For more information on the Rally and the Convention go to: NASBHC.org

The passage of health-care reform in the House of Representatives was an important and exciting moment for all those dedicated to the idea that all Americans need and deserve access to high quality, affordable health care.

Maine’s two representatives, Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, deserve a vote of thanks from all of us for being part of the majority that made this happen.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a large and complex piece of legislation, with many important provisions. One of them of particular interest to families and children concerns school-based health centers (SBHCs).

SBHCs provide a vital link in delivering health care to kids who need it most. The health reform bill creates a new program that will support SBHCs at many locations in Maine and around the country.
I am the coordinator of Maranacook Community School’s Student Health Center and a member of the Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care.

We are thrilled that the House saw the wisdom of incorporating this successful program into a national vision for health care.
Now, we must get on with the equally important job of passing a Senate bill, that ensures access to high quality, affordable health care. To make the important investments in our children that we know are needed, and will pay big dividends in the future, we must finish the work that has been so successfully begun.

Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins must support health-care reform that will meet the needs of all our children.

Cindy Flye
Manchester

Results:

•  MYAN, including college intern Chelsea Schoen, prepared and facilitated this centralized training in Waterville on October 31st.  6 Adults and 16 youth attended the training.
• Created detailed interactive curriculum for the SBHC fall centralized training.  Goals for the training included: Advocacy training and skill building, opportunity to network, ask questions and share needs/concerns, MEASBHC overview and clarifying goals for the year.  These goals were created in collaboration with MEASBHC Executive Director in order to best address the needs of the groups and advisors.
• Created and distributed a resource tool kit for each participant that included resources on:  action planning, advocacy, community engagement, creating change, how to write and distribute petitions, working with Legislators, presenting testimony, public speaking tips, youth engagement, tips for youth and adult partnerships and how to write letters to your Legislators.  *If you would like pdf versions of these resources for your records please let us know. 
• 100% of participants reported gaining skills, resources, information and connections. Reflections from the meeting were all very positive and outcomes from this meeting are listed here:  
  • “In all my years of going to SBHC trainings this was the best one I have ever been to.  It was fun, informative and my students had a great time.”
  • “Great work! Fun, fast, educational day.”
  • “This was my first MYAN training. I enjoyed every minute!!”

On a spring day in 2008, dozens of Maine youth descended on Maine’s state capital, Augusta, in an event coordinated by the Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care (Maine Assembly).  Maine youth had a message: School-based health centers (SBHCs) are here to stay!  Maine middle and secondary school students from North Berwick to Calais said that our state’s 27 school-based health centers, visited over 15,000 times annually by Maine youth, are an essential tool for staying healthy over a lifetime.

Maine Assembly Annual Report 2008

• Technical assistance and other special services from MeASBHC. For example, MeASBHC will be available for consultation on starting a health center. MeASBHC will also provide you resources to help you conduct local advocacy and educational events.

Advertising and Communications.

• Post job announcements and other local events on the MeASBHC web site. Link to the MeASBHC web page to increase the exposure of your SBHC.
• Listing in the MeASBHC Directory

Networking.

• Meet other SBHC personnel and other experts in the field to exchange ideas and knowledge at the bi-monthly SBHC workshops.

Advocacy Training.

• Learn how to build relationships with your local and state legislators.

Policy Development.

• Participate in meaningful local, state, and national policy development to benefit SBHCs in your area.
• Serve on MeASBHC Board of Directors or one of its committees.

Knowledge.

• Stay informed through MeASBHC e-mail bulletins, newsletters, and reports on the latest local, state, and national SBHC developments.

Funding.

• Work to establish sustainable funding and other resources for SBHCs throughout the state.

Continuing Education.

• Receive timely workshops on cutting edge clinical, financing, and policy topics.

Voting.

• Receive voting privileges that enable you to shape the future of school-based health care.

Youth Advisory Board Training

• Take part in SBHC trainings led by Maine Youth Action Network staff.