Investing in the Community
Pictured here inside the new WIC office space, from left: Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, vice president of operations for MaineHealth Waldo and Pen Bay Hospitals; Claire Berkowitz, president and CEO of MMCA; and Denise Needham, PharmD, president of MaineHealth Waldo and Pen Bay Hospitals.
Investing in the Community
Pictured here inside the new WIC office space, from left: Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, vice president of operations for MaineHealth Waldo and Pen Bay Hospitals; Claire Berkowitz, president and CEO of MMCA; and Denise Needham, PharmD, president of MaineHealth Waldo and Pen Bay Hospitals.
Social drivers of health have a significant impact on the health of patients and families, and helping to address those social drivers is key to fostering healthy communities. Last year, we expanded existing programs and formed new partnerships to help connect community members with important services and resources.
Community Health Worker Program Expands
As part of their ongoing commitment to increasing access to care and addressing social drivers of health, MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals continued to expand their Community Health Worker program last year.
Community Health Workers (or CHWs) are individuals whose lived experience—whether that be shared language or culture, personally facing housing insecurity or difficulty navigating the health care system—enables them to build connections in the community.
Over the last year, the MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals’ CHW program added four new CHWs, received 289 referrals and helped 163 clients meet their goals, such as:
- Acquiring transportation to appointments
- Applying for SNAP benefits
- Finding a new happy home for a pet upon moving to long-term care
- Increasing physical activity by going for weekly walks
“I could not be prouder of the work our Community Health Workers have been able to accomplish in the past year. These milestones are not just about numbers; they’re about the real impact we’re making each day. Every connection we establish brings us closer to healthier, stronger lives for our community members.”
– Jemma Penberthy, Director of Community Health for MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals
New Partnership Connects Waldo County Families with Essential Resources
In December, MaineHealth Waldo Hospital and Midcoast Maine Community Action (MMCA) announced a new partnership that brought a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program office to the Belfast community.
The WIC program, which provides comprehensive nutrition care to thousands of Maine families, had been operating remotely in Waldo County since 2020. Thanks to the new partnership, MaineHealth Waldo Hospital donated space within the hospital, allowing MMCA to operate the Belfast WIC Clinic on-site.
“This partnership reflects MMCA’s long-standing dedication to providing essential resources that support the health and well-being of families in our community,” said Claire Berkowitz, President and CEO of MMCA. “By expanding our reach through the new in-person Belfast WIC clinic, we are empowering families to access the nutritional support they need to thrive. We are proud to collaborate with MaineHealth Waldo Hospital to help build a healthier, more sustainable future for children and families.”
MMCA administers the WIC program in Waldo County, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program serves pregnant and postpartum people (up to 6-12 months), infants, and children up to age five. All caregivers of eligible infants and children are encouraged to enroll, including non-birthing parents, grandparents, foster parents, and more. Participants receive an EBT card to purchase supplemental food such as fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, yogurt, cereal, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, eggs, canned fish, juice, and infant formula.
The WIC program offers additional services, including the provision of hospital-grade breast pumps and a Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program to assist pregnant and postpartum people in achieving their lactation goals. MMCA’s WIC Nutrition Counselors also provide personalized nutrition education, lactation support, and referrals to various family health and well-being programs.
“MMCA’s commitment to connecting the community with resources that promote health and quality of life, education and social and economic mobility is closely aligned with MaineHealth’s vision of working together to make our communities the healthiest in America,” said Tyson Thornton, PharmD, FACHE, Vice President of Operations for MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital. “We are thrilled to partner with them to stand up a WIC clinic in Waldo County to help connect families to essential resources.”
Improving Access to Vaccines
Pictured, from left: Jessica Bowen, RN, MaineHealth Pediatrics Rockport; Jessica Flanary, RN, manager, MHPBH and MHWH Central Staffing Resources; and Claire Neville, RN, MHPBH Float Pool, at one of the school-based vaccine clinics.
This past fall, MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospital care team members held 16 flu-vaccine clinics at local schools around Knox County, vaccinating 250 children and 438 educators and staff to help prevent the spread of illness.
Also, as part of a collaborative effort with MaineHealth Pediatrics Rockport, 67 HPV vaccines were administered. Community members can self-schedule to receive an HPV vaccine through the MaineHealth Pharmacy Pen Bay Hospital.
“We are proud to provide these school-based vaccine clinics, making it easier for students and staff to access important immunizations,” said Chandler Blodgett, PharmD, manager of Ambulatory Care Services at MaineHealth Pharmacy Pen Bay Hospital. “By improving access to these vaccines, we can help create healthier schools and communities.”