Healthy Oxford Hills | MaineHealth Stephens Hospital

Maine SNAP-Ed is a program designed to help Maine SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps) eligible residents learn how to shop, prepare, cook, and eat healthy food on a budget. Through the Maine SNAP-Ed Program, Healthy Oxford Hills offers fun and free classes, workshops and resources for all ages across Oxford County. We provide participants with real tips and tricks that can help you stretch your food budget and feed your family healthier options. All sessions are free and offered throughout the week.

How to Participate

Adults – We offer different adult and family programs, including free cooking and nutrition classes through the following programs:

• Cooking Matters: Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters™ is a program that runs for 6 weeks. In each 2 hour class, you will learn how to prepare healthy and low cost meals. Each lesson focuses on hands-on meal preparation, easy to use nutrition tips and food budgeting skills. You or your family will receive a bag of groceries each week so that you can make the recipes at home.
• Cooking Matters at the Store Pop-up Tour: You will learn shopping tips, how to read labels, and compare pricing to learn how to buy healthy foods on a budget. You will get a $10 gift card and we’ll give you a “healthy challenge” after the store tour.
• 10 Tips: This is a series of 4 classes that are based on either “Choose MyPlate” or “Eating Better on a Budget.” You’ll learn simple, easy to follow tips from the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Sessions are taught in four 1 hour sessions or two 2 hours sessions. There will be a food demonstration and tasting during each session. 

Contact us to find out more or sign up for our next class! All are welcome to join our classes that are open to the public or you can contact us about scheduling a class for your group or organization.

Schools – Fun and educational programs are available for children in schools.

• Eat Well Play Hard (preschool): This program is a series of 6 to 8 lessons designed to teach young children about healthy eating and the importance of regular physical activity. Lessons include nutrition activities, food samples for children, and resources for parents or caregivers.
• Pick A Better Snack (PABS) Program (K–3rd grade): The PABS program is 6 to 8 monthly lessons that focus on helping children eat more fruits and vegetables. Each lesson includes a nutrition lesson and a food tasting of fruits or vegetables.

Who is eligible for Maine SNAP-Ed?

• People receiving SNAP (food stamp) benefits and those who are eligible for SNAP benefits based on income qualifications. Not sure if you are eligible?
• People receiving WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children) benefits
• People who receive other federal assistance programs based on income, such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
• Children in schools where 50% or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch
• Locations such as food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, public housing, SNAP/TANF job readiness program sites, and other such sites automatically qualify.

Where can I learn more?
You can learn more about healthy lifestyle choices and eating healthy on a budget through the SNAP-Ed Connection. The USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides the funding for SNAP-Ed, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and implemented by the University of New England (UNE). Cooking Matters is a national program of Share Our Strength. In Maine, Cooking Matters is implemented through a partnership between the Good Shepherd Food Bank and Maine SNAP-Ed. Additional local support for Cooking Matters comes from Hannaford Supermarkets.

Contact

Stephanie Cordwell | Stephanie.Cordwell@mainehealth.org | 207-744-6812 
Community Nutrition Educator/SNAP-Ed 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and implemented statewide by the University of New England (UNE) through contracts with local community organizations. Maine SNAP-Ed educates low-income families on low-cost healthy eating and active lifestyles. Contact mainesnap-ed@une.edu or 207-221-4560 for more information.

Our Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) focus areas include promoting health and wellness in 3 domains: Nutrition, Physical Activity and Breastfeeding. This work is done in a variety of different ways and settings including Early Childcare Education, Schools, Worksites, Hospital/Clinical locations, Community Organizations, Municipalities and more.

Contacts:

Emily Eastman | Emily.Eastman@mainehealth.org 
Program Coordiantor, Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) 
207-744-6439

Stephanie Masland | Stephanie.Masland@mainehealth.org
MPN Program Manager
207-744-6194

Growing Healthy Kids is funded by the New Balance Foundation. This program is part of the Roberts Farm Experiential Learning program, which is a partnership between the Western Foothills Land Trust, Oxford Hills School District, and Healthy Oxford Hills. 

Growing Healthy Kids is focused on expanding physical activity programming across the Oxford Hills region, encouraging students to build healthy habits in physical activity and nutrition, and reducing childhood overweight and obesity rates in Oxford County. We help students to become more active through evidence-based programs including 100 Mile Club and Boston Children’s Hospital Fit Kit. The 100 Mile Club challenges students to track 100 miles of physical activity over the course of the school year. Fit Kit is a collection of evidence-based strategies, tools, and activities to support developing healthier habits with the goal of supporting families to adopt healthy and active lifestyles. The focus is on five topics: nutrition, fitness, sedentary time, sleep, and stress. 

Wes Nugteren | Wes.Nugteren@mainehealth.org 
Program Management Specialist, Growing Healthy Kids
207-744-6429

Sara Partridge | Sara.Partridge@mainehealth.org
Program Coordinator, Growing Healthy Kids

Brought to you by: Healthy Oxford Hills and the Food Pantry at Stephens 

Improve your health, one step at a time! 

If you have trouble accessing healthy food and are at risk for or have prediabetes, this could be for you. The Food Pantry at Stephens is working with the National Diabetes Prevention Program to provide fresh, frozen and shelf-stable food and healthy lifestyle coaching to eligible participants. 

This free, year-long, and in-person class of at least eight members includes:

• National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coaching
• Cooking skills training thru the Cooking Matters Program
• Weekly bags of healthy food and accompanying recipes *Opportunities for physical activity
• Development of peer relationships and support 

Classes meet weekly for an hour the first four months of the year, and bi-weekly after that. 

E-mail Allison Kelly at allison.kelly@mainehealth.org for more information or call her at 207-393-3105

Healthy Oxford Hills and the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence work together to reduce tobacco use, vaping, and secondhand smoke exposure throughout Oxford County. According to the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS), Oxford County has some of the highest rates of vaping among youth in the state. In 2019 30.9% of High School Students in Oxford County reported that they had used an electronic vapor product in the last 30 days compared to 12.3% in 2017.

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and exposure can increase the risk of health issues, especially in children. Tobacco policies in settings such as multi-unit housing, health care and behavioral health organizations can prevent involuntary secondhand smoke exposure. Visit breatheasymaine.org for more information about tobacco-free policies.

How does Healthy Oxford Hills help prevent and lower tobacco use?

Working with youth
We partner with schools and local organizations to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco since nearly 9 out of 10 people who smoke first tried smoking by age 18. 

Smoke and tobacco-free policies are evidenced-based ways to:

• Prevent youth from starting tobacco use.
• Reduce exposure of secondhand smoke.
• Reduce tobacco use.
• Reduce death and disease related to tobacco use.
• Promote healthy social norms around tobacco use. 

Providing assistance and signs
Healthy Oxford Hills provides technical assistance to organizations that are looking to go tobacco-free. Organizations can also get free, high-quality signs about tobacco policies.

Connecting you with the Maine Tobacco Helpline
Healthy Oxford Hills promotes the Maine Tobacco Helpline through partnerships with different organizations. The Maine Tobacco Helpline is a free, confidential service for Maine residents. Trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists offer free coaching calls and can prescribe eligible participants up to 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy. Text, email and web-based support is also available. Visit mainequitlink.com for more information or to enroll.

SideKicks
Our coordinators are trained to deliver SideKicks, an educational program designed to teach youth how to talk with their peers about tobacco use and vaping. This is a four hour, skill-building program that is designed for middle and high school students. Visit wearesidekicks.org for more information.

CATCH my Breath 
CATCH My Breath’s peer-led teaching approach empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes and resist social pressures to vape. Informed by tobacco youth prevention researchers and practitioners, years of real-world implementation, and a youth advisory board, it is the only school-based vaping prevention program proven to reduce the likelihood of vaping among youth.

Target Audience: Grades 5-12

Contacts
Stephanie Masland | Stephanie.Masland@mainehealth.org
MPN Program Manager
207-744-6194

Guy Pollino
Prevention Program Coordinator 
guy.pollino@mainehealth.org
207-744-6192

Anita Lenardis
Prevention Program Coordinator 
anita.lenardis@mainehealth.org
207-744-6193

Healthy Oxford Hills (HOH) works with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent and reduce the use/misuse of alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, stimulants, and opioids. HOH provides education, training, technical assistance, tools, resources and more!

Strategies HOH uses in their prevention efforts include Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) trainings, middle school programming, material dissemination (printed and digital), social media campaign(s), prevention event promotion, naloxone trainings, harm reduction presentations, stigma reduction efforts, availability of safer use/overdose response items, etc. 

Contacts

Stephanie Masland
MPN Program Manager
Stephanie.Masland@mainehealth.org
207-744-6194

Brendan Schauffler
Oxford County Wellness Collaborative 
Network Facilitator
Brendan.Schauffler@mainehealth.org
207-744-6191

Guy Pollino
Prevention Program Coordinator 
guy.pollino@mainehealth.org
207-744-6192

Anita Lenardis
Prevention Program Coordinator 
anita.lenardis@mainehealth.org
207-744-6193

 

The Oxford County Wellness Collaborative (OCWC) came about after Oxford County was ranked as 16th out of the 16 counties in Maine in overall health. This motivated partners from across our county, and from many different backgrounds, to unite toward a common vision of improved health for everyone.

There are many bright and passionate people doing good work across the county. The Wellness Collaborative exists to strengthen and knit together the work that is already being done, helping partners to work toward common goals. By working together, we can achieve greater results.

OCWC currently meets regularly, and welcomes input and new partners as it works to support the transformation of Health and Wellness in Oxford County.

Contact:
Brendan Schauffler | Brendan.Schauffler@mainehealth.org
Oxford County Wellness Collaborative 
Network Facilitator
207-744-6191
 

Healthy Oxford Hills hosts quarterly meetings of coalition members in March, June, September and December on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11:30 am - 1 pm. Participants get to share updates and hear about different focus topics. 

The coalition meets in the Harper Conference Center in the MaineHealth Ripley Health Center. These meetings are open to the public in-person and online. 

Sign up for our coalition newsletter or to join the coalition meetings