St Marys Regional Medical Center

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) IS A MENTAL DISORDER THAT AFFECTS A PERSON’S BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, LEADING TO THEIR INABILITY TO CONTROL THEIR USE OF SUBSTANCES SUCH AS LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND MEDICATIONS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE SUD MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE CO-OCCURRING MENTAL DISORDERS. RECURRING USE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS INCLUDING HEALTH PROBLEMS, DISABILITY, AND FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES AT WORK, SCHOOL, OR HOME. IN THE UNITED STATES, SUD TREATMENT IS GENERALLY SEPARATED FROM BOTH GENERAL HEALTH CARE AND THE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH (BMH) SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH MANY STUDIES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED THERAPY TO ADDRESS COMORBIDITY, RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT ONLY 18% OF SUD TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND 9% OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVE DUALLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS. ST. MARY’S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER’S (SMRMC) SUD INPATIENT UNIT IS CONSIDERED A FREESTANDING RESIDENTIAL DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MONITORED INPATIENT DETOXIFICATION AND CARE TO PERSONS WHOSE WITHDRAWAL AND SYMPTOMS INDICATE THE NEED FOR 24-HOUR RESIDENTIAL CARE. HOWEVER, IT FREQUENTLY WELCOMES PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH BOTH SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. THE NEED FOR BMH SERVICES AND INPATIENT, MEDICALLY MONITORED DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF MAINE IS HIGH, BUT THE AVAILABILITY OF COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS IS LIMITED. SMRMC’S INPATIENT DETOX PROGRAM IS ONE OF ONLY THREE INPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS IN THE WHOLE STATE OF MAINE. SMRMC WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE IN THE SUD UNIT ON D4 THROUGH A COMPLETE RENOVATION TO THE UNIT. TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW SUD UNIT MEETS THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS AND STAFF, THE RENOVATIONS WILL ENSURE THAT THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT IS COMFORTABLE AND SAFE FOR PATIENTS. NEW FUNDING WILL SUPPORT THE COMPLETE RENOVATION OF 8,000 SQUARE FEET OF THE D4 UNIT ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF ST. MARY’S MAIN HOSPITAL. SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES USING CDS FUNDING WILL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: • RENOVATE THE CONFIGURATION OF PATIENT ROOMS AND BATHROOMS TO PROVIDE 7 DOUBLE OCCUPANCY STANDARD PATIENT ROOMS, 1 DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ACCESSIBLE PATIENT ROOM, 1 SINGLE OCCUPANCY STANDARD PATIENT ROOM, AND 1 SINGLE OCCUPANCY ACCESSIBLE PATIENT ROOM. • RENOVATE THE SUD NURSING STATION, STAFF OFFICES AND MEETING ROOMS, AND UNIT STORAGE AND UTILITY SPACE, MEDICATION ROOM, AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION ROOM. • INSTALLATION OF IMPROVED MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS. • INSTALLATION OF NEW FLOORING. • INSTALLATION OF IMPROVED SECURITY SYSTEMS INCLUDING UPDATING FIRE ALARM AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, AND UNIT CAMERAS, CALL BUTTONS, AND SPEAKERS. • INSTALLATION OF NEW ANTI-LIGATURE FURNITURE IN PATIENT ROOMS. SMRMC EXPECTS THAT IF THE SUD UNIT ON D4 IS COMPLETELY RENOVATED AND PATIENTS WITH BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS CAN RECEIVE THE PROPER CARE IN THE SAME UNIT, AND IF ALL OTHER TREATMENT PROTOCOLS ARE FOLLOWED, THEN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT WILL BE IMPROVED FOR STAFF AND SUD PATIENTS WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE IN THE STATE BY FULLY EMBRACING A HARM REDUCTION APPROACH IN A PATIENT-CENTERED CARE FACILITY.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN RECENT YEARS, FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE MAINE RESIDENTS. FOOD INSECURITY IS DRIVEN BY POVERTY, LIMITED COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND THE LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. THE URBAN CORE OF LEWISTON-AUBURN ENCOMPASSES THREE OF MAINE'S MOST IMPOVERISHED CENSUS TRACTS, ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF REFUGEES/IMMIGRANTS, AND MANY HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY AND OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. FOR OVER 23 YEARS, THE ST. MARY'S NUTRITION CENTER (NC) HAS HELPED BUILD A STRONGER, MORE JUST FOOD SYSTEM IN GREATER LEWISTON-AUBURN, MAINE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY. RECOGNIZING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LARGER THAN ACCESS TO FOOD, THE NC HAS ESTABLISHED DEEP COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, RECOGNIZED EXPERTISE, AND A TRACK RECORD OF LEADING COLLABORATIVE PLANNING EFFORTS TO REIMAGINE AND BUILD A JUST FOOD SYSTEM AND IN TURN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE LEWISTON-AUBURN COMMUNITY.THE GROWING OUR LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY TOGETHER IN LEWISTON-AUBURN MAINE PROJECT IS THE NEXT PHASE IN A LONG-TERM PLAN TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN THE REGION AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT'S AIM IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ASSETS TOWARDS CULTIVATING MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT ACCESS TO FOOD AND LAND IN LEWISTON-AUBURN. THE PROJECT WILL BUILD UPON THE NC'S PROVEN STRATEGIES OF ITS PREVIOUS GROWING FOOD TOGETHER PROJECT AND EXISTING COMMUNITY CAPACITIES TO SHIFT RESOURCES AND DECISION-MAKING TO COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS INCLUDING MAJORITY BIPOC ORGANIZATIONS. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE:STRENGTHEN EXISTING COMMUNITY FOOD RESOURCES AND MARKETS TOWARDS MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD.LAUNCH AND GROW THE LEWISTON-AUBURN COMMUNITY MARKET (LACM) - A COMMUNITY-RUN COOPERATIVE - TO PROVIDE LOW-COST GROCERY SHARED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACES; DRY/COLD STORAGE TO SERVE AREA SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS; AND A COMMUNITY EVENT SPACE.EXPAND ACCESS TO URBAN SPACES FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AS WELL AS FOOD, AGRICULTURE, GARDENING, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS MULTIPLE SETTINGS AND AGE GROUPS.ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FARMERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN ASSESSING AND ADVOCATING FOR PLANNING AND POLICIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF LOCAL AGRICULTURE, FARMLAND ACCESS, AND FOOD BUSINESSES.THE PROJECT WILL REINFORCE AND DEVELOP LINKAGES BETWEEN MULTIPLE SECTORS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM - FROM FARMERS AND GARDENERS TO CONSUMERS; DEVELOP CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FOR-PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT FOOD SECTORS; SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECTS; ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES AND BUILD THE LONG-TERM CAPACITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOOD SYSTEM; DEVELOP NEW RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AND PREVENT IT IN THE FUTURE BY LEVERAGING EXISTING NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND INCREASE THE COMMUNITY'S CAPACITY BY UTILIZING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF,ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO INCREASE THEIR FOOD SECURITY.PROJECT PARTNERS ANTICIPATE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT THAT ARE INTRICATELY INTERTWINED AND MULTI-FACETED. IN ADDITION TO CREATING NEW JOBS, TEACHING NEW SKILLS, MAXIMIZING LOCAL SUPPLY CHAINS, REDUCING FOOD WASTE, OFFERING A LOW-BARRIER ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS AND IMPROVING PEOPLES' HEALTH THROUGH IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, THIS CFP WILL HELP TO INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY AS ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUITE LITERALLY OWN PART OF THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY.THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROJECT IS ULTIMATELY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEWISTON-AUBURN COMMUNITY MARKET (LACM). THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DOWNTOWN L-A WILL BE IMPROVED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOW-COST, CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY SUPPORTIVE RETAIL EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE LACM. BASED ON A CAREFUL REVIEW OF PREEXISTING MODEL STRUCTURES,BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH, AND LOCALIZED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND MARKET ASSESSMENTS, THE LACM WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL MILESTONE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEWISTON-AUBURN THAT WILL SERVE AS A LIVING MONUMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COOPERATION THAT WILL ULTIMATELY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE LOCAL POPULATION. LACM WILL BE A COMMUNITY-OWNED MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COOPERATIVE - AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE GROCERY STORE; SHARED KITCHEN AND STORAGE SPACE AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE THAT WILL ANCHOR ALL OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND BECOME AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER SMALL CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS, THE ST. MARY'S NUTRITION CENTER (NC) HAS HELPED BUILD A STRONGER, MORE JUST FOOD SYSTEM IN GREATER LEWISTON-AUBURN, MAINE BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO TAKE PART IN GROWING, COOKING AND SHARING HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD. OUR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY GARDENS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FRESH VEGETABLES IN NEIGHBORHOODS OF LOW-INCOME; YOUTH PROGRAMS ALLOW TEENS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR PEERS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD; AND DIVERSE FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES, INCLUDING OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED MOBILE MARKET, THE GOOD FOOD BUS, ENABLES UNDERSERVED PEOPLE TO BRING HOME MORE HEALTHY FOOD.THROUGH THIS WORK, THE NUTRITION CENTER HAS ESTABLISHED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, RECOGNIZED EXPERTISE, A TRACK RECORD OF LEADING COLLABORATIVE PLANNING EFFORTS, AND A LONG HISTORY OF ENGAGING WITH YOUTH AND ADULTS OF LOW INCOME IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN A CITY WHERE THE CHILDHOOD POVERTY LEVEL IS NEARLY TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE AND WHERE OF 100% OF THE STUDENTS AT THE DOWNTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL QUALIFY FOR FREE/REDUCED MEALS, THE CHALLENGERS OF FOOD ACCESS AND HUNGER ARE A STARK REALITY. THE NUTRITION CENTER HAS A KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS AND GAPS WITHIN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE UNIQUE ASSETS THAT OUR COMMUNITY POSSESSES. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PARTNERS TOGETHER FOR A COORDINATED RESPONSE.THE GOAL OF THIS CFP PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH THAT PRESERVES PRIZED FARMLAND; ESTABLISHES LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS FOR NEW AMERICAN FARMERS; EXPANDS FOOD AND FARM-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, YOUTH AND CHILDREN; INCREASES ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD; AND USES FOOD AS A MEANS TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND BRING TOGETHER THE MANY DIVERSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF THE STRATEGIES AND ACTIVIES PLANNED OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL UTILIZE CFP FUNDS FOR A ONE-TIME INFUSION TO MAKE KEY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE STAFF TIME AND OUTSIDE EXPERTISE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS AND AGREEMENTS FOR SHARED USE OF SPACE.KEY ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE RECENTLY-CONVERTED NONPROFIT WHITING FARM TO REHAB HOOP HOUSES FOR USE BY PARTNERS, IMMIGRANT FARMERS, COMMUNITY GARDENERS, YOUTH, AND SCHOOLS; 2) EXPAND COMMUNITY GARDENS AND SCHOOL GARDENS INCLUDING A NEW ON-SITE LEARNING GARDEN; 3) EXPAND THE GOOD FOOD BUS MOBILE MARKET REACH AND IMPACT; 4) INCREASE THE UTILIZATION OF EXISTING FOOD ACCESS SITES AND PROGRAMS BY PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH A FRESH FOOD CHAMPION PEER ADVOCATE MODEL; 5)ENGAGE TEENS IN FOOD AND GARDEN-BASED LEADERSHIP AND JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES; AND 6) SUPPORT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN A STUDY TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND FUTURE ACCESS TO FARMLAND IN THE CITY OF AUBURN.

HEALTH CARE AND OTHER FACILITIES