Phase 1 - Our Health Care Stories

From April to June, 2008, KVO held Our Health Care Story Meetings in most of our member groups throughout the Valley. The purpose of these meetings was to:

• Update KVO members on the progress (and roadblocks) in our long-term care campaign – specifically around obtaining health care benefits for direct care workers – and the relationship with broader health care access questions;

• Build and strengthen our relationships with one another by sharing our personal health care stories, hopes and concerns;

• Reflect on the values and principles that we bring – as individuals and as a church/union/etc. - to the health care debate;

• Surface stories, leaders, and energy to take action to expand access to quality health care for all.

In all, more than 100 people participated in meetings in Skowhegan, Waterville, Augusta, Oakland, and Fairfield. The participants reached consensus on the declaration that:

"Everyone should have the opportunity to get quality, affordable health care."

The stories and reflections lifted up in these meetings formed the basis for the principles of health care reform that were discussed and voted upon at the June 18th Special Delegates Assembly on Health Care.

Click here to read the personal stories brought forward during these meetings.

KVO is continuing to collect personal stories of health care. If you have one to add, contact us to find out how!