Public & SHARED 2024 Annual Report

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

BREAKING NEWS!

2024 annual report

“reflecting on the past to build the future”

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table of contents

Reflections from the Past

Reflections from the Executive Director

Reflections from the Board Chair

Financial Statement

Financial Overview

Substance Use Prevention

Gardiner Area Thrives

Tobacco Prevention

Special Projects

SNAP-Education

Healthy Eating Active Living

Youth Advisory Board

Food Systems

Board of Directors

HCCA Staff

State and Federal Grant Funders

Foundation and Other Program Funders

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reflections from the past

Southern Kennebec Healthy Communities coalition formed and gains nonprofit status, Joanne Joy named Executive Director

1999-2001

SKHC becomes Healthy Communities of the Capital Area and established as a Healthy Maine Partnership

2004

Staffing grows from 1.5 to 5, office moves from Water St. to Brunswick Ave., HCCA hosts first Drug Free Communities coalition

2007-2009

HCCA becomes a leader in statewide food systems work, tobacco prevention focused on disparate populations, and a SNAP-Ed provider

2010-2013

HCCA becomes a Maine Prevention Services provider, staff grows to 10, office moves to Mechanic St.

2015-2017

HCCA hires first full-time food systems staff and hosts its second DFC coalition

2019

HCCA becomes a Maine Prevention Network district lead and expands local service area to all of Kennebec County, founding ED retires, staffing grows to 13

2023

page 3

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reflections from the executive director

Welcome to HCCA’s annual report. The theme is Reflecting on the Past to Build the Future. HCCA has undergone another year of tremendous growth to build our future, from expanding the local service area to all of Kennebec County and serving as the Maine Prevention Network Central District lead, to growing the team to 13 members.

HCCA is doing this work by responding to emerging and evolving public health challenges from vaping and legal cannabis use to inequities in access to fresh, healthy food and opportunities for physical activity. Using new and innovative approaches and also relying on tried and true strategies from the past like reintroducing the coalition model and ramping up advocacy efforts, helps HCCA more effectively do the work to prevent chronic disease and improve overall quality of life.

HCCA board chair, Jodi Beck, is stepping down as chair, but remaining as a member. Thank you, Jodi, for your leadership and continuing service. HCCA will say good bye to the organization’s first finance staff person, Jane Hutchinson, who will retire later this year. Best wishes Jane, you will be missed.

HCCA is hosting its annual meeting on May 20, 2024 at the Cohen Community Center in Hallowell where there will be a short business meeting followed by highlights of the work and celebrating key partners with awards and refreshments. In the following pages you will learn more about HCCA's accomplishments this year, see a snapshot timeline of HCCA’s past, and learn more about the organization’s funding sources and people who do the work.

Renee Page, HCCA Executive Director

page 4

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reflections from the board chair

As my term as HCCA Board Chair comes to an end, I reflect on the impact this organization has had on the community members it serves. We celebrate hiring staff who love what they do and do it so well. They built strong relationships with key community partners and promote disease prevention with competence and compassion.

The board recognizes the outstanding role Jane has played in keeping the financial reporting accurate and up to date while hiring and orienting new staff. The board had to say goodbye to Courtney Yeager who served as treasurer for 4 years. We wish Jane and Courtney all the best.

We are grateful that new board member Zach Roth willingly took on the role of treasurer without missing a beat. Recognizing these successes not only boosts morale but also reinforces commitment to our mission. However, reflection isn't solely about patting ourselves on the back. We must also acknowledge obstacles. Did we encounter barriers in reaching certain populations? The unexpected public health crises of a lingering worldwide pandemic, widespread storm damage, and the first mass shooting in Maine stressed our communities and required additional support that stretched our resources. Keeping the board committees active and engaged is challenging due to the busy lives we lead and ever competing priorities. By honestly assessing these challenges, we can better prepare for similar situations in the future.

Ultimately, as we chart the course for the coming year, let us approach it with both optimism and pragmatism. By building upon our successes, learning from our setbacks, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to public health, we can create a healthier and more resilient community for all.

JODI BECK, Chair of the Board of Directors

page 5

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financial statement

Assets

Cash

Pre-Paid Expenses

Total Assets

Grants and Contracts Receivable

Fiscal Year 2023

7/1/22 - 6/30/23

$609,930

$358,136

$14,600

$982,666

Liabilities

Accounts Payable

Deferred Revenue

Due to management service provider

Total Liabilities

$170,423

$332,892

$161,942

$527

Net Assets

Net Assets with Donor Restriction

Net Assets without Donor Restriction

Total Net Assets

$376,186

$273,588

$649,774

Information for this report is from IRS Form 990 (7.1.22- 6.30.23)

page 6

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financial overview

HCCA Revenue Lookback

618,418

668,647

867,365

789,011

1,127,437

970,223

1,552,580

page 7

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substance use prevention

april hughes & susan johnson

2024

Substance Use Prevention at HCCA is largely focused on preventing underage use of alcohol, cannabis, and other substances among 12-25 year-olds in partnership with schools, law enforcement, and community organizations. HCCA works to change community conditions, share information, provide education, and collaborate across towns and systems to extend the impact. Funding was provided by Maine Prevention Services and Maine Prevention Network.

HCCA reached

310

students

middle & high schools

adults

Kennebec county collected

295

lbs of unused prescription medication

page 8

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gardiner area thrives

Patricia Buck-Welton

2024

Gardiner Area Thrives (GAT) is supported by the US CDC’s Drug Free Communities (DFC) Coalitions funds and serves the 4 towns that comprise MSAD #11. The GAT coalition is made up of interested and involved individuals that inform and implement prevention efforts from 12 sectors of the community.

Red Ribbon Week

door decorating contest at the middle school

Sources of Strength

universal school-based program designed to change norms and behavior surrounding suicide

Yellow Tulip Project

youth-driven movement dedicated to smashing the stigma surrounding mental illness

Red Ribbon Door

Substance Education

vaping, nicotine, cannabis presentations given at the middle school and high school

Yellow Tulip Project

page 9

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tobacco prevention

april hughes, adlin deering, mallory siddiqui

2024

HCCA supports a tobacco-free Kennebec County through education, prevention, policy, and training initiatives. Highlights include vaping education for both youth and adult mentors, working with community partners to update non-smoking policies to include vaping, and supporting the Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board in advocacy efforts to protect their peers from dangerous substances.

Youth pride attendee designing a positive message canvas for her peers

Winthrop HS senior, Maddie, co-presenting with Adlin, on the dangers of vaping

HCCA hosted a youth booth at Hallowell Pride, where youth were encouraged to design canvases that included positive messaging for their peers to prevent and quit vaping
Despite the rainy weather, over 30 canvases were designed to support peers in their quit journey
As attendees stopped by the booth, HCCA staff provided education on resources including My Life My Quit, and the Maine Quit Link

page 10

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special projects

adlin deering

2024

LGBTQ+ Youth programming relies on a variety of strategies and funding streams. LGBT(Q+/non-binary) youth consistently report higher rates of risk factors like being bullied, or using substances including tobacco, than their non-LGBT(Q+) peers on the MIYHS survey (Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey).

Pronoun Pins at the B&G Club of Kennebec Valley

Joanne and Adlin

Adlin and Joanne developed workshops aimed towards increasing partners who support LGBTQ+ youth to quit using tobacco. This is a statewide project for all types of providers who serve youth. 45 participants were trained.

Elements of training and TA include:

Becoming a more welcoming provider

Providing resources for the specific provider group

Accessing additional technical assistance

Identifying tobacco/vaping treatment for youth

page 11

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snap education

rachael reynolds & courtney whitney

2024

HCCA’s SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators support SNAP-eligible individuals and families in gaining knowledge and skills to shop, cook, and eat healthy on a limited budget. Educators also work in collaboration with community partners on policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) strategies to address food insecurity and increase access to healthy food environments. HCCA's educators collaborated with community partners on four different PSE strategies.

Excited SNAP-Ed student holding MyPlate

Youth Reach

Adult Reach

1049

156

students

adults

series

Courtney teaching a Cooking Matters class at Chelsea Elementary

locations

youth-serving settings

page 12

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healthy eating active living

sarah young

2024

HCCA supports healthy eating, physical activity, and breastfeeding promotion and support through the Healthy Eating, Active Living program. HEAL work in Kennebec County is supported by the Maine Prevention Network. Highlights include the 100 Mile Club, Kennebec County Breastfeeding Support Work Group, Maine Farm & Sea to School in collaboration with Food Systems, ParksRx Programming, Smarter Lunchroom Program initiatives, and StoryWalk installments.

The Wildlife Tree StoryWalk at Augusta Nature Park

Sarah and Susan tabling at a Waterville Community Health Event

100

Partnership with Thomas College

Indoor & Outdoor Travel Guides issued

School with 100 Mile Club

Hospital collaborations

StoryWalk partners

page 13

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youth advisory board

adlin deering & susan johnson

2024

The Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board (KC YAB) was developed in early 2023. Currently, about 15 youth, representing China Middle School, Erskine Academy, Cony High School, Cony Middle School, & Hall-Dale High School participate.

“We are committed to creating a future where substance use is not a barrier to success and wellbeing, and where all young people have the tools and support they need to thrive.”

The KC YAB meets 2x monthly over Zoom, and 1x monthly in-person at the Viles Mansion in Augusta.

Kennebec Valley YAB

The KC YAB mission is to collaborate with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders to:

Increase awareness of the dangers of substance use
Advocate for policies & programs that prioritize prevention and treatment
Help young people empower themselves to become leaders in substance use prevention efforts
Foster a culture of positivity, resilience, and mattering that celebrates healthy lifestyles and positive choices

page 14

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Food systems

alida farrell

2024

HCCA is pivotal in advancing Maine's food system through leadership in the Maine Farm & Sea to School Network and Maine Farm to Institution. Achievements this year include the successful pilot of the Maine Marinara Collaborative, ongoing progress with programs like the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute, and the development of a strategic plan for 2024-2027. In addition to prioritizing institutional-local producer connections and providing technical support, the plan also consolidates the two networks into one: The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network. This consolidation aims to enhance farm-to-institution efforts statewide and promote cross-sector collaboration and capacity building.

individuals in the Local Food Processing Workgroup

FTS institute school teams

130

network members

Alida Farrell, with members of the Maine Marinara Collaborative at the Isuken Cooperative Farm in Auburn

Participating in the network allows FoodCorps to build connections with individuals, organizations, and schools that are instrumental to furthering FoodCorps' mission. We can pass those learnings and benefits to service members and their school communities.

Ryan Parker, FoodCorps

strategic priorities

priority bills

school districts purchasing Maine Marinara

page 15

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board of directors

Thank you to HCCA board members for your continued engagement in HCCA's work. HCCA is grateful for your support, dedication, and efforts in fundraising, recruitment, advocacy, and developing new processes and protocols.

Jodi Beck

Board Chair