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: Registration extended until Noon on Jan 4th for Changes to Maine’s Safety Net – Register now!

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.

Legal Services for the Elderly released their report on Financial Exploitation of Maine’s Older Adults: An Analysis of Maine Adult Protective Services and Legal Services for the Elderly Case Records last month. Prepared by the Muskie School of Public Service, this report reveals the vulnerability of Maine’s older residents to financial exploitation. Read the full report and/or the executive summary.

Events (Chronologically Listed)

Trauma Awareness & Resilience Institute for Youth Workers: Maine Behavioral Healthcare partnering with TREE/CCLC invite you to attend a free two-day training institute for youth workers to increase capacity for working with youth exposed to violence and trauma – January 8-9 at the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC). See flyer for details. Please contact Brittany Ray for information about overnight accommodations at the CCLC’s beautiful Heartwood Lodge.

Changes to Maine’s Safety Net: Service providers in Washington County are invited to sign up for a free training on January 9, 2018 on Changes to Maine’s Safety Net: Understanding & Accessing TANF, SNAP and MaineCare. Maine Equal Justice Partners, the Maine DHHS Office of Family Independence, Fedcap and Passamaquoddy partners will share what you need to know about changes made to these programs that may benefit clients and the families you work with. Special attention will be given to how families can access these programs in Washington County. This training will be held in the Assembly Room at Washington County Community College in Calais, from 9 am to 12 Noon. Register here. The deadline to register has been extended until Noon on January 4th. Please share this flyer with your staff and colleagues who work with families.

Understanding Substance Use in the Workplace: January 10, 2018 from 9 am to Noon at Sunrise County Economic Council’s office at 7 Ames Way in Machias. This free training for business owners and HR staff, presented by Marjorie F. Withers, LCPC, will lay the foundation for understanding substances and their impact on employees, and how to support them in recovery. To register, email Amy or call 255-0983. This event is made possible by funding from the H. King and Jean Cummings Charitable Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

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 information about 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

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.

Families First Community Center: FFCC has received a $10,000 Grant from the Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust to help finance the Renovation Fund for the new Ellsworth family shelter at 41 North Street, which includes the installation of heat pumps and solar for more efficiency. Volunteer contractors, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, painters, anyone who is handy with a hammer, are still needed to help with renovations this winter. The shelter opening is planned for the spring of 2018. For more information, to donate funds or materials for the renovations, or to volunteer, you may call 460-3711, mail PO Box 951, Ellsworth, email familiesfirstellsworth@gmail.com or visit www.familiesfirstellsworth.org

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.

Eastern Area Agency on Aging: download a copy of EAAA’s quarterly newsletter, Just for You – covering topics like Medicare 101 classes, food insecurity, and more. Did you know that you can donate to EAAA through Operation Smile when making a purchase through Amazon.com?

Meetings

Work Group & Poverty Busters: Read notes from the December meeting. The January meeting is today, January 3rd, from 1 to 3:30 in the large conference room at SCEC. Read the agenda for this meeting.

St Croix Community Connections: This is Poverty Buster’s sister group in Calais, organized by Christine Morris. This group meets monthly – new members welcome!

Photo courtesy of Jen Peters

CCC Wednesday Communique – January 3, 2018