​Eastern Connecticut Health Collaborative (ECHC)

The Eastern Connecticut Health Collaborative (ECHC) was established based on a collective impact approach with the goal to bring multiple groups together in a structured way, to tackle health-related challenges in our community. The thirteen-town collaborative, including both Tribal Nations, joined together to collectively improve access and address the upward trend in obesity and adverse childhood experiences. ECHC consists of 32 organizations representing human services, local public health, federally qualified health centers, state, and municipal agencies.

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut serves as the backbone agency on behalf of the collective and with steering committee leadership including Uncas Health District, Hartford Healthcare, Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA), Madonna Place, Generations Family Health, North Central District Health Department, Health Education Center, United Community and Family Services (UCFS) and Mashantucket-Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations. The partnership is a cross-sector collaborative working together to improve community health and equity in health outcomes through systems and policy change to address root causes.

With a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we convened the ECHC members in 2021 to update our goals, which now emphasize a more intentional focus on equitable outcomes for all.

Communities

Bozrah, Colchester, Franklin, Griswold, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Mohegan Tribal Nation, Montville, Norwich, Preston, Sprague, Salem, Voluntown, and City of Windham.

Vision

With a focus on equitable outcomes, ECHC is working collectively to improve access, reduce obesity rates, and striving to minimize negative childhood experiences, in order to decrease chronic disease and healthcare spending.

Outcomes

We are committed to improving access to healthcare for all and moving the needle on Healthy Eating, Active Living (H.E.A.L.), and Child Wellbeing through policy and systems change in our community, advocating at the local level for the adoption of new and innovative practices to improve health outcomes for all.

Why Now?

• An obesity rate of 34% in the region can be linked to higher chronic disease and a strain on health systems
• Food Insecurity impacts 12% of households (17% of children) affecting access to affordable, healthy choices
• Less than 60% of 6th grade students pass physical fitness tests
• More than 21% of adults experience 3 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) as youth
• Children in this region experience a 2.5 times greater abuse and neglect rate as compared to the rest of Connecticut
• 1:3 women of color have high risk births and 3 times the maternal morbidity rate 

Join Us!

The time to act is now! ECHC is eager to bring on new partners who are committed to our goals of Healthy Eating, Active Living and Child Wellbeing. Email Tracy Tremblay to learn how your organization can join the collaborative.

Mobile Health Hub

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, through our support of the ECHC, is coordinating an innovative approach to bringing mobilized services to low-access, hard to reach pockets throughout New London County and Town of Windham. We are assisting with anchor agencies who are already hosting mobile events, such as United Way’s mobile food pantry and Hartford HealthCare’s mobile clinic – Neighborhood Health by partnering them with health-related organizations to offer more comprehensive resources at each of these mobile locations.

The participation must be clinical or address social determinants of health. If you have any questions, please email Tracy Tremblay or call 860.464.3313 or email Jill Rusk or call 860.464.3327. To see the calendar of events, go to https://www.uwsect.org/calendar.

Partners