Member Profile

St. John Valley PATCH

Since 1989

 

Our Mission: St. John Valley citizens make informed choices about their lifestyles; community and health practices which support good health, increase life span, and improve quality of life. Families/individuals enjoy wellness, economic health, safety and the value of being an integral part of the community.

 

Chair: Ann D. Beaulieu, Fort Kent Recreation & Parks Director

           Rachel Charette, St. John Valley Partnership Project Director

 

Geographical Area: Serving the St. John Valley communities, including; Allagash, Eagle lake, Fort Kent, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, New Canada, Winterville, Wallagrass, Sinclair, St. Agatha, Frenchville, Madawaska, and Grand Isle.

 

Our Accomplishments:

 

• Convening a Community Forum: PATCH was established in 1989 with a cross section of professionals and community members from St. John Valley communities with the interest in promoting health and the prevention of illness and injury to all citizens.
• Building the Partnership and Developing Community Structure: PATCH has been instrumental in the development of a local Battered Women’s Project. We continue to sponsor annual training workshops on “Community Responses to Domestic Violence”. PATCH has been a strong influence in developing educational programs in collaboration with a variety of organizations such as area Recreation and Parks Departments and schools. We have developed programs and collaborated with the St. John Valley Partnership and Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine who have advocated tobacco education and prevention since 1993.
• Leadership Development: The PATCH committee is comprised of volunteer representatives from AHEC Aroostook Region (Acadia Health Education Coalition), Aroostook Mental Health Center, Battered Women’s Project, Department of Human Services (Public Health Nursing), Fish River Rural Health, Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department, Madawaska Recreation and Parks Department, Fort Kent Police Department, MSAD #27 (Maine School Administrative District), Northern Maine Medical Center, former St. John Valley TEAM (Tobacco Education Advocacy Members) and now St. John Valley YAP (Youth Advocacy Program) students, and University of Maine at Fort Kent.

 

 

• Community Health and Quality of Life Assessment: We work with community, county and state organizations to produce community health assessments. They include; The Community Healthcare Needs Assessment for Aroostook County Health Link, July 2002. We participated in the distribution of a community wide survey addressing “How Walkable and Bikeable is Your Community?”, 2002-2003. A community assessment was completed in 2004 highlighting data such as health, demographics, and the MYDAS study. Fifty volunteers made over eight hundred telephone calls in a Valley-wide “Behavioral Risk Factor Survey” under the direction of the Center for Disease Control from November 1989 to February of 1990. We participated in a Community Needs Assessment by Northern Maine Medical Center, 2003-2004.
• Community-Wide Planning: Under the umbrella of PATCH, sub-committees have been formed.

Nutrition Projects: Worked with local restaurants to develop healthy dining out guides; table tents have been produced and displayed at area restaurants. Obesity has been a topic of research for this committee. We advocated for the development of a snack policy at various community settings. We worked with the area school lunch programs to create a more flexible menu. A grant application on Nutrition for Senior Citizens was submitted.

Public Relations Committee: Worked with the Town of Fort Kent Comprehensive Plan. Developed and distributed a Physical Activity Guide. PATCH worked with trail planning and construction for bicycling and walking. PATCH has been visible with displays at various community special events, health fairs, area schools and the University of Maine at Fort Kent student orientation events.

Education Committee: Presented the MCGRUFF bicycle safety program to all first grade students in the St. John Valley. PATCH assisted a local municipality with the execution of a Helmet Safety Program. Received a grant from the Maine Nutrition Network for a public snowshoeing program; implemented program. Submitted grant application on Lead Poisoning.

• Community Action for Health and Quality of Life: PATCH has influenced the following developments; assisted local municipalities with execution of safety programs, tobacco free facilities, and the promotion of physical activity for all age groups.
• Providing Data-Based Information to Policy Makers: Advocated passage of the Seat Belt Usage Law at the state level. Participated in local and statewide effort for Maine Smoke Free Restaurants. Guided the development of smoke free public recreation facilities and parks. We provide on-going information to local and state level policy makers through mailing of monthly meeting minutes.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: PATCH sub-committees evaluate each project they foster throughout the year. An evaluation of PATCH achievements is conducted reviewed annually. Information used to develop goals and objectives for the upcoming year, along with recruitment of new members.