CCC Wednesday Communique — May 4, 2022

Tomorrow is May 5th, Cinco de Mayo in Spanish.  This calendar day is celebrated in Mexico and in many regions of the USA as a holiday commemorating Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican Army, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza, was able to achieve victory over the French forces of Napoleon III, despite being greatly outnumbered.  Learn more here Feliz Cinco de Mayo! 
(Photo courtesy of Rena Dehler/Wikimedia Commons)

Happy Wednesday!

New this week:

Volunteering with Your Pet

The CCC invites you to a one-hour introduction to Volunteering with Your Pet, presented by Elin MacKinnon, LCSW.  This presentation is designed to orient you to the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program as a way of volunteering in the community with your pet. We’ll cover requirements and the process for registering with Pet Partners. For those of you who determine volunteering with your pet is not the right fit for you or your animal – we will be discussing other ways to be involved. Pet Partners is a national volunteer organization with nearly 15,000 teams in 50 states as well as Canada. Our mission is to improve human health and well-being through the power of the human animal bond.  Register for this virtual training and please share this flyer.


Understanding the Impacts of Trauma
This is a core training for CCC partners held in 2 Zoom sessions from 9 am to 11 am on Wednesday, June 8th and Friday, June 10th.  Presented by Julie Redding, LCPC, this training covers the definition of trauma; differentiating between toxic stress, trauma and ACEs; exploring personal beliefs about trauma and mental health; understanding how trauma and stress affect the body and brain; and understanding factors that mitigate effects of trauma. Participants who attend both sessions are eligible for .4 CEUs offered by UMM and a certificate for 4 contact hours provided by the CCC.  Register for Part 1. Participants only need to register for session 1. The Zoom link to join session 2 will be provided during the training on June 8th.

Impacts of Poverty Training Rescheduled

The CCC is pleased to announce confirmation of a new set of dates for the postponed Impacts of Poverty on Students & Families training: July 20th & 22nd, 9 — 11 am.  Julie Redding, CCC’s clinical director, and Charley Martin-Berry, CCC’s director, will present an overview, including the effects of cortisol and toxic stress on brain development; explore concepts of bias, scarcity and bandwidth; look at current poverty data; and discuss strategies that work, such as building executive function.  Here is the link to register.  Participants only need to register for session 1.  The Zoom link to join session 2 will be provided during the training on July 20th.  Participants who attend both sessions are eligible for .4 CEUs from UMM as well as a certificate of 4 contact hours from the CCC.


Introducing The Earliest, a ZERO TO THREE Podcast

We’ve all seen the news headlines, and many of us are experiencing the impact firsthand of the unprecedented mental health crisis among people of all ages and walks of life. During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to a safe space to listen, reflect, and connect with a topic that matters to everyone. The Earliest, a new podcast from ZERO TO THREE, takes a deep and personal look into mental health in the earliest years of life — the years that matter most. In season one, we embark on our journey with early childhood expert, doula, and mother Elizabeth Pihlaja, where she fearlessly shares the joy and trauma of bringing her first baby from the womb into the world.  A new episode will be released each week in May. The first episode drops May 5, 2022, but first – here’s a peek into the series.  Meanwhile, The State of Babies Yearbook: 2022 is here.


Older Americans Month 2022

In 2022, Administration for Community Living (ACL) will be focusing on aging in place – how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible. The 2022 theme is Age My Way, an opportunity for all of us to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities. We’re going to be discussing how planning, participation, accessibility, and making connections all play a role in aging in place – emphasizing that what each person needs and prefers is unique. Don’t forget to follow #OlderAmericansMonth for the latest from ACL, and to see what others are planning!


Children’s Mental Health Conference

From the G.E.A.R. Parent Network: As we celebrate Children’s Mental Health Awareness in May, we want to reach out to you, in our shared vision for Maine’s children, youth and families.  It is through our combined efforts ongoing that growth, renewal and the promotion of positive mental health will impact the well-being of our children. Our combined voices carry volumes in bringing about acceptance and change. Speak out and be heard!! Let your message ring in the ears of others: Children’s Mental Health Matters!  Please register to participate in our free Children’s Mental Health conference on May 5th from 9 am — 2 pm to learn and have dialogue about the importance of children’s mental health in an effort to foster acceptance and end prejudice and discrimination.


 Guide to Resources for Families and Caregivers

SAMHSA has released a new publication, Understanding Parity: A Guide to Resources for Families and Caregivers. There are protections in federal law, collectively known as “parity,” which are designed to ensure that certain types of health plans cover mental and substance use disorders no less generously than they cover other health issues. This resource can guide you to helpful materials and places.  Download the guide here.

Family Survey on Child Care

Right from the Start Organizing Work Group would like your help spreading the following survey to identify experiences of families accessing child care in Maine.  Please share with your networks, organizations that connect with families, community pages, families you know, etc. (Please see below for additional translations of the survey descriptor which can be shared as well)  The Right from the Start Coalition works to ensure that all Maine children have equal opportunity for healthy development. This means providing accessible and high-quality early care and education, no matter where families live. This survey is for parents or primary caregivers of children under age eight who live in Maine. We want to understand families’ experiences and priorities with finding and selecting child care. The results from this survey will help Right from the Start support and advocate for child care improvements in Maine. The survey is anonymous and you do not have to share your name or contact information unless you choose to do so. The survey will only take about 10 minutes of your time. Thank you for your help!

Senior Companion Program Coordinator

Deb Gardner is stepping down at the end of May as the Senior Companion Program Coordinator.  Please see the full job description here.  According to Deb: “while the posting says the job is located in Bangor, that is negotiable.” Please share this job posting with anyone you know who might be interested, such as students who might be graduating and looking for an “awesome work opportunity.”


Homeowner Assistance Fund 
Maine’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) launched on May 2nd and is now capable of accepting applications:
  • To apply for assistance, visit Maine.gov/HomeAssist.
  • Check out their FAQs
  •  If you have questions not answered on our frequently-asked questions page, you can contact the Bureau through our website HERE.
  • Penquis CAP (207-973-3500) is prepared to answer questions and assist with the application process for residents of Washington County
  • Homeowners requiring legal assistance or who are facing imminent loss of their home may be provided with assistance by two legal aid organizations, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and Legal Services for the Elderly, under contracts with the bureau
  • A general description of the program, including income guidelines, benefit limits and required documentation, is found HERE.

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