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CCC Wednesday Communique — July 8, 2026

Mock Orange tree in full bloom: In my garden these delightfully fragrant white blossoms, resembling double impatiens, let me know that summer is really here, no joke.  

Happy Wednesday!

New this week:

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Please note: Your Wednesday Communique editor will be on vacation next week so our next issue will be published on Wednesday, July 22nd.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Starting July 1st: all WIC participants over 12 months old will receive $30 to spend at eWIC certified farmers on Maine-grown fruits and vegetables.  Contact your WIC clinic (207 667-5304) or visit Maine.gov/wic for more information.

Healthy Starts — Postpartum OUD Care Transitions

Tuesday, July 28th, 2-3:15 pm:  The postpartum period can be especially challenging for mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD). Caring for an infant, sleep deprivation, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and disruptions in insurance coverage or treatment access can increase stress and elevate the risk of substance use recurrence.  A companion to SAMHSA’s recently released publication, Healthy Starts: Postpartum OUD Care Transitions for Mother and Infant, this webinar provides evidence-based guidance for providers, care teams, families, community organizations, and other stakeholders who seek to enhance support and service delivery for mothers with an OUD, strengthen families, and help save lives.  Learn about risks and challenges during the postpartum period, medications for opioid use disorder, and how care teams can work together to promote health, bonding, and recovery. This session highlights the Children and Recovering Mothers (CHARM) program and its network of community partners that deliver seamless care coordination across systems for pregnant and parenting women with OUD.  Register now.

FFD Cohort 11 Applications Due End of July

The Deadline to submit applications for Cohort 11 is July 30th.  Did you know FFD accepts referrals from other providers?  If you know someone who could benefit from our services, simply complete our quick and easy Referral/Interest Form. Your referral could be the first step in connecting them with the support they need.  Make a referral today—together, we can make a difference. FFD staff are also available to attend community outreach events, staff meetings, board gatherings, or community forums to explain our work and share resources.  Contact Angela Cox at acox@sunrisecounty.org, call or text: 207-812-2005.  Let’s connect and support our community—one referral at a time!

Skate 4 Life
August 8th, 1 — 4 pm at the Calais Skatepark: Organizations are invited to this year’s Skate 4 Life hosted by the Brendan Leddy Memoral Fund, during the International Homecoming Festival.  Skate 4 Life is a free community event that highlights our community efforts to educate and reduce instances of suicide, promote mental health, advocate for recovery in substance use, all while promoting tolerance and acceptance. We will provide an opportunity for you to speak on behalf of your organization and your current work within the community, have tables and chairs set up for you, provide lunch, beverages, and snacks. Youngsters will be given a BLMF/CSC logo printed ‘swag bag’ with our BLMF stickers inside. Each will also bring a ‘sticker card’ to your table, where you will apply a sticker in one of the boxes after having some sort of meaningful conversation/interaction.  We will provide you with the stickers and when their card is full of stickers, they can come to our building to earn food and drink AND will be entered in a raffle for a yet to be determined big prize.  We intend for this process to ensure that your time is worthy of your efforts to attend.   Please respond to Randy McCormick at rlmcc1956@gmail.com to confirm your spot at this 6th annual event.
Art Show Sign-up

October 2026 through May 2027: Cobscook Institute offers local artists gallery space in the lobby of The Commons. We offer two-month shows October through May. 100% of art sales go directly to the artist. PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO ARTISTS WHO DID NOT EXHIBIT AT COBSCOOK INSTITUTE GALLERY DURING THE 2025-2026 ART SHOWS.  Did you exhibit at the Cobscook Institute Gallery during the 2025-2026 art shows? Thank you for sharing your work with the community! In an effort to give new folks a chance to exhibit their work, we ask that you please wait until August 1 to register. This will allow 3 months for new artists to register. Thank you!  Sign up here.

Housing Affordability Snapshots

SCEC has released new Housing Affordability Snapshots for communities across Washington County. Each snapshot highlights median home prices, the income needed to purchase a home, and the percentage of local households that can realistically afford one.  The snapshots make complex local housing affordability data easy to understand. For example, a median-priced home in Machiasport now costs about seven times what a typical household earns—the widest affordability gap in the county.  Browse your community’s snapshot, compare communities, or download the full collection on SCEC’s Housing webpage.

FFCC is Hiring!

Families First Community Center is excited to announce that we are hiring a Home Health Coordinator / Life Plan Specialist as we continue expanding services, including our new Behavioral Health Home (BHH) program. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference by working directly with individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability throughout Hancock County. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working independently while managing a caseload, coordinating care, developing individualized Life Plans, providing advocacy and system navigation, maintaining MaineCare documentation, and building strong relationships with community partners. Community outreach is a key component of this position and includes meeting clients where they are, both in the office and throughout our service area. Applicants must have an MHRT-C certification. A bachelor’s degree is preferred by FFCC, but not required for Section 92 Behavioral Health Home services. We are seeking someone with excellent organizational and communication skills, reliable transportation, a strong work ethic, and a genuine passion for empowering families and strengthening our community. At FFCC, we value workplace flexibility, collaboration, and work-life balance while maintaining a high standard of service to the families we serve.  To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to shainafraser@familiesfirstellsworth.org. Questions about the position should be directed to Shaina Fraser at 207-271-1647.

Daughterhood, the Blog

Are You Ready to Make Healthcare Decisions for Your Parents, by Anne Tumlinson: You most likely will be the one to make the big decisions that will determine the course of treatment when your parents are in a healthcare crisis or end-of-life situation. Here are six steps to prepare you.  Read now.

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