Please find Patrick Hartnett’s presentation slides here!
Author: Steven Johndro
October HOH Coalition Meeting Minutes
In attendance:
- Brendan Schauffler, Facilitator, Oxford County Wellness Collaborative
- Carl Costanzi, Western Maine Health
- Kate Goldberg, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator, Healthy Oxford Hills
- Cortney Lavorgna, Tobacco Prevention, Healthy Oxford Hills
- Holly Stuhr, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator, Healthy Oxford Hills
- Steve Johndro, Executive Director, Healthy Oxford Hills
- Sarah Carter, 5210 Let’s Go! Coordinator, Healthy Oxford Hills
- Erika Lindstrom, Children’s Case Management Supervisor, The Progress Center
- Maija Dyke, Community Education Supervisor, Seniors Plus
- Jenn McCarthy, Integrated Care Manager, Tri County Mental Health
- Allie Burke, Executive Director, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition
- Melissa Harding, Program Coordinator, River Valley Rising
- Ben Tucker, Regional Rep., Senator King’s Office
- Diane Madden, Executive Director, Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine
- Lisbeth Wierda, Program Manager, Maine Med Research Center
Maija Dyke – Seniors Plus
- Seniors Plus is area agency on aging and has many different departments. Maija represents community service department. Not all programs have age requirements. Pre-COVID classes were in person, but are now all online.
- Partner of 5 AAA Maine agencies & statewide network
- Classes are not only focused on aging, but also aging in place. Many classes are specific requests from community members that directly impact their quality of life. Most classes are FREE or a greatly reduced price (may cover materials).
- Zoom 101
- Crafting
- Chair Yoga
- Educational workshops & Evidence Based Programs:
- Savvy Caregivers
- Thai Chi for Health and Balance (16 week course- 2/week for 8 weeks)
- A Matter of Balance
- Chronic Disease Prevention (Diabetes, Pain Management, etc.) 6 week classes
- Living Well for Better Health
- Living Well with Diabetes
- Living Well with Chronic Pain (includes fitness & movement)
- Classes are via Zoom. However, Toolkits are available and mailed to participants, if they do not have access to internet. An instructor will call and help walk them through the program for 6 weeks. No age requirement for these classes.
- November offerings are listed at: https://www.seniorsplus.org/assets/ed_center_november_2020.pdf
- healthylivingforme.org
- Can search for upcoming classes!
- Healthcare Practices can make direct referrals
- Some of the challenges of COVID have been lack of access or interest from participants to use technology for classes. However, Zoom 101 has been very helpful with this when in-person programs cannot happen safely. Also have an I pad loaner program, which has helped as well.
- FREE classes offered by community agencies can be shared with participants of Seniors Plus through their newsletter.
- contact:
- Maija Dyke, Community Education Supervisor
- mdyke@seniorsplus.org
- 513-3744
- https://healthylivingforme.org
- https://seniorsplus.org
- Seniors Plus also offers assistance with:
- Meals on Wheels
- Money Minders (checkbook, financial assistance)
- Friendly Caller (phone call to help with isolation)
- Senior Companion (now overseen by UMaine)
Partner Updates
- Cancer Resource Center just got word yesterday that they have been awarded $10,000 for gas cards for those affected by cancer.
- Virtual weekly classes are listed here: https://www.crcofwm.org/virtual-weekly-wellness-programs.html
- River Valley Healthy Community Coalition: USDA food distribution 10/28 at 10am.
- Many fundraisers happening now for our community partners- please support!!!!
- https://extension.umaine.edu/register/product/oceaannualmeeting
- https://www.runreg.com/9646
- https://extension.umaine.edu/bryantpond/support/calendar-fundraiser/
- https://www.wfltmaine.org/ Matching donor for all donations
- https://www.crcofwm.org Turkey Trot 4 Hope
- Tri County looking for LCSWs in Rumford area. Telehealth and in-person.
- The Progress Center is accepting referrals for children’s case management
- Serves a wide geography, covers Oxford County and some parts of adjacent counties as well
- erikalindstrom@progresscentermaine.org
- progresscentermaine.org to make a referral
Next HOH Coalition Meeting: 11/24/20
COVID-19 Relief Funding Request for Application
Healthy Oxford Hills works toward creating a caring, self-reliant community that comes together in the shared pursuit of a healthy quality of life for all people in Oxford County. The need to support each other is even more evident during a public health crisis. This COVID-19 response funding has been made available to community partners by the generosity of The New Balance Foundation. The funding is intended to support food distribution, emergency shelter, counseling, virtual programming, and other efforts that will assist in the recovery of our community.
Please click here for the COVID-19 Response Community Grant Application
Roasted Chickpeas
The Real Meaning Behind Food Dates!
Stir Fry with Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce
Addressing Isolation and Disconnection
Below is a recent post from one of our partners, the Oxford County Wellness Collaborative.
Social distancing and quarantine have become the new norm for millions of Americans. Our day-to-day routines have been put on hold and we are asked to isolate ourselves and limit in-person social interaction. As we know, experiencing isolation and disconnection can cause mental health concerns like depression or suicidal thoughts. As we navigate through the global health crisis of COVID-19, we need to be thinking about the effects this pandemic is having on our mental health, as well as our physical health.
Here are the CDC’s guidelines on how to cope during these times of uncertainty.
Here is another great article on how grief is at the heart of the discomfort that so many of us are feeling, and what you can do to ease those feelings: That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief
As a Collaborative we maintain a focus on addressing isolation and disconnection as root causes of poor health and wellness. These issues were identified by a large group of people from across our county.
Welcome to our new Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, Daniela Fine!
We are excited to introduce you to our newest team member, Daniela Fine! Daniela graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Center for a research study titled Just Breathe, a mindfulness meditation program for college freshman. Through this, she furthered her interest and knowledge of contemplative practice. Upon graduation, she worked as a project coordinator for the Family Foundations research study, an NIH-funded longitudinal research study for first-time expecting parents. During this time, she was involved in the development and implementation of several additional projects with various focuses and audiences.
In her new role here at Healthy Oxford Hills, Daniela will be working under the Substance Use Prevention Services grants. This work will include working with an assortment of business owners and organizations to develop updated tobacco policies, as well as providing resources and educational programming to the greater Oxford County communities that aims to decrease substance use among community members. Outside of work, Daniela enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs, listening to music, and cooking.