Statement: The Opportunity Alliance Resolves Legal Matter
For media inquiries contact:
Lily Lynch, VP of Development and Communications
Lily.lynch@opportunityalliance.org
207-523-5030
The Opportunity Alliance Resolves Legal Matter
South Portland, Maine—May 23, 2025 — The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) has reached a legal settlement to resolve a civil complaint brought against the agency by the federal government and the State of Maine. This matter was related to TOA’s contract with Provider Labs to perform client drug testing. Provider Labs submitted lab tests for reimbursement, which were paid by federal health care programs. TOA did not receive the funds that were reimbursed to the lab.
The Opportunity Alliance remains committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. This isolated incident regarding reimbursement for substance use testing took place at the height of the opioid crisis, when significant actions were being taken to try to reduce substance use. Clinical practices evolve quickly, and in the past five years, TOA has made measurable changes that ensure its programs follow best clinical practices now and in the future.
“The Opportunity Alliance is a community-based nonprofit that takes our mission — to build better lives and stronger communities across Maine— to heart, and the safety and well-being of clients is our number one priority,” said Joe Everett, President and CEO of The Opportunity Alliance. “We regret that we placed too much trust in Provider Labs. We relied on Provider Labs to provide correct and adequate paperwork and had no reason at the time to believe the lab was not credible.”
About The Opportunity Alliance:
To build better lives and stronger communities across Maine, The Opportunity Alliance supports people with the programs and resources they need to improve their health, safety, and stability. Each year, The Opportunity Alliance supports 24,000 individuals of all ages across Southern Maine through dozens of programs.
The Opportunity Alliance has many long-standing and continued contracts and collaborations with the State of Maine and the Department of Health and Human Services.
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USDA Visits Portland WIC Clinic
Visit Highlights Actions to Engage More Immigrant and Asylum-Seeking Families
PORTLAND, ME-March 5, 2024- Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean visited The Opportunity Alliance’s office in Portland. During the visit, Deputy Under Secretary Dean heard updates from the staff of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (known as WIC) about a grant from USDA Food & Research Action Center Community Innovation And Outreach, which the program received in May of 2023. The $706,000 federal grant was awarded to operate an outreach program to make the WIC Program more accessible to historically marginalized families in Cumberland County.
Through the grant partnership with MaineHealth Access to Care, WIC has placed three employees at Maine Medical Center in Portland. The grant also will be used to partner with the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition who will lead community qualitative data gathering efforts, and the development of community-informed health and nutrition educational materials. The Deputy Under Secretary was also briefed on Maine WIC’s Shopping Experience Innovation grant from the USDA which funds WIC Community Health Workers in York, Cumberland, and Androscoggin counties. WIC Community Health Workers coach families as they learn to navigate Western-stye grocery stores and the nuances of WIC benefits, while providing important cross-cultural education.
Anna Bullett, Senior Director of Health & Nutrition for The Opportunity Alliance states that “Some of the immigrant community – many of whom come to Maine in their journey to seek asylum in the United States – often do not know what benefits they qualify for or how to use them. The families, many of whom are fleeing violence and oppression, usually have no income or access to childcare and are unable to obtain employment due to federal immigration rules which prohibit asylum-seekers from working for the first six months they are in the United States. WIC provides critical access to healthy foods to Maine’s youngest new residents during a vulnerable time.”
WIC is a supplemental program that provides money on a card to purchase specific nutritious foods and infant formula at WIC approved grocery stores and farm stands, and nutrition education to pregnant and breastfeeding people and children up to age 5 years.
“WIC is an incredibly powerful health intervention,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Stacy Dean. “The more families we can connect to WIC the better. It’s better for the families and for our country.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through a cooperative agreement with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), has awarded $16 million in subgrants funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to 36 projects aimed at testing innovative outreach strategies to increase participation and equity in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, through WIC CIAO projects.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew also joined the visit, stating, “The Women, Infants and Children program, under the leadership of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, serves nearly 18,000 people across Maine, providing innovative, culturally-informed access to healthy foods, nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. We thank our federal partners for helping us to bring this support to Maine families at a critical time in their lives.”
About The Opportunity Alliance To build better lives and stronger communities across Maine, The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) supports people with the programs and resources they need to improve their health, safety, and stability. TOA envisions a community in which all Mainers have access to high-quality childcare and early childhood education, safe and stable housing, effective and compassionate mental health and substance use treatment, and basic needs support. TOA operates mainly in Cumberland/York Counties, while certain programs – MYAN, Maine Crisis Line, 211 – operate statewide. TOA covers four sectors of service: Childcare and Early Childhood Education, Behavioral Health & Wellness, Community Well-Being, and Poverty & Economic Supports. Each year, TOA’s 50 integrated programs serve over 20,000 people in the community, plus 200,000+ calls are answered by the Maine Crisis Line and 211 Maine. Learn more at www.opportunityalliance.org
Back row, left to right: Lizbeth Silbermann, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional Administrator; Jeanne Lambrew, Maine DHHS Commissioner; Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. Front row, left to right: Ginger Roberts-Scott, Director, Maine WIC Nutrition Program; Lilian Vitale, TOA WIC Special Projects Coordinator, Anna Bullett, Senior Director, Health & Nutrition at TOA
Contact: Lily Lynch
Lily.lynch@opportunityalliance.org
207-523-5030
Maine DHHS Launches 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
July 18, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Jackie Farwell, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
NEWS RELEASE
Maine DHHS Launches 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
New nationally designed three-digit dialing code is an easy-to-remember connection to help for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis
AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a new three-digit dialing code available nationwide as an easy-to-remember connection to help for anyone experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis.
The 988 Lifeline went live in Maine on Saturday, July 16, as planned, after more than a year of preparation by DHHS and a stakeholder coalition including partners from crisis services, 911, EMS, and law enforcement. The 988 Lifeline responds 24/7 to calls, chats or texts from anyone who needs support for suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis, and connects those in need with trained crisis counselors. Individuals can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Nationally, 988 is the new three-digit dialing code connecting people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). In Maine, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline have been routed to the existing Maine Crisis Line since 2018. With Saturday’s launch of 988, the process remains the same -- only the number is changing. Maine people who call 988 are routed through the Lifeline network based on their area code and connected to a trained crisis specialist at the Maine Crisis Line. Specialists provide therapeutic support and assessment in the moment, and connection to community-based resources such as one of Maine’s regional mobile crisis teams. All 988 callers in Maine continue to be served by local providers.
“The 988 Lifeline represents a new, easily accessible front door for Maine’s statewide crisis services,” said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. “We encourage anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or those with concerns about a loved one to dial 988 for compassionate, expert help and a connection to support in their community.”
The Maine Crisis Line is administered by DHHS and managed by The Opportunity Alliance of South Portland.
“The Opportunity Alliance is thrilled to have additional, easy to access support available for Mainers experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Joseph Everett, President and CEO of The Opportunity Alliance. “The compassionate and talented staff at The Maine Crisis Line have been answering the calls of Mainers in crisis for six years, and they will continue to provide dedicated, expert care and support to those who need us most.”
“The launch of 988 in Maine opens doors to hope and support for the 1 in 4 Mainers who are struggling with a mental health challenge, marking an important step in transforming access to appropriate services within their communities,” said Hannah Longley, Senior Clinical Director of Community Programs at NAMI Maine. “As with physical health emergencies, it is our hope that 988 will save lives by providing critical emergency services for mental health and suicidal crises. We look forward to continuing conversations to further normalize and streamline these services.”
As an additional access point to Maine’s crisis system, the 988 Lifeline serves as an alternative to dialing 911 for people who are experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or a mental health crisis. People in need can receive immediate support from trained mental health specialists, while avoiding unnecessary law enforcement involvement. Currently, Maine Crisis Line staff are able to resolve 83 percent of the of the nearly 10,000 calls a month they receive on average on the phone, with no further intervention necessary.
“Implementing the 988 line in the State of Maine is another reminder that mental health is equally as important as physical health,” said Maine EMS Director Sam Hurley. “Maine EMS continues to work hand-in-hand with colleagues at DHHS and around the state to ensure that all patients receive the right care at the right time, no matter their emergency. As the 988 system continues to evolve, we will see even further alignment with this mission in ensuring that all patients receive the highest quality care from a well-trained expert as safely as possible.”
The Maine Crisis Line will continue to answer calls, texts and chats to the current 10-digit number (1-888-568-1112) and calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK), as well as answer calls to the 988 Line. Texts and chats to 988 continue to be handled by the national Lifeline support center. Regardless of which number individuals dial, calls are answered 24/7 with free, confidential help and support for non-English speaking and deaf or hard of hearing callers.
In the short term, the launch of 988 is key to expanding Maine’s Lifeline call center infrastructure and capacity. Over the longer term, DHHS is working to bolster a crisis response system continuum linking anyone in crisis to community-based providers who can deliver a full range of crisis care services.
The 988 implementation is part of the Department’s broader work with partners throughout the state to strengthen the behavioral health system, including support for Maine people struggling with a mental health crisis. With support from the Governor and Legislature, the Department is investing more than $230 million in state and federal funds over the 2022-23 biennium in the provider workforce and improving access to evidence-based behavioral health services. This includes investing in the state’s first Crisis Receiving Center and strengthening mobile crisis and crisis residential services across the state.
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Maine Community Action Partnership Shares Results of State’s First Community Needs Assessment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lily Lynch
207-523-5030
lily.lynch@opprotunityalliance.org
Maine Community Action Partnership Shares Results of State’s First Community Needs Assessment
AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, January 26, Maine Community Action Partnership (MeCAP) and Maine’s ten Community Action Agencies announced the release of the 2021 Community Needs Assessment. This systematic data-driven report that takes a closer look into the behaviors and needs of the residents of Maine outlines the top issues facing Maine families and individuals. Maine is the first state in the nation to successfully complete a statewide community needs assessment and MeCAP is eager to share the findings as community action agencies across the state prepare for the future.
The broad purpose of Maine’s Community Action Programs is to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. This newly released report describes the fundamental economic challenges facing Mainers. For the first time in MeCAP history, the data and interviews provide a good comparative look at these challenges across the state and up-close issues by region.
“Much of what we heard will not surprise you,” said Megan Hannan, Executive Director of MeCAP, “we know the reasons many families cannot escape poverty or living on the edge are systemic. The jobs that lead to comfortable lives historically, in mills and manufacturing, have all but vanished. The work ethic has not. But the available jobs are not the same.”
“The top issues: safe, affordable housing; affordable, quality childcare; generational poverty; holistic health care; and transportation are all ruled by systems that work against low- and moderate-income households” Hannan continued. “Add the intersections of systemic racism, agism, anti-LGBTQ+, and too many Maine families and individuals have a tough time working their way out.”
“I am thrilled that we now have this data, which I see as another tool in our efforts to support individuals and families across Maine,” said Joseph Everett, President & CEO of The Opportunity Alliance. “Here in Cumberland County, we know that too many people are struggling to find safe, affordable housing and affordable, quality childcare. Our health care options need to be more interconnected and access to transportation needs to be greatly expanded. Generational poverty continues to be a challenge for so many of our neighbors. Hopefully, this statewide assessment is just the beginning of a coordinated effort. We need more than just Community Action Agencies working together. We’re asking lawmakers, business and community leaders, and residents to come together to solve our communities’ most pressing challenges.”
The Opportunity Alliance is Cumberland County’s Community Action Agency, with more than 55 tightly connected programs serving 20,000+ individuals each year.
The assessment was conducted by MeCAP in partnership with Crescendo Consulting Group. The 357-page report includes a broad overview of MeCAP and Maine’s ten community action agencies, describes the approaches and methodology used in the report, and identifies themes and high-level action areas. The report prioritized recommendations for the state as a whole and each individual region. After completing a needs prioritization process, the report identifies the five top statewide needs as:
1. Safe, affordable housing
2. Affordable, quality childcare
3. Ending the cycle of generational poverty
4. Holistic person-centered health care
5. Transportation
The Cumberland County Community Needs Assessment results can be found here. The statewide executive summary can be found here.
About Maine Community Action Partnership
Maine Community Action Partnership (MeCAP) is a statewide organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Maine citizens by advocating for, enhancing and supporting the work of Maine CAAs. Each of Maine's ten CAAs is rooted in the communities within which it serves, collectively touching the lives of approximately 140,000 clients. Each individual CAA has developed a mission statement and program focus areas specific to its organization and service area through community needs assessments. The unifying thread weaving the CAAs together is the strategic effort to improve the quality of life, health and economic circumstances of Maine's most vulnerable citizens -- specifically targeting Maine's low and very low-income people. Learn more at: www.mecap.org.
About The Opportunity Alliance
Through 55 integrated and community-based programs, The Opportunity Alliance serves more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Learn more about TOA by visiting their website at www.OpportunityAlliance.org.
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MAINEHOUSING ANNOUNCES EXPANDED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2021
Cara Courchesne, MaineHousing
207-242-1904
MAINEHOUSING ANNOUNCES EXPANDED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Today MaineHousing announced expanded eligibility for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, increasing both the potential number of Maine people who can receive help paying their rent and utilities and the number of months they may receive assistance.
The following changes will be effective at noon on Monday, August 2:
Updating one of the eligibility requirements from having financial difficulty because of the pandemic to during the pandemic.
Increasing the total number of months a household can receive assistance from 15 months to 18 months.
“These program changes mean more Maine people could get the help they need for a longer period of time. We’ve heard from tenants and landlords alike that this program is truly making a difference to help keep people housed,” said Daniel Brennan, director of MaineHousing. “ERA is helping take care of rent and utility bills that have weighed on people for months. We hope this assistance gives them some stability, which is so desperately needed right now.”
The program expansions come just before the federal eviction moratorium expires on July 31, 2021. To help round out the benefits the ERA program provides, MaineHousing is funding Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Legal Services for the Elderly to provide legal representation for tenants facing eviction.
“Often, a third party can help resolve disputes and help stabilize good tenants,” Brennan noted. “This is another way we are helping tenants remain housed and by extension, helping landlords get the money they’re owed.”
The program changes are a result of both the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided additional funding for emergency rental assistance, and the U.S. Treasury Department’s updated guidelines for the program.
Those who have applied and were approved for the program AND those who have applied and have yet to hear back do not need to take any further action regarding their application. Maine’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs), the organizations that run the ERA program throughout Maine, will automatically apply any updates to existing applicants. CAAs will also reach out to applicants whose applications were denied because they did not meet previous eligibility requirements related to financial difficulties.
The program, which launched on March 1 earlier this year, has helped 9,286 Maine households with $46.2 million in paid and approved funding.
Updated application and program information will be available in nine languages at noon on Monday at mainehousing.org/covidrent. People with application-specific questions can contact their local CAA. Anyone who has general program questions or who would like to request a paper application can call MaineHousing at 1-800-452-4668.
Bags That Give Back: The Opportunity Alliance Selected to Benefit in Hannaford Reusable Bag Program Designed to Give Back in Local Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Opportunity Alliance
Lily Lynch – Development & Communications
207-523-5030
lily.lynch@opportunityalliance.org
Bags That Give Back: The Opportunity Alliance Selected to Benefit in Hannaford Reusable Bag Program Designed to Give Back in Local Communities
(South Portland, ME) – Reduce single-use plastic in the environment and give back to those in need in the local community, all while running routine weekly errands at the local 415 Philbrook Avenue (Maine Mall) Hannaford in South Portland. The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) has been selected by Maine Mall Hannaford store leadership as the benefiting non-profit for the month of July!
As part of this ongoing program, every month at every Hannaford location a different local non-profit is selected to benefit from the sale of the reusable bag program. The Opportunity Alliance will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable bag purchased at this Maine Mall location in July.
“These days, more and more Mainers are turning to The Opportunity Alliance for support. It’s also more important than ever to help reduce single-use plastic in the environment,” said Lily Lynch, VP of Development & Communications of The Opportunity Alliance. “We’re grateful for this program- which we see as a win-win, and hope you’ll support us in July by purchasing one – or two – reusable bags at the Maine Mall Hannaford.”
Through 45 integrated and community-based programs, The Opportunity Alliance serves more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports.
Learn more about TOA by visiting their website at www.OpportunityAlliance.org.
Maine Voices: Let’s seize this opportunity to invest in all young people
Portland-area teens will benefit if we channel new COVID response funds into the places where they live, learn, work and play.
BY LIZ BLACKWELL-MOORE AND JANA RICHARDS - SPECIAL TO THE PRESS HERALD
We all want young people to thrive. The foundation for young people’s health and development are the relationships, experiences and environments in which they live, including the systems they encounter. Adolescence is a unique time of discovery and exploration. To become competent and capable adults, young people must seek out new experiences and build new relationships beyond their own home. Many young people find those nurturing relationships and positive experiences at school, during after-school programming, playing sports or in their community with adult neighbors and mentors.
COVID has disrupted these foundational parts of adolescence. Young people have limited, if any, in-person time with teachers, coaches, club leaders or neighbors. Access to positive community experiences such as community dinners or events, extracurricular activities or after-school jobs have become limited or non-existent. These disruptions, although critical to slow the spread of COVID, have curbed opportunities for discovery and exploration.
Although COVID restrictions have disrupted these foundational parts of adolescence for all, it has highlighted the inequities that exist in access to developmental relationships, opportunities for exploration and community conditions that support healthy development. Some young people have increased toxic stress in their household, like abuse and neglect, or having a parent who’s dealing with a substance use disorder. Other young people experience toxic stress in their community through harmful community conditions. Systemic racism and oppression are key sources of community toxic stress that negatively affect children and families. Decades of discriminatory practices and policies in our housing, education, health care and employment systems mean that Black and Indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people experiencing poverty are less likely to have safe and stable housing, quality education, equal access to health care and stable, living-wage jobs. Young people are incredibly resilient, but resilience in the face of systemic barriers can still result in inequitable outcomes for young people and families.
Communities and school districts have proven over this past year that they can make large shifts in how we live, work and learn. With new COVID response funds coming to municipalities, school districts, counties and the state, we have a unique opportunity to invest in all our adolescents and address long-standing inequities. This will require more than tweaks to current systems. It will take larger shifts in how we channel resources into the education system and how we work to improve community conditions, like living wages, transportation and stable housing. Let’s seize this opportunity to invest in all young people by investing in the places where they live, learn, work and play.
Schools are working hard to address opportunity gaps and are operating as a key resource for many young people to meet their basic needs like food, health care, internet access, behavioral health supports and connection to others. They have plans to expand their programs to better meet the needs of young people and families that have been most affected by the pandemic and past inequities. This includes expanded English Language Learner programs, more cultural brokers, investment in behavioral health responses and providing school credit to students who worked or provided child care during the pandemic. Let’s support our young people by supporting our school districts and encouraging continued investment in these programs.
Communities know the importance of safe parks and open spaces, opportunities for out-of-school programming, quality and stable housing, safe drinking water, access to healthy food, reliable transportation and living wages. Improving these community conditions is the most effective strategy we can invest in to close the gaps in access to resources and equity in health outcomes for community members who experience higher levels of toxic stress. These supportive community conditions have more influence on the healthy development of young people than any program, yet they are not available in every Portland-area neighborhood . Let’s invest in and prioritize improvements to those community conditions specifically where they are limited, and ensure those efforts are led by the people who live there.
Investing in schools and community conditions is the most effective way to reduce sources of toxic stress and support resiliency and better behavioral health for young people and families.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Liz Blackwell-Moore, MPH, is a public health consultant living in Portland, and Jana Richards is program manager with the public health program at the Opportunity Alliance.
Link to Article: https://www.pressherald.com/2021/05/13/maine-voices-lets-seize-this-opportunity-to-invest-in-all-young-people/
The Opportunity Alliance receives $10,000 Grant from Northeast Delta Dental Foundation
The Opportunity Alliance receives $10,000 Grant from Northeast Delta Dental Foundation
Grant Supports Children’s Oral Health Program
April 29, 2021 South Portland, Maine. The Opportunity Alliance’s Public Health Program (PHP) has received a $10,000 grant from the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation. Grant funds will support Virtual Dental Health Groups, in which PHP’s Public Health Hygienist will offer preventative oral health education through a group-based model. This model reduces barriers to access by bringing information and resources to clients in a culturally responsive way, partnering with a community health worker or other trusted facilitator to co-present the material, and bringing in translation services as needed.
“We know that quality dental care can have long-term, critical impacts on an individual’s health, but many of the children and families that we serve face barriers to accessing that care,” said Joseph Everett, President & CEO of The Opportunity Alliance. “Thanks to the support of the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, the Public Health Program here at The Opportunity Alliance is utilizing alternative, innovative approaches to reach children and families with preventative oral health care outreach.”
“We are proud to support The Opportunity Alliance’s Public Health Program,” said Jennifer McGrath, Manager, Foundation & Marketing Initiatives. “Their program aligns with our mission of improving the education, quality and access to oral healthcare throughout Maine.”
The Opportunity Alliance is the Community Action Agency for Cumberland County. Through multiple integrated community based and clinical programs the organization serves more than 20,000 people annually throughout Maine.
About The Opportunity Alliance With over 50 years of experience, The Opportunity Alliance builds stronger communities by helping individuals and families navigate crisis, access basic needs, and improve their neighborhoods. The organization’s comprehensive programs and strategic partners are all tightly connected to provide community members with compassionate and effective wrap-around support. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service: Mental Health & Wellness; Community Building; Family & Early Childhood Education; and Economic Resources.
To learn more about The Opportunity Alliance, visit www.opportunityalliance.org.
Contact: Lily Lynch 207.523.5030 Lily.Lynch@OpportunityAlliance.org
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TOA Featured in Latest Issue of Wiser Living
In the latest issue of Wiser Living, The Opportunity Alliance is featured on page 14. Learn about our Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs and how our volunteers are giving back to their community.
Follow this link to the article on page 14.
Community Mental Health Frontline Workers Want Mainers to Know They Are Not Alone
Community Mental Health Frontline Workers Want Mainers to Know They Are Not Alone
Agencies that deliver services close to home reach out to Mainers, prescribe a “Mental Health Tool Kit” of resources
November 23, 2020 – With the holidays and winter approaching, a growing number of Mainers of all ages are struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges including anxiety and depression due to COVID-19. Front line workers who deliver mental health services in Maine are seeing an increasing demand and want Mainers to know that support is available, where convenient to them – close to home.
Tracy Mallwitz is with The Opportunity Alliance, which operates the Maine Crisis Line (1-888-568-1112) – a service that is available statewide 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone, text, or chat. During COVID-19, the service has received an average of 300 calls each day, an increase of about 50 calls each day. In October, Mallwitz reports that the Maine Crisis Line answered 8,734 calls and more than half were related to the pandemic in some way.
“We are hearing from more and more people who have never experienced mental health issues in the past. The intensity and length of time we are on the phone supporting them has also increased,” said Mallwitz.
Sweetser’s Director of Recovery Services Scott Metzger said that the Intentional Warm Line (1-866-771-9276) is available statewide to adults 18 and older and has seen an increase in calls since the pandemic hit in March. Use of the Warm Line has increased by 44%, or 19,803 calls as of the end of October. The phone line is staffed by trained peer specialists who have had a solid journey of wellness and recovery from mental health, substance use disorders, and trauma. And they are spending more than double the amount of time talking with callers, compared to pre-COVID-19.
KidsPeace Alternative Response Program Case Manager Gabe Smith connects families with the resources they need in the community. He has seen their stress and anxiety levels increase due to the pandemic. “It’s coming from all different directions” he says about their anxiety related to changes in how their children go to school or lockdowns that cause further isolation. And he notes, “The holidays are a traditionally a tough time for these families and the current situation is just going to exacerbate that.”
Oxford County Mental Health Services is located in a rural part of the state, where they have seen the elderly population struggle with isolation and depression now more than ever because people are being cautious about in-person visits with their loved ones, and reaching out by phone instead.
Member organizations within the Behavioral Health Community Collaborative (BHCC) employ a total of about 3,000 people who serve approximately 80,000 clients in Maine each year. BHCC organizations are: KidsPeace, Oxford County Mental Health Services, Shalom House, Spurwink, Sweetser, The Opportunity Alliance, and Volunteers of America Northern New England.
Learn more about the Behavioral Health Community Collaborative at mentalhealth4ME.org where you can find a find a Mental Health Tool Kit of resources including the Mental Health Protective Equipment from KidsPeace, and the myStrength Online Wellness Tools & Activities for COVID-19 from Sweetser.
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Finding Help in Maine is Easier than Ever with 211Maine.org
Maine—211 Maine and the United Ways of Maine are pleased to announce the launch of a redesigned website, 211Maine.org. Finding help for complex needs like shelter, substance use, mental health, or food access can be challenging. Fortunately, 211 Maine is available to all Mainers, and now accessible through a new, user friendly website enabling visitors to initiate a search for help, day or night.
211 Maine is a free, confidential resource for people of all ages to access local health and human services information. People can find help in their area by dialing 211 and talking with a trained and friendly specialist, by texting their zip code to 898-211, or by searching the now improved online directory at 211Maine.org.
“Sometimes finding the right resources can be overwhelming,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, United Way of Greater Portland President and CEO and President of the 211 Maine Board of Directors. “The new 211 Maine website will improve access to community-based resources and programs by making it easier for people to find the services they need when they need them.”
The new design prioritizes the user. The changes improve the search experience with features such as pre-populated search buttons and filtering options. Search results can now be filtered based on key factors like insurance level or veteran status. While the look and feel of the search have changed, the same statewide information about health and human services is available.
“While 211 Specialists are available here in Maine any time of day or night to talk or text with people, not everyone is willing to start their search for help by asking someone,” shared Nikki Busmanis, 211 Maine Program Manager. “Many people want to begin looking on their own online and searching the 211 website.”
Since 2006 when 211 Maine became a statewide service, over 800,000 calls for assistance have been received. 211 fields thousands of calls every month from people looking for help for themselves or someone they know. In collaboration with the State of Maine, 211 Maine became a primary source of information for COVID-19 in March, tripling the number of incoming calls.
211 Maine is a collaborative effort of the United Ways of Maine, the State of Maine, and The Opportunity Alliance as the Contact Center Partner.
The website redesign was possible due to an anonymous fund at the Maine Community Foundation.
New Training for a Stressed-Out Hospitality Workforce
Augusta, Maine — It’s always been stressful: Waiting tables, running an inn, balancing the books.
Midway through the summer of COVID-19, professionals in the hospitality space — known for creating relaxing environments for others — face a new anxiety: Working through a pandemic. New industry protocols such as social distancing, incessant cleaning and the debate over face coverings, can lead to on-the-job anxiety and even damage mental and physical health.
This week, HospitalityMaine launches two online courses aimed at creating a sustained, healthy workforce for Maine's restaurant and hotel professionals. In partnership with the Maine Community College System and The Opportunity Alliance, the new COVID Readiness Training covers stress management and the foundations of de-escalation, which aims to diffuse conflict.
“Learning de-escalation skills promotes a sense of safety, reduces burnout, and allows workers to interact with customers more confidently,” said Emily DaSilva, a public health expert at The Opportunity Alliance, a South Portland-based community action agency. “Good self-care and mental health practices are important acts of self-preservation and increases our ability to thrive day to day.”
Earlier this spring and summer HospitalityMaine launched COVID-19 Restaurant Readiness and Lodging Foundations training. Taken by more than 3,000 Mainers since May, there are now four micro-credentials that can be put towards an associate degree at Eastern Maine Community College.
“We are pleased to launch the final two programs in our four-course suite of COVID-19 training: Hospitality Health: De-Escalation and Hospitality Health: Managing Stress. Added to Restaurant Readiness and Lodging Foundations, these free, online tools ensure the health and safety of our workers and guests,” said HospitalityMaine's CEO Steve Hewins.“Our industry’s long term recovery starts with educating our frontline employees on how to keep themselves and their guests safe and healthy."
David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College Systems, considers this training key in securing Maine's status as a safe destination for vacationers.
“HospitalityMaine is a leader in understanding that micro-credentials, earned over short periods of time, are responsive to the current needs of the industry and can be combined to provide an efficient and effective path to developing the skills and longer-term credentials necessary in today’s economy,” said Daigler.
Questions?
Emily DaSilva - Substance Use Prevention Program Coordinator
Phone: (207) 553-5867
emily.dasilva@opportunityalliance.org
Learn more about the Youth Employee Assistance Program
"FrontLine WarmLine" Launches to Help Maine's Health Care Workers and First Responders Manage Emotional Toll of COVID-19
Phone help service supported by Mills Administration and behavioral health partners is staffed by volunteer professionals
AUGUSTA — A new volunteer phone support service, the FrontLine WarmLine, launched today to help Maine health care workers and first responders manage the stress of serving on the front lines of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FrontLine Warmline serves health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses and counselors, as well as emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement, and others who are directly responding to the pandemic in Maine. The line is staffed by volunteer professionals activated through Maine Responds, including licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and nurse practitioners, who can help callers to deal with anxiety, irritability stress, poor sleep, grief or worry and, if needed, connect them with additional supports.
The FrontLine WarmLine is available to clinicians and first responders from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week by calling (207) 221-8196 or 866-367-4440. Text capability will be added soon.
The FrontLine WarmLine is a joint effort of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Maine Department of Public Safety's Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians, The Opportunity Alliance, Maine Psychological Association, and the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
"Maine's health care professionals and first responders have worked tirelessly to protect Maine people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "We recognize that this work takes an emotional toll so we're proud to support the FrontLine WarmLine as a resource offered by behavioral health peers who know how to help."
"Maine's first responders and health care providers put themselves under great stress responding to this pandemic," said Jessica Pollard, director of the DHHS Office of Behavioral Health. "It's important for these dedicated professionals to know we're here for them and are ready to support them in managing the completely expected reactions they may have. We thank all of the volunteer professionals who are pitching in to help."
"As always, Maine's first responders and EMS clinicians are dedicated to continuing to provide high-quality services and care to the people they serve, but it is equally imperative that we serve them with resources like the FrontLine WarmLine to help manage the stress, anxiety, and worries associated with responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," said Maine EMS Director Sam Hurley. "Maine EMS is wholly supportive of the FrontLine WarmLine and encourages all first responders and EMS clinicians to reach out for a helping hand."
"It's been inspiring to see Maine's mental health community stepping up to support Maine's front line in this pandemic," said Ed Pontius of the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians. "All the clinicians and others caring for patients — Maine's first responders and law enforcement — are doing an important job for all of us. We know how tough this work can be on them. We are glad to be able to support them and their crucial work, and we join all of Maine in appreciation of their courage and heroic efforts for all of us."
The FrontLine WarmLine will be available until further notice.
For those who are not health care workers or first responders but are experiencing emotional distress, several other 24/7 resources are available:
Statewide Crisis Line: 888-568-1112
Intentional Peer Support Warmline to speak with staff who have lived experience with mental health conditions: 866-771-9276
Suicide Hotline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)
211 and 211maine.org can provide general COVID-19 information, including how to access behavioral health and social service resources
Maine DHHS Office of Behavioral Health resources guide
Mainers have questions. Statewide help line aims to give them answers.
Maine's toll-free 211 referral line has had its call volume surge amid the coronavirus crisis.
Posted April 11th by the Portland Press Herald
By Megan Gray, Staff Writer
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The woman on the other end of the phone had a question about her month-old grandson.
She and her husband had been quarantined for 14 days, she explained. “When is the safe time for me to hold him?”
She had dialed 2-1-1, and Mike Perez was the specialist who took her call.
The 24/7 toll-free referral line has for years connected Mainers with a wide range of services from heating assistance to substance use treatment. But call volume nearly tripled from February to March as coronavirus hit the state, and 211 Maine has become a critical part of the emergency response to the pandemic.
Specialists like Perez are now answering dozens of questions every day about the virus, how to access essential services and what the stay-at-home order actually means. But they are also asked to weigh in on personal decisions, like whether to travel to Massachusetts to pick up a friend or to attend a cookout or to hold a newborn grandchild.
Perez asked the grandmother questions about her quarantine and her family. He explained the guidelines from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And then he said she could probably visit her grandchild in a couple days because she had been following a strict protocol, but he advised her to stick with her habits and warned her to be careful about exposure even when traveling a short distance.
“We may not have a black-and-white answer, and that can be frustrating,” Perez said. “Anxiety can keep people from thinking clearly, so as soon as you can disarm them, you can have a conversation. That’s definitely part of what we do.”
A Portland Press Herald reporter was allowed to observe Perez during a shift this week but did not see any identifying information about callers. The agencies that manage 211 Maine say confidentiality is a vital part of the service.
The calls are coming from people with acute financial needs, which is typical, but also from health care providers and businesses, which is not. Some people are calm, while others are combative. And they all need answers.
Last year, more than 3,300 people called 211 Maine in March. The most common need was help in paying for heat or electricity. Others needed assistance with housing or food. Some people called for legal counseling or searching for outpatient mental health facilities.
Last month, more than 9,700 people called the referral line. At least 3,800 callers had questions related to coronavirus. But the number of calls about other needs increased as well, perhaps a sign of economic strain related to the pandemic. More than 450 calls fell into the category related to food pantries, more than three times the number from last March.
“There is a sense of urgency with the callers we’re getting,” said Derek Morin, who supervises the program. “Because it’s changing so fast.”
INSPIRED BY KATRINA RESPONSE
211 Maine began because of a different crisis.
A similar referral line had been part of the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina in other states, and then-governor John Baldacci wanted to establish a statewide resource in Maine. The program launched in 2006 as a collaboration between the United Ways of Maine and the state.
From the beginning, The Opportunity Alliance has operated the contact center, which is staffed around the clock. The nonprofit is the community action agency in Cumberland County, but 211 Maine covers the entire state. Most inquiries come through the phone, but the program launched a text message option in recent years as well.
Specialists who answer the 211 line always have an online database with more than 8,000 listings for a wide range of programs where callers can get help. They can search by subject and zip code, narrowing down the options to fit the caller’s needs. The program asks nonprofits and other agencies to check their listings for accuracy at least once a year.
“We’re commonly known as that place to go when you don’t know where else to go,” said Nikki Busmanis, who manages the 211 program for the United Ways.
211 Maine costs $1.16 million every year. Fifty-six percent of funding comes from the state, and 42 percent from the nine United Way organizations in Maine. Two percent comes from contracts with other states for special support.
The referral line has long been part of the response to storms, drought and other emergencies in Maine. During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention relied on the line to respond to questions from the public. That agency contacted the leaders at 211 Maine again when coronavirus began to spread in the United States.
Karen Turgeon, interim vice president of programs at The Opportunity Alliance, said state officials predicted the line would get 80 calls a week related to the virus. Then the Maine CDC reported the first positive test result, and the phone started ringing. Last month, the number of coronavirus calls alone averaged to more than 100 per day.
The specialists received training from the Maine CDC as they started taking calls. They receive frequent updates with the latest information about health advice, emergency orders and community services.
“It’s confusing for people,” Turgeon said. “They’re calling and trying to figure out the process and are sometimes feeling scared and anxious, and that’s really coming through.”
The contact center at The Opportunity Alliance in South Portland was more quiet than usual Tuesday afternoon, but not because of a lull in calls. Seven specialists were logged in to answer the line, and most were working from home. The cubicles in the office smelled like lemon disinfectant, and lists of phone numbers were tacked on the walls above the desks.
Perez logged in at 3 p.m. He settled into a chair in front of two large computer monitors and put on a headset. His shift would last until nearly midnight.
“Anything new in the last couple days?” he asked Morin.
The supervisor gave Perez the latest updates, including a new call system for the state’s unemployment office. Then Perez turned to the monitors and began answering the phone. Call volumes have been highest in the morning, but he still answered more than a dozen in the first three hours of his shift. Almost all directly related to coronavirus.
Perez kept the same even tone with every caller. He would ask if they were ready to take down a phone number and wait for them to grab a pen. When the person on the other line was anxious or annoyed, he did not flinch.
“We’re supposed to be level-headed,” he said. “For me, I keep it tunnel vision, one call at a time.”
One woman had a question about the change in the income tax deadline, and she just needed the phone number for Maine Revenue Services. Perez pulled up the number in his database and read it over the phone. The call lasted just a couple minutes.
SAME JOB, MORE CALLS
“You’re welcome,” Perez said as the call ended. “Take care.”
A health care provider called to raise a concern about the lack of information she had received regarding positive tests in her large rural county. She sounded polite but tired. Perez gave her the number that providers can use to contact the Maine CDC.
“If we can’t provide answers, we at least know where to point people,” Perez said when he hung up the call. “In that regard, that’s where this job hasn’t changed. We’re doing it at higher volumes, but we’re still doing the basic premise.”
One man said he was staying in a hotel because he sold his house before the virus hit, and now he can’t get into a new place. But the hotel told him he needed to get approval to stay there because of lodging restrictions in the state’s stay-at-home order. Perez gave the man a phone number for businesses with questions about the governor’s order, and he suggested that the hotel staff call to get the necessary approval on the man’s behalf.
“Part of the onus would be on the hotel,” Perez told him.
Another caller wanted to press the board in her condominium association for information about any positive cases in their complex. He ultimately gave the woman a phone number for the Maine Attorney General’s Office in hopes that the consumer protection division would know about her rights. The question stumped Perez for a moment, but he kept the conversation going while he sent an online chat to other specialists for advice.
“It gives you a chance to think, what is your need?” he said later.
Not everyone seemed to take the pandemic as seriously. One man called to ask about his family’s plans for a cookout. Perez explained that the governor had advised against gatherings of more than 10 people. The man said he didn’t know of any cases near his home and scoffed at the stay-at-home order. Perez patiently reminded him that the Maine CDC has warned people to act like coronavirus is spreading in their own communities.
“But it’s your personal decision,” he added in a calm tone.
And not everyone called to ask about the pandemic. One woman called looking for help because a person in her life recently experienced an overdose. She was frantic and possibly crying. Perez gave her the phone numbers for multiple in-patient and outpatient substance use treatment providers in her area.
“We’re going to do what we can on our side to help you help him,” Perez said.
“It’s not like the rest of the world stopped,” he added later, and then he turned his attention to a text inquiry about testing for coronavirus.
OFTEN-ASKED QUESTIONS
When Gov. Janet Mills held a news conference to announce her stay-at-home order, the calls started coming to 211 Maine before she had even finished speaking. When the federal government passed a stimulus package that included aid for individuals and businesses, people called to ask when they would get their checks.
“We had to be very candid,” Busmanis said. “We’re just learning.”
The specialists have been compiling a list of frequent questions that go beyond the materials they received from the Maine CDC and other state agencies. Some questions – “Can I leave my house?” – have clear answers. (Yes, for activities like exercise or grocery shopping or going to an essential job.) Others – “How should I operate my medical practice while the stay-at-home order is in effect?” – are more complicated. (Maine 211 is working to establish a referral line specifically for health care providers so they can talk to experts in their fields.)
The program has also been asking nonprofits and other agencies to send them an update via email if their operations have changed due to the virus, so the specialists aren’t telling people to call phone numbers that won’t be answered or seek services that are on hiatus.
“We keep saying, check back in,” Morin said. “We’re getting information every single day.”
Perez, 34, started working at the contact center 10 months ago. He is just weeks from graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in media studies, and his commencement will likely be different than he expected only weeks ago. But right now, even as his own life is changed by the pandemic, he said it helps to find answers for other people.
“We’re all in the same boat,” Perez said. “I’m just on the other side of the phone.”
WHO TO CALL FOR HELP
How to contact the 211 Maine referral line:
Dial 211 (or 207-874-2211)
Text your zip code to 898-211 to speak with a specialist.
Text MECOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to 211 Maine for updates related to COVID-19.
Other hotlines and helplines:
If your life or someone else’s life is in immediate danger, call 911.
The Opportunity Alliance operates the 24-hour Maine Crisis Line for people who are struggling specifically with mental health. If you are concerned for yourself or someone else, call 1-888-568-1112.
If you are concerned about child neglect or abuse, you can call a 24-hour hotline to speak with a child protective specialist at 1-800-452-1999. Calls can be made anonymously.
The statewide Domestic Violence Helpline connects callers with advocates at domestic violence resource centers across the state. Call 1-866-834-HELP (4357) for information, crisis counseling, emotional support and advocacy. Calls are confidential, and help is available at day and night.
The Maine Crisis Line Prepares for Increase in Call Volume as COVID-19 Leads to Increased Isolation and Anxiety
24/7 Statewide Mental Health Phone Line is available by call/text/chat
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South Portland, ME (March 27, 2020)
The Opportunity Alliance (TOA), a local nonprofit community-based organization operating 46 programs and serving more than 20,000 people each year, is ramping up its efforts to respond to the mental health needs of Mainers as the effects of COVID-19 are felt across the state.
The Maine Crisis Line, operated by TOA, provides statewide, free, and confidential support for people who are feeling anxious, in distress, worried about a loved one, or experiencing a crisis. Highly trained and compassionate Crisis Call Specialists respond to crisis calls and support Mainers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are available by calling or texting 888-568-1112 or using the chat function online at www.opportunityalliance.org.
“We know that thousands of community members struggle with mental health every day. In times of crisis, when all of us are dealing with heightened stress and anxiety, individuals with mental health challenges can be at high risk of suicide and harm.” said Joseph Everett, President and CEO of The Opportunity Alliance. “We encourage Mainers who need immediate support to take advantage of this free, confidential resource.”
People need help and support and the Maine Crisis Line is a key first-line resource. Trained professionals listen and offer options for help, including dispatching a mobile outreach worker when needed, although many situations can be addressed through the initial phone contact and appropriate follow up.
The Maine Crisis Line is a partnership between the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, The Opportunity Alliance, and several other community-based organizations providing crisis intervention services across the State.
About The Opportunity Alliance
The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is the Community Action Agency for Cumberland County. Our mission is to work with people to help them build better lives and stronger communities. We do this by empowering individuals and families seeking to overcome barriers by providing the right collection of services while informing public policy. TOA’s services are focused in four areas: Family and Early Childhood Education, Economic Supports, Mental Health and Wellness, and Community Building. Website
An Update from The Opportunity Alliance
Here at The Opportunity Alliance, the safety and wellbeing of our clients and staff is our top priority. We are currently following all guidelines set by the CDC.
If you are looking for local resources related to the Coronavirus you can call 211 24/7 for a full list of resources and referrals.
Hannaford donates $1 million to support hunger relief efforts
(in order of L > R) Mike Vail, Kristen Maile from Good Shepherd Food Bank, Kathryn Sargant from Locker Project and Louise Marsden from The Opportunity Alliance
Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School initiative to establish 90 school food pantries across northeast, including 30 in Maine.
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Scarborough, ME—Hannaford Supermarkets announced today a $1 million donation as part of its new “Fuel Kids at School” initiative that is designed to directly address food insecurity and improve access to fresh and healthy food for children.
“Children can’t be at their best if they’re hungry—or thinking about where their next meal will come from. It is our hope that Fuel Kids at School will take us one step further in nourishing our communities, one child at a time,” said Mike Vail, President of Hannaford. “We want access to food to be easy for kids. Locating food pantries where they are—at their schools should make a lasting and deep impact on child nutrition across our five states.”
Hannaford, in partnership with area hunger relief organizations, will establish over two years, 90 school food pantries across Maine and other northeast states. In Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank received nearly $300,000 to establish school-based food pantries in 30 Head Start preschools throughout the state.
"The correlation between access to nutritious food and early childhood development and learning makes Head Start locations the ideal match for our next phase of school-based pantries," said Kristen Maile, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank. "We know that expanding our pantry sites to serve pre-school-aged children and their families will play an important role in ensuring a bright future for Maine's youngest citizens."
Designed to serve as a vital and convenient resource to students and families in need while also increasing access to healthy and nutritious food, the in-school pantries are dedicated spaces where students can select food they enjoy according to preference and cooking abilities to provide nourishment both during the day and after the school day.
"The Fuel Kids at School funding, with its focus on Head Start programs, will enable us to make nutritious food readily available to more families at risk of hunger in the critical years before their children enter the public schools," said Kathryn Sargent, Executive Director of the Locker Project.
The announcement took place in conjunction with a donation of $1,000 in school food pantry staples to the East End Children’s Workshop along with chef-prepared food for the parents and students at the local pre-school.
Hannaford Supermarkets has a longstanding commitment to supporting hunger relief in its communities. In 2018, Hannaford donated nearly 26 million pounds of food throughout the Northeast, including 5.3 million pounds in New York; and raised $1.1 million in partnership with its shoppers to feed individuals in need through the annual Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger program. Earlier this month, Hannaford announced that it has donated more than $1 million to non-profits throughout New York and New England as a result of its reusable bag program, a portion of which is dedicated to hunger relief organizations and has funded more than 1.8 million meals to date.
The Opportunity Alliance Receives a $5,000 Grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation & USI Insurance Services
Pictured (left to right): Kelley Owen, Senior Account Manager, USI Insurance Services; Carmen Chabot, Vice President of Human Resources, The Opportunity Alliance; Bill Bourassa, Director of Sales, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care; Joe Everett, President & CEO, The Opportunity Alliance & Burr Duryee, Senior Vice President, USI Insurance Services.
SOUTH PORTLAND, November 2019 - The Opportunity Alliance received a $5,000 grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and USI Insurance Services.
The grant will be used to increase access and affordability to healthy local food for low income families in Cumberland County.