BELLOWS FALLS — The Healthy Communities Coalition of Windham County (HCC), an initiative of Meeting Waters YMCA, has been chosen as one of four “model success stories” by YMCA of the USA. It will be featured in upcoming publications and online content by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and YMCA of the USA, the national resource center for the YMCA movement in America.
HCC is part of the Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative-a national partnership between these two leading national organizations.
HCC was founded in 2009 by Meeting Waters YMCA Executive Director Steve Fortier who had been a community health consultant and author before coming to the regional YMCA in 1998. Drawing on his previous experiences, Fortier formed HCC by pulling together a diverse group of change leaders with county-wide reach.
In mid-2009, the coalition was selected as one of 20 YMCA-community coalitions in the country to be part of the sixth annual cohort of Pioneering Healthier Communities. PHC brings community leaders together to help promote, support and sustain healthy behaviors through policy, systems and environmental change.
Through PHC, the team has received guidance from many of the top experts in social change and community health through national conferences, peer learning circles, ongoing technical assistance and unique tools.
According to Fortier, if you haven't heard or seen much about the Healthy Communities Coalition, it is a sign that they are doing their jobs well. “It's a bit like the ancient Chinese quote about when a leader's work is done, people will say, 'we did it ourselves.' We are supporting leaders within different systems throughout our communities to create changes that make the healthy choice the easy choice. We're just helping them identify opportunities for improvement. Those leaders' commitments to supporting the health and well-being of those they serve is what drives the changes,” he said.
Fortier cites developments in the town of Brattleboro as a great example. In 2009, Brattleboro planners Rod Francis and Sue Fillion were part of a diverse group of leaders that participated in the HCC-sponsored Community Healthy Living Index. During the assessment and planning process, the planners became aware of ways that they could improve policies and environments to support healthier lifestyles of all people that live and work in Brattleboro.
As a result, health-supporting language has been brought into several chapters of the working drafts of the new Town Plan and community design is now being looked at with an eye toward walkability and rideability.
“The town of Brattleboro is just one example of the policy, systems and environmental changes we've stimulated and supported,” Fortier said. “As just a few other examples, exciting changes are taking place in schools like Flood Brook in Londonderry and Marlboro Elementary, at EES in Brattleboro, within organizations like SEVCA, Valley CARES and Grace Cottage Hospital, and, in addition to Brattleboro, some exciting things are starting to come together at a community-wide level in Rockingham and Townshend.”
Other members of the Healthy Communities Coalition are Fortier's co-leader, Kathleen White, the Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist in the Brattleboro district office of the Vermont Department of Health; Tim Stevenson and Richard Berkfield from Post Oil Solutions; Tristam Johnson from SEVCA; Sadie Fischesser of the Vermont Agency of Human Services; Kendall Gifford from Windham Regional Commission; Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's Director of Community Education Wendy Cornwell; chef and local food advocate Tristan Toleno; cardiologist Mark Burke; Susan Fortier and Josh Davis from Meeting Waters YMCA; and Rose Grimes who has remained active in the coalition following her internship as a Keene State College student in the Health Sciences program.
Former Green Street School teacher and Farm-to-School proponent Laura White was also part of the team until her recent move to New Hampshire.
HCC's efforts are supported in part by grants from the CDC and the Holt Fund.
For more information about the Healthy Communities Coalition, visit their Facebook page, call Meeting Waters YMCA at 802-246-1036 (Brattleboro area) or 802-463-4769 (Bellows Falls area) or email steve@meetingwatersymca.org.