Maine Mobile Health Program is a community health center and our state’s only agricultural worker health organization. Our collaborative model involves folks who carry the commitment to make a difference in the lives of those who work in agriculture in Maine. By linking agricultural workers to care and resources, we aim to reduce limited access for people working in this industry. Putting fruits and vegetables on ALL of our tables is not only vital work; it positively impacts our collective health.
This entity receives HRSA Health Center Program funding under 42 U.S.C. § 245b and has been deemed a Public Health Service employee for purposes of certain liability protections, including Federal Tort Claims Act coverage, under 42 U.S.C. § 233(g)-(n).
Those who work in the agricultural industry can be compromised due to the physically demanding nature of their work, the potential for substandard housing, little to no access to care, and geographic isolation. Many folks who work in agriculture live below the poverty line, lack health insurance, and experience interruptions in their medical care.
In the face of these challenges and barriers, agricultural workers are resilient. They contribute to our lives and health not only through the work of harvesting our fruits and vegetables, but also through their presence in our communities. At MMHP our goals include making agricultural workers feel welcome in Maine for as long as they are here, supporting them in addressing their healthcare needs, and working to improve the healthcare system.
We offer mobile medical, behavioral health, and nursing care to patients at farmworker camps and other community settings across the state. MMHP maintains over 50 voucher contract sites to complement the mobile care, and offers transportation, interpretation, and care coordination services to link patients to community providers. To maximize access, our mobile units and community health workers travel throughout the state to support workers in the blueberry, apple, egg, Christmas tree/wreath, tree-planting, and broccoli harvests. We also support workers living in Maine year-round who are employed in dairy, blueberries, aquaculture, and seafood processing.
MMHP is committed to comprehensive care and offers health education and outreach services to farmworkers and seafood processors on key health issues like pesticide safety, hypertension and depression. Our Community Health Workers and Behavioral Health Providers speak Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Jamaican Patois to meet the linguistic needs of Maine’s farmworkers. We also offer referrals to other agencies that support the needs of farmworkers.
The Maine Mobile Health Program collaborates year-round with farmworkers, growers, local organizations, and other primary care providers to improve health outcomes and offer Maine’s agricultural workers the best possible access to care. MMHP seeks to increase its partnerships with Maine’s community of growers to ensure that our services reach all agricultural communities in Maine.
