CHNA's Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Northern Light Health’s promise is to make healthcare work for you—all the people of Maine. This starts by identifying and assessing priority needs across the state and eliminating barriers to living a healthy life.
We are proud to collaborate with Central Maine Healthcare, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, MaineGeneral Health, MaineHealth, and the Maine Community Action Partnership on the Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment (Maine Shared CHNA).
Every three years, this collaborative develops shared community health needs assessment reports and engages communities statewide in supporting data-driven health improvement plans for Maine people.
Northern Light Health uses this assessment to turn data into action because we believe by partnering with our communities, we can help Maine become the healthiest state in the nation.
2024 Community Outreach
Community Survey: Community members had the opportunity to participate in a statewide community survey. The information provided will help us better understand the health and well-being needs of Maine people and communities. The survey is part of a larger community health needs assessment which includes focus groups, interviews, and data analysis. Results will be combined and used to inform the development of health improvement strategies and plans.
Statewide Focus Groups: Conducted with populations who are historically underrepresented, have disparate health outcomes, and/or are adversely impacted by social drivers of health
Focus Groups: Conducted in each county for people with low-income
Key-informant Interviews: Conducted with professionals and/or advocates representing populations who are historically underrepresented, have disparate health outcomes, and/or are adversely impacted by social drivers of health and/or sectors that are related to health outcomes.
Stakeholder Forums: Between September and December 2024, local Maine Shared CHNA planning committees will host forums to ensure input and feedback from those who represent the broad interests of the community, including but not limited to individuals who identify with a minority race, ethnicity or national origin; those who are medically underserved, experience low-income, and may experience health disparities.
The purpose of these activities is to collect data such as:
- Community identified health priorities
- Gaps and barriers which must be overcome to address each priority
- Resources potentially available to address each priority
Results of the 2025 Shared CHNA including extensive community input will be used to inform the development of Northern Light Health Member’s Community Health Strategy that will address identified community priorities over the next three-year cycle (FY26-FY28).