In Healthcare

Much is happening in the health care sector to promote the key messages and resources of Let's Go! All of these activities are being led by MaineHealth and Maine Medical Center.  The overarching goal of these activities is to help physicians, nurses, hospitals, and others in the twelve communities take on specific roles in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and overweight. Key strategies include giving providers the tools (posters, brochures, fact sheets, etc.) that help them deliver consistent, evidence-based messages and the training (lunch n' learn sessions, medical staff meetings, etc.) they need to implement the tools.  

Highlights include:

  • A collection of colorful, engaging, informative, and easily understood educational resources for children and adults that can be used in health care, schools, childcare, workplace, and community settings. More then 1,400 health professionals (doctors, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc.) in the twelve communities received a Let's Go "Starter Kit" (sample brochure and poster) in early May 2008. Fifty-two physician practices in southern Maine (including the twelve Let's Go! communities) have been targeted for special Let's Go! targeted outreach to their entire practice teams.
  • The Let's Go! Childhood Obesity and Overweight Health Care Provider Toolkit is available FREE of charge and able to be downloaded directly from our website to health care organizations throughout Maine NOW.  The Toolkit is chock-full of resources for health care providers, patients and families, on topics like family mealtime, portion size, the importance of sleep, and dietary fiber.
  • Get Up and Go Guide for Cumberland County (which showcases FREE and low cost physical activity resources in the 12 communities).
  • Training for health care providers on Motivational Interviewing, a technique to help patients set and reach personal lifestyle goals.
  • New session of the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative, involving health care organizations/physician practices located in the Let's Go! communities.
  • Menu for Change Conference Materials available to be downloaded. Menu for Change Conference was held in November 2008, for food service professionals in hospitals, health care and schools, and focused on healthy food purchasing, using local producers, marketing health choices, environmental strategies, etc.
  • For more information on healthcare resources, contact infoletsgo@mmc.org