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| Contributed photo Kim Jones, director of Cary Medical Center’s Healthy You program, exhibits the Maine Public Health Association Annual Program of Excellence Award, which she recently accepted at the MPHA annual meeting in Augusta. |
The Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) has recognized Cary Medical Center’s Healthy You program with its Annual Program of Excellence Award. Kim Jones, director of Healthy You, accepted the award at the MPHA Annual Meeting at the Augusta Civic Center.
The purpose of the award is to increase the visibility of public health initiatives in Maine, to promote adoption of effective public health programs, and to provide recognition to organizations involved in successful collaborative public health initiatives.
According to Tina Pettingill, executive director of the MPHA, the Healthy You program was selected from a highly competitive group of nominations from across the state.
“The Healthy You program came out on top due to its outstanding program goals, outcomes and reach. The awards committee was impressed on a number of levels and is proud to honor Healthy You with this prestigious award,” said Pettingill.
In accepting the award, Jones, who works in the public relations department at Cary Medical Center, said that there are many people involved with the Healthy You program and they have really helped make it successful.
“I wish I could have all the people that have helped me over the past eight years up on this stage with me to accept this award”, said Jones during brief remarks at the presentation. “Hundreds of people from all the communities we serve have participated in Healthy You by presenting programs, providing facilities, or serving on our advisory committee. It has been wonderful to build the relationships with all of our Healthy You communities.”
Healthy You is a program that offers a broad array of health and wellness programs in six area communities: Caribou, Van Buren, Limestone, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle and Washburn. A program representative visits each community for two months during the year, offering a variety of programs from healthy cooking to yoga, from ‘dark dining’ to health insurance options. According to Jones, the wide range of topics is key to the success of Healthy You.
“We try to keep our program very fresh and to bring new topics to our communities each month. We like to do programs that are appealing to all age groups and that really can offer something a little different. We have been very pleased with the great response we have had and look forward to our new year of Healthy You in 2014,” Jones added.
Healthy You was developed eight years ago thanks, in part, to a grant from KeyBank. The effort has now offered more than 300 programs and has reached thousands of area residents. For more information, contact Jones at Cary Medical Center at 498-1361, find the program on Facebook, or visit carymedicalcenter.org.
