The state recently cut funding to the HMPs by some $2.7 million resulting in a significant “downsizing” in their programs.

The cuts were made in an attempt to reduce duplicate administrative costs, saving the state money while creating a more efficient way to deliver the most-needed preventive health services to communities around Maine. Instead of fully funding each of the 27 partnerships, the state has designated healthy partnership lead organizations in eight geographic regions and one tribal region. The division is in line with the way the Maine CDC divides the state for other administrative and research purposes.

RVHCC is the lead partnership in the Western District (Oxford, Franklin and Androscoggin counties) and was selected based on our ability to meet previous contract expectations, efficient use of public resources, collaborative partnerships with the Maine CDC and ongoing support and promotion of new and developing public health infrastructure.

The result of these cuts means less attention to actual programming and more attention to policies and environmental change.

RVHCC is working with retailers to establish programs and policies to assure tobacco products do not end up in the hands of youth. In addition, RVHCC is tasked to work with rental property owners to develop policies around smoke-free housing. It is critical RVHCC get cooperation from businesses and landlords to assure our success.

RVHCC is working with municipalities to conduct “Rural Active Living Assessments” in their towns to address the physical environment to better access physical activity through sidewalks, walking trails, access to indoor opportunities through schools and other public buildings, etc. It is our intention to promote physical activity opportunities in all communities and cooperation from municipalities is key to our success.

RVHCC is available to provide technical assistance to owners, managers and developers of private facilities (such as hospitals, colleges, large business, buildings, etc.) for the development, adoption and implementation of collaborative use agreement to provide public access to indoor and/or outdoor facilities for physical activity. This work also ties in closely with the municipalities.

RVHCC will continue to work with businesses to develop worksite wellness programs. We will continue to support current businesses involved with the program and have scheduled a worksite wellness roundtable from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 28 at the Oxford Federal Credit Union. All businesses are welcome to attend to share ideas on enabling employees to be as healthy as they can be. A healthy lunch will be served so please register by contacting RVHCC at 364-7408.

Most tragic in these funding cuts was to the schools. No longer is there funding to support a school health coordinator so that work falls on the shoulders of the Healthy Maine Partnerships. It is our task to assure all schools in our service areas have up-to-date policies around tobacco, wellness and substance abuse and that the schools are implementing these policies.

Economic times are tight and tough decisions have to be made. All the more reason to cooperate and support the efforts of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition to ensure our availability to make the River Valley as healthy as it can be.