In our last annual report, the Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care (Maine Assembly) noted that School-based health centers (SBHCs) are here to stay! Why? Our state’s 27 school-based health centers, visited almost 15,000 times annually by Maine middle and secondary school youth, are an essential tool for staying healthy over a lifetime.

Providing accessible community and consumer-driven services, with an emphasis on quality, SBHCs are safety net providers who address our youth’s most pressing challenges—in the areas of healthy eating and exercise habits, stress management, alcohol, cigarette and drug use and reproductive health. Providing safe and easily accessible services, School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are there for young people.
In 2009, the Maine Assembly and its constituent SBHCs built on this identity to make significant contributions to both Maine and national health policy affecting school-age youth. Our report describes this essential work as we stand on the threshold of national health reform, which entails a powerful, sustainable role for school-based health centers.

Because in the end, it’s all about the health of our young people, our report also showcases the vibrant and diverse work of individual centers.

These two stories—of affecting policy and serving our students and their communities—are both critical to the future of the Maine Assembly, described in the last section of our report, “Moving Forward.”

Please review the full report: Maine Assembly 2009 Annual Report Final

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

Cindy Dolben RN
Noble Health Center
388 Somersworth Rd
North Berwick, Maine 03906
Phone 207-676-2175
Fax 207-676-2204
cdolben@sad60.k12.me.us

“You cannot educate a child who is not healthy, and you cannot be healthy if you are not educated.”

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

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!!”