The Safe & Healthy Community Council is dedicated to everyone in Mid Coast Maine being safe from abuse and violence and having access to affordable, high-quality health care. An essential part of a strong community is the physical and mental health and well-being of its members. A caring community ensures access to preventive and healing services and support. Our community also needs to prevent abuse and violence, so that no-one suffers those terrible consequences.

The Safe & Healthy Community Council is working toward eight of United Way of Mid Coast Maine's Community Goals:

• Everyone has access to affordable, high-quality health care (including mental health care, prescription drugs, dental care, etc.)
• Our community fosters wellness through education, prevention, and action
• Our community promotes prevention and provides treatment of drug and alcohol abuse
• Support is available to people who are dying and to their loved ones
• People who provide care for others will receive support and respite
• People who are vulnerable (hurt, ill, disabled, isolated etc.) will receive the help they need
• Everyone can live free from abuse and violence
• Individuals and our communities are prepared for, and able to respond to, emergencies

Examples of Positive Results!

• 1,111 low-income uninsured area residents received free health care from Oasis
• 231 adults were provided support from Sweetser's Peer Center to increase their skills needed to recover from disabling mental illness. 362 respite bed nights were provided in a seven month period, a direct reduction of crisis/hospital stays
• 183 families of patients with Alzheimer's and similar diseases received respite care, with 96% of caregivers saying it delayed putting their loved one in institutional care, and 100% reporting it improved their own quality of life
• 589 people with terminal illness and their families received help and comfort from Hospice care. 100% of people served reported Hospice made a difference in keeping their loved ones at home
• 4,275 youth received education on sexual violence prevention from SASSMM, with 85% of those surveyed able to list two options for responding to bullying/teasing, sexual harassment or sexual assault, and 85% able to list three ways the Internet can be unsafe

For More Information
Interested in more information about the work of United Way's Safe & Healthy Community Council? Contact Jim Peavey at jpeavey@uwmcm.org or call 207-443-9752.