BANGOR – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $1.7 million to support projects in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin and Washington counties. The grants will be used for a variety of purposes related to health care and education in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. John Baldacci announced Friday.

Specifically, the Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care program has been awarded a grant of $1,118,524 to support and expand its efforts in Androscoggin and Franklin counties.

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides educational and nutritional services to young children.

Additionally, DHHS has approved a grant of $295,660 for the Regional Medical Center at Lubec. This funding will be used to support a telemedicine program, which seeks to broaden access to health care services through telecommunication networks.

The Houlton Regional Hospital also will benefit from DHHS funding. A grant of $200,000 has been awarded. These funds will be directed toward a rural health care outreach initiative.

DHHS funding also has been approved for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.

The grant of $124,444 will be used to support a native language program.

The funds “will support a wide variety of important health care and education projects,” Baldacci said in a prepared statement. “These resources represent a valuable partnership between the federal government and community organizations.”