Community leaders, health professionals, and residents gathered yesterday at HACC’s Gettysburg Campus for the 2025 Adams County Community Health Needs Assessment Forum. The day-long event highlighted pressing issues affecting the health and well-being of county residents, while offering opportunities for collaboration and solutions.
Kathy Gaskin, Executive Director of Healthy Adams County, opened the event by welcoming participants and recognizing the task force leaders and board members who drive the organization’s work. She shared the group’s mission of collaborating to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of Adams County residents, noting that the forum represents the culmination of the county’s triennial community health needs assessment.
Attendees received a detailed data presentation from Berwood Yost, Director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College, and Stephanie Voight, Systems Director of WellSpan Community Health. Their findings offered an in-depth look at local health trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
The forum also addressed food insecurity and the Adams County Hunger Mapping Project report, presented by Dawn Watson, Neighbor Insights and Qualitative Research Specialist at the Central PA Food Bank, and Morgan Flood, Policy Research Specialist at the Food Bank. Their findings painted a clear picture of the barriers many residents face in accessing nutritious food.
Housing’s critical role in health was underscored by Alana Anderson, Coalition Coordinator for @Home in Adams County, who spoke about safe, stable housing as a foundation for well-being.
The afternoon featured breakout sessions on food access and policy, physical health (with a focus on nutrition and sleep), mental well-being, and housing. These interactive discussions encouraged participants to brainstorm solutions and strategies for the next three years.
In her presentation, Gaskin reviewed Healthy Adams County’s ongoing priorities—access to healthcare, food, and housing; promoting physical activity; and supporting mental well-being, which she noted has been a persistent concern in the community for more than 20 years. “We’ve made strides, but these continue to be the areas where residents need the most support,” she said.
Looking ahead, Gaskin outlined four priority areas for the next three years. These include:
- Physical health and fitness: continuing programs that encourage residents to get outdoors and active, from hikes and walking parties to seasonal 5K runs. Gaskin noted that simply being active brings mental health benefits as well as physical ones.
- Mental well-being: a long-standing issue that remains urgent, especially in light of recent youth survey data showing alarming mental health challenges among young people. Gaskin emphasized the need to keep reducing stigma and expanding access to support.
- Social determinants of health: focusing on non-medical factors such as food access and housing. Food insecurity programs, including Healthy Options and Fruit and Veggie Box, will continue, while partnerships with the Adams County Farmers Market and Kenny’s Market aim to expand fresh food access. Housing efforts will build on momentum from the county’s $750,000 Imagine Grant, which funds new housing initiatives in Adams and Franklin counties.
- Senior health: for the first time, Healthy Adams County will place special emphasis on the county’s growing senior population, exploring ways to tailor programs, expand outreach, and strengthen social connections for older residents.
Gaskin also highlighted successful community programs developed through partnerships with local markets, schools, and nonprofits. Initiatives include the Healthy Options voucher program for families and seniors, the Fruit and Veggie Box discount program at Kenny’s Market, and mobile farmers markets that bring fresh produce directly to neighborhoods.
Mental health awareness efforts, such as When the Sun Goes Down, Find Your Light and Bring Light to the Night, combine education with creative community events to reduce stigma. Healthy Adams County’s Physical Fitness Task Force organizes hikes, walking parties, and 5K races, while its End of Life Committee provides resources and forums on advance directives, grief support, and funeral planning..
Breakfast and lunch provided informal networking opportunities, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the day. The forum underscored the power of collective effort in addressing Adams County’s most urgent health needs and reaffirmed the commitment of local organizations to building healthier, more equitable communities.
Amy Thomas, Contributing Editor, is responsible for community outreach, including our social media presence. She, her husband, and her two children reside in Adams County. Amy also works in occupational therapy and volunteers with local organizations.