Aroostook County Action Program

Community Project Funding/congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - the Community Action Services Mobile Unit Will Bring Critical Social Services, Healthcare, Oral Health, Nutrition, Behavioral Health, Prevention Education and Supportive Programs Directly to the People of the Most Rural and Underserved Communities of Northern Maine. Deploying the Full Array of Resources Offered by Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) and Several Community Partner Organizations, Where They Are Needed Most, Will Help Address the Inequities Pervasive in the Most Remote Parts of the Region, Which Have Only Been Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Under This Community Project, Funding Would Support the Acquisition, Initial Development and Infrastructure of a Mobile Unit That Will Regularly Travel With Intake and Service Delivery Professionals on Board to Service Desert Communities Throughout the Region, Bringing Those Resources Directly to the People. Included Resources Will Include Key Offerings Like the Home Energy Assistance Program (heap), Home-based Head Start, Women, Infant and Children’s (WIC) Nutrition Services Program, Oral Health, Healthcare Marketplace Navigation Assistance, Social Work/case Management and Coaching Services, Substance Use Prevention and Tobacco Cessation, Youth Support Initiatives, Financial Literacy, Housing Supports and Housing Counseling, and Other Services All Offered by Acap. in Addition, Community Partner Organizations, Including Those Offering Behavioral Health and Substance Use Counseling, Three Regional Federally Qualified Health Centers and Four Hospitals Would Have Access to the Mobile Unit to Establish Key Patient Connections and Deliver Appropriate Services. as Part of the Project Funding, Two Professionals Would Establish and Initially Staff the Mobile Services Unit Start Up and Year One Effort. a Community Outreach Coordinator and Outreach Specialist Will Set Up Community Visits, Enlist and Schedule Staff Representatives From Acap Programs and External Partner Organizations to Provid E Services, and Travel to the Sites to Conduct Initial Registration and Ensure Navigation and Enrollment to Other Available Programs Not Represented on That Specific Visit to the Community. the Designated Staff for the Mobile Services Unit Will Train Program Specific Staff to Perform the General Functions to Ensure the Coordination Work Continues Beyond the First Year. Sustainability of the Staffing of the Unit After the Initial Year Will Be Established Through the Blending and Braiding of Various Program Funds, Including Community Services Block Grant Dollars. We See This Project as a Pilot in Aroostook County and Something That Could Replicated in Other Rural Parts of the State. Mobile Services Are Critical for So Many in Our Underserved Communities, But Especially for Our Homeless and Veteran Population. We Envision Our Mobile Unit to Serve as a Trusted Community Resource That Can Not Only Provide Outreach Services, But Also Available to Connect Clients to the Sparse Resources That Are Positioned Only in the Hubs of Our Rural Community. Research Has Shown That a Disproportionate Share of Veterans Live in Rural Communities Challenging Their Access to Services. by Then Providing Support Onsite, We Hope to Provide Comprehensive Services That Are Delivered in the Rural Communities Where Individuals and Families Live and Work. as a Trusted and Recognized Partner, Acap Is in a Unique Position to Serve Our Community.