Piscataquis Public Health Council Meeting
May 16, 2002
Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft
Present: Renee Speh, Community Partnership Director; Susan Crippen, North Country Healthy Communities; Sherry Gaudet, SAD 68 school nurse; Tom Lizotte, Mayo Regional Hospital; Greg Bellemare, SAD 4 School Health Coordinator; Greg Leavitt, SAD 68 SHC; Robin Mayo, SAD 46 SHC; Shirley Wright, SAD 41 SHC; Will Hunter, Mayo Alcohol & Drug Counseling Service.

Renee Speh opened the agenda with the following updates:

  • Finishing contract year -- Georgine Butman from Greenville has been hired to complete the environmental indicators survey for the workplan. Budget revision has been completed.
  • Mini-grants -- John Spieker has been hired to organize this program. PPHC members are asked to help Renee and John by identifying community organizations and individuals whose projects might benefit from the mini-grants. RFPs will be sent out on May 20, applications are due June 14, and funds must be spent or committed by June 30.
  • DHS contract reapplication -- State has extended deadline for final application until May 24.
  • PPHC workplan for 2002-2003 -- Renee presented draft of action plan with local objectives and performance indicators and asked PPHC members to suggest additions. Shirley Wright cited low literacy levels in our region, and suggested that the major of our public messages be produced at a fourth grade level and that non-written messages (radio) be a major part of our media mix. Susan Crippen suggested one of our objectives should be to broaden PPHC membership by recruiting more people from each region of our area. The need for PPHC to develop by-laws, procedures and infrastructure to help us complete the workplan and effect community change was also cited. Adding senior citizens as a key demographic target should be another objective.
Action: Renee will incorporate those suggested local objectives into the workplan.
  • Role of Council members in workplan -- Renee discussed expectations for PPHC members to become actively involved in implementing workplan strategies. Other business:
  • Renee reported that Martha Herrick and Dyna Curtis will share the part-time SHC position in Greenville. For the first time, we now have SHCs in all five school districts.
  • Transportation Enhancement grant -- There is a July 1 deadline to apply for funds, which could be used to add a bike path along the shoulder of Rt. 15 between Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford as the DOT rebuilds that major artery next year.
Action: PPHC should approach Mark Scarano and see if Piscataquis Economic Development Council and/or Eastern Maine Development Corp. can assist in grant process.
  • One Maine: Stand United for Prevention grant -- Renee explained the focus of this grant is prevention of alcohol and tobacco use among teens. PPHC is awaiting receipt of grant RFP and may decide to apply. Application deadline is Oct. 1.
Action: PPHC will discuss at June meeting once RFP is in hand.

Meeting adjourned. Next meeting: Thursday, June 20, 10-11:30 a.m. at Mayo Resource Center.