Welcome to the Western District Coordinating Council

The Western District Coordinating Council was formed with the partnership of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), for the purpose of representing the health of the communities it serves. Through collaboration with public health organizations as well as the community, the Western District Coordinating Council is able to implement effective, and proactive delivery of the ten Essential Public Health Services to the counties within the Western Public Health District. The Western Public Health District is made up of three western Maine Counties; Androscoggin, Oxford, and Franklin. The Western Public Health District population is 195,376 people spread over 4,271 square miles.

County

Population

Square Miles

Androscoggin

107,376

459

Oxford

57,299

2,023

Franklin

30,270

1,789

There are 71 municipalities within the district including cities, towns, and unincorporated townships (https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/lphd/district3/index.shtml, 2013). The largest municipalities, in terms of population, in each county are Lewiston, Paris and Farmington in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin county, respectively (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census). The Western District has a range of metropolitan areas including the larger cities of Lewiston and Auburn in Androscoggin county to rural areas consisting of small towns and townships throughout Oxford and Franklin County.

Vision

The Western District Coordinating Council envisions a district in which population health needs are met quickly and efficiently through a coordinated network of healthcare organizations, social service agencies, community stakeholders and other entities invested in a healthy Western Maine.

Mission

Through collaboration, the Western Maine District Coordinating Council will maximize Oxford, Franklin, and Androscoggin County resources to advance the delivery of the 10 essential public health services.

Western District Coordinating Council (WDCC), and its Committees

Western District Coordinating Council (WDCC)

The Western District Coordinating Council (WDCC) meets virtually on a quarterly basis. All meetings are held from 9-11 a.m.

Western Steering Committee

The Council Chair, Vice-Chair, Statewide Coordinating Council (SCC) Representative, and Council members from around the District serve on the Council's Steering Committee. The Steering Committee guides and facilitates the Council's work. Steering Committee Members are:

  • Chair - LeeAnna Lavoie, Healthy Community Coalition
  • Vice Chair - Lindsay Gannon, Healthy Androscoggin
  • State Coordinating Council Representative - Corrie Brown
  • Androscoggin County Representative - Stacey Wheeler, Community Concepts
  • Franklin County Representative - Katherine Lemieux, Healthy Community Coalition
  • Oxford County Representative - Stephanie LeBlanc, Oxford County Mental Health
  • Ex-Officio Committee Members - Lauren Gauthier, Western District Liaison, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Get Involved with the Western District Coordinating Council

The Western District Coordinating Council is one of eight geographic, and one Tribal, District Coordinating Councils for Public Health in Maine. The Council's responsibilities include:

  • Identifying District public health issues and coordinating public health activities in the District;
  • Providing public health services in our communities;
  • Addressing health disparities to meet the specific public health needs of our District;
  • Convening non-traditional public health partners;
  • Advising public health policy and allocation of funding; and,
  • Preparing and maintaining the public health system for public health accreditation.

The Council is made up of (elected) Council members representing public health "sectors" that are identified in the Council's bylaws and interested persons within the District. Please join us for one of our Council meetings to learn more about the work we do. While interested persons are not eligible to vote on Council business,they are invited to participate in one of the Council's District Public Health Improvement Plan (DPHIP) Oversight Committees.

To get involved, or for more information, contact:

Lauren Gauthier
Western District Public Health Liaison, Maine CDC
(207) 441-7036
lauren.gauthier@maine.gov

Council meetings are held quarterly. If you'd like to subscribe to the Council's mailing list, please click the following link: meghan.richards@maine.gov

Upcoming Events

For a complete listing of upcoming meetings and events, please go to our Meetings and Events Calendar