Happy Wednesday!

This is the Community Caring Collaborative Weekly Communiqué where we share announcements about trainings, meetings and other events, including announcements from our collaborative partners. Look for links to meeting minutes and agendas in the Meetings section, training registration forms and flyers in the Events section, and job postings and other items of interest in the Announcements section. Subscribe here to get the Communiqué. Make sure to add Community Caring Collaborative to your contacts at claurel@cccmaine.org. Gmail users, check for the Communiqué under the Promotions tab. This mailing goes out every Wednesday, so if you have announcements, please send them to Christine by 5 pm Monday to be included. Thanks!

Photo above: Storm window kits for seniors to block drafts are available from Maine Sea Coast Mission – see more under Needs & Offers

Announcements

Behavioral Health Provider Meeting: Friday January 12th, Bluebird Ranch Restaurant, Machias from 6:00-8:00 pm. Invited speaker Sue Campbell OUT Maine to discuss working with LGBTQ Youth. All welcome. Reservations & FMI: Ann O’Brien, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Eastport Health Center, 255-3400.

Parent Enrichment Classes: the CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Council is offering 2 free parent enrichment classes in Machias starting in January – free dinner & childcare provided:

Active Parenting Now – for parents of children ages birth – 12, Wednesdays from Jan 17th to Feb 28th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Kay Parker Conference room. Read this flyer for details and registration information
Nurturing Father’s Program – for fathers of children prenatal – 12, Thursdays from Jan 11th to April 15th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Kay Parker Conference room. Read this flyer for details and registration information.

Introduction to Gerontology Course: Washington County Community College is offering this online course beginning in January. Read this flyer for details.

Training Topics for Parents: Just a reminder that here is a form you can print to bring to home visits to find out what training topics parents might want for the family event CCC and partners are planning in April. Completed forms can be turned in at CCC meetings, dropped off at the CCC office (front desk) or scanned to Christine.

Your announcement could go here: email the details to Christine by 5 pm Monday for inclusion in Wednesday’s Weekly Communiqué.

Updates

This is where we post updates on programs, initiatives and pending legislation.

RAISE Act Update: the Senate has passed the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (S. 1028/H.R. 3759) which now heads to the President for his signature. This Act directs the Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS) to develop, maintain, and periodically update a National Family Caregiving Strategy and calls on HHS to convene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to advise it on recognizing and supporting family caregivers. This Council will be comprised of relevant federal agency representatives as well as family caregivers, older adults with long-term services and support needs, health care providers, and other key players in the caregiving community. This has been a significant priority for the National Alliance for Caregiving and continues to be so as it works towards implementation. Visit their website for more information.

Events (Chronologically Listed)

Families & Youth in Transitions Conference: Save the date of March 10, 2018 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Maine General Hospital in Augusta for Families & Youth in Transitions – a conference for families and youth with emotional and behavioral needs, special needs, and special health care needs transitioning through high school to adult life. Youth and parent workshops will be offered. Keynote speaker tba. Sponsored by the Maine Parent Federation and G.E.A.R. Parent Network.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Save the date of April 12, 2018 for NAMI Maine’s Youth Mental Health First Aid Training at the Cherryfield Academy Community Center. Details about this event are here. You can also Download general informationabout Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings.

Elder Abuse Summit: Save the date of May 10th for the 5th annual conference on Elder Abuse, hosted by the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Augusta Civic Center. See flyer for details or visit MCEAP’s website.

Needs & Offers

We Care Baby Center is now providing delivery service for the Machias area on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for families that cannot get to the center due to lack of transportation, illness, or other issues. Call 255-8903 or send a message to We Care’s Facebook page to get on the delivery list.

Downeast Feast 2018: The next community meal (Black Bean Chili and Curried Winter Squash Soup) will take place at the Center Street Congregational Church, hosted by Healthy Acadia, on January 25th at 5 pm. A flyer with the schedule for the next few months is coming soon.

Storm Window Kits for Seniors: Maine Seacoast Mission has reusable, plastic, interior storm windows that are easy to install and help block drafts to lower heating costs. They will measure and install the windows for seniors by appointment – see flyer for more information.

Send us your agency/community needs or offers, such as job recruiting or housing needs.

Favorite Resources

Send us your favorite links to share with other Communique readers.

What’s New at MEJP: In past weeks we have shared Maine Equal Justice Partners’ website as an excellent go-to resource for a quick, clear review of policies, rules and regs on benefit programs many families depend on. But in addition, What’s New at MEJP, located right on the home page, offers reports like Poverty in Maine: Lack of Progress and New Threats Ahead; or a chance to participate in policy changing efforts like Story Bank: Mainers Standing Together for Medicaid; and also resources for current situations that may affect you or your clients, like Fuel Delays. Check it out!

Meetings

Work Group & Poverty Busters: The next meeting of this combined group is on February 7th from 1 to 3:30 in the large conference room at SCEC. It’s not too early to RSVP. Don’t forget to bring your completed forms with training topics requested by parents (see more about this in the announcement section).

Photo courtesy of Jen Peters

CCC Wednesday Communique – January 10, 2018