MPHA Member Spotlight: Betty St. Hilaire

February 12, 2026

How long have you been an MPHA Member, and what do you find most valuable about your MPHA membership? 

I joined the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) in March 2024. Membership has provided valuable access to webinars, trainings, and professional development opportunities that strengthen my leadership and advocacy work. Equally important, being part of MPHA allows me to contribute my voice alongside other public health professionals to advance policies and systems that promote healthier communities across Maine. 

Can you share a bit about your current role(s)? 

I currently serve as the Executive Director of the United Community Living Center (UCLC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals who are unhoused or precariously housed in and around the Augusta area. 

UCLC operates a low-barrier daytime community center at 12 Spruce Street in Augusta, providing a safe, welcoming space where individuals can access essential supports and build pathways toward stability. We connect community members to opportunities in health care, education, employment, and housing while meeting immediate basic needs such as meals, hygiene supplies, and weather-appropriate clothing and gear. 

Our onsite free health clinic expands access to primary care, and through our partnership with Maine Mobile Health Program, we provide treatment for substance use disorders and other behavioral health needs. 

Services are delivered using a Community Health Worker (CHW) model. Our CHWs work one- on-one with individuals in a person-centered, strength-based approach that honors lived experience, reduces barriers to care, and supports each person in moving toward their own goals for stability and wellness. 

Tell me a little bit about your path to public health, and who or what inspires you in your work? 

I have served as a Community Health Worker for many years and deeply value the integrity and impact of this profession. I believe that one size does not fit all; each person deserves support that reflects their unique strengths, circumstances, and goals. The Community Health Worker model honors this belief by meeting individuals where they are, empowering them to build on their own abilities, and providing additional support when and where it is needed. 

I am especially passionate about working with individuals experiencing homelessness. They are among the strongest, most resilient, and resourceful people I have ever met. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to walk alongside them, offer support, and bear witness to their perseverance and strength.