MeHAF Taps Social Networks in Funding Community Health Solutions

  ~$149,473 supports community-based projects that go beyond direct health care delivery ~ 

The Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF), Maine's largest health funder, announced $149,473 in new grant funding to three community-based programs that focus on improving health in ways that reach beyond seeing the doctor. Applicant proposals were shaped by people and organizations in their own communities using a Facebook Fan Page. 

Research has demonstrated that as little as 10% of an individual's health is influenced by direct health care delivery, while up to 70% is influenced by factors found in the environmental, social, and economic conditions of a community.

MeHAF's pilot program, Fund for the Future, attempts to tap local expertise for solutions that can improve health across a geographic region. MeHAF used social networking tools to recruit a broader pool of potential applicants, solicit input within the community and help applicants refine their proposals based on Facebook comments and questions.

"MeHAF found it was much more efficient to use new tools such as Facebook to 'talk' directly with people to determine how relevant and important a particular program might be to a community. We generated great on-line discussion on how communities wanted to address issues that affect health such as poverty, physical activity and nutrition" said Dr. Wendy J. Wolf, MeHAF President and CEO.

MeHAF will continue the pilot program in 2010 with a new RFP to be released in the spring.

· Alternative Organizational Structure #93/Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools (FARMS) -- Damariscotta School System: FARMS Equals Healthy Kids was awarded $50,000 to establish "food learning centers," within the classroom and school cafeterias, and seeks to change student food choices through educating AOS #93's 1625 students about healthy choices. Contact: Jenn MacDonald, (207) 416-2581, gabehez@gmail.com

· Child & Families Opportunities/Healthy Peninsula -- Good Food: Sedgwick: With a $50,000 grant, community-based Support for Healthy Eating will combine education, economic, social, and environmental supports to help make healthy eating easier, fun, and socially normative. Contact:  Amy Vaughn, (207) 374-3257 ext. 105, avaughn@healthypeninsula.org

· Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT) -- Rangeley: With a grant of $49,473, EcoVenture Partnership to Address Childhood Obesity will partner with Rangeley Region Health and Wellness Partnership to implement an expanded version of EcoVenture's award-winning program to increase the physical activity and provide nutritional education to improve childhood health. Contact: Rebecca Kurtz, (207) 864.7311 ext. 5, rkurtz@rlht.org