Healthy Community Coalition

What it reported doing in 2024

Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant In October 2024, HCC was awarded a highly competitive five-year, $625,000 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant to prevent youth substance use in RSU #73, the Spruce Mountain School District, serving the communities of Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls. This federal grant enabled HCC to launch and lead a new, community-driven coalition focused on reducing youth alcohol and drug use. The DFC program, administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is designed to empower communities to build strong partnerships and implement comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to prevent youth substance use. During the first year of the grant, HCC achieved significant early success, most notably through the establishment of the Greater Franklin Alliance. As required by the DFC program, this local coalition was formed with representatives from all 12 required sectors, including parents, schools, law enforcement, healthcare providers, local businesses, youth-serving organizations, and youth themselves. The coalition meets monthly and is actively engaged in developing and implementing strategies to keep students in RSU #73 safe, supported, and drug-free. Over the next five years, HCC will leverage the DFC grant to strengthen community relationships, increase awareness, and advance sustainable prevention efforts focused on reducing youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use through education, policy initiatives, and community engagement. Year one accomplishments have resulted in meaningful progress across prevention, partnerships, and youth engagement. HCC established a partnership with the Jay Police Department to support additional patrols during high-risk periods such as prom and graduation, helping to reduce the risk of underage drinking. The organization also collaborated with Spruce Mountain High School to implement a restorative practice procedure for substance-related incidents. Through this approach, students caught using substances at school, including alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or vaping products, participate in a substance use prevention curriculum and individualized educational sessions with HCC's Program Coordinator in exchange for a reduced suspension. During the first year, 9 students participated in this restorative process. HCC also prioritized positive, substance-free community engagement. A free sledding night at Spruce Mountain Ski Slope provided a substance-free event for youth and families while offering prevention education and strengthening community connection; the event attracted 135 attendees. A Parent Safety Night hosted at Spruce Mountain Elementary School, in partnership with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, engaged parents in conversations about internet safety and strategies for talking with children about online risks. Youth leadership development was another major focus. HCC established a Youth Advisory Board made up of 12 students who serve as leaders within their school community. The group supports leadership opportunities for youth, participates in school-wide initiatives, promotes positive school culture, elevates mental health awareness, and contributes to efforts aimed at reducing substance use among their peers. Career and future-focused engagement was strengthened through a partnership with the Jobs for Maine Grads (JMG) program, which resulted in a large-scale college and career fair for students in grades 8-12. The event brought together over 28 colleges and 20 local businesses and engaged more than 300 students, representing significant success in connecting youth to education and workforce opportunities. In addition, HCC supported the implementation of multiple evidence-based and community-based prevention activities. This included delivery of the CATCH My Breath vaping prevention program, a nationally recognized, evidence-based curriculu

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 45.9%; rating input score 46
• Program expense ratio: 92.8%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 66.7%; rating input score 67; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 46.9%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.5; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.33; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 141.5%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -15.5% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -5.5% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings