Mission & History
None of us can affect measurable change on our own.
Together, we can change our world. Our Coalition provides structure and accountability for passionate leaders and their organizations to collaborate towards a healthier community.
Our Mission is to improve wellness and resiliency to equitably impact the lifelong health of all Frederick County residents.
Our Vision is that our community is productive, resilient, and thriving because all people have a voice in their health and equitable access to the opportunities and resources necessary to prosper and to be physically and emotionally healthy.
Our Purpose is to engage in non-legislative advocacy and in system integration and coordination.
Our history: improving availability and accessibility for health care
The Coalition was created to unite passionate changemakers who sought to remove barriers and bring healthcare to anyone who needed it.
Our story began on May 12, 2006, when more than 100 diverse representatives from across our community gathered together to examine the barriers to healthcare and to convert those barriers into goals and action plans. A small team summarized the proceedings from this “Frederick Health Summit,” and participants were invited to join a coalition in order to continue the collaborative process.
Led by Frederick County Public Health Office Director Barbara Brookmyer, the participants from the meeting became known as the Frederick County Health Care Coalition and formed work groups to target each area of concern. One example program and success story was the Frederick County Health Access Program (FCHAP).
Since FCHAP's opening in August 2008 through its closure in December 2013, more than 500 uninsured Frederick County residents were connected with healthcare services in a timely manner. Through the donation of care by nearly 50 local provider practices and Frederick Memorial Healthcare, as well as discounted services by ancillary care providers (e.g., pathology and radiology), care valued at over $900,000 was provided to enrollees. Additionally, hundreds more individuals, enrolled or not, were assisted with locating other needed services, such as dental care and mental health counseling, and assisted with applications for Medical Assistance and MCHP if they were eligible.
A change in focus
With the Affordable Care Act in place, much of our original programming became thankfully obsolete, yet our central mission remained a necessity. We became keenly aware of deeper issues facing the health and wellbeing of our community members, such as lack of transit, lack of dental insurance, or the negative stigma surrounding mental health. Our Coalition continued to provide a platform of connection and accountability for nonprofit and civic organizations to work together and improve our community’s health.
In 2023, we renamed ourselves, the “Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County.” Fulfilling the state requirement for a healthcare partnership, we renewed our collaboration with the Frederick County Health Department and our local health system Frederick Health. With the release of our Local Health Improvement Plan in 2022, the three priorities at that time were adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adolescents, type 2 diabetes, and mental health.
