What We Do and Where We Have Been
What we do:
Each year for our Annual Meeting, HCCA creates an overview of our programs and accomplishments in the preceding year. Here are past years overviews:
For 2010 Program Highlights: "This is Local Public Health" Click here.
For 2009 Program Highlights: "This is Public Health" Click here.
Where we have been:
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) was established in 1997 as Southern Kennebec Healthy Communities (SKHC), a network of social service and health promotion agencies and after school programs that met monthly to share information and resources.
In 2000, we authored the Healthy Maine Partnership (HMP) application with Maine General Health. That project, Getting Healthy, was supported by the Master Tobacco Settlement Funds.
Maine is #1 in the nation for its use of the Tobacco Settlement Funds for health-related expenditures, thanks to a forward thinking legislature.
Getting Healthy opened its doors in May 2001 with the charge to:
- Reduce tobacco use and exposure
- Increase access to physical activity
- Improve knowledge of and access to good nutrition
By 2003, SKHC applied for and received its non-profit status, creating opportunities to apply for grants and to manage funds in the future.
In 2005 and 2006 the two organizations collaborated to create the joint identity of Healthy Communities of the Capital Area with a new and shared logo. Although still two different coalitions, they co-convened meetings and engaged in other joint efforts such as shared office space, a joint newsletter and community forums among others.
In September of 2007 the two segments of HCCA officially became one organization. HCCA received a 3-year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services which also introduced a system of local Comprehensive Community Health Coalitions (CCHCs) combined with the Healthy Maine Partnerships and Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information on current projects and activities, click here.
Sampling of Accomplishments (2004-2007):
Assessments
The Mobilzing for Action Through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) assessment process was completed in 2010. View the final report here.
For more information on the MAPP Community Process click here.
Spring 2004 Community Assessment: "Linking Local People to Local Data"
Community Forums & Public meetings
- Elders in Our Community: Resources and Opportunities
- Building Physical Activity Opportunities in Your Community
- Legislator's Breakfast: Public Health Legislation for Our Communities
- Making Connections: Sharing Community Health Assessment
- Thinking Food: Creating Local Responses for Eating Well in Our Communities
- Playing Well Together to Build Healthier Communities: Local Networking
- Designing Healthy Communities: Raising Healthy Kids
- Town specific forums for recreation planning and for information gathering
Workgroups
- Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Healthy Families: Providing Support for Head Start Staff and Families to Reduce the Impact of Tobacco on Their Families
- Promoting Local Foods
- School Wellness Policies: Responding to USDA Reauthorization 2004
- Central Maine Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Collaborative: Assisting Organizations who Serve Clients to Support Clients to Reduce Impact of Tobacco
- Mid-Maine Worksite Wellness Council: Providing Low-Cost, No-Cost Strategies to Worksites
- Move More: Lay Leader Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Collaborative
Projects
- Nutrition Classes for Low-income Seniors
- Lavender Women: Increasing tobacco awareness with LBT specific materials and messages
- Food Stamp Nutrition Education: Involving schools in promoting and supporting family participation in healthy eating and physical activity
- Assistance to food pantries & soup kitchens for healthy food & promoting Plant a Row for the Hungry
- Strengthening Community Capacity for Greater Walkability
- Promoting Tobacco Free Playing Fields
- Developing Smoking Cessation Messages with Head Start Families
- Matter of Balance: Addressing Fear of Falling: A Lay Coach Series for Seniors
Our local service area includes: Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Richmond, Vienna, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winthrop.
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