Public Policy Commons^™

The Role Of Public Versus Private Health Insurance In Ensuring Health Care Access & Affordability For Low-Income Rural Children, Erika C. Ziller Phd, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, Amanda Burgess Mppm

Access / Insurance

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have played a critical role in ensuring access to health insurance coverage among children and have been particularly important sources of coverage for rural children. More than 35.5 million children were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in September 2016—accounting for just over half of total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment. Given the large proportion of rural children covered by public insurance, it is critically important to understand the role of that coverage in ensuring access to affordable healthcare for rural children. Using data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, this study …

A Guide For Assessing Older Adults’ Needs On Maine Islands, Beatrice Byrne

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This template may help Maine island communities identify older adults’ needs and island resources, in order to allow older adults to age in the island communities.

Three interviews with island health leaders, one community conversation with older islanders, and one pilot test provided information about what to include in the template.

The template includes a demographic survey, guides for conducting semi-structured interviews and group conversations with older adults and caregivers, a guide and worksheet for analyzing the data, a guide for assessing community resources, a guide for dissemination, and a list of additional resources.

The Torch (April 2017), Crtp

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

Civic and Community Engagement | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Education | Gender and Sexuality | Inequality and Stratification | Politics and Social Change | Public Policy | Race and Ethnicity

Recommended Citation

Baldwin, Brandon and Civil Rights Team Project, "Torch (August 2013)" (2013). Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter. 58. http://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/torch/58

Disciplines

Civic and Community Engagement | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Education | Gender and Sexuality | Inequality and Stratification | Politics and Social Change | Public Policy | Race and Ethnicity

The Torch (February 2017), Brandon Baldwin

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

Civic and Community Engagement | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Education | Gender and Sexuality | Inequality and Stratification | Politics and Social Change | Public Policy | Race and Ethnicity

Recommended Citation

Baldwin, Brandon and Civil Rights Team Project, "Torch (August 2013)" (2013). Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter. 58. http://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/torch/58

Assessment Of The Use Of Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution By Maine Buprenorphine/Naloxone Prescribers, Stephen Kirsch

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Background: Overdose deaths, specifically related to opioids, have been identified as a public health problem both nationally and in the state of Maine. Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) is an innovative model of patient education that has been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge of overdose risk and has the potential to help reduce opiate related overdose deaths.

Methods: A 28-item web-based survey examining clinician attitudes, OEND practices and characteristics was distributed to 196 Maine based physicians with a Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe burprenorphine/naloxone. Facilitators and barriers to the provision of OEND were also assessed. Surveys …

Capstone Summary Report, Kayla Blais

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Leadership is vital to the practice of public health. The following review of current literature delves into present understanding of leaders that the public health field needs. As leadership within public health is being explored, specific skills required of future leaders, different types of leaders, and the impacts we can expect to see are being defined.

Adverse Childhood Experiences In Rural And Urban Contexts, Jean A. Talbot Phd, Donald Szlosek Mph, Erika C. Ziller Phd

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Recent research shows that rural children are more likely than urban children to experience certain kinds of adversity. Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center looked at how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have affected rural and urban adults. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Assessment, this study found that, while the prevalence of ACEs was comparable in rural and urban adults, over half of rural adults surveyed reported having ACE exposure.Among those with any ACE history, about one quarter experienced four or more ACEs. Policy implications and strategies are highlighted in this brief.

Key Findings:

• Past …

Torch (April 2016), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

Civic and Community Engagement | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Education | Gender and Sexuality | Inequality and Stratification | Politics and Social Change | Public Policy | Race and Ethnicity

Torch (February 2016), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Benefit And Cost Analysis Study Of Sponsors Of Registered Apprenticeships In Maine, Jonathan R. Payne Phd

All Student Scholarship

A skills gap exists in Maine because of lack of diversity in educational opportunity offered to students. Preparation for college and career readiness has become conflated. High schools focus primarily on core academic knowledge, often forsaking the knowledge necessary to prepare for jobs that do not require college educations. College is not for everyone, and some students fail to graduate, leaving them without a credential, often in debt, and lacking any skills that would lead to meaningful employment.

In countries across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada those issues are addressed through apprenticeship, and empirical research suggests that …

Torch (December 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Torch (October 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Policy Options For Recruiting And Retaining Rural Primary Care Physicians In Maine, Casey Lancaster

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Maine faces a challenge providing primary care services to over half of its residents, as they live in rural areas – even though Maine has enough primary care physicians practicing in the state to service the needs of the population. Maine has a primary care physician distribution problem. Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, and York Counties, all fall well below the national average of primary care physicians per 100,000 residents. Maine has no true financial incentive program to help rural area’s recruit and retain primary care physicians, though Maine does have two programs that attempt to get primary care …

Torch (August 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Torch (May 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Foodborne Illness Risk Factor Study, Kathi-Anne M. Fortin

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The initial purpose of this capstone was to establish a baseline for the occurrence of the top five foodbome illness risk factors, to write a report on the baseline findings and to develop a plan to repeat this study at least once every 60 months for the Portland Environmental Health & Safety Program. It soon became clear, however, that the scope was too broad. An extensive effort was required to integrate national methodology and comparability principles with the State and local restaurant inspection structure. Subsequently, the focus of the capstone shifted to the development of a comprehensive data collection manual. …

Visualizing Road Network Congestion To Inform Regional Planning In Southern Maine, G Andrew Smith-Petersen

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

In this analysis, road traffic volumes and capacity estimates are used in conjunction with population data and population change forecasts to visualize the potential for congestion at present, and to project the potential for congestion in 2030. The areas most and least at risk of congestion are identified, so as to inform thought and effort around planning on a regional scale in southern Maine. The area of study includes large portions of York and Cumberland Counties, as well as a small portion of Androscoggin County, in the Greater Portland region.

Why Waste Waste? A Strategic Plan To Achieve Zero Waste In Portland, Maine, Nathan J. Broaddus

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

n/a

Torch (March 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Torch (January 2015), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Adults With Intellectual Disability Or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Executive Summary, Kimberly I. Snow Mhsa, Ba, Stuart Bratesman Mpp, Taryn Bowe, Julie T. Fralich Mba

Disability & Aging

This chartbook describes Maine’s historical trends in meeting the needs of adults with ID/ASD through institutional and community based services in comparison to other states; a detailed analysis of the population’s utilization of different types of services and their costs in SFY 2010; the implementation of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) as a means of identifying the supports needs of the adults with ID/ASD; and the complement of providers serving this population in Maine.

Torch (November 2014), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Mainecare Health Homes Enrollment In The First Year Of Implementation, Kimberley S. Fox Mpa, Carolyn E. Gray Mph, Katherine Rosingana

Population Health & Health Policy

The MaineCare Health Homes Initiative is designed to improve care coordination for MaineCare members with complex chronic medical conditions. The program is being implemented in two stages: Health Homes (HH), which began in January 2013, focuses on members with chronic health conditions. Behavioral Health Homes (BHH), which began in April 2014, is designed to meet the needs of people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) or Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED).

The HH first stage builds off the State’s existing multi-payer Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Pilot project and Medicare Advanced Primary Care Practice (MAPCP) Demonstration by providing addon payments to qualifying …

Torch (September 2014), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Torch (June 2014), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Working Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients In Maine, According To The 2011 American Community Survey, Victoria Ryan

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP is designed to provide assistance in purchasing food to low income households in the United States. In Maine, individual benefits are administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Formerly (and still colloquially) known as the Food Stamp program, SNAP makes a dollar-value benefit, based on income, household size, household expenses, and a host of other factors, available to households via a debit or Electronic Benefit Card for the purchase of unprepared food from grocery and convenience stores, …

Human Trafficking In Maine: Protection, Prevention, And Prosecution: The Need For A Stand-Alone Statute, Laura M. Cyr

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The United States enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 to combat the crime of organized firms engaging in the trafficking of humans. The TVPA has resulted in competing definitions and competing agendas which contribute of a public misunderstanding of the nature and scope of human trafficking as a domestic policy issue. Early goals of protection of victims, prevention of future trafficking crimes, and prosecution of traffickers have not been met with empirically driven success. This paper outlines obstacles facing evidence-based legislation in the state of Maine which currently has no stand- alone law protecting victims of sex …

Strategic Planning In The Non Profit Sector: Creating A Strategic Plan For Affinity 2014-2017, Emilee Taplin-Lacey

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The purpose of engaging in the creation of a strategic plan for Affinity is to integrate knowledge acquired through participation in the Public Policy and Nonprofit Management Master’s Degree program at the Muskie School of Public Service. In addition, my facilitation of a strategic planning process for Affinity is meant to meet the requirements of graduation and represents my capstone project in this regard.

Torch (April 2014), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Super Pacs 2012, Joseph Miller

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The 2010 Supreme Court ruling in the case of the Citizens United vs the Federal Election Commision dramatically changed how elections are financed in the United States. That landmark case let to the creation of Super Political Action Committees (Super PACs). These organizations have the ability to raise limitless amounts of money and spend thses funds however they see fit on candidtaes of their choosing.

This case study will test six hypotheses. These hypotheses deal with two major actions. The first action is the conduct of Super PACs and the manner in which they went about choosing races to involve …