UNE Master of Public Health faculty, students develop resource guide for Cumberland County Re-Entry Center

Jennifer Gunderman and Trisha Mason
Jennifer Gunderman and Trisha Mason

Jennifer Gunderman, M.P.H., and Trisha Mason, M.A., faculty from the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions, worked with students from the Master of Public Health (MPH) program to develop a resource guide that was distributed to men at the Cumberland County Re-Entry Center in Portland, Maine.

As residents of the Re-Entry Center, the men are transitioning from incarceration back into the community. They face many challenges, including securing jobs, housing, and food. 

Putting public health into practice, these faculty and students identified resources and services that could assist the men in their transition and to lead healthy and productive lives. The resource guide included information on 211 Maine's statewide directory, career services, health insurance, health clinics, accessing healthy food, housing options, and transportation. MPH student Amanda Langley coordinated the resource guide. Other contributors included 2015 graduate Ian Imbert, M.P.H., and current MPH students, Cora Upshaw, Geneva Sides, Tori Juram, and MoNique Gaines-Harris.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.