Coalitions

Addressing Health Issues at the Local Level

WellSpan understands that the health of a community is dependent upon collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Together, we can strategically partner to build a safe environment in which current neighbors and future generations can thrive. Community-driven action is initiated through our county-based health coalitions. WellSpan has been a longtime supporter and actively engaged in Healthy Adams County, Healthy York County Coalition, Healthy Franklin County and the Community Health Council of Lebanon County. In addition, it provided support for the development of the Northern Lancaster Hub of social services. Together as partners, these coalitions each engage in focused and impactful opportunities to advance community health.

Healthy Adams County

• The Physical Fitness Task Force engaged 375 people during walking parties and a free 5K. They also published a walking booklet with link to download maps.
• Engaged 2,500 people in Community Wellness Connections, providing opportunities to learn about body, mind, spirit and community dimensions.
• Adams County Food Policy Council implemented Healthy Options, a food voucher program, to about 600 low-income residents. They also helped 300 families and 360 seniors in need increase their access to healthy food through the Adams County Farmers Market Double Dollars Program.
• The Suicide Prevention Subcommittee partnered with over 30 restaurants and bars, churches, school districts and community organizations to participate in its Suicide Prevention Campaign in the month of September.
• As part of @Home Adams County, 47 new low-income housing units are being built, and partnerships with local builders will renovate up to eight more units in the Biglerville area.
• Collaborated with rabbittransit and County Government to pilot the Gettysburg-Hanover Route, offering a fixed route for students, patients and commuters to work.

Healthy Franklin County

• The Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force published the Move Your Way Franklin County walking guide (English and Spanish), featuring local walking trails and routes, health and wellness tips and community supports. In total, 2,083 booklets and 1,750 palm cards were distributed to community partners.
• The Behavioral Health Task Force formed an LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources group which launched the Franklin County Welcoming Project in partnership with Pride Franklin County. The group also supported the creation of a webpage promoting mental health, health care and education resources for the LGBTQ+ community, which had more than 1,300 visits. Another partner, the Mental Health Association of Franklin/Fulton Counties, created THRIVE, a support group for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Coordinated efforts to reach at-risk populations at 17 community-based COVID-19 vaccine clinics resulted in more than 300 vaccines administered.
• As part of the Community Health Needs Assessment project, focus groups were convened with the Hispanic and Haitian Creole communities and the primary and special populations survey was promoted.

Healthy York County

• Hosted a community-wide COVID-19 Memorial Event where more than 2,500 individuals were memorialized at the York Revolution stadium.
• Received a $45,000 Memorial Health Fund grant to support a Public Health Messaging Toolkit, intended to engage the community around the need to advance public health infrastructure as a component of the overall Advocacy and Engagement Plan.
• In partnership with WellSpan Health, supported over 20 mobile vaccine clinics at community organizations with more than 240 individuals receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
• In partnership with WellSpan Health and Community Progress Council, developed a communications plan and conducted outreach for the special populations survey, gathering over 600 online responses.
• In partnership with Rep. Carol Hill Evans, the Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition and York College of PA, coordinated a Water Safety Forum where 50 York County attendees learned about funding opportunities for water safety and oral health best practices including water fluoridation.

Community Health Council of Lebanon County

• Under a two-year $300,000 grant to mitigate the harmful impacts of early trauma and adversity in Lebanon County from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, delivered over 1,100 hours of mobile trauma therapy, trained 11 Lebanon County providers in the EMDR modality and composed a comprehensive community action plan for Lebanon City.
• Educated more than 1,000 middle schoolers and 40 students in the newly established Youth Tobacco and Vaping Coalition, which aligns local health and prevention partners to provide a comprehensive anti-vaping program.
• Established the Youth Advisory Board, the first youth board of its kind in Lebanon County. Composed of 44 students representing five school districts, the board successfully implemented five student-designed wellness campaigns to benefit adolescents from five high schools.
• Published an updated Lebanon County Walking Guide, a 40-page bilingual guide to over 35 local parks and naturalized areas.
• Hosted the Tour de Lebanon Valley, in which 250 riders from across the region enjoyed the scenic roads of Lebanon County and more than $25,000 was raised for five local non-profits.