Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
January 12-16th, 10 am — 3 pm each day, virtual CCAR Recovery Coach Academy training — see flyer for details.
Supporting Older Mainers: A Legislative Conversation
Saturday, January 17th, 11 am — 1 pm at the Durgin Center, Brewer: Join Eastern Area Agency on Aging on Saturday, January 17, from 11 am to 1 pm for Supporting Older Mainers: A Legislative Conversation, an engaging and interactive event for agency participants, older adults, caregivers, volunteers, staff, and local legislators. This community-centered conversation will provide legislators an opportunity to hear directly from those with lived experience and from the staff and volunteers who support them, and to learn more about the needs of older adults and caregivers in our region. Legislators will share their priorities and connect one-on-one with constituents in a respectful, focused setting centered on aging-related issues. Learn more and register here.
- Service providers and case managers (you may survey individuals on your caseload)
- Community members and volunteers
- Outreach workers and Shelter Staff
All volunteers will receive training and materials in advance. To sign up, please visit Maine Point in Time – Maine Homeless Planning and complete the volunteer registration form. If you are in Washington/Hancock Counties, indicate Hub 8. See training flyer (training date is 1/15/2026) and Statewide Volunteer flyer for more info. Reach out to Jace Farris with questions (207-922-4600×6101; jfarris@chcs-me.org).
January 28th, 11 am — 1 pm FREE webinar Every Workplace Counts: Supporting Recovery Friendly Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: Whether you run a business of one, a growing team, or something in between, your workplace matters—and you belong here. This 90-minute virtual session (and 30-minute Q&A) is designed for entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals, and small business owners who want practical tools, real conversation, and people-first approaches that fit the realities of small operations. Together, we’ll explore what it means to create a healthy, supportive, and recovery-friendly workplace at any size—how to take care of yourself, your people, and your business at the same time. By the end of the session, you’ll have the option to take the next step and become officially designated as a Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW). Register here.
Energy Support Solutions
Wednesday, January 28th, 2 – 3 pm online: As winter settles in, many older adults across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont face difficult decisions about heating their homes while managing fixed incomes. Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging for “Energy Support and Solutions: Keeping Communities Warm in Winter Months,” a webinar highlighting programs and resources designed to help older people stay safe, warm, and financially secure during Winter Months. We’ll explore renewable energy options, financial assistance programs for energy costs, and free wood programs. This webinar will highlight organizations working to support older adults with their energy needs, such as Summit Natural Gas in Maine, providing information on how you might be able to create similar programs in your own communities. Together, we can ensure that all older adults in the Tri-State region have the support they need to stay warm and safe throughout the winter. Register to join this conversation!
Tuesday-Friday, February 17-20, 12-4 pm at Cobscook Institute: For ages 11-14. Join our partners at MCHT, DCC, and 4-H during February break for a deep dive into Winter Ecology! Students will spend time outside on Cobscook Institute’s campus learning about animal tracking, animal adaptations, snow science, and the subnivean zone. Also register for Morning Art Camp to make it a full day! The group will explore campus by foot or snowshoe, weather depending. Participants can expect to learn outside, play games, and do activities to learn how local animals interact with their habitat during Maine’s cold winters. Learn more and register here.
Mental Health Matters — Hall of Flags Event
The Consumer Council System of Maine invites you to join them at the State House Hall of Flags on February 18th, 8 am — 4 pm, to talk to Maine legislators about your lived experience and give them your feedback about Maine’s mental health system. See flyer for details.
Healthy Mouths, Healthy Aging
Wednesday, February 18th, 2 – 3 pm online: Oral health is essential to overall wellbeing, yet it remains one of the most overlooked aspects of care for older adults. Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging for “Healthy Mouths, Healthy Aging: Aligning Oral Healthspan with Lifespan,” a webinar showcasing innovative programs and organizations working to improve oral health access and equity for older people across the Tri-State Region. We’ll highlight successful models and approaches that are making a real difference in communities, providing inspiration and practical frameworks that can be adapted and replicated. This webinar is designed for service providers, community organizers, advocates, and anyone interested in building better oral health systems for older adults. Learn from organizations leading the way in addressing barriers to dental care, discover strategies that are working on the ground, and gain insights you can bring back to your own community. Whether you’re looking to start a new program or strengthen existing services, this session will equip you with ideas, connections, and the knowledge needed to take action toward oral health equity for all older adults. Register to join this conversation!
February 26th, 1 — 2:30 pm: This NCECE and NHCHC webinar will examine gaps in disaster preparedness affecting homeless older adults. Participants will consider strategies for improving communication with homeless older adults during disasters and strengthening community partnerships that provide essential services and resources. Register here.
Save the date of June 25th for the 31st annual Maine Child Welfare Education Conference at the Cross Insurance Center: Children in the Digital Age: Are we Technically Better? Featuring Keynote Speaker Meagan Mitchell, DSW, MSW, MED, LICSW, RPT. See flyer for more about this speaker.
The 2026 Change AGEnt Summit
September 30th, USM Abromson Center, Portland: Mark your calendars! The 2026 Change AGEnt Summit will be held in Portland, on Wednesday, September 30th, at the Abromson Center on the University of Southern Maine campus. We hope you’ll join us for an incredible day of learning, sharing and inspiration. Registration will open this spring, so keep an eye out for our announcement and be sure to check your inbox for updates.
Download the G.E.A.R. Parent Network statewide quarterly calendar of events starting in January.
As we enter the colder months — when people lean on workplaces, neighbors, and community more than ever — it’s a good time to remember Maine’s Good Samaritan Law. The law exists to make it easier to call for help and save a life during a suspected overdose. What the law does — protects a person from arrest or prosecution for most non-violent offenses if the situation comes to light because they:
- call 911 if they see someone experiencing a drug-related overdose
- are experiencing an overdose themselves
- stay with the person and “render aid” until help arrives
Rendering aid includes monitoring the person, providing naloxone, and offering support. For more information on Maine’s Good Samaritan Law, see the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network’s monthly newsletter.
Daughterhood the blog, by Founder Anne Tumlinson: Have you been tired for years—and can’t quite explain why? In this week’s blog we explore how caregiver exhaustion is often rooted not in doing too little self-care, but in having boundaries that are far too loose. From learning that “no” is a complete sentence to understanding why guilt doesn’t get to run the show, this blog shares hard-won lessons on protecting your energy while caring for others. If you’re a daughter-caregiver who feels stretched thin and quietly overwhelmed, this one may feel uncomfortably familiar—and deeply relieving. Read the blog now.