Maine Primary Care Association

Making Customer Service a Reality at Your Health Center
2026-04-06 13:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
The quality of customer service in community healthcare significantly influences the health of patients and the health center itself, yet in today’s fast-paced and challenging landscape, health centers may find it difficult to create and maintain a culture of service excellence. This session – focused specifically for CHC leaders, managers and supervisors – provides important skills, strategies and guidance to make customer service a realistic expectation both now and for the long term.
Participants will learn to:

Understand and communicate the crucial nature of customer service in all areas of community healthcare.
Lead, foster and drive a culture of service excellence in your department or organization.
Create and implement clear, realistic and impactful expectations.
Utilize a practical, step-by-step change management model to facilitate smooth and successful culture change.
Ensure customer service skill-building, reinforcement and accountability for all team members to make both internal and external customer service the priority it needs to be!

Target Audience: CHC leaders, managers and supervisors.
Important Note: There is limited capacity for this training: 50 participants max. Once 50 people have registered, Zoom will not allow additional registrants.
For more information, contact Emily Ferry: eferry@mepca.org or (207) 707-4548.

Connector's Toolkit: Building & Using Referral Pathways
2026-04-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Maine
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Registration
Join us for this timely and informative training as we explore the essentials of making warm referrals to community services, including tracking follow-through and strengthening partner relationships. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of:

Creating and maintaining resource lists;
Warm handoffs and documentation;
Common barriers to referrals and follow-up; and
The CHW role in partnership-building.

Speakers:

Lane Simsarian, Programming and Partnerships Coordinator, Maine Office of Population Health
Nikki Williams, Program Director, 211 Maine
Ray Rawls, Community Health Worker, Sacopee Valley Health Center

Target audience: CHWs, CHW supervisors, patient navigators, and other frontline staff involved in making and tracking referrals to community services.
For more information, contact Leslie Lorentzen: llorentzen@mepca.org.

Customer Service: The Art of Caring
2026-04-28 09:00 - 11:30 | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration (This webinar is for MPCA members only)
Providing a high level of customer service is crucial to achieving your health center’s mission and effectively serving your community, and service excellence is both a mindset and a skill that can be learned! In this high-impact and interactive training focused for health center employees at all levels, participants gain practical and immediately applicable skills, tools and strategies to make customer service a realistic part of every interaction.
Participants will learn to:

Understand the crucial nature of customer service in all areas of community healthcare.
Maintain a mindset of “service-first.”
Achieve successful outcomes in a wide range of potentially challenging interactions.
Communicate clearly with care, tact and compassion.
Take initiative to enhance a positive work environment.
Strengthen satisfaction for patients, families and co-workers!

Target Audience: This training is recommended for health center employees at all levels.
Important Note: There is limited capacity for this training: 50 participants max. Once 50 people have registered, Zoom will not allow additional registrants.
For more information, contact Emily Ferry: eferry@mepca.org or (207) 707-4548.

Balancing Privacy & Parental Rights: HIPAA in School-Based Health Centers
2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration
This training examines how confidentiality laws protect the health information of minors, a critical and often nuanced area of healthcare privacy. We’ll explore recent federal guidance shaping this landscape and take a closer look at how these protections apply specifically within school-based health centers. Attendees will:

Learn the general rules under Maine and federal law applying to health care information about minor patients;
Understand the impact of recent federal guidance about parental access to the health information of minors; and
Learn how these laws and guidance apply to information about care rendered to minors in school-based settings.

Speaker: Michael A. Burian, Esq., R.N. Kozak & Gayer, P.A.
Michael A. Burian is an attorney at Kozak & Gayer, where he focuses his practice on health care law. He advises hospitals, FQHCs, mental health providers, nursing facilities, and other health care organizations on matters including corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and privacy law. Michael has extensive experience with federal and state confidentiality laws and regularly conducts trainings on HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, and Maine privacy statutes. He is also a registered nurse with inpatient clinical experience. Michael is admitted to practice in Maine and Massachusetts and holds degrees from the University of Maine School of Law and the University of Southern Maine.
Target audience: School-based health center staff, clinical staff, other health center staff of all levels involved in the confidentiality of minor patients.
For more information, contact Megan Cross: mcross@mepca.org.

Intimate Partner Violence Safe Tables and Webinar Series
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Maine
MePCA PSO Safe Table: Intimate Partner Violence Series Wrap-up
June 17, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00pm | Register
Interpersonal violence is an epidemic in our culture with significant short and long-term health implications. We will embark on a year-long webinar series to understand these topics.
The IPV Safe Table will provide a brief, introductory overview of the incidence of various forms of IPV, the role of providers in treatment and intervention, and community resources especially Forensic Nurses, who are available throughout the state.
An SBIRT approach with particular attention to patient safety and documentation will be used.

Ebola Preparedness Webinar
2026-06-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration
Please join Maine CDC and Maine Primary Care Association for an overview of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, updates on Maine CDC’s response to this crisis, and steps that health care facilities and their staff should take to ensure readiness to identify, isolate, and inform public health of patients presenting with concerning symptoms and pertinent travel history. Attendees will:

Hear about the public health significance of a large outbreak of Ebola virus disease in two African counties;
Learn to recognize risk factors for Ebola virus disease including travel and exposures; and
Better understand the initial steps involved in recognizing Ebola, protecting staff and other patients, and engaging with public health.

Speakers:

Isaac Benowitz, MD, MPH, CMO and State Epidemiologist, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Rita Owsiak, Healthcare Associated Infections Coordinator, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Target audience: CHC staff
For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Pezzullo: cpezzullo@mepca.org.

Recognizing & Responding to Survivors of Human Trafficking in the Healthcare Sector
2026-06-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Maine Primary Care Association, 73 Winthrop Street, Augusta, ME, 04330, United States
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Registration
Human trafficking is a public health issue that requires a coordinated community response. Healthcare providers have a unique opportunity to identify and resource survivors of human trafficking by integrating trauma-informed assessment into their already-existing social determinants of health screening. By understanding the issue of human trafficking, potential indicators of trafficking, root causes, and relational dynamics, we can better offer services to survivors of trafficking, paving the pathway to healing, justice, and a life free from coercion and exploitation.
Preble Street’s Anti-Trafficking Services and Maine Mobile Health Program have collaborated to bring a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens to trafficking assessment. This partnership has enhanced the health services offered to both survivors of trafficking and those at risk of experiencing trafficking and exploitation.
Don’t miss out on this timely and important training. Register today!
Speakers:
Hailey Virusso, LCSW, Director of Anti-Trafficking Services, Preble Street
Hannah Miller, MPH, Director of Outreach, Maine Mobile Health Program
Target audience: Clinical staff
For more information, contact Annick Metoule: ametoule@mepca.org.

What's Happening to Us? Burnout, Secondary Stress, Trauma-Informed Care
2026-07-15 09:30 - 11:00 | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration
Please join Maine Primary Care Association for a timely and informative webinar on burnout, stress and trauma-informed care. This session will provide an accessible overview of burnout and secondary traumatic stress — what they are, how to recognize them, and what’s happening in the brain. Designed for all types of community health center staff, it will lay the groundwork for a follow-up session focused on practical self-care strategies. Attendees will learn how to:

Define burnout and secondary traumatic stress and distinguish between them;
Identify common signs and symptoms in selves and colleagues;
Describe basic brain and nervous system responses to chronic stress and trauma exposure; and
Connect this foundational knowledge to the upcoming self-care session.

Speaker: Hillary Colcord, MSW, Chief of Culture, Maine Primary Care Association
Target audience: BOD, CEOs, Clinical staff (including BH & OH), CHWs, administrative professionals, PSR
For more information, contact Ashley Cleary: acleary@mepca.org.

National Health Center Week
2026-08-02 - 2026-08-08 | Maine
Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s 1,512 Community Health Centers (CHCs). NHCW is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of CHC patients, staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to 52 million patients across more than 17,000 communities.
NHCW 2026 Theme: Building Innovative Care Where It Matters Most
This year’s theme celebrates how CHCs use creativity and commitment to advance innovative solutions that meet patients where they are and improve primary care delivery, access, and outcomes nationwide. This includes partnering with key stakeholders and elected officials to strengthen relationships that support high-quality, patient-centered care in the communities they serve.
Each day of National Health Center Week is dedicated to a particular focus area

Sunday, August 2: Theme DayWe kick off National Health Center Week with a look at the incredible innovation CHCs provide to their communities. From serving a handful of communities to now reaching 1 in 7 Americans, CHCs have become a cornerstone of community health.
Monday, August 3: Staff Appreciation DayCHCs thrive because of their dedicated clinical and non-clinical staff. This day honors all employees and their vital contributions to patient care and organizational success. Let’s emphasize the importance of valuing everyone on the team.
Tuesday, August 4: Patient Appreciation DayPatients are at the heart of CHCs, and this day recognizes their role in shaping care delivery. We celebrate patient boards—a revolutionary model of governance where patients make up 51% or more of board members—and their contributions to the health center movement.
Wednesday, August 5: Health Conditions FocusCHCs play a critical role in addressing acute and chronic conditions through prevention, early detection, and treatment. This day highlights efforts like vaccinations, cancer screenings, heart health, diabetes care, and managing chronic infectious diseases.
Thursday, August 6: Populations DayCHCs serve patients of all race and ethnicities, in rural, urban, suburban, island and frontier communities. This includes maternal and child health, adults, elders/ older adults, veterans, agricultural workers, and those experiencing homelessness, to name a few. This day celebrates CHCs’ commitment to understanding the unique needs of their patients and communities, and providing quality, accessible care.
Friday, August 7: Partner Appreciation DayCHCs succeed through collaboration with public, non-profit and industry partners. From hospitals to schools, businesses to government leaders, food banks to public housing, these partnerships drive innovation and advance health.
Saturday, August 8: Gratitude and Future VisionWe close the week with a focus on gratitude for all who contribute to the CHC mission and a vision for the future. Together, we aim to serve 1 in 3 Americans, ensuring health for all.

National Health Center Week Events in Maine
During this year’s weeklong celebration, health centers throughout Maine will be holding special events in recognition of patients, staff, programs and community partners. Bookmark this page and check back as we will be listing health center events here as we move closer to National Health Center Week.

Depression & Intimate Partner Violence: Examining the Potential Correlation for Pediatric and Elder Patients
2026-09-24 12:00 - 16:00 | Maine
Quick Links:
Registration
Please join Maine Primary Care Association and the University of New England’s SANE Program for a timely and informative webinar on depression and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This session will provide healthcare professionals with foundational knowledge and practical skills to recognize, screen for, and respond to IPV in a trauma-informed manner. Participants will explore the relationship between IPV and depression, identify common patterns of power and control used by abusive individuals, and learn to recognize signs of abuse and patient disclosures. Special attention will be given to considerations for pediatric and older adult populations, including unique risk factors and response strategies. Through evidence-based screening techniques, case-based discussions, and hypothetical scenarios, participants will strengthen their ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered care and connect individuals experiencing or at risk for IPV with appropriate internal and community resources.
Participants will:

Discuss the potential correlation between patients experiencing depression and IPV with special considerations for pediatric and elder populations.
Identify abusive tactics that people employ to obtain and maintain power and control over their partners and family members.
Describe ways a patient might make a disclosure and/or exhibit signs of abuse.
Recognize specific considerations for working with pediatric and elder patients.
Discuss evidence based, informed screening strategies to use in practice.
Interpret hypothetical scenarios in order to develop trauma informed care skills for screening and responding to a patient experiencing IPV.
Identify what internal and external resources are best to use when IPV is suspected or disclosed.

Target audience: FQHC clinical staff.
For more information, contact Annick Metoule: ametoule@mepca.org.
