History of Healthy Harford, Inc.

In 1993, a group of community leaders came together from the public, private and government sectors of Harford County around a vision to create the Healthiest Community in Maryland. This group was the beginning of what today is Healthy Harford, Inc. - a coalition of partners in Harford County that are committed to making this vision a reality.

Since that time, Healthy Harford has sponsored many events and programs in Harford County. The first Healthy Harford programs included a health carnival, free immunizations for school-aged children and a Recycle Your Cycle project that encouraged residents to donate their used exercise equipment to benefit the school system.

Healthy Harford has also published a series of health guides that are free to the community. Please click the links on the left to print a copy of our latest guides - the "Eating Out Guide" and the "Healthy Heart Guide."

Another project of Healthy Harford is CHAP - the Community Health Assessment Project. CHAP is a survey that is distributed to residents throughout Harford County that asks them a series of questions about their health. Conducted in both 1996 and 2000, the purpose is to identify areas of unmet health needs in Harford County. Following the survey in 2000, Harford County report cards were developed and goals were created to improve health in specific areas for both 2005 and 2010. CHAP is being done again in 2005 so that our progress can be measured. Please click here to learn more about CHAP and participating in the 2005 survey.

Healthy Harford also brings together community members to work on specific health issues. Called "Community Action Teams", these groups develop projects and programs in Harford County that address the health issues that were identified through CHAP. For example, the Kids Healthy Lifestyle program was implemented in several Harford County Middle Schools to help our kids understand the importance of healthy lifestyles. The "Heart" Team has been providing education regarding the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke to many groups in Harford County. The Nutrition and Fitness Teams have been promoting the importance of good nutrition and being physically active at many Harford County events.

Since it began in 1993, the accomplishments of Healthy Harford have been significant. In the spring of 2002, the Healthy Harford Board engaged in a strategic planning session that resulted in a plan that insures the work of Healthy Harford will continue into the future. They defined three primary goals:

1. To promote the physical health and wellness among youth and adults in Harford County.
2. To promote the nurturing of emotional, mental and spiritual well-being for the enhanced quality of life for all.
3. To foster a broader vision of health that focuses on the interrelation of health issues and quality of life in the community.

Healthy Harford will continue to develop the strategies and programs that will help us to meet these goals. CHAP 2005 will help us define what we need to do. A significant amount of progress has been made - through the efforts and guidance of our Board of Directors and other volunteers in the community, we will continue to move forward towards our vision of becoming the Healthiest Community in Maryland.

For more information on Healthy Harford, please visit our home page at www.healthyharford.org or contact us at 443-643-4260.