1958-2008

Bridging the gap in healthcare for

Cumberland County residents.

Better Health was founded in 1958 as an outgrowth of the Cumberland County Heart Association by a group of citizens concerned about unmet health needs. The original purpose was to give direct financial assistance for prescription medications to the indigent of Cumberland County. Better Health became a United Way Affiliate Agency in 1959. Mrs. Ruth Peters was instrumental in developing this organization and served for over 25 years as the first Executive Director of the Better Health Foundation, operating from her home. Better Health was incorporated in 1991 as a non-profit organization under federal law 501(c)3. The agency expanded to become a full time, full service agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Better Health has developed programs over the past fifty years to provide needed health services to this community that have included arthritis programs, stroke screenings and education, and currently, diabetes management services. Better Health's orginal program of financial assistance lives on today. providing for prescription medicines, vision exams, eyeglasses, dental extractions, medical supplies and equipment, orthotics and prosthetics, and transportation to out-of –town medical appointments. Additionally, Better Health provides diabetes education and monitoring through three free weekly diabetes clinics (one in a Gray's Creek location), a nine-week intensive diabetic education program, diabetes exercise classes, and a family obesity prevention program, Eat Smart, Move More. A medical equipment loan program provides durable medical equipment for six months, or longer, if needed. This equipment is supplied to Better Health by in-kind donations from the community.

Better Health performs free screenings for diabetes and hypertension during any weekly clinic to improve the health status of the residents of this community, and attends many community health fairs and events for educational purposes annually.

The assistance provided by Better Health over the past fifty years has contributed greatly to the health and well being of the citizens of this community.