Group looks to improve regional services following DHHS commissioner meeting

By Stuart Hedstrom

Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — In mid-October residents of the region had the opportunity to tell their concerns directly to and get answers from Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew during a public meeting at the Penquis Higher Education Center. Nearly a decade ago the DHHS closed its Dover-Foxcroft office, and in the years since residents looking to access agency services have had to travel to Bangor or Skowhegan or use an electronic kiosk in the Penquis lobby that was installed in 2013.

Helping Hands with Heart, a group comprised of members representing various social service agencies, providers, nonprofits and others, had its monthly meeting on Oct. 23 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building to follow up after the hearing with Mayhew and determine how to proceed.

Sue Mackey Andrews said she met with the area’s legislative delegation a year prior to discuss the state of the DHHS in the region. “We have been trying different strategies to get the DHHS to reinstate a presence here in our county,” she said.

Mackey Andrews said State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) met with Gov. Paul LePage and Mayhew concerning the lack of the DHHS presence in Piscataquis County and that Davis submitted a bill “to command a meeting with the commissioner to to discuss the issues.” Mackey Andrews said plans were being made to enable clients to be at the meeting, some of whom are disabled and/or elderly, but notice of the session date and time was made just about a week in advance.

“I would say about 40 people were there, mostly providers but maybe 10 consumers,” Mackey Andrews said. “We talked about access and problems for consumers.”

“The upshot was the commissioner indicated publically she was willing to talk,” Mackey Andrews said, saying Mayhew mentioned the DHHS was in a state of flux and programs would be evaluated.

“So we have an opportunity to work with the state directly,” Mackey Andrews said, as in addition to Davis and State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) several other state legislators from other districts attended the meeting and indicated they were willing to do likewise. Mackey Andrews said Helping Hands with Heart is able to get feedback direct from consumers which can then be moved on to legislators.

Partner agencies that currently work with the DHHS are very important, members of Helping Hands with Heart said but DHHS is still the overseeing body that needs to make sure Maine residents receive the benefits they qualify for.

Some of these partners, such as Penquis with the lobby kiosk, are not paid and some of these employees are giving of their own time to assist DHHS kiosk clients. Those present on Oct. 23 felt that expectations should be specified between DHHS and community partners, with compensation in place if need be.

Feel Good Piscataquis! Healthy Community Project Coordinator Erin Callaway said at the meeting with Mayhew, “My question was where and when are we going to see the results,” of an analysis of gaps in DHHS services. “I agree there’s an opportunity here and I think we need to move on that opportunity quickly and keep her on the hook.”

The increase in heroin and methamphetamine use in Maine was mentioned, with drug use a part of other issues such as trauma and lack of access to mental health services. Those undergoing treatments need to travel to Bangor, Skowhegan or Waterville and Helping Hands with Heart members wondered what the reaction would be to having a methadone clinic in the area. They also discussed the costs, such as fuel, missed work, childcare and bringing children with them, for patients heading out of the region for treatment.

Callaway said she heard of a bus tour for various state officials in Washington County that shows what the two-hour commute from Machias to other small communities without public transportation, such as Vanceboro, is like. She said a similar trip from Bangor to Greenville and back could show the conditions of such a drive. A related concern mentioned was the possible pushback from DHHS workers not wanting to travel to Piscataquis County from the Bangor area.

Some present on Oct. 23 felt that Mayhew may have dodged the question of access to DHHS services, but this issue was brought up again and again during the question period.

“For me it wasn’t as much of a dodge as an opportunity,” said Meg Callaway of the Feel Good Piscataquis! Thriving in Place initiative. “She can’t go to a meeting and say ‘yes, I will put someone here tomorrow.’”

“She has the power to say ‘yes’ and we need here to say ‘yes’, and what she says yes to can start small and have the potential to grow,” Erin Callaway said.

All in attendance agreed that keeping pressure on DHHS is still a high priority for the local group.