Simple Steps Can Reduce Spread of H1N1 (Swine) Influenza

The Maine Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working closely to increase tracking of influenza in Maine, including H1N1 (Swine) Influenza, and to make preparations to minimize its impact.

For more information and to speak with Maine CDC about H1N1 (Swine) Influenza, the public may call the Maine CDC H1N1 (Swine) Influenza Information Line at 1-888-257-0990. The information line is staffed Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be contacted 24 hours a day for information and questions at 1-800-232-4636.

Visit the websites below for facts about influenza, more information about H1N1 (Swine) Influenza and simple steps to reduce transmission.

Maine CDC Web site on H1N1 (Swine) Influenza: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/swine-flu-2009.shtml

U.S. CDC Web site on H1N1 (Swine) Influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Preventing Influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm

State of Maine Announces Maine.gov Media Gallery

The Media Gallery is a one-stop location on the Internet for searching and viewing audio and video files created by Maine state government agencies.

The site at http://media.maine.gov automatically highlights the most popular, recently added, and featured content. All video and audio is accessible to individuals with disabilities through closed-captioning and audio transcription.

Military Families Get Help Recovering Life Insurance Compensation

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has posted a new tool that helps military service members research and recover compensation they are entitled to receive. The online tool makes it easier for military members to determine if they are eligible for compensation by simply entering an individual’s first and last names. Service members who purchased life insurance products from American-Amicable Life Insurance Company of Texas or its two affiliates – Pioneer American Insurance Company and Pioneer Security Life Insurance Company - should visit www.naic.org.

Kora Shriners Free Screening Clinics

On Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Kora Shriners will sponsor free screening clinics at 14 Maine hospitals for possible admission to a pediatric specialty Shriners Hospital for Children. Shriners Hospitals provide excellent medical care at no cost to the family for children under the age of 18. For more information on the Kora Shriners and clinic locations visit: http://www.korashriners.org/events/screening_clinics.shtml

Aroostook County Prescription Assistance Program

Aroostook County Prescription Drug Assistance logo

2-1-1 Maine partners with health organizations to bring low or no cost prescriptions to

Aroostook County residents.

Free or low cost prescription drugs for Aroostook County residents could be just a phone call away, thanks to a new county-wide collaborative. The goal of this collaborative is to work together to increase Aroostook County residents’ access to important prescription drugs. 2-1-1 Maine call specialists will be able to put Aroostook County residents in touch with information about patient assistance programs that could lead to free or nearly free prescription drugs.

About 2-1-1 Maine

2-1-1 is Quick and Easy to Use:
We all know to dial 9-1-1 for medical and health emergencies. We also know to dial 4-1-1 for directory assistance. And now, finding the answers to health and human services information and resources is as quick and easy as dialing 2-1-1 or logging onto 211maine.org.

Toll Free Line: (877) 463-6207
To assist families looking for resources for relatives living in Maine, or if you are having difficulty dialing 2-1-1, an instate/out-of-state toll free number is available. This line is staffed 24 hours a day by the 2-1-1 Call Specialists, to provide the same service to the public.

Can't Dial 2-1-1?
On occasion the partners of 2-1-1 Maine will hear from an organization or individual that has had difficulty reaching 2-1-1 Maine. Here are some common problems:

Certain organizations have telephone software that does not recognize a newly programmed number such as 511 or 2-1-1. If there is a telephone technology person available, check to see that 2-1-1 dialing has been enabled.
Every major telephone carrier in the state has made 2-1-1 dialing available to its customers. Because the telephone industry is very complex, there are many small providers now operating. If this might be the problem, please have the name of the phone carrier before contacting 2-1-1.

In addition, occasionally, individuals reach the national 2-1-1 information website by mistake (www.211.org) and cannot find appropriate service data. Please remember the 2-1-1 Maine website address is www.211maine.org.

2-1-1 Maine, Inc. is a nonprofit organization formed in partnership with United Ways of Maine and Youth Alternatives Ingraham to develop a health and human services information and referral service system to serve the entire State of Maine, every day and in times of crisis.