White House Proclamation on “National Health Center Week”

Governor Mills Proclamation designating Aug. 4-10
“Community Health Center Week” in Maine

National Health Center Week is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) to raise awareness of the mission and accomplishments of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHCs). National Health Center Week is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 31.5 million patients across nearly 15,000 communities annually.

NHCW24 Theme: Powering Communities Through Caring Connections

Maine’s community health centers serve as a beacon of strength, service and care in their communities and have long played a critical role in ensuring access to affordable, high-quality and equitable care for all Maine people, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Community health centers are unique, patient-driven organizations. They are not just healers, they are also innovators who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition, and unemployment. They are a critical piece of the health care system and collaborate with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health and business organizations to improve health outcome for people who are medically vulnerable or underserved.

Each Day of National Health Center Week is Dedicated to a Particular Focus Area:

National Health Center Week Events in Maine

During the weeklong celebration, health centers throughout Maine will be holding special events in recognition of patients, staff, programs and community partners. You can find events open to the public listed by health center below:

Bucksport Regional Health Center
110 Broadway | Bucksport, ME
Community Blood Drive

Eastport Health Care
Free, Fresh Produce | Aug. 5, 10:30-11:30am
30 Boynton Street, Eastport, ME

Fish River Rural Health
Annual Family Health Fair | Aug. 10, 9:00am-Noon
Eagle Lake Health Center, 10 Carter Street, Eagle Lake, ME

Harrington Family Health Center
Free Walk-in Sports Physicals, Aug. 8, 8:00am-3:30pm
50 East Main Street | Harrington, ME

Hometown Health Center
118 Moosehead Trail, Suite 5 | Newport, ME
29 Church Street | Dexter, ME

Join us in celebrating National Health Center Week, August 4 – 10, 2024. We have events happening all week. Lots of fun and giveaways. The national theme for 2024 is Powering Communities through Caring Connections. We have a strong community and are so happy to be able to provide support and care. All events are at both locations unless otherwise noted. Activities are subject to change without notice.

Each day, in both locations, children can free hand draw our logo in the Logo Contest. The winning logo will be put on a t-shirt for next year’s Health Center Week.

We want to “Fill the Hometown Hopper” mobile medical unit with school supplies for kids who need them. We are asking people to bring us school supplies between July 26 and August 9 so we can distribute to the children.

Monday, August 5:  Public Housing, HealthCare for People Experiencing Homelessness and Agricultural Worker Health Day

  • We will have a Farm Stand Event with local growers. The Farm Stand Event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Newport only.
  • Information concerning homelessness will be distributed along with resources. In attendance in the Newport location to provide resources to their specific organizations are: Se Mi Anderson, Case Manager, FedCap Veterans Affairs; Lonny Martin, Community Outreach Associate, Betterlife Partners; and Joseph Hartel, Business Development, Granite Recovery Centers.
  • There will be free Blood Pressure screenings and other wellness activities.
  • We will be giving away hygiene bags, vouchers for local farmers.
  • Our Community Health Worker will be helping people with programs that they may find beneficial and help with any required paperwork.

Tuesday, August 6: Stakeholder Appreciation Day

  • We are doing “Joy Splashes” in the community. We will be promoting Spreading Orange and the Be Kind initiative as an important part of good health.
  • Slides of the new facility’s groundbreaking will be shown in our office lobbies with all our donators listed and thanked.
  • As always, we will celebrate our board members and our legislators.

Wednesday, August 7: Patient Appreciation Day

  • HHC will be offering fun giveaways all day at both locations.
  • We will be giving away vouchers for local farmers, and wellness bags.
  • There will be tables set up in the lobbies promoting HHC programs and resources.

Thursday, August 8: – Staff Appreciation

  • All staff will be given a T-Shirts with the BE KIND information on the back.
  • We will be spreading orange Joy Splashes all week to each other and to our patients.
  • We are also having a special luncheon for the staff so show them how important they are to the organization. There will also be some surprise events for them.
  • Cards will be offered to patients so they can write “thank you” notes to our staff for their dedication. The staff will be so grateful as they all work very hard to ensure our patients get the very best care.

Friday, August 9: Children’s Health Day

  • We are providing wellness checks for our patients and immunization updates. Appointments are required.
  • We are offering dental hygiene for children, Hometown patients only, please. Appointments are required. This is Dexter only.
  • Children who stop by will get school supplies and a chance to get creative by painting on canvases and tell their story.

Islands Community Medical Services
Community Clean Up | Aug. 5
Get your friends and families together to help clean up the sides of the roads and beaches. Capture the moment and send photos to Brooke Hildings at bconway@icmsvh.org to be entered into a raffle. Deadline is Friday, Aug. 9.

Donation Drive for Vinalhaven Food Pantry | July 18-Aug. 10
15 Medical Center Loop, Vinalhaven, ME

Spotlight on Local Farms | Aug. 6, 8:00am-4:00pm
15 Medical Center Loop, Vinalhaven, ME

ICMS is honoring the local farms on Vinalhaven that provide healthy foods to our community. Photos of the farms and/or farmers will be posted on ICMS Facebook page. Some of the farms plan to donate some of their fresh produce for our patient appreciation day as well.

Patient Appreciation Day | Aug. 7, 8:00am-4:00pm
15 Medical Center Loop, Vinalhaven, ME

ICMS plans to celebrate Patient Appreciation Day on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. On this date there will be healthy snacks provided to the public, spin the wheel where patients will have the opportunity to win different prizes consisting of ICMS swag (t-shirts, coffee cups, water bottles), mini first aid kits, pens, and tick spoons.

Staff Appreciation Day | Aug. 9, 8:00am-4:00pm
15 Medical Center Loop, Vinalhaven, ME

Friday, August 9th is health center staff appreciation day and ICMS is looking for your help! We would like the community to give thanks and/or shout outs to the staff either as a whole or individually. There is a drop box in the lobby of ICMS where you can place your thank you notes and/or you can e-mail them to bconway@icmsvh.org. Thank you for your assistance in helping us appreciate our staff and all they do to serve our community.

Story time and Coloring | Aug. 10, 10:00-11:0am
Vinalhaven Public Library, 6 Carver Street, Vinalhaven, ME

Every Saturday the Vinalhaven Public Library host children’s story time to the public. Saturday, August 10, 2024 ICMS Board Members will be guest readers at the story time in honor of Children’s Health Day. There will also be coloring pages and activities for the children to do. ICMS Board members will be passing out oral health goodie bags to each of the children that attend such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Nasson Health Care
Drop in Celebration | Aug. 8, 9:00am-5:00pm
Community Open House | Aug. 8, 5:00-7:00pm
15 Oak Street, Springvale, ME

As a part of National Health Center Week, help us celebrate Nasson Health Care’s 20th Anniversary as we thank our patients and offer our community an opportunity to tour our newly expanded Health Center.

Participants will enjoy:
Light refreshments | All day
Health Center tour | 5:00 – 7:00pm
Giveaways and a prize raffle

Pines Health Services
Elementary Story Time & Crafts | Aug. 6, 10:30am –
Caribou Public Library, 30 High Street | Caribou, ME

Sacopee Valley Health Center
Family Fun Day | Aug. 10, 11:00am-2:00pm
70 Main Street | Porter, ME

This is our 4th annual Family Fun Day Community Event! SVHC will be providing a free BBQ, we will have snow cones, popcorn, crafts, activities for kids and adults! We have a hula hoop, stilt walker joining us this year! There will be amazing raffles including back to school supplies, gift cards, fishing poles, 8 bikes and more!! We are also proud to have volunteers from local organizations participating this year! We are sure this is going to be the best year yet!

Celebrate National Health Center Week with MPCA! (Webinar)
Join us for a fun and informative webinar on Monday, August 5 at 3:00pm to learn more about Maine’s Community Health Center Network. The theme for 2024’s National Health Center Week is “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections.” In Maine and across the country, CHCs lower overall health care costs, improve the health of their patients and communities, and generate economic opportunities in the communities they serve. We look forward to celebrating with you! Register here.