MPHA NEWS

Phoebe Conrey King Award- applications accepted now until March 19th
MPHA is seeking award applications for our annual Phoebe Conrey King Access to Healthcare Award. This award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to improving access to healthcare in Maine. The individual(s) will have demonstrated leadership abilities in promoting increased access to healthcare by all Maine residents and will have made a significant contribution toward meeting the needs of the uninsured and medically underserved. The nominee need not be a member of the Maine Public Health Association.

We encourage nominations from all sectors of public health and from locations throughout the State. For a downloadable nomination form, please click below. Nominations will be accepted through 5pm on March 19th and the honoree will be awarded the distinction at our National Public Health Week press event on April 5th at the Hall of Flags in Augusta.

MPHA Call for Abstracts for 2010 Annual Meeting
The Maine Public Health Association is excited to announce its Call for Abstracts for breakout sessions at the 2010 Annual Meeting. The theme of the meeting is Maine Mosaic of Public Health: Putting the Pieces Together and will be held October 5th at the Augusta Civic Center. We encourage abstracts in all areas of public health. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words and must include learning objectives.

Authors must provide complete and accurate contact information in order to be notified of abstract status. You do not have to be a member of MPHA to submit an abstract, however, if your abstract is accepted, presenting authors must register for the Annual Meeting at a discounted rate.

All abstracts must be submitted via e-mail or fax by April 1st at 5 p.m. by email to mainepha@gmail.com or by fax to 207.622.3616.
You can link directly to the abstract submission form through the MPHA website at http://www.mainepublichealth.org/news.php or download the document below.

As we enter a new decade of incredible changes in the healthcare arena, public health practitioners are going to be more valuable than ever before. Please help us showcase the incredible work taking place across Maine by submitting an abstract for our Annual Meeting. Until then, we wish you success in your efforts to promote health in your communities.

MPHA Membership Survey

Dear Members:
MPHA is YOUR membership organization. That said, we need your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete this annual membership survey by Friday, February 26th. The goal of this survey is to reflect back on the past year and identify how well we have implemented the seven goals highlighted in our strategic plan. For your convenience, each goal is listed with concrete examples, but should you like more information, our strategic plan is attached. If you have questions regarding this survey, please contact me at beglej@mmc.org. Thank you in advance for taking 10 minutes to complete this survey.

Sincerely,
Jessica Begley, MPH
Membership/Marketing Committee Chairperson

MPHA announces legislative education packet (public health booklet)

MPHA is pleased to announce that, with funding from the Bingham Foundation, we produced a Public Health Education booklet.  The booklet was created by MPHA members who are experts in the field with goals of increasing the education and knowledge of legislators and policy makers so they can make sound policy decisions for Maine citizens.  The booklet was delivered to all new Maine legislators and all legislative leadership prior to this session beginning in December 2008. 

The booklet focuses on the cornerstone of public health... prevention.  It contains a cover letter, an overview of Maine's public health system, and five fact sheets focused on emerging public health issues: chronic disease, environmental health, emergency preparedness, immunization and lyme disease.  

We encourage all MPHA members to use this information to your benefit in local arenas and with local policy makers.  Though we do not have funds to print additional packets, we welcome members to download the information (below) and use as appropriate.  Some suggestions for use include:
     * Local legislative gatherings - use as handouts or as a focus of the gathering
     * Print out and mail to local policy makers- include your own local information in the packet as well
     * Upload onto your own website and alert local policy makers to the information
     * Work with MPHA to explore other options.

Please note that we ask that you alert MPHA staff if you decide to use this information so we may maintain an accurate record of use.

MPHA is on Facebook!
MPHA now has a group on Facebook - and its growing everyday with almost 50 members already.  If you are a Facebook member, search Maine Public Health Association and request to join the group.  Let the networking begin!