Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Healthy Living for ME 1 Weston Ct., Augusta, ME 04330 Not-for-profit (NFP), 501(c)(3) healthylivingforme.org Maija Dyke, Project Director 207-620-1699 mdyke@healthylivingforme.org HL4ME, a Community Care Hub (CCH), organizes and supports a network of Maine community-based organizations (CBO) to address health-related social needs (HRSN). In 2023, HL4ME convened the Somerset and Kennebec Counties (S&KC) Community Partnership (SKCCP) whose mission is to create a framework for radical multi-sector communication and action that optimizes well-being of all who live in S&KC. The HRSA project, SKCCP’s System Integration Planning Project plans for cross-sector alignment to successfully integrate healthcare with CBOs. The project supports the geographic area of S&KC and addresses legislative aim #3. Our focus is on the network’s sustainability and viability. We will leverage our cross-organizational collaboration and leadership commitment toward identifying models of healthcare and CBO integration that will be accepted and utilized by the communities we serve. Goals 1 Maintain partner engagement 2 Engage the community to best understand the lived experience perspective 3 Complete detailed planning for healthcare and CBO integration 4 Secure funding for jointly developed implementation plan Residents of S&KC experience high degrees of financial strain/poverty, housing, and mental health; each negatively affects health equity. Data from SKCCP’s community assessment includes:11.8% of ME lives in poverty, compared to 20.4% & 12.8% in S&KC -31% & 30% of people living in S&KC are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) -100% of S&KC residents live in rural areas -13.3% & 11.2% of S&KC households spend more than 50% of their income toward housing -Mental health barriers prevent residents from getting help, including a fragmented, complex, & siloed system of services across sectors & lack of availability to information to access services 100% of network members are located in a HRSA-designated rural area. Through its internal assessment, SKCCP confirmed their commitment to integrate functions and share resources. -MaineGeneral Health, non-for-profit/NFP -HealthReach Community Health Centers, NFP -Spectrum Generations, NFP -Family Violence Project, NFP -Kennebec Behavioral Health, NFP -Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, NFP -Capital Area New Mainers Project, NFP -United Way of Kennebec Valley, NFP -Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, NFP -Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services, NFP -Skills, Inc., NFP -Somerset Public Health, dba of Redington-Fairview Hospital -Maine Primary Care Association, NFP -Hallowell Pride Alliance, non-incorporated -Maine CDC Public Health Central District, State department HL4ME demonstrates the ability to build, strengthen, and improve rural health equity through quality access to CBO services. It has developed organizational expertise and capacity through managing a statewide network, convening SKCCP, meeting information and technology security and data gathering/transfer standards, obtaining contracts for services, grant writing, and financial and operational reporting. Since 2016, the CCH has supported over 23,600 Mainers in all 16 counties in Maine and has made noteworthy progress in developing minority partnerships. HL4ME is contracted with over 20 CBOs and a handful of independent facilitators. It has formal contracts with 2 national health insurers, 3 of the 4 major, Maine health systems, and a regional Federal Qualified Health Center. HL4ME learned of the funding opportunity through HRSA’s News Release. Its project qualifies for the funding preference of Focus on Primary Care, and Wellness and Prevention Strategies; aligning with Qualification 3, project activities link health care with wellness, prevention, and other services of CBOs. HL4ME will convene SKCCP through the grant period and develop a post-grant implementation plan that will address community identified gap.
