Why Be a Member of the Maine Assembly?

"Why Be a Member of the Maine Assembly?" : 

"Why Be a Member of the Maine Assembly?" Cindy Dolben, RN President, Maine Assembly Board

Brief History of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care : 

Brief History of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care In 1986 the governor convened a task force on teen pregnancy. School based clinics was one recommendation of the task force. Bonny Eagle High School was funded through the Teen and Young Adult Health Program (TYAHP) for a School Based Health Center. This was the first in the state. Through the 80’s and 90’s SBHC’s expanded to six grantees plus a number of non-state funded SBHC’s. The TYAHP held meetings for grantees and supported the formation of the Maine Chapter of the National Assembly on School Based Health Care. In 1997 The Maine Assembly officially became a Chapter of the National Assembly on School Based Health Care. Joint meetings of the TYAHP grantees and the Maine Assembly were held 4-5 times a year continuing into 2000 and beyond. Tobacco Settlement funding increased SBHC funding, leading to more funded SBHC’s. The Maine Assembly was awarded a grant in 2003 from the Kellogg Foundation. The Assembly then became more independent and was able to hire an Executive Director. The Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care was incorporated in 2005. This year the Maine Assembly filed for a 501c3 status which would allow us to be a non-profit organization.

The Mission of the Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care : 

The Mission of the Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care Is to ensure that all Maine Students have access to healthcare through advocacy, promotion, support and sustainability of School-Based Health Centers at the local, state and national levels.

The Maine Assembly : 

The Maine Assembly Works to establish sustainable funding and other resources for the Assembly and school based health centers throughout the state. Lessons from Geese: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Your Membership Will: : 

Your Membership Will: Provide greater access and pathways to advocacy efforts in order to secure funding and support from the state of Maine and other funding resources. Lessons from Geese: As each goose flaps it wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they want to go quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016. : 

Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016. Health care professionals throughout the nation are envious of Maine’s system of school-based health centers. We have succeeded in providing for the health needs of youth within our schools, complementing the network of doctors, hospitals, and clinics.

Access : 

Access As members of the Maine Assembly we work together to: Advocate for the health care needs of Maine’s school-aged children. Provide an easily accessible place that allows our students to have a voice in their health needs and concerns. Lessons from a Student: “I was treated in the health center with an antibiotic that upset my stomach.  I was able to go back and tell the Nurse Practitioner right away and she changed my medicine and told me what I could do for my symptoms. If I had gone to my doctor, I would have had to make another appointment and I would not have done that...Instead I would have just stopped taking the medicine and risked being sick all over again."  A High School Senior

Slide 8: 

Because of the success of school-based health centers, school attendance and performance of Maine students has noticeably improved. Risky youth behaviors such as substance abuse, sexual activity, violence and obesity have significantly declined. Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016.

Benefit of Membership: Support and Sustainability : 

Benefit of Membership: Support and Sustainability Network and meet other school based health center personnel and other experts in the field to exchange ideas and knowledge. Work to establish sustainable funding and other resources for School based health centers throughout the state. Receive voting privileges that enable you to shape the future of school-based health care. Your voice will be powerful to change our system of health care delivery for each child in your school community, our state, and nationally.

Lessons from Geese: : 

Lessons from Geese: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Slide 11: 

A School-based health center, tailored to meet local community needs, operates in every middle school and high school in Maine. The Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016. centers are staffed by adolescent health experts providing preventative and acute health services.

Benefit of Membership: Promotion and Sustainability : 

Benefit of Membership: Promotion and Sustainability Learn how to build relationships with local and state legislators through advocacy training. Participate in meaningful local, state and national policy development to benefit all our school-based health centers. Be involved in youth advisory board trainings led by Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) staff.

Lessons from Governance: : 

Lessons from Governance: “School-based health centers bring a wide range of health care services to students in the place where they spend most of their days—the school building.  These clinics play an important role, particularly in the lives of young or medically underserved children and youth, because of their convenient location and because students feel more comfortable seeking health care advice—especially mental health counseling—from people there.  It is for this reason that I am a co-sponsor of the School-Based Health Clinic Act, which provides federal funds to establish new centers and improving existing centers in Maine and across the country.” -- Senator Susan Collins

Slide 14: 

Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016. Students, parents, educators and other community members play a principal role in the governance of centers, guiding policies, practices, and services.

How do we get to 2016? : 

How do we get to 2016? Join a committee or become a Board Member

Join a Committee : 

Join a Committee Membership Policy Development Budget Resource Development Clinical Improvement Communication

Lessons from Geese : 

Lessons from Geese When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership as the geese, interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangement of gifts, talents or resources.

Slide 18: 

18 Technical Assistance. Technical assistance and other special services from MeASBHC. MeASBHC will also provide you resources to help you conduct local advocacy and educational events. Advertising and Communications. Post job announcements and other local events on the MeASBHC web site. Link to the MeASBHC web page to increase the exposure of your SBHC. Listing in the MeASBHC Directory Networking. Meet other SBHC personnel and other experts in the field to exchange ideas and knowledge at the bi-monthly SBHC workshops. Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care Benefits of Membership

Slide 19: 

19 Advocacy Training. Learn how to build relationships with your local and state legislators. Policy Development. Participate in meaningful local, state, and national policy development to benefit SBHCs in your area. Knowledge. Stay informed through MeASBHC e-mail bulletins, newsletters, and reports on the latest local, state, and national SBHC developments. Funding. Work to establish sustainable funding and other resources for SBHCs throughout the state. Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care Benefits of Membership (cont.)

Slide 20: 

20 Continuing Education. Receive timely workshops on cutting edge clinical, financing, and policy topics. Voting. Receive voting privileges that enable you to shape the future of school-based health care. Youth Advisory Board Training. Take part in SBHC trainings led by Maine Youth Action Network staff. Maine Assembly on School-Based Health Care Benefits of Membership (cont.)

Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: : 

Vision of the Maine Assembly on School Based Health Care: Imagine it is the year 2016: The Health needs of students are addressed in the place they spend the most time, at school. Student centered care creates a safe, comfortable and confidential environment where adolescents receive the health care they need.

Maine the way life should be….. : 

Maine the way life should be…..

School-Based Health Care the way Healthcare for students should be…. : 

School-Based Health Care the way Healthcare for students should be…. Insert Calais kids holding banner