Archived Communications
Maine DHHS to Establish Office of Population Health Equity
Apr 4, 2021
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that it will establish the Office of Population Health Equity (OPHE) within the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) in order to identify and address health disparities in communities throughout Maine.
Geropsychiatric Unit
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center (DDPC) opened a new geropsychiatric unit in January 2021. This unit serves the needs of older adults who have severe, persistent mental illness requiring inpatient psychiatric care. The unit, while part of DDPC, is located in a separate building. The building was specifically designed for this patient population, and provides a warm, welcoming environment. The unit is staffed with a geropsychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a psychologist, nurses, mental health workers, social workers and therapeutic services staff.
Mainers Can Now Use EBT Cards for Online Purchases at Amazon and Walmart
Mar 3, 2021
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office for Family Independence (OFI) announced today that Maine people who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can now make online food purchases at Amazon and Walmart using their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card.
As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Online Purchasing Pilot:
Maine CDC Public Health Nurses Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic in Maine Communities
Mar 3, 2021
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are trained to deliver a diverse array of services in Maine communities, from providing direct care and community-based health education, to infectious disease prevention and investigation, and contributing to the development of public health policy. This skillset has proven especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DHHS Partners with Area Agencies on Aging and Community Groups to Vaccinate Older Mainers
Mar 3, 2021
Under Maine’s age-based approach to vaccination eligibility, scores of older Mainers most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 are receiving vaccinations. As of March 17, 77 percent of Maine residents age 70 and older and 49 percent of residents age 60 to 69 have received their first dose of vaccine.
Benefits Available to Eligible Mainers After Biden Administration Drops Defense of Public Charge Rule
Mar 3, 2021
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that it will no longer defend the prior administration’s implementation of the 2019 public charge rule, which penalized eligible Mainers for using benefits they are entitled to by law.
DHHS Announces Plan for $30.5M in Federal Funds to Support Maine Children, Families, and Child Care Providers
Feb 2, 2021
The Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services today announced spending priorities for the additional $30.5 million in federal funds the State of Maine has received to support children, families, and child care providers with affordable child care due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maine DHHS Offers BinaxNOW Rapid Tests to Licensed Child Care Providers
Feb 2, 2021
The Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services announced today that due to increased availability of BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, distribution of the rapid test kits will be expanded to the 1,726 licensed child care providers that have the capacity to serve 41,792 children.