Community Health Needs Assessment Results

The City of South Portland's Board of Health has completed a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand community needs, strengths, and opportunities. Watch this recording of the Zoom webinar from Wednesday, March 29, 2023, where the results were shared with the community.

 

 Public Health Resources

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information 

Every week, Maine Access Immigrant Network (237 Oxford Street in Portland) hosts a vaccine clinic on Friday from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. All ages (6mos+). All vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer). Flu shots are also available every week. The clinic is open to the public, and walk-in’s are welcome. If possible, please schedule ahead: Call/Text: Sarah Lewis at 207-331-6135, or call the office at 207-552-1800, or info@main1.org. Language support: Somali, Arabic, French, Lingala, Swahili, Kurdish, Spanish

 

COVID-19 Testing

Through a partnership between Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Rockefeller Foundation, Maine households can order one free kit of five COVID-19 rapid tests through Project Access COVID Tests (Project ACT). Testing before visiting family and friends who are older, immunocompromised, or otherwise vulnerable to COVID-19 provides peace of mind for safe gatherings – and gives people who test positive for this disease an opportunity to get treatment as early as possible when appropriate. 

Any Maine resident can visit the Project ACT website, AccessCovidTests.org, to place their order. No payment information is required — both the tests and shipping are free to each Maine household – and the tests will be delivered through Amazon approximately 1-2 weeks after ordering. The tests require a quick swab inside each nostril, with results available within 15 minutes. The test can be used on any individual older than two.

For updated testing data in Maine, including the number of confirmed and presumptive positive cases in the state, please visit Maine CDC’s Coronavirus website.

 

How Can I Help Prevent COVID-19 From Spreading? 

  • Get vaccinated. If you’re already vaccinated, encourage your family, friends and neighbors to get vaccinated.
  • Practice “physical distancing” by limiting contact with people outside of your household.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Cough and sneeze into your sleeve, not your hands, or use a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Stay home when sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects (like your cell phone) and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

 

What Should I Do If I Have Questions? 

Here is Maine CDC’s Coronavirus website, and here is the 24/7 Disease Reporting Contact Information:

  • Phone: 1-800-821-5821 (24 hours a day)
  • FAX: 1-800-293-7534 (24 hours a day)
  • TTY: Maine relay 711 (24 hours a day)

 

You can also contact 211 Maine for answers to frequently asked questions on COVID-19: 

 

Current information, including new guidance, can be found on the U.S. CDC’s and Maine CDC’s coronavirus websites.

 

Emergency/Safety 

 

Sharps Disposal

  • The City of South Portland provides sharps containers for public use at five convenient locations (see map here). These sites offer a safe way to properly dispose of medical sharps such as syringes, lancets, and pen needles. For more information on disposal options, visit the Maine Department of Environmental Protection at http://www.maine.gov 

 

Preventing Youth Substance Abuse

  • SoPo Unite is a coalition bringing together all sectors of the community- parents, school staff, police, healthcare, businesses, youth serving organizations, civic organizations and faith based organizations. We discuss and educate others on best practices to prevent youth substance use and promote resilience in our community.

Food Security 

  

Financial & Housing Assistance

  

Healthcare 

  

Other resources can be found on the City of South Portland’s Social Services Department website.

 

The City of South Portland's Board of Health has completed a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand community needs, strengths, and opportunities. Please join us on a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, March 29th from 5:30-7:00. Pre-registration is required. Click on this link to register: https://jsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c89YqhlgQFmbgKfy8qHMUg