In the midst of a global pandemic, we need an equitable healthcare system now more than ever. The reality is that thousands of Mainers are not able to access the health services that they need. Our grantees are working hard to fill in the gaps while calling for transformational change. While on some level all of our grantees are addressing health inequities in this moment, below you’ll read about three organizations in particular that are occupying unique roles in the public health sphere. Their community-based work is not only providing folks with critical resources and services, but it also positions them as powerful advocates on behalf of those most impacted by this crisis.

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Prioritizing New Mainers in Public Health Response

New Mainers Public Health Initiative

New Mainers Public Health Initiatives (NMPHI) is one of the organizations playing a key leadership role in working to keep Lewiston’s immigrant communities healthy and informed about the symptoms and risks associated with contracting and spreading COVID-19. Since the first case was confirmed in Maine, they have been distributing free hand sanitizers, disposable facial masks, clinical plastic gloves, and disinfectant sprays. Recently Maine Public Radio ran a story on the challenges that Lewiston’s New Mainers are facing, many of whom live in dense housing units. In addition to dense housing that makes it difficult for immigrant community members to effectively self-quarantine, many also work in essential jobs, increasing their risk of exposure to the virus.

Maine Access Immigrant Network

Since March, Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) has been providing urgent COVID response services to Immigrant communities while simultaneously playing a an active advocacy role. This has included multilingual public health video messaging and translations of Executive Orders to keep community members informed. They’ve also been providing food and critical supplies throughout Cumberland County, distributing over 2,000 masks. They continue to conduct wrap around case management including regular check-in calls with clients, scheduling and accompanying clients throughout various appointments to provide interpretation and support, assistance with health insurance enrollment, and supporting needs relating to housing. MAIN serves the community as a trusted resource for information, answering calls 24 hours a day to ensure that community members are connected to the resources they need.

This deep knowledge of the community positions MAIN as an important voice when addressing the racial disparities among COVID-19 cases in Maine. Sarah Lewis of MAIN shares that the organization “has remained vigilant in efforts at the local and state level advocating for, and providing solutions to the issue of systemic racism, the need for universal health care during this pandemic, and federal funding to be directed to the communities in Maine experiencing the highest rates of COVID-19 infection. MAIN has and continues to advocate for such funding to be disseminated to organizations trusted by and accountable to the communities that they serve from county-level district public health councils to the Governor’s office.”