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Healthy Community Coalition

Executive Director’s Report – May 2008

  

Volunteer Recognition

HCC would like to recognize and thank our volunteers Fran Horton (Farmington), Shirley Brooks (Livermore Falls), Alice Dyer (Avon) for the tremendous help they provide to us. These three volunteers contributed over 600 hours of time in the past year.

SAMSA Grant Submitted

Members of the Jay and Livermore Falls communities were engaged this month to provide input on a grant application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Community members Krista White, Lorie Morris, Amanda Pelkey and others helped develop a program to prevent underage drinking in Jay and Livermore Falls. The $50,000 grant, if funded, will support weekend, afterschool and evening workshops for parents and students, and five parent resource centers - three at worksites and two at the public libraries serving those communities.

Pathways to Employment Workshop

HCC’s Lisa Laflin helped coordinate a conference in April at Franklin Memorial Hospital’s Education Center. The conference was designed for community providers of vocational, mental health or other related services as well as mental health consumers. Participants learned what community, vocational and mental health resources are available in Greater Franklin County, and developed ways to address barriers to accessing those services. There were more than 60 participants, ranging from Community Correctional Alternatives staff to Directors from the Bureau of Rehabilitation at the Department of Labor and Adult Mental Health.

Town Hall Meeting to Prevent Underage Drinking

The Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup hosted a Town Hall Meeting to prevent underage drinking in Jay on April 9th. The First Lady Karen Baldacci was the keynote speaker for the event. Members of the community gave brief remarks as part of a panel, including a health teacher, substance abuse counselor, seventh grade student and police chief. 45 people attended. Next steps were developed to combat the rising rates of underage drinking in the region.

Food Pantry Outreach

Eileen Liddy and UMF practicum student Brooke Plaisted continue to work on the Healthy Maine Partnership objective that supports area food pantries. Donna Bucher of Franklin County Cooperative Extension and Denise Higgins, a faculty member of UMF’s Community Health Education Program, suggested that a flyer be designed to address the needs of residents of Franklin County. Using a clear, simplified message in easy to read language Brooke designed a flyer that can be used not only in our service area but easily adapted for use by other HMP’s. The members of the Western District Healthy Maine Partnerships are in support of this and working collaboratively.

Hope Harvest Garden

The Hope Harvest Community Garden Planning Team is now meeting on a regular basis. Denise Correll’s students at Foster Tech are growing seedlings for the garden and will be helping to remake the garden rows. For information on how to help at the Garden, contact Eileen Liddy at 645-3136, ext. 5113.

Nutrition Task Force

The Nutrition Task Force of the Visioning process met in April. They are supporting an after-school program at Cascade Brook School on Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds. The group also reviewed a Children’s Menu designed by a UMF practicum student working with Franklin County Children’s Task Force.

Eileen Liddy gave a presentation on cooking and growing culinary herbs at Farmington Court on Middle Street. Residents shared their own experiences in using herbs and several started pots of basil, oregano, and parsley using seeds, potting soil, and pots that Eileen brought with her.

New Mobile Health Unit

The construction of the new 34 foot handicap accessible mobile health unit is well underway. In early April, I visited the Universal Specialty Vehicles plant in Perris California. The chassis, frame and some interior was complete. The visit allowed me to make changes and additions to ensure that this MHU is built to our needs. Work is on schedule with a completion date at the end of May and delivery in June.

Worksite Wellness Course

I completed a 6-week course offered via ITV from USM titled “Fundamentals in Worksite Wellness.” There were 13 participating sites around the State. Development of wellness teams, key elements of a successful worksite wellness program and work plan design were reviewed. The information learned is already being put to use with the FCHN Wellness Team and in the development of other worksite wellness programs.

UMF Student Success at HCC

This semester we hosted 4 students who are majoring in Community Health Education at the University of Maine at Farmington. Lila Haynes, Alissa Thebarge, Brooke Plaisted and Jacob Turner participated in a field experience. Students have been involved in numerous educational experiences over the past semester. Some of the highlights include:

• Lila coordinated a project around TV Turnoff Week. She assessed what the school nurses are currently doing in Greater Franklin County, created educational materials to share with students and wrote and submitted a press release to area newspapers.
• Alissa researched information for the Work Healthy! Program and developed policies to be used at area worksites. She also wrote a press release which will be used to recognize businesses as community leaders in promoting good health.
• Brooke designed an outreach flyer for area food pantries to encourage people to apply for food stamps. She also formatted recipes to be used for community outreach.
• Jacob researched and obtained appropriate resources to educate youth and adults on the health risks of underage drinking that focus on the effects of alcohol on brain development.

Students also worked on many other projects and had some or all of the following educational experiences: an introduction to grant-writing, participating in outreach events, attending professional meetings and planning activities as a team.

Wellness at Hannaford

The Goal groups at both the Farmington and Jay Hannaford stores have been very successful with a total of 15 participants between both stores. Hannaford Wellness Manager Ellie Udeh has given HCC $600 in Hannaford Gift Cards to use as incentives with the associates participating in the Goal groups. Additionally, a light nutritious meal is served at each meeting compliments of Hannaford. Sean Fry, a UMF practicum student, has been working with Jennifer McCormack at both Hannaford stores for 8 weeks promoting the Goal groups as well as other wellness initiatives.

March for Violence Free Communities

This year’s annual March for Violence Free Communities was held on April 26th. Community members met at Meeting House Park before marching through town to Old South Congregational Church for the Speak Out. Sheriff Dennis Pike led the group of children, parents, survivors, advocates, and community members.

The focus of this year’s Speak Out was the highly successful Peace In Our Families (PIOF) project “Cracked Shells.” Speakers included Jayne Decker (Playwright for Cracked Shells), Katie Marble (former HCC Program Coordinator and Domestic Violence Audit Coordinator), and Missy Danforth, FCHN Special Projects Manager. Each of the three speakers focused on their personal role and relationship with the Cracked Shells Project. The three were also awarded PIOF’s annual Recognition Award for their caring commitment to creating peace and making the voices of those affected by violence heard in the Franklin County Community.

For more information about Cracked Shells or PIOF, contact Missy Danforth at 779-3150.

Another Highly Successful Men’s Healthfest!

HCC, Franklin Urology, and Franklin Health Access partnered for the 4th year in a row to offer free prostate and cardiovascular health screenings, help for the un-insured, diabetes risk assessment and prescription medication assistance. A total of 79 men participated in the day’s event held April 11th.
Some of the key responses from the survey are as follows:

• 60% increase in participation (48 men participated in the event last year).
• Overall rating for HealthFest as either “excellent” (95%) or “good” (5%).
• All of the health screenings received the majority of their marks as either “Very important” or “Important”. The Franklin Urology prostate screening was identified as the most useful (93%), followed by Cholesterol (86%), Blood Pressure (78%), and ScoreHealth Risk Assessment (76%).
• 73% of the participants rated the diabetes risk assessment as the most helpful.
• 79% of the participants said they would make health changes based on what they learned at the HealthFest.
• The vast majority of participants heard about the HealthFest from the newspaper (66%), flyers (3%), family /friends (13%), community bulletin boards (13%), Franklin Urology (3%), other/health access (3%).
• The majority of the participants had health insurance with (44%) having private health insurance, (32%) Medicare, (13%) Franklin Health Access, (10%) uninsured and (2%) MaineCare.
• Approximately half of the participants felt their overall health was very good, (36%) felt their health was good, (9%) felt their health was excellent, with the remaining participants indicating their health as either fair or poor (3%) (2%), respectively.
• 34% of the participants required a follow up visit with their primary care physician.

This year’s HealthFest will be featured in the FCHN Net News. A special thank you to Jerry Cayer and Leslie Hawkins for their support of the day, providing lunch and staff resources!

HealthBeat Radio

Guests and Topics in April Included:

4/1 Alex Freeman	Hospital & Provider Services Billing
4/8 Lisa Laflin	Underage Drinking & April 9th Town Meeting
4/15 Andrea Bechen & Julie Terry	SAVES Community Outreach
4/22 Dr. Jeff Johnson	Foot Health
4/29 Jan Hannaford	National Healthcare Volunteer Week

Upcoming Guests and Topics in May Include:

5/6 Pam Ernest	National Nurses Week
5/13 Jennifer McCormack, RN	Women’s Wellness Week
5/20 Charlie Woodcock	Covering The Uninsured
5/27 Sandy Richard, R.N,	Mobile Health Unit

Upcoming Events

Thursday, May 1	Franklin Resource NetWork 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Chisholm Room, Franklin Memorial Hospital Open to the public. Under discussion: District Tobacco Coordinator speaking on tobacco prevention efforts and available assistance; Laurie Winsor of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice leads a discussion that focuses on identifying care giving resources and noting gaps in services.
Saturday, May 3	A Night in the Park 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. Abbot Park, UMF Campus An event sponsored by the Greater Franklin County Homeless Coalition to raise awareness of homelessness in the area.
Saturday, May 10	Hope Harvest Community Garden 10am to noon Garden site, Franklin Memorial Hospital grounds The garden is hosting a challenge to groups on May 10th to have a dig off. The team which is able to dig the most rows in two hours will win a hat with the slogan “I Dig Hope Harvest Garden". The challenge promises to be good exercise, fun and helpful. To sign up call Eileen Liddy at 645-3136 ext. 5113.
Monday, May 12th	Women's Wellness Week Event 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Homestead Bakery Restaurant, Farmington 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. - Fitness Styles, Livermore Falls Free Bone Density Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, Help for the Under and Uninsured, Breast Health Education, Heart Health Education, Goal Group Instruction and Massages For more information call Jennifer McCormack RN at 800-525-3136 or 645-3136 ext. 5102
Tuesday, May 13th	Women's Wellness Week Event 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Weld Town Office 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. - Carthage Town Office Free Bone Density Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, Help for the Under and Uninsured, Breast Health Education, Heart Health Education, Goal Group Instruction and Massages For more information call Jennifer McCormack RN at 800-525-3136 or 645-3136 ext. 5102
Wednesday, May 14th	Women's Wellness Week Event 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Tranten’s, Kingfield 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. - Salem Economic Ministry Free Bone Density Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, Help for the Under and Uninsured, Breast Health Education, Heart Health Education, Goal Group Instruction and Massages For more information call Jennifer McCormack RN at 800-525-3136 or 645-3136 ext. 5102
Thursday, May 15th	Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. North Dining Hall, UMF Campus Breakfast provided. Featured discussion: Engaging retailers and restaurants to address pricing and promotion of alcohol.
Thursday, May 15th	Women's Wellness Week Event 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Stratton Town Office Free Bone Density Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, Help for the Under and Uninsured, Breast Health Education, Heart Health Education, Goal Group Instruction and Massages For more information call Jennifer McCormack RN at 800-525-3136 or 645-3136 ext. 5102
Friday, May 16th	Women's Wellness Week Event 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Camden National Bank, Phillips 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Rangeley Public Library Free Bone Density Screenings, Blood Pressure Screenings, Help for the Under and Uninsured, Breast Health Education, Heart Health Education, Goal Group Instruction and Massages For more information call Jennifer McCormack RN at 800-525-3136 or 645-3136 ext. 5102

ScoreHealth Times & Locations

ScoreHealth - a cardiovascular risk assessment program that includes cholesterol - total and HDL, blood pressure, counseling on nutrition, physical activity, stress, and smoking cessation.

Every Tuesday	ScoreHealth Screenings Mobile Health Unit 12:00a.m – 4:00p.m. Farmington Wal-Mart No appointment needed. Offered free (donations accepted) thanks to funding from the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area and the Franklin Community Health Network.
Every Thursday	ScoreHealth Screenings for Franklin Health Access clients Franklin Health Access Office, Routes 2 & 4, East Wilton Please call 779-2772 to schedule an appointment.