CARIBOU, Maine — This month marks the 10th anniversary of the successful, award-winning Healthy You program at Cary Medical Center.
Years of preparation, including focus groups, community health needs assessments and public surveys, resulted in the launch of the dynamic and comprehensive program known today as Healthy You. The program, designed to routinely address the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of wellness, was formally introduced to the public in March of 2008.
In 2013, Healthy You received the Maine Public Health Association’s Public Health Program of Excellence Award.
“For 2018, we have some exciting new ideas to roll out in celebration of this landmark anniversary and even some new methods of delivering programs that will make them even more accessible to our rural communities,” said Bethany Zell, program director of Healthy You at Cary.
Healthy You’s “on the road” approach to providing health education, services and activities has contributed to the program’s success and enabled them to engage the community and build ongoing and mutually beneficial relationships, said Zell.
“Over the past decade, Healthy You has established itself as an effective and powerful vehicle through which area partners can support health and wellness in their community,” she added.
Since the program’s launch in 2008, staff have delivered more than 500 Healthy You programs as a direct result of collaborations with school systems, recreation departments, civic groups, businesses, physician offices, and other healthcare organizations.
“We are so thankful for everyone who has partnered with us by attending, hosting or helping at a Healthy You program over the past 10 years,” Zell said. “Community support and encouragement has reinforced the value of the work that we are doing to create healthier communities with our Healthy You program and fuels our passion to do even more.”
For information on current Healthy You program offerings, visit www.facebook.com/caryhealthyyou or www.carymedicalcenter.org.