State of Maine to Participate in Governor's Challenge 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and VA Office of Suicide Prevention have partnered together to develop the Governor’s Challenge,
a collaboration that started in 2018 and was piloted in a
handful of sites across the country. The initial program
had seven original strategies which have been honed to incorporate three: Lethal means safety and training, screening, and care continuum.
 
The premise behind this program is a collaborative effort between existing agencies internal and external to state government, use other states best practices, and engage with subject matter experts to create a suicide prevention plan for each state. MBVS is leading the effort to establish the membership for Maine’s Policy Academy, with appointees from Governor Mills’ office, Cabinet-level members, participation from applicable state agencies, Maine National Guard, and established partner organizations external to the state. Maine’s Policy Academy will be assigned a State Liaison from the Service Member Veterans Technical Center.

Members of this Policy Academy will develop a Strategic Action Plan over the next two years that will guide efforts to reducing the veteran suicide rate in Maine.

New Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Opened
in Portland

VA Maine Healthcare hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
in Portland on February 11th. The clinic started serving
veterans on February 14th. The $64 million dollar project is located on West Commercial Street and is expected to
serve up to 400 veterans a day providing medical, mental health, and educational services. The CBOC employs 140 staff and offers a 400 space parking garage to accommodate both staff and patients. 

The following services will be available on site: Primary care, mental health, surgical and medicine specialty services, dental, eye care, audiology, physical therapy, prosthetics support, phlebotomy lab, radiology, and telehealth.

New Maine Veterans Home in Augusta Opens this Month

In March of 2022, residents of Maine Veterans’ Homes Augusta will move into their new 179,000 sq. ft. home. The new  facility sits on 58 wooded acres and is located conveniently off I-95, proximate to MaineGeneral Medical Center and its local health care network. The Home offers 138 private rooms with personal bathrooms and modern amenities, and its design follows the national movement of the ‘Small House Model’, modernizing the way that MVH staff will fulfill their mission of “caring for those who served.” 

Services offered at MVH Augusta will include Assisted Living Residential Care, Long-Term Care, Short Term Skilled Nursing, Rehab & Therapy, Dementia & Memory Care, and Respite Care.

This new facility was designed with input from residents and their families. The campus also features a community center which has many amenities such as; a bistro, bank, children's playground, theatre, therapeutic gym, therapy pool, barber shop, veterans center, and chapel.

What's Happening

March 19 - Vets in the Valley at Lost Valley in Auburn. Ski or Snowboard from 9:00AM-4:00PM. Free lift tickets and 50% off rentals for veterans and immediate family members, with proof of military affiliation. For more information:  https://www.lostvalleyski.com/event/vets-in-the-valley/

March 29 - National Vietnam War Veterans Day event, organized by by Charlie Paul and sponsored by the Lewiston/Auburn Veterans Council and Central Maine Detachment Marine Corp League, to be held at the Lewiston Armory at 10:00 a.m.

March 29 - MBVS' National Vietnam War Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial in Capitol Park, located in front of the State Capitol Building, at 1:00 p.m.

March 30 - Reminder for those that have pre-registered: Travis Mills Foundation Vietnam Era Veterans Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at the August Armory.