What does “good health” mean to you and your neighbors? A community conversation will be held on Saturday, April 18, for all residents of Wiscasset, Alna, Westport Island, Dresden, Edgecomb, Whitefield and other area towns to help identify health issues affecting their communities. The conversation will take place beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Philip’s Church, 12 Hodge Street, Wiscasset. Childcare, refreshments and a grocery store gift card will be provided to participants.

Through a Healthy Communities Grant awarded by Maine Health Access Foundation, individuals in Lincoln County were asked their opinions, using surveys, focus groups and forums, about their sense of community and the health issues affecting them personally and their communities.

Carried out by a collaborative of Lincoln County organizations (Healthy Lincoln County, CEI, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission), the Community Health Needs Assessment was released in February of this year and is available on the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s website, www.lcrpc.org.

The assessment drew on over 300 surveys with county residents, interviews, focus groups and meetings. Several health issues were identified such as obesity, substance abuse, aging-related health issues, tobacco addiction, diabetes, cancer, dental health and mental health. The assessment finds that poverty, not enough jobs, and difficulty in paying medical costs are a few of the major reasons why Lincoln County residents find themselves or their neighbors with health problems.

The goal of the community conversation is to hear from residents young and old, working, retired, attending school, all walks of life — about health issues, and talk about what we have control over as individuals and what improvements you’d like to see. Health issues which impact the least empowered in the community are of greatest concern. Residents of the Boothbay region met in February and a meeting was held in Waldoboro two weeks ago.

For more information, contact Mary Ellen Barnes at the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, 207-882-5188 or mbarnes@lcrpc.org.