Members of the student health center outreach teams at Deering and Portland high schools hosted a breakfast for gubernatorial candidates in the State of Maine Room at City Hall and provided a tour of the health center at Portland High.

Democratic candidates Pat McGowan, Libby Mitchell, John Richardson and Steve Rowe attended the breakfast, along with Republican candidate Peter Mills and Dr. Melanie Cutler, wife of independent candidate Eliot Cutler.

Students said the health centers are a cost-effective, convenient way to provide health care to students. Services range from physical exams and dental cleanings to mental health counseling and birth control for sexually active students.

“We want more school health centers,” said Mandi Arnott, a Deering High senior.

About 94 percent of all visits to Maine’s school-based health centers last year were covered by public or private insurance. About half of all visits were made by students covered by MaineCare, a publicly funded health insurance option for low-income people.

Several students representing the health center at Lewiston High School also attended the breakfast.

To view the video please follow this link..or go to the right of this site and click onto the video under Youth Advocacy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHhx_UZECRA

Maranacook Students Will Unveil Video Asking Lawmakers to Help Prevent Youth Smoking

Members of the Maranacook Student Health Center Advisory Committee want lawmakers to take action on youth smoking, starting by increasing Maine’s tobacco taxes right away.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, students from the Committee will travel to the State House to unveil their new video calling on lawmakers to raise the tax on cigarettes in order to help prevent youth smoking, and equalize the tax on other tobacco products to keep kids from finding cheaper alternatives, like “little cigars” and chewing tobacco.

Parents and school administrators will also be in attendance. They will express their concern for Maine’s rising smoking rates and the Legislature’s lack of action in raising the price of tobacco products, despite the proven link between higher prices and reduced youth smoking.

WHAT: Press Conference Calling for a Tobacco Tax Increase

WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 10:30am

WHERE: Taxation Committee Room #127, State House, Augusta

WHO: Chuck Hays, Maranacook High School student
Justin Greeley, Maranacook High School student
Emily Allen, Maranacook High School student
Dr. John Barnes, Maranacook parent and Readfield physician
Rich Abramson, Superintendent of Maranacook Area Schools

CONTACT: Carol Kelly (207) 210-0789

You made the difference!  Thank you!

Kate

Kate Brogan

Vice President for Public Affairs

Family Planning Association of Maine

and LD #802An Act To Require Reporting on Medical Services or Treatment Provided to Minors without Parental Consent.

Students and adults from Maranacook, Calais, Brunswick and Portland were present along with Kate Brogan and Sue McPhee from Family Planning. Chris Gorman from MYAN also joined us.

The students were great! They were very articulate and genuine in their thoughts about the impact of the bill. The committee members were clearly impressed by their presentations.  I have also attached my written testimony.

The work session is on Friday and Kate will update us on the outcome. The bills will likely move on the the House and Senate. At that point, we may be back in touch to ask for your support in calling and emailing your legislator.

Lisa Burgess Hodgkins

Executive Director

Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care

Medical Care Development

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by measbhc

The Help Desk will:

• Provide support by phone, email, and in person
Provide written lessons for most common questions

• Provide research and testing to resolve unique issues
Maintain website as a store of information

• Assist in developing policy for Maine through an advisory group
Liaison with software developers

Contact:
Tina Aubut; (207) 780-5893; taubut@usm.maine.edu

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What will LD 862 do?
·        It will nearly double the amount of state funding for School-Based Health Centers
·        It will provide support for school health centers in up to 5 new communities.

Why is LD 862 important?
·        More children need the services of School-Based Health Centers.  Currently only about 6% of Maine’s school children have access to a school health center.

What will happen if LD 862 does not pass?
·        Thousands of Maine children will not have access to health care who otherwise will
·        These children, with unmet health needs, will not have the same chance to succeed in school and in life

Why School-Based Health Centers?
·        Give children a chance to stay healthy, have equal chance to succeed in school
·        Provide health care to children who otherwise would not get care
·        Care for children where they are, in school
·        Address issues early with healthy lifestyle promotion and identifying health issues early, before they become big problems (smart investment issue especially strong in Maine)
·        Disaster support – school-based health centers are a first line of defense and a valuable resource to the community.

Track LD 862