Our Services

The Maine Public Health Nursing (PHN) Division was established in 1920. For over 100 years, Maine’s PHN Division has provided vital services and support in every county in Maine to vulnerable populations in the home and in communities. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) routinely provide maternal and child health support and education, adult health services, communicable disease control and prevention, and New Mainer health services. Additionally, PHN offers professional expertise within community and stakeholder groups, facilitates immunization clinics, and plays an active role in protecting our communities in the event of disaster.

Maternal Child Health Services

PHNs provide in-home or virtual health services available to all prenatal and postpartum individuals and infants. All services are provided at no cost. Our nurses provide education, nursing assessment, and feeding support during pregnancy and after birth. Our nurses are Certified Lactation Counselors. A PHN can address concerns you have with your pregnancy or birth, can answer your health-related questions about you or your baby, and connect you with resources and services to support the health of your infant and family. Maine’s CradleME referral program is a critical part of the PHN Division. If you would like to enroll yourself or someone else into the program, please visit CradleME.

Tuberculosis

PHNs work closely with the Maine CDC Tuberculosis Control Program to provide nursing case management and assessment services for individuals in Maine with latent and active tuberculosis.

For healthcare providers: If you would like to make a referral for LTBI treatment please complete this referral form.

Immunizations

The Public Health Nursing Division can work with individuals, schools, and community partners to identify individuals in need of recommended vaccinations and can provide those vaccinations at no cost. For those with limited access to healthcare or no other means of obtaining vaccinations, PHN can help. For more information, please complete a PHN referral form.

Public Health Emergencies

During the COVID 19 pandemic, Maine’s PHNs answered the call to action and adapted to Maine’s changing public health needs. PHNs served on strike teams, investigated case contacts, provided COVID vaccinations in homes to those most vulnerable, at mass vaccination clinics, and maintained essential PHN services. Public Health Nursing remains dedicated to emergency response and continues to train and prepare staff to respond when an emergency occurs.