Downeast Public Health Council and Committees

Downeast Public Health Council

The Downeast Public Health Council (DEPHC) meets every other month on a designated Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in varied locations. Our 2021 meeting dates are January 15, March 19, May 21, July 16, September 17, and November 19.

Click here to download a list of our Council members.

DEPHC Executive Committee

Organizations and agencies that have health or public health in their mission and are classified as a sector in council bylaws and state statute can become members of the council. Active council members are nominated and then elected annually to serve on the Council's Executive Committee. The Executive Committee guides and facilitates the Council's work. In 2021, these are our Executive Committee Members:

  • Andrew Sankey – Hancock County Emergency Management Agency
  • Angela Fochesato - Healthy Acadia (Washington County)
  • Helen Burlock - Consultant on Healthy Aging and Community Member
  • Kelly Brown - Next Step Domestic Violence Project
  • Maria Donahue - SCC Representative - Healthy Acadia (Hancock County)
  • Meredith Alexander - Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
  • Steve Lail - Down East Community Hospital
  • Al May - Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC)

Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment Forums

The Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment Forums are planned for the fall 2021. The purpose of these community engagement forums is to review our current district (county) health profiles (health data) and to engage community input on determining district health priorities and hospital implementation strategies. Once the forums are completed, council member organizations will have the opportunity to use this information for forming their own organizational health priorities as well as look for opportunities to support community, county and district work. In 2021, the forums will be done virtually, currently planning one virtual forum for Hancock County and one virtual forum for Washington County. Both are scheduled for September 2021.

District Committees

Ad hoc committees are formed when needed. Many committees are formed as a result of the priorities selected as a result of the Shared Community Health Needs Assessment. In 2020-2021, the council has formed committees based on infrastructure needs in the areas of Palliative Care and Hospice, Healthy Aging, Cancer, Health Literacy, and Emergency Preparedness.