January 2015  Newsletter  
 
 

Happy, Healthy New Year!

 

As we hang up fresh calendars and contemplate the months ahead, it's exciting to envision our Northern Kennebec communities becoming healthier places in 2015.

 

A sample of that positive momentum is in the announcements below. From Farm to School projects, to Ladies Lifestyle Expo, to Winter Carnival, our partners are working together to create a healthier environment for everyone to live, learn, work and play.

 

This winter, as you help others toward healthier lives, remember to take care of yourself. Enjoy the beautiful, snowy trails at Quarry Road Recreation Area or "Find Your Happiness" at the Healthy Living Resource Center. As our friends at Kennebec Behavioral Health advise, "Instead of setting resolutions, declare 'New Year Affirmations,' and set yourself up to succeed."

 

You are important and your work is appreciated! Please join our amazing community partners at our Healthy Northern Kennebec Coalition meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 9:15am - 10:45 am, at the Eskelund Center, Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers, 93 Silver Street, Waterville. Whatever the weather, you'll learn about "hot topics" and meet warm, wonderful public health advocates.

 

Stay connected and find out more at www.healthynorthernkennebec.org

 

Warmly,

 

Fran Mullin

Director, Healthy Northern Kennebec

 

  

 
Congratulations to RSU #18

 

By Claire Heffernan, School Health Coordinator

 

RSU #18 was awarded the 2015 Farm to School Planning Grant for the "Let's Go Farm to School RSU 18 Program". The grant was awarded from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) in an effort to connect school cafeterias with local farmers through its Farm to School Program. The USDA's Farm to School Grants help schools respond to the growing demand for locally sourced foods and increase market opportunities for producers and food businesses. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes. RSU #18 is part of a cohort of schools/districts planning robust farm to school programs. RSU #18 is one of two grants awarded to the State of Maine and the only School District to receive the planning grant. RSU #18 was awarded $44,213.28 Planning Grant to develop a Farm to School Implementation Plan. Claire Heffernan, School Health Coordinator/Grant Project Director and William Hamilton, School Nutrition Director will work closely to administer the grant within the one year timeframe with options to apply for the $100,000 Implementation grant after completion of the "Let's Go Farm to School RSU #18" Planning grant.              

 

Belgrade Central School

Carrie Brennan, BCS Physical Education Teacher/Program Adviser for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Program for BCS was Awarded $3,000 to create a physical Activity Play and a Grab and Go Breakfast Play with the School Nutrition Director, William Hamilton. Mrs. Brennan created a Pedometer Challenge with her students that encourage physical activity as the students travel/walk to all the NFL Stadiums. The Grab and Go Breakfast program will begin in January with support from the Action for Healthy Kids Grant program.

 

 

 

 

Healthy Living Resource Center Educational Opportunities

 

 By Wendy Jorgensen, HLRC Program Associate

  

The Healthy Living Resource Center (HLRC) provides educational opportunities to help empower individuals to adopt healthier behaviors that can prevent and reduce the burden of chronic disease-- healthy eating and cooking, physical movement and healthy mind and body classes. A 3-month follow-up survey completed by Spring Quarter participants shows that those attending healthy living classes are feeling better-- 55% of those completing the survey "feel better overall," while 25% note improved mood and less stress.

 

The HLRC Winter 2015 Program Guide is currently available offering 18 classes in Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester and Waterville. There are a variety of class topics ranging from condition-specific (Living Gluten-Free and Stop Smoking with Hypnosis), to those intended for anyone wanting to live a healthier life, such as Make Your Own Healthy Take-Out or How to Find Your Happiness.

An electronic copy of the Guide can be viewed or downloaded from www.mainegeneral.org/hlrc .

FREE Monthly Special Event: Cooking Your Way to a Healthier Heart on Mon, Feb 9 at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta.   Preregister online at www.mainegeneral.org  by clicking on "Search All Classes and Events" or by calling 861-5257.   

 

Winter Carnival Event

 

Waterville's popular Winter Carnival is slated for 10am - 2pm on Saturday, January 31. The annual family-friendly event will be held at Quarry Road Recreation Area located off North Street.

 

Planned activities include ski, snowshoe, and walking tours of the trails, snowshoe races, ski instruction, winter biking demos, sledding and the "Amazing Tree Maze".  Equipment for children and adults will be available to try on a limited basis. The event is part of Inland Hospital's popular Let's Go! Family Fun Series. Free transportation to the event from stops around the city will be available and a schedule will be announced at a later date.

 

New offerings this year include winter golf and the L.L. Bean Bootmobile. Dog sled rides will be offered for a suggested donation of $5 per person with kids under 10 riding for free (with an adult). Trailside food and hot beverages provided by local restaurants will be available on a first come, first served basis for a suggested "buck a cup" donation. Attendees can visit the Welcome Center Yurt to learn about snowmaking, ski passes, and plans for future enhancements of the area.

 

Admission is free, while donations in support of the trails will be gratefully accepted. Adults and children of all ages and abilities are welcome. Due to the expected large crowd, it is requested that dogs stay at home for the event.

 

For more information or to volunteer for the event, visit quarryroadrecarea.org, call 861-3292 or email mskehan@waterville-me.gov. 

Get Covered for the New Year

 

 

By Malory Shaughnessy, Outreach and Education Specialist, Maine Community Health Options 

 

It's the New Year and you're going to be hearing a lot about ways to get healthier. One important thing to consider is whether you, or your loved ones, have health insurance. There are great new options available to you with assistance to make not only the premiums more affordable, but possibly lower your health care costs too.

 

In order to help make coverage possible for all people, those with incomes up to four times the poverty level ($46,680 for an individual and $95,400 for a family of four in 2015) can get reduced premiums for coverage purchased through the Federal Marketplace. Additional cost sharing reductions are available for those with incomes less than two-and-a-half times the poverty level.

 

More than 44,000 Maine people enrolled in a health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014, with nine in ten qualifying for assistance and more than 80% of them choosing a Qualified Health Plan with Maine Community Health Options (MCHO), Maine's CO-OP health plan. Now is the time to find out if you qualify. Open Enrollment ends February 15, 2015.

 

You can get a quick quote to see what assistance you may be eligible to receive by going to https://www.maineoptions.org/Individuals-Families/Compare-Quote-Plans and simply putting in your zip code, birthdate and expected income for 2015.

 

Getting ready to enroll for coverage? Follow these helpful hints: https://www.maineoptions.org/getattachment/Outreach-and-Education-Toolkit/Preparing_to_enroll-FINAL.pdf.

 

If you need assistance or want to learn more, please call MCHO at 855-624-6463 or visit us at www.maineoptions.org. You can enroll in a Qualified Health Plan for 2015 right from our website.

 

 
Save the Date 


Worksite Wellness Spring Conference Friday, March 27, 2015 
8:00 am - 10:30 am

 

MaineGeneral Medical Center - Alfond Center for Health

 

Creating a Healthy Work Environment - Part 2

 

This event will look at how we support the mental health of our employees as well as how we can pay for a best in-class wellness program. 

 

HPKV Announces its 2nd Annual Workplace Well-Being Recognition Awards

The Healthy People of the Kennebec (HPKV) wants to recognize your business with a Workplace Well-Being Award! Are you working to improve the health and well-being of your employees? Do you offer a best-practice health and wellness program at your workplace? It's time to get recognized!

Past year's recipients include: Gold Awardees  - Inland Hospital, Kennebec Technologies, MaineGeneral Health, and Maine Veterans' Homes. Silver Awardees - Huhtamaki, J.S. McCarthy Printers, Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, Kennebec Valley Community College, Lohmann Animal Health International, Performance Foodservice-NorthCenter, and Valley Distributors.
 

For more information contact Phil DiRusso, Corporate Wellness Manager, Workplace Health at: 207 621-7557 or philip.dirusso@mainegeneral.org/www.workplacehealth.mainegeneral.org

  

 

Ladies' Lifestyle Expo

 

The New Year is a great time to think of ways to make healthy lifestyle changes. MaineGeneral's Women's Health Services has a fun way to look ahead and take some time for you. Learn some tips and techniques for feeling better every day this year.

 

You are invited to a morning of fun and learning for girls and women of all ages. Bring your daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece and girlfriends to this Jan. 24 event. MaineGeneral and our partners Hardy Girls Healthy Women, Spectrum Generations, the Healthy Living Resource Center and School Street Yoga have a variety of activities built around you.

 

Activities during the morning include:

  • The Wheel of Health game
  • Yoga
  • Hands-only CPR
  • Nutrition
  • Caring for the caregiver
  • Mind-body health, and more!

We'll offer refreshments, health screenings, door prizes and medical staff who can answer your health questions.

 

Join us!

 

Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m. - noon

Thayer Center for Health, Dean Conference Center

149 North Street, Waterville

 

This event is free.

 

To sign up or learn more, call Juliet at 624-3881 or email juliet.graves@mainegeneral.org.

 

Positive Affirmations

 

 

By Elizabeth Keane, Kennebec Behavioral Health

ekeane@kbhmaine.org/ 873-2136 x 1005

 

The holidays have passed, and hopefully your bank account has survived, you've staved off unwanted pounds and managed to miss the stomach bug. It's also the time for New Year's resolutions which can set us up to fail. Instead of setting resolutions, declare "New Year Affirmations," and set yourself up to succeed.

 

Positive affirmations, which are short positive statements that replace negative thoughts, can help boost one's morale.  In Maine, these months see an increase in depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or depression caused by a season, normally winter. Those suffering from depression can have worse symptoms in January following the stress of the holidays and the apprehension and anxiety of the New Year and its pressure to make unrealistic resolutions.

 

Making positive affirmations is a free and easy way to regain confidence and increase positive energy.  Some examples are - "I am confident and calm," "I am important and loved".  Many people deal with depression and other mental health issues.  If you or a loved one is in need of services or support, Kennebec Behavioral Health is here to help.  For more information contact the Access Center at 1-888-322-2136.

 

Crisis & Counseling Centers (C&C) participates in HealthInfoNet

 

By Randy Moser, Director of Development & Communications

 

Like nearly all medical and behavioral health providers in the state, C&C is participating with Maine's Health Information Exchange (HIE), HealthInfoNet. The HIE is a secure statewide computer system that will help Maine residents receive better, easier and safer care.

 

The HIE will combine information from participating providers to create a single electronic health record. This will enable providers to quickly access information in the event of an emergency, decrease unnecessary duplication, and help streamline care and avoid dangerous prescription interactions.

The HIE will allow C&C to coordinate client care with their trusted primary care physicians. We are dedicated to serving the whole health needs of our clients, and by participating with the HIE we hope to avoid medical errors, reduce client health care costs, and improve their overall health.

 

Contact: rmoser@crisisandcounseling.org, 207-213-4556

  

 

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