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City Services

Health & Community Services

Welcome to Bangor’s Department of Health & Community Services

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• Public Health Nursing
• Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic Immunization
• Children's Dental Clinic
• Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program
• General Assistance
• Bangor Travel Medicine & Immunization Clinic
• Emergency Housing
• Park Woods
• Contacts
  
  
  

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The mission of the Bangor Health & Community Services Department is to provide for the public health and welfare of citizens of the City of Bangor, while recognizing and encouraging self-respect and self-reliance. Able adults are assisted toward achieving skills necessary to become personally and financially independent through employment. Assistance in helping to preserve and strengthen the family unit is provided, thereby allowing all children the equal right to a sound and healthy environment conducive to achieving their full potential as productive member of society.

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The City of Bangor has a long tradition of working closely with our citizens to insure that our community remains healthy and that the basic needs of our citizens are met. Much of the responsibility for continuing this tradition falls to this Department.

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Whether the issue is basic need for shelter or food, dental care for children, nutrition for mothers and infants, or protection against infectious diseases, we stand ready to provide help or guidance.

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Our trained and professional staff prides itself on working with our clients not only to address immediate needs but, wherever possible, to recognize and encourage self-respect and self-reliance in those we serve.

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Building and maintaining a healthy community requires hard work from everyone. We are proud to do our part. 

The Bangor Health and Community Services department hours are 8 to 6:30pm Monday through Wednesday, 8 to 6 on Thursday and 8 to 4:30pm on Friday. 

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Public Health Nursing

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The City of Bangor provides maternal child health services to residents of the city.  Our maternal child health nurses make home visits to provide assessments of pregnant and parenting women.  We provide education and support for mothers and their children up to age five.  This service is educationally based and is not a "hands-on" nursing service: emphasis is on prevention.  Our nurses work closely with other area providers and make skilled assessments and referrals based on the needs of the individual and family.  We provide information on issues ranging from pre-term labor and birth to lead poisoning and childhood developmental evaluations.

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For further information call 992-4550.

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Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic

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The Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Division is responsible for the promotion of the health and well being of Maine people through the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Clinical services allow for the diagnosis, treatment and management of STDs. Community educational presentations about STD prevention. 

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Up to 75% of people with STDs have NO signs or symptoms. If you think you may have put yourself at risk, you need to be tested and treated.

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Clinical Services – Clinical services offered include confidential, comprehensive medical checkups and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases, assistance in getting sexual partners of infected persons tested and treated, and information and counseling regarding STDs.

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Clinical services are provided on a walk-in basis on Regular office hours are Monday-Friday(8:00am-4:30pm), Walk-In clinics are open Wednesday evenings(4:30pm-7:30pm).  Counseling, consultation, and education are available weekdays (during office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by appointment. HIV Ab counseling and testing is done by appointment only. Appointments are available during office hours and on Wednesday evenings. The cost of attending the clinic is $50.00. Some testing may require an additional charge. Medication may be included in the initial price of the clinic visit. We also accept Medicaid. No client is refused services due to inability to pay.

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For further information call 992-4555 or 947-0700.

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Preventive Oral Health Program

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The Preventive Oral Health Program provides dental care; including prophylaxis (cleanings), fluoride varnish treatments and oral screenings for children enrolled in the WIC program.  In addition, the public health dental hygienist provides oral health education for children, parents and pregnant women enrolled in the WIC program.  All patients requiring restorative treatment completed by a dentist are referred to area providers.

For further information call 992-4543.

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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

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The WIC Nutrition Program is a special supplemental food and nutrition education program for women, infants, and children designed to address nutritionally related concerns during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood. The WIC Nutrition Program provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and education, and referrals to other health and social service programs in the area. 

 

You can apply for WIC if you:

 

• are pregnant, breast feeding, or have recently given birth;
• have an infant or child under the age of five years;
• meet the income guidelines (or participate in the TANF, Food Stamps, or MaineCare programs)

 

Along with income guidelines, eligibility for the WIC Program is determined through a health assessment including checking weight and height, and screening for anemia. 
 

**BOTH WORKING AND NON-WORKING FAMILIES MAY BE ELIGIBLE**

 

The WIC Program holds clinics throughout Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. Call the Bangor office at 992-4570 or 1-800-470-3769 to make an appointment at any clinic site. Appointments are held daily in our main office in Bangor at 103 Texas Avenue.  Open until 6:30pm, Monday through Wednesday and until 6:00pm on Thursday.

 

Please call for more information!

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General Assistance

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The Department administers a municipal General Assistance program, authorized by State of Maine statue with support and oversight from the state of Maine Department of Health and Human Services. This program is designed to provide food, fuel, shelter, or other basic necessities to those in need when such necessities are not available elsewhere. General Assistance is intended to be a program of last resort, so potential applicants should pursue other avenues for assistance first. Eligibility is based upon need as determined through application process which includes an income-based formula.

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Able-bodied adults who are not responsible for pre-school age children are expected to participate in the City’s workfare program as a condition of continued eligibility. Workfare assignments are made to various city departments and local non-profit organizations. The number of hours assigned is determined by dividing the amount of assistance received by current minimum wage. Workfare participants are expected to work 4 hours a day until their obligation is completed.

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General Assistance applications are taken by appointment.  Applicants must bring verification of income and expenses for the past 30 days for everyone living in your household. For further information call 992-4530.  For emergencies outside office hours call 947-7384

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INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN TOWNS OTHER THAN BANGOR MUST APPLY FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR TOWN OF RESIDENCE.

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Bangor Travel Medicine & Immunization Clinic

The Bangor Travel Medicine and Immunization Clinic is a division of the Department of Health & Welfare, City of Bangor.  Clients receive vaccinations and immunizations for foreign travel and routine adult and childhoold vaccinations and immunizations for school, college, employment, etc.  Walk-in clinics are held eveyr Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and every fourth Thursday of the month from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.  Foreign travel is by appointment only.  The clinic office hours are from 8:00 - 4:30 Monday - Friday.  For further information or to make an appointment call 992-4547 or fax us at 992-9161.

Directions:  After exiting I-95 on Union Street (heading toward the Airport), turn left onto Vermont Avenue.  Travel around the rotary to Texas Avenue.  Look for the sign - City of Bangor, Department of Health & Community Services, 103 Texas Avenue. 

Nearest Bus Stop:  BAT, one minute walk.

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Emergency Housing

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Children under 18 years of age are referred to Shaw House, 136 Union Street, Bangor, ME 04401, telephone 941-2882. Active mental health consumers are referred to the Greater Bangor Area Shelter, 26 Cedar Street, Bangor, ME 04401, telephone 947-0092, and active substance abusers are referred to Acadia Recovery Community (a.k.a. Hope House), 179 Indiana Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401, telephone 973-6400.

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For further information contact the Health & Welfare Office at 103 Texas Avenue
(992-4530) during regular business hours, or the Bangor Police Department (947-7382) evenings, weekends and holidays.
Shelter Plus Care

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Shelter Plus Care is a voucher program funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist in meeting the housing needs of the most difficult of Bangor’s homeless population. Funding for the program is awarded annually in a competitive process as part of the McKinney Homeless Act. Eligibility for the program is based upon housing status and diagnosis. Admission to the program is through a Case Manager.

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Park Woods Project -- Park Woods Transitional Housing

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The Park Woods Project offers homeless individuals and families safe, affordable, transitional housing and case management services. This project was designed to fill gaps in the existing homeless service delivery system. Without Park Woods, there would be no transitional housing for homeless people who are not members of an existing special needs population (i.e. mental health consumers). Park Woods provides housing and case management services to homeless individuals and families for a maximum of two years. During this period, residents are expected to pursue self-sufficiency, and they enter into a Transition Contract that defines the individual supports they will need to be successful. Opened in 1995, the neighborhood has seen many successful transitions to health, well being, and financial independence.

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The rents at Park Woods are based on the cost of operating the project. They are about the same as the rents charged for similar units in the community. While the rents are not subsidized, individual tenants may qualify for a Section 8 subsidy or other rental assistance programs.

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Park Woods, 103 Texas Avenue, Bangor, Maine 04401 990-1678.

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Contact Information

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For more information about our Health & Community Services Programs:

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Email Us at: health.comm.services@bangormaine.gov

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Call Us at: 992-4530

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Fax Us at: 945-3348

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Write Us at: Health & Community Services Department
103 Texas Avenue
Bangor, Maine 04401

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