ROCKPORT and BELFAST — The community health team at Penn Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital presents Community Health Worker (CHW) Richard Morin.
Morin is the first to join the CHW team in Pen Bay and Waldo, who developed the program to help community members who have historically faced barriers to accessing health care, such as lack of transportation or insurance, or discomfort navigating the medical system.
Based out of Rockport, Maureen travels the community working with clients throughout Knox County to connect them with resources and help them manage their health.
“By going out and meeting patients where they are, we are able to care for our community members in a new way. This is an important step in fulfilling our vision to make our communities the healthiest in America,” Gemma Penberty, director of Community Health for Pen Bay and Waldo, said in a news release. “There are so many wonderful community partners that offer programs and resources that can help with social determinants of health like transportation, insurance, food insecurity. The goal is for community health workers to augment the resources that already exist and help remove barriers to accessing them.
The CHW program is provided free of charge to patients and allows CHWs to work with clients for a period of three months. Together, they set health goals and overcome challenges, from navigating new medical diagnoses or identifying sustainable transportation options to applying for SNAP benefits or learning to cook at home.
Maureen has 20 years of experience working with people with substance abuse and mental health recovery. He comes to Pen Bay after seven years at Maine Behavioral Healthcare, where he served in a variety of peer support and case manager roles. He is a Certified Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Crisis Service Provider and a Certified Targeted Peer Support Specialist. Maureen is also a current candidate for a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Maine.
“When I saw the job description I thought it was the perfect role – I can use all my skill sets to support people,” said Morin. “My main goal is to help people succeed and getting out into the community, developing relationships, that’s where the real work happens.”
The CHW program is open to patients over the age of 18 who live in Knox or Waldo counties. Patients are referred through providers and community partners, including food pantries and soup kitchens, schools, shelters and CAP agencies. Community members can also contact the program directly through Mainehealth.findhelp.com.
Hospitals are looking to hire additional CHWs to help meet the needs of their communities. For more information about the position or to apply, click here.
About Pen Bay Medical Center
Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system comprised of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral health network, diagnostic services, home health agencies and more than 1,600 chartered and independent physicians working together through the Organization for responsible care. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.
Waldo County General Hospital
Waldo County General Hospital is part of MaineHealth, an integrated not-for-profit health system comprised of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral health network, diagnostic services, home health agencies and more than 1,600 chartered and independent physicians working together through Organization for responsible care. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit wcgh.org.