Together, We Make Health Happen
Our First 20 Years
2001: Our Humble Beginnings
Healthy Acadia's journey began in 2001 as a small tobacco prevention program serving Maine’s Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities. Supported by the Healthy Maine Partnerships—a statewide initiative born from a 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement—our mission was clear: reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects. Our very first office, housed in a former staff smoking lounge at MDI Hospital, was a symbolic starting point for a coalition ready to make a difference by addressing tobacco-related health issues head-on.
2001-2004: Expanding Our Reach
As our small team grew, so did our impact. We expanded beyond tobacco prevention to also address lead poisoning, obesity, and access to healthy food and physical activity, becoming a key player in promoting healthy food, physical activity, and healthy aging in our communities. Our work as a Healthy Maine Partnership continued to grow and thrive. Our efforts laid the foundation for what would become a regional movement for community health.
2005-2008: Bringing Fresh Food to Schools: : Downeast Farm to School Takes Root
Our Downeast Farm to School Program was born, connecting local farms with schools to provide fresh produce and garden education to students. This laid the groundwork for long-term partnerships with farmers, growers, and schools in both Hancock and Washington counties. By 2008, we expanded into Washington County, thanks to our partnership with Washington County: One Community.
2009: Standing on Our Own
Healthy Acadia officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2009. We also broadened our areas of focus to include programs for promoting healthy aging, encouraging physical activity, and preventing substance misuse. By 2011, we expanded our service area to include all of Hancock County, and took on an even greater role in improving community health by building partnerships and expanding our prevention work.
2012: Community Transformation
A $1.3 million Community Transformation Grant enabled us to create healthier communities in Hancock and Washington counties. We expanded efforts to improve access to healthy food, physical activity, social wellness, and dental health while introducing Maine SNAP-Ed to schools and communities.
2013: Growing Stronger
We opened our first office in Ellsworth and grew to an enthusiastic and dedicated team of thirteen. Our work expanded to include Drug-Free Communities programming, oral health education, and the Downeast Gleaning Initiative a local effort to reduce food insecurity. We also began distributing mini-grants to community partners for projects promoting free and easily accessible active spaces and healthy resources for all, like playgrounds, walking routes, healthy food storage, and more.
2014: Supporting Seniors and Recovery
Together with community partners, we launched the neighbor4neighbor Fund (n4n) to support seniors in need, and we convened the Downeast Substance Treatment Network to increase access to substance use treatment. We also began offering free, Tai Chi for Health classes for people of all ages and fitness levels.
2015: Expanding Programs and Impact
We partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to introduce free wellness programs to community members, including the National Diabetes Prevention Program and Chronic Disease Self-Management, and Chronic Pain Self-Management. That same year, we brought Washington County: One Community’s programs and staff under the Healthy Acadia umbrella, expanding our service area to include all of Washington County. We also took the leading role in program development and hosting of Down East Teen Leadership Camp, an incredibly impactful program established in 2000 aimed at equipping teens in grades 7-9 with the skills, confidence, and values needed to become effective, responsible leaders through hands-on training, teamwork, and personal growth.
2016: Launching Project HOPE
In collaboration with the Ellsworth Police Department, we launched Downeast Project HOPE to connect those seeking recovery from substance use to treatment. Our recovery and prevention programming continued to expand, and we also took over operations of BlueHill FarmDrop, an innovative online farmers’ market.
2017: New Initiatives and Expanded Services
This year saw the launch of impactful programs like the Downeast Cancer Patient Navigation Program, the Early Childhood Consultation and Outreach Program (ECCO), and the You’ve Got A Friend Fund (YGAFF) to help individuals overcome barriers. We also launched our Recovery Coach Program and transitioned into being the sole provider of Maine Prevention Services for Hancock and Washington counties.
2018: Expanding Recovery Services
We launched Maine RecoveryCorps, offering peer recovery coaching services in nine counties. Together with community partners, we launched the Downeast Treatment Center in Ellsworth and expanded our FarmDrop operations. Our Mindfulness in Education initiative started, bringing resilience programs to schools and childcare centers across the region.
2019: Supporting Youth and Expanding Recovery Programs
Our Maine Alliance for Recovery Coaching expanded to five counties, and we opened new locations in Calais and Ellsworth dedicated to substance recovery support. We also broadened our youth programming, focusing on substance prevention, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ+ empowerment, and building resilience for youth ages 9-20.
2020: Meeting the Challenge of a COVID-19
Despite the many local challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, our team adapted quickly. We purchased a Harvest Van to expand our Gleaning Initiative and get more food to people in need, opened the Safe Harbor Recovery Home for Women and Children to help keep families together as they navigated their recovery journey, and launched community-wide COVID-19 response efforts to connect those most at risk for severe respiratory illness with resources. We organized an internal Health Equity Team focused on addressing health disparities and ensuring fair access to health and wellness services, both within our organization and across our service region.
2021: Celebrating 20 Years of Impact
We hosted our first cohort of inspiring youth leaders from within our community who took a leading role in designing our Down East Teen Leadership Camp summer program through the Maine Youth Action Network’s Gateway to Opportunity Program, a workforce development initiative that connects youth with real world experiences in fields of interest.
To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we also launched our first documentary film, created in-house: Together: Community Health Champions, highlighting six local heroes committed to building healthy, resilient communities. We partnered with community-serving organizations across our region and beyond, including Heart of Ellsworth, Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, Downeast Salmon Federation, American Public Health Association, to offer online and in-person viewing events.
Today: Looking to the Future
With a dedicated team of approximately 80 seasonal, full-time, and part-time staff members and interns, the steadfast guidance and support of our amazing Board of Directors, and the inspiring energy and enthusiasm of scores of community volunteers, Healthy Acadia now spearheads more than 40 programs and initiatives focused on promoting and enhancing health and wellness across Downeast Maine and beyond.