garland-Kidder: kgarlandki@fchn.org or 207-779-2018
Substance Use Prevention: Provides community resources and education for youth and adults
- Kat Lemieux klemieux@fchn.org or 207-779-2262
Substance Use Recovery Resources: Community stigma trainings, Peer Recovery Coach Program, Narcan education and distribution.
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Ashley McCarthy: amccarthy1@fchn.org or 207-779-2463
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Sabrina Keene: sakeene@fchn.org or 207-779-2260
Basic Needs Assistance: Assistance with food, shelter, utilities, transportation, personal care products, clothing and other emergent needs. Connection to other available services.
Youth Engagement: Community support and advocacy for youth and adult mentors.
- Jason Labbe: jlabbe@fchn.org or 207-779-2925
Obesity and Let’s Go!: Connections for local schools and childcare sites to Let’s Go! and healthy nutrition. Physical activity opportunities and resources for youth and adults.
- Ellen Thorne: ethorne@fchn.org and 207-779-2357
Nutrition Education: Classes for children, adults, and families on healthy eating, cooking on a limited budget, meal planning, reading nutrition labels, gardening education and interactive grocery tours.
- Laura Quynn: lquynn@fchn.org or 207-779-2928
- Teegan Romano: tromano@fchn.org or 207-779-2467
Tobacco Prevention and Recovery: Assistance with tobacco-free policy development and modification. Provides youth education and prevention. Support for individuals wishing to quit nicotine use.
- Ellen Thorne: ethorne@fchn.org and 207-779-2357
Community Health Needs Assessment/Clinical Integration: Information and resources to identify community health and social service needs to better integrate prevention and education services with primary care and address access and availability.
- Tracy Harty tharty@fchn.org or 207-779-2830
Healthy Community Coalition is a State of Maine Car Seat Distribution Site. Qualifying families can make an appointment for an application and the installment process. Free car seat checks are also available for families who already have a seat but have questions about installation or sizing.
For more information contact Ashley McCarthy at amccarthy1@fchn.org or 207-779-2463.