Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships (formerly Knox County Community Health Coalition) was founded as a community health coalition in 2000, and later become the Penobscot Bay YMCA's fully grant-funded Community Health Promotion department in 2004. Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships (PBCHP) serves Knox and Waldo counties, addressing youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

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Today, PBCHP’s community initiatives are guided by three core pillars: substance use prevention, tobacco use prevention, and community nutrition education. Through these focus areas, we deliver free, evidence-based education to local youth, support individuals in recovery by reducing community stigma, and champion sustainable policy and environmental changes that make healthy choices easier for everyone in Knox and Waldo counties.

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Our Core Efforts Include:

• Youth Prevention Programming: Delivery of evidence-based programs—such as Prime for Life, Catch My Breath, and interactive health tools—that promote informed decision-making around substance use, reduce stigma around discussing substance use, and help young people protect their values through their choices.

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• Youth Resilience & Community Connection: Implementing positive youth development and "mattering" programs that reinforce a young person's sense of value and belonging within their community. Through creative programming, mentorship, and youth-led advocacy, we build protective factors that foster long-term emotional well-being and healthy lifestyle choices.​

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• Community Nutrition Education: Implementing comprehensive nutrition education and health promotion initiatives funded through Nourish ME. We partner with healthcare providers, community organizations, and local food systems to deliver evidence-based education, support chronic disease prevention, and strengthen regional food access and security networks.

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• Public Safety & Risk Reduction: Providing community training on safe medication storage and disposal, safe cannabis storage, responsible alcohol sales and service, overdose response, the impacts of vaping or second hand smoke exposure, and more.

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• Tobacco Cessation Support: Providing training and resources on Maine's free Quit Link resources for nicotine/tobacco cessation to community, businesses, and organizations to support adults trying to quit nicotine or tobacco. 

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• Tobacco & Public Health Policy: Assisting schools, businesses, municipalities, and other organizations throughout the community in creating and implementing comprehensive, restorative tobacco and substance use policies.​

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• Risk Reduction Resources: Distributing valuable free resources to the community, including Deterra drug deactivation bags, medication lock boxes, and cannabis locking bags.

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• Community Partnership Building: Hosting monthly regional coalition meetings that bring together local law enforcement, healthcare providers, school districts, and community-serving organizations to maintain a strong, collaborative, and supportive public health network.