| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 268 is enacted to read: |
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| §1656.__Office of Women's Health established |
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| | 1.__Office established.__The Office of Women's Health, | referred to in this chapter as the "office," is established | effective July 1, 2001.__The office exists within the hierarchy | of the Bureau of Health, but includes staff and resources of the | Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance | Abuse Services. |
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| | 2.__Office purpose and goals; strategies.__The purpose of the | office is to expand the State's public health concerns and focus | to include a comprehensive outlook on the overall health status | of women.__The primary goals of the office are the prevention of | disease and improvement in the quality of life for women over | their entire lifespan. |
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| The department and the Department of Mental Health, Mental | Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall develop jointly | strategies for achieving these goals within the office that | include, but are not limited to: |
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| A.__Developing a strategic plan to improve public services | and programs targeting women; |
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| B.__Conducting policy analysis on specific issues related to | women's health; |
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| C.__Facilitating communication among the departments' | programs and between the office and external women's health | groups and community-based organizations; |
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| D.__Building public health awareness and capacity regarding | women's health issues by providing a series of services | including evaluation, recommendation, technical assistance | and training; and |
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| E.__Developing initiatives for modification or expansion of | women-oriented services with the intent of establishing | meaningful public and private partnerships in the future. |
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| | 3.__Office duties.__The office shall: |
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