Join a Workgroup!
Are you a Frederick County resident interested in volunteering to advance health equity and reduce health disparities in our community? The Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County houses and provides structure for the Local Health Improvement Plan (LHIP) Workgroups, which advocate for improving the social determinants of health and address the identified health priorities by the triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). These efforts seek to reduce risk factors that negatively impact our community's health and increase protective factors that support prevention, treatment, and healing. CHNA data helps guide the Coalition, Frederick County Health Department, and Frederick Health Hospital in identifying health priorities for the upcoming three-year LHIP cycle. Currently, the 2022 – 2025 health priorities are Adverse Childhood Experiences in Adolescents (ACEs), Mental Health, and Type 2 Diabetes. No specific qualifications are required to join a Workgroup; every community member is welcome to participate! ACEs has been an identified health priority for 9 years now, and the Workgroup has successfully carried out their missions surrounding providing ACEs awareness, prevention, treatment, and intervention efforts to our community.
Actions of Workgroup Members
Workgroups are community-led volunteer groups consisting of passionate community members and professionals that drive changes in community health. Members actively participate in organizing events, delivering presentations, and providing resources to educate communities on health improvement and prevention strategies. A key role members have is to facilitate connections between the community and local healthcare providers with local resources to ensure they have access to resources that promote health equity and aim to reduce health disparities. These resources include healthy food options, healthcare services, mental health support, educational programs, and social services. Each Workgroup has their own goals and action plans, offering diverse opportunities for volunteers to advocate for community health and advance health equity.
Benefits of Joining a Workgroup
Joining a workgroup with the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County comes with professional and personal development benefits! Some reasons why you should consider getting involved are:
Collective Impact: Workgroups bring together diverse perspectives and voices from community members and professionals, bringing resources and expertise to comprehensively address health issues.
Learning and Growth: Participating in a Workgroup provides valuable opportunities for learning from others in different fields, gaining new skills such as health advocacy, public speaking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Additionally, you will stay updated on the latest health initiatives and strategies from fellow Workgroup members and the Coalition.
Making a Difference: Workgroup members have a direct role in impacting the people in your immediate community groups by contributing to building a healthier and happier Frederick County.
Networking: Connect with individuals who share similar passions for community health and build relationships that can lead to future collaborations and friendships.
Personal Fulfillment: Stay informed about the latest resources, make connections that make a difference, and spread the word of change in Frederick County.
How Can You Get Involved?
New participants are encouraged to join a Workgroup at any point during the three-year cycle! Begin by filling out our LHIP Workgroup Interest Form, which provides additional details about each Workgroup and their Subgroups. After completing the form, you will receive background information and an invitation to join the next monthly Workgroup meeting. All meetings are conducted virtually. If you are unable to attend every monthly meeting, there are additional volunteer options to participate in!
Workgroup Information
Mental Health Workgroup
Subgroups: Community Engagement/Anti-Stigma and Workforce Development/Capacity Building
Meetings: Meets on 3rd Tuesday each month from 1:00pm – 2:30pm via Zoom
Current Projects
In May, the Mental Health Workgroup partnered with Frederick County Workforce Services' Recovery is Good Business Workshop. Together, they conducted a 3-hour workshop with four different businesses, helping them better understand how to hire and support employees who have been in recovery, are seeking recovery, or are currently in recovery from substance use disorder and/or mental health challenges. Improving mental health and supporting those with substance use disorders are key to a healthier workplace. About 16.2 million workers face serious mental health challenges, and 20.3 million people deal with substance use issues, with most of them working. These issues can lead to financial losses for companies due to increased healthcare expenses and greater absenteeism. By helping employees with these issues, companies can save money and have happier, more productive teams.
Businesses had the opportunity to reflect on moments they have either been stigmatized themselves or stigmatized someone else. The workshop covered anti-stigma best practices, including choosing your words, jokes, meeting environments carefully to be sensitive of those who may be in or seeking recovery. Each business will be followed up with by the end of the year to evaluate their progress towards becoming a stigma-free workplace.
Learn more about the Mental Health Workgroup: https://healthierfrederick.org/priorities/mental-health
Type 2 Diabetes
Subgroups: Awareness, Prevention, and Management
Meetings: Meets on 4th Wednesday each month from 1:00pm – 2:30pm via Zoom
Current Projects
At the July 2024 Quarterly Community Health Stakeholders Meeting, the Type 2 Diabetes Workgroup shared their accomplishments from the Maryland Health Department's Communications Strategies Grant. From January to June 2024, they aimed to promote diabetes prevention by increasing awareness and enrollment in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Healthy Heart Ambassador program.
Their collaboration with the Coalition and Frederick Health Hospital supported them in designing marketing materials, executing a postcard mailing campaign, developing an outreach toolkit, and attending outreach events. The marketing materials included postcards, flyers, and tabletop banners, which were available in English and Spanish. On May 20, 2024, they mailed approximately 8,000 postcards to target zip codes.
The outreach toolkit included printed materials, visual demonstration kits, and event giveaways. These items included program flyers for Healthy Hearts and DPP, ADA Diabetes Plate menus, recipe cards, food replica kits, salt/sugar test tubes, giveaways like MyPlate flying discs, MyPlate jar openers, and MyPlate magnets, and much more.
Overall, Workgroup members attended 37 events in Brunswick, Ballenger Creek, Frederick City, and North County. As a result, they interacted with 1,117 individuals and had 343 individuals follow up with interest.
Learn more about the Frederick County Health Department’s Healthy Hearts Program and Frederick Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program: https://healthierfrederick.org/nextstep
Learn more about the Type 2 Diabetes Workgroup: https://healthierfrederick.org/priorities/type-2-diabetes