1. Promising/Best Practices Across Pilot States
What is a Promising/Best Practice?
Best or promising practice decisions, activities and interventions in the context of health promotion and disease prevention:
Contextual factors such as socio-cultural conditions are of extreme importance in health promotion and increase the complexity of an intervention. The goal is not just to affect specific life situations and contexts, but also to achieve changes in the dynamic, political and sociocultural environment by working together with other stakeholders.
Systematically take into account the values and principles of health promotion and public health
Are supported by current scientific knowledge as well as knowledge from experts and derived from practice
Observe the relevant context factors and achieve the intended positive effects whilst avoiding negative ones.
Examples of Promising/Best Practices
Promising Practices were identified during the Building Healthy Military Communities Rapid Needs Assessment. Each practice listed below is detailed in the following section to address program capabilities, reach and impact. This section is intended to showcase promising practices, draw connections with current initiatives across all states and incite new idea generation.
State
Promising Practice Example FL
Naval Air Station, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) – Coordinating Activities and Services using the MWR App IN
Military Families Basic Needs and Thanksgiving Sponsorship Program
Indiana Army Wellness Center MD
Union Hospital of Cecil County collaboration with Cecil County Health Department to execute Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) MN
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (BTYR)
BTYR Company Differential Pay Policy MS
Mississippi National Guard (MSNG) Outreach Services via Mobile APP NM
Center for Workforce at San Juan College; flexibility to open programs when needs arises OK
Oklahoma Veteran Connections (OKVC)

2. Maryland: Promising/Best Practice
Union Hospital of Cecil County & Cecil County Health Department Collaboration
Program Overview
Union Hospital is a full-service community hospital located in Elkton, Maryland whose mission is to enhance the health and wellbeing of residents in Cecil County and neighboring communities. Union Hospital offers outpatient, surgical and emergency services, as well as comprehensive health education programs. The Cecil County Health Department’s mission is to improve the health of Cecil County and its residents, in partnership with the community, by providing leadership to find solutions to health problems through assessment, policy development and assurance of quality health services and education.
Union Hospital of Cecil County and Cecil County Health Department collaborate to improve community health by assessing and addressing community health needs through an aligned Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
By conducting one collaborative Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), the two entities were able to establish a single set of health priorities for the community to address through a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Furthermore, the collaborative serves the community at large and includes input from cross-sector community stakeholders and residents.
The collaborative conducts a CHNA through primary and secondary data analyses of health, socio-economic, and quality of life indicators impacting Cecil County. Primary data is collected through a community health survey for Cecil County adults ages 18 or older. Service members who meet this criteria may take the survey. Primary data is also collected from community input given in focus groups and key informant interviews. The collaborative engages with leadership from various community organizations to identify vulnerable populations for focus groups who are impacted by social determinants of health and poor socio-economic conditions.
Over the last several years, the collaborative has identified a need to serve the homeless and those with mental health needs. Part of this population includes Service members, especially veterans, who are impacted by homelessness and decreased access to care for mental health services and supports. All data collected is shared with the Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) to determine health priorities and develop the CHIP. CHAC serves as the county’s Local Health Improvement Coalition and is made up of community leaders and community members all tasked with serving and supporting their community. CHAC participation demonstrates multi-sector accountability and helps build capacity for sustainable community health change.
Points of Contact:
Union Hospital of Cecil County, Jean-Marie Kelly, MPH, (443)
Cecil County Health Department, Dan Coulter, MPH, (443)

3. Maryland: Promising/Best Practice
Union Hospital of Cecil County & Cecil County Health Department Collaboration
Program Reach
The collaborative is comprised of community health leadership from both Union Hospital (Community Benefit and Marketing) and Cecil County Health Department (Director of Health Planning, Health Officer and Deputy Health Officer). The collaborative facilitates promotions with a variety of community partners that are first engaged through CHAC and then identified on a case-by-case basis to help spread the word. CHAC member organizations are asked to promote taking the community health survey with their clients and staff. The collaborative also uses news media and social media to promote the activities of the CHNA to community residents.
By including and engaging with vulnerable populations - including the homeless, the working poor, youth, older adults, and minorities, such as African Americans and Hispanics - the collaborative gets a better sense of not only what population health issues are, but how these populations experience these issues, which may be different due to social determinants of health.
Program Impact
The Union Hospital – Cecil County Health Department collaborative focuses on alignment of efforts to improve community health. The collaborative strives to create and sustain community buy-in and build capacity for sustainable change through empowerment, advocacy, and commitment to health equity, as well as supporting the right to access, use, and understand health services and community supports.
The CHNA must include:
Input from community leaders and vulnerable populations;
A primary and secondary data analysis;
An evaluation of programs or activities enacted through an implementation or strategic plan
The first CHNA (FY12-FY13) conducted by the collaborative yielded two sets of health priorities (one for Union Hospital and one for the county) and two CHIPs. In order to utilize resources more efficiently and prevent any possibility for silo effect, the second cycle of CHNA (FY15-FY16) conducted one CHNA and identified a single set of health priorities to be addressed within one CHIP.
To access the CHIP go to:
To access recent CHIP activities and accomplishments go to: and reference the section – Past Committee Meetings: July 19, 2018 (CHAC Meeting Minutes and Task Force Reports).