Community Led Needs Assessment

In today’s interconnected world, organizations recognize the importance of actively engaging with the communities they serve. Community-led needs assessments (CLNA) serve as a powerful tool to uncover critical insights, identify gaps, and tailor interventions effectively. These assessments go beyond mere data collection; they empower community members to actively participate in shaping their own destinies. Healthy Living for ME® (HL4ME®) has the capability and capacity to conduct successful community-led needs assessments due to our commitment to participatory approaches, skilled facilitators, cultural competence, and the ability to foster trust and collaboration. Our current active projects include:

Somerset and Kennebec Counties Community Partnership

Rural healthcare in Maine is facing significant challenges, with three-quarters of adults finding it unaffordable and confusing, as reported by the Maine Center for Economic Policy. Despite recent improvements, the system remains inadequate for many residents. To address this, HL4ME, with the support of a Maine State Department of Health and Human Services grant, initiated the Somerset and Kennebec Counties Community Partnership (SKCCP) in March 2023. This partnership, comprising 13 community-based organizations (CBOs), three health systems, a healthcare advocacy entity, and the Maine CDC, aims to build effective systems that foster healthier communities through collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and CBOs.

The SKCCP’s Community Readiness Assessment report highlights significant barriers for residents in accessing and navigating existing health and community services. These barriers include the fragmented and siloed nature of service delivery systems, lack of integration between healthcare and community-based sectors, and the complexity of service offerings. Financial strain, lack of housing options, and inadequate mental health support further exacerbate these issues. The report also reveals that poverty rates in Somerset and Kennebec Counties are higher than the state average, with many households spending over 50% of their income on housing, adding to the strain on residents' health and wellbeing.

To address these issues, the SKCCP identified three key opportunities for improvement: initiating community provider check-in meetings, further researching and developing the community care hub concept, and organizing bi-annual community solutions workshops. Using the Community Readiness Assessment as a roadmap, SKCCP plans to implement a comprehensive strategy to enhance collaboration, coordination, and integration between healthcare and CBOs. This strategy will focus on creating a person-centered, whole-person approach to address health-related social needs (HRSNs), ensuring long-term success through joint governance, infrastructure development, fiscal sustainability, data management, and continuous community engagement.