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Hancock County Coalition for Community Health

September 12, 2001

Minutes

Present: Jim Fisher (HCPC), Donna Madonna (Healthy Peninsula), Leslie Johnson (SHC Blue Hill), Iris Simon (HealthLink), Kim Horton (BHMH), Doug Michael (Healthy Acadia), Sherri Haskell (Healthy Island), Kathi Teel (SHC DI/Stonington), Susan Berry (SHC Bucksport), Colleen Minier (HealthLink), Kim Hutchinson (Healthy Island), Vyvyenne Ritchie (DEHS), Mary Jane Bush (BCHAC, Helena Peterson (CoastalHancock HC), Andrea Mason (MCD), Barbara Peppey (Healthy Peninsula), Jenny Gott (SHC MDI)

I. Grounding & introductions

II. Roles: Andrea will facilitate, Susan will keep time, Helena will scribe & co-facilitate, Jim will take notes.

III. Agenda Review – no changes.

IV. Agenda Items:

A. Guided discussion on Healthy Communities -- Topic: asset-based community development, based on Kretzman & McKnight’s Building Communities from the Inside Out. Helena and Barbara recently attended a 3 day workshop in Farmington, and led the discussion. The seminar developed a list of principles:

Inclusiveness

Process, not program

All people have gifts.

The institution is part of the community.

Relationships

Matching resources to needs

Small and place-based

Identify problems as being the community’s, not the individual’s

Three parts of community building are to identify local resources, local associations, and local institutions. Categorical grants are often driven by the negative. We need to be more positive to engage the community. We talked about the language we used: myth of scarcity, neighborhood pathology index, diseases, diagnosis, etc. Some of the asset-based language would be assets, friends, capacity, skills, etc. In fact, we know some of the deficits and needs, but may need to "put them on the shelf" while we build our coalitions using assets.

It helps to identify leaders in the community and plan their participation, to tap into their history and traditions of helping each other. Planning at the local level is weak – we need more time for organizing. Meetings take up so much time, but are so valuable. We need to look for ways to reduce duplication of meetings, and reduce frequency.

Integrating schools and communities remains a challenge. We reviewed some "predictors of civil engagement": newspaper readership, voting turnout, church participation, volunteerism, altruism, letters to the editor, close personal relationships (hard to measure!) and strong family ties. Although a crisis can help to mobilize activity, we need to also mobilize without the crisis. MJ was able to build a coalition that utilized existing groups. Always a good place to start.

Back to the categorical vs. Healthy Communities approach – "If I organize according to ABCD instead of XYZ, what do I tell the CDC?" Answer: According to much referenced section in Bowling Alone, when social capital is high (we have strong coalitions) we can expect less abuse, less risky behavior, less crime, lower cost of doing business, good character traits, higher employment and social advancement, more homeownership, less psychic and physical stress, and less unhealthy behaviors, including drinking, overeating, smoking, depression, lonliness, sleep disorders, and suicide.

B. Organizational

1. Tobacco Specialist Position

Colleen has resigned and will be leaving us mid-Oct. There have been some discussions about the possibility of changing this position to a county-wide position. Blue Hill has another PT position open, could possibly combine with Colleen’s 10 hours. At this time, the Coastal Hancock Partners have not yet completed their discussions and reached a decision about services in their service area. ACTION: A CHHC meeting is planned for Monday, will have answer to other service sites at that time.

2. Quit line launch

In light of the transition of the position, how will we meet the public’s need for direct cessation services? Colleen has been training people in Blue Hill and MDI to provide services. With HealthLink, they will be able to meet any public need for classes.

C. Elder Grant

Vyvyenne reported that a letter of intent has been sent by HCPC. The next step: Muskie Institute will tell us if it is OK to submit. Proposal is due by January. Looks like there will be 4 applicants in Maine. There is a Governor’s Conference on Aging Oct 1. We need to send some representatives. ACTION: Jim will add Aging page to the website, including Alzheimer’s Workshop info.

D. Committee Reports

1. Education Committee

a) 8 Countries

A draft PSA was circulated for corrections. Ownership of program will be addressed by Patti Hanson inserting "Produced by.." line. ACTION: Patti will send out CD’s in the next week. Will add statement about when the log and registration forms need to be sent in. Jim will update the website.

b) Display board & banners

Kim will purchase a display board. Jim can print posters up to 42’ in width. Banners can be put up with Autumn Gold banner at the Chamber in Ellsworth. ACTION: Kim will purchase display board, Helena will purchase "8 Countries" banner, Gayle providing generic "Healthy Hancock" banner. Iris will continue to look for funds to pay for water bottles.

c) Logo

The logo with the waves on the bottom received 9 votes, to 3 for the one with the waves on the sides. ACTION: Helena will have designer do color separation and email to banner makers.

d) Coordinated newspaper campaign

We need to readdress our goal of a Healthy Hancock community column in the local papers. ACTION: To Education Committee, along with development of County-wide speaker’s bureau.

2. Research and Evaluation Committee

Jim summarized progress of the committee. We are completing an assessment protocol document, including a sense of mission and method. Later questions include how we will integrate findings via Jim’s meta-analysis. Also still working on method to collect qualitative responses for individual and groups based on the Healthy Communities dialogue guide. Jim has created a database. The school internet-based survey is intensive. ACTION: Jim will organize the core indicator research. Helena will continue to work on the business/municipal "getting to know you" interview tool.

3. Policy Committee

Mary Jane, Vyvyenne & Barbara reported that they are identifying issues and methods to work towards specific legislation. Current hot items include health districts vs. service areas. MJ reports a new Robert Woods Johnson Turning Point Steering Committee will be looking at MCPH implementation. Need to come up with a structure, but process is important. We need to define key workds like coalition, and local. Public input will be limited if the districting is pushed through in this legislative session. ACTION: ACTION: Next month MJ will send the 14 public health functions and draft legislation. Helena will add to agenda.

E. Youth and Radio Initiatives

Barbara reported that radio plan is doing well. WERU would like to have weekly program with youth doing everything. Several young people from Bucksport, MDI and Blue Hill are involved in planning the October program. Meeting next Monday at WERU. Camp Kieve plans ongoing for end of October. Youth recruiters are getting some applicants. ACTION: Need to arrange for a bus. Helena has phone number for Laidlaw.

F. Minute memos

1. Locally Grown item – Chef/Growers Retreat on Sept 30 in Castine. Contact HCPC if interested.

2. Ellsworth Coalition – Helena reports that the Union River Community Coalition held its first Advisory Board meeting 8/24!!

3. Bike maps/info – Jim provided new bike maps, and circulated info on bike conferences coming up.

4. PTM – Mary announced that the help line has been created, people will be able to call for information and assistance.

V. Review/correct meeting record.

VI. Next meeting date/agenda:

Next meeting date will be October 10 at Ellsworth City Hall – 12-2pm.

Coordinated newspaper campaign/columns

Public health functions

Note: we did not select a reading for our guided discussion – please email ideas to Helena.

Education Committee – Sept 24?

Research and Evaluation – October 9, 8:30-10:30

Tobacco Strategic Plan Task Force – Sept 17, 3pm at HealthLink

VII. Evaluate the meeting

Need to start on time, lots of info here, agenda helps get a lot done