NMPHI

serves as the leading health related, ethnic-based organization directly serving the needs of the immigrant and refugee youth and their families.

Mission

NMPHI aims to empower, inform, and educate new Mainers about preventive health measures through the promotion of healthy habits by developing the capacity to mobilize community partnerships in identifying and solving health problems in order to bridge the gap in health care service delivery and decrease health disparity. NMPHI works with underserved demographics intellectual impairments by providing services such as targeted case management services and Rehabiliative Community Support Services.

In addition to empowering and educating, NMPHI advocates on behalf of our community and Mainers at-large for better access to health resources, more sensible healthcare policies and overall better health equity.

Our Story

NMPHI serves as the leading health related, ethnic-based organization directly serving the needs of the immigrant and refugee youth and their families.

New Mainers Public Health Initiative began at the initiation of a few students in the local college and university who decided to “give back” to their community by promoting healthy habits and changing attitudes, beliefs, and behavior. These ambitious students created NMPHI to promote an effective response to health issues that the community is suffering from silently. By teaching new ways to buy, store, prepare, and consume food and building up an appreciation of disease management and control, NMPHI works closely within the community to em-power people to take control of their healthcare by seeking out better health habits, becoming educated about understanding medical diagnoses and treatment plans, and by becoming informed about primary or secondary prevention.

As a member of the community we have strong relationship with our community and can be a buffering agent to providers as well. Our organization actively works with other agencies who work with New Mainers in the L/A area. NMPHI members participate in the New Mainers Community Collaborative meetings.

Our Goals

Educate new Mainers to overcome healthcare barriers.
Empower new Mainers to actively participate in their diagnosis.
Promote preventive measures through dietary changes.
Increase the level of knowledge and awareness about certain diseases and the cultural competence of healthcare providers with an emphasis on refugees and immigrants’ traditions, religion, and cultural.
Develop culturally appropriate health education materials to effectively communicate preventive health messages to new Mainers.
Share resources and materials with new Mainers and healthcare providers, and other agencies throughout Maine to increase overall awareness of refugee health needs.
Advocate on behalf of our local community for increased access to health resources and better health equity.