Maine’s Public Health Districts
Maine’s nine Public Health Districts are geographic areas that work to improve public health in the state. Each district is made up of one or more counties. In 2011, in collaboration with the five Maine Tribal jurisdictions, a Tribal Health District was established with boundaries determined by Tribal Health Center service areas and tribal jurisdictional boundaries.
Vision
The vision of the Tribal Public Health Unit is to improve the overall health status of the Maine Tribes and American Indian & Alaska Native (AL/AN) populations in our service areas.
Mission
The Mission of the Tribal Health District Unit is to collaborate and provide public health infrastructure by responding to the Native American people’s needs by:
- Ensuring the effective delivery of the Ten Essential Public Health services through respect of the people and culture.
- Focusing on health issues by providing health promotion, prevention, and education.
- Collaborating, creating and sustaining partnerships with federal, state and local entities.
- Promoting tribal-wide collaboration in public health assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluations.
A Brief History of Maine Tribes
Collectively, the four Native tribes of Maine, the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq Tribes, are known as Wabanaki, “People of the Dawn.” Each of these four federally recognized tribes, consisting of five tribal communities, maintains their own governments, cultural centers and schools, and manage their respective land and resources. Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseets have their own health centers, and Mi'kmaq have a service unit through Indian Health Services. Although most of the Native population of Maine belongs to one of these four tribes, and reside on tribal lands, there are still many who live in towns and cities across the state.
Tribal Health Facilities
- Mi'kmaq Family Health Services, Presque Isle – Aroostook County
- Maliseet Health & Wellness Center, Littleton – Aroostook County
- Passamaquoddy Health Center Indian Township – Washington County
- Penobscot Nation Health Department, Indian Island – Penobscot County
- Pleasant Point Health Center, Sipayik – Washington County
Tribal Health Liaisons
- Work in partnership with the tribes, DHHS districts, state public health entities, tribal health directors, and the division of local public health.
- Serve as tribal representatives for Aroostook Public Health District Coordinating Council (DCC), Penquis Public Health District Coordinating Indian Township Health Center, Indian Township Council (DCC) and Downeast Public Health District.
- Assist with coordinating public health functions at the tribal level and for coordinating districts.
- Provide educational opportunities to tribal communities in a variety of settings, including groups meetings, and at tribal health fairs on the prevention and management of cardiovascular health and heart health events, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, and tobacco misuse.
Public Health Contacts in Tribal Public Health District
Joshua Toner
Tribal Public Health District Liaison Maine CDC
88 Bell Road
Littleton, ME 04730
jtoner@maliseets.com
207-532-4273 Ext: 227
Tribal Health Departments – Aroostook County
Mi'kmaq Family Health Clinic
Theresa Cochran, Health Director
8 Northern Road
Presque Isle, ME 04769
theresa.cochran@ihs.gov
207-764-7219, 1-800-750-1792
Website
Maliseet Health and Wellness Center
Michelle Barrows
3 Clover Circle
Houlton, ME 04730
coder@maliseets.com
207-532-2240, #132
Tribal Health Department – Penobscot County
Penobscot Nation Health Department
Candy Sherman, Health Director
23 Wabanaki Way
Indian Island, ME 04666
candy.sherman@ihs.gov
207-817-7400
Website
Tribal Health Department – Washington County
Passamaquoddy Point Health Center
Dr. Christopher Larson
Physical Address: 11 Black Rd Pleasant Point, Maine 04667
Mailing Address: PO Box 351 Perry, Maine 04667
Christopher.Larson@ihs.gov
(207)-853-0644
Website