Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
November is National Family Caregivers Month — a time to recognize and support the millions of family caregivers navigating care every single day. This year, Caregiver Action Network is celebrating with Plug-in to Care, our campaign to connect caregivers with the resources, support, and community they deserve. Introducing Care Connections: The Plug-in to Care Webinar Series — five free webinars featuring expert speakers from across industries, moderated by CAN’s CEO Marvell Adams Jr., on Nov 3, 7, 10, 14, & 19. All five sessions are 1 pm. Learn more and register for these free webinars.
Upper Machias Bay Master Plan
There will be a public meeting on November 3 (5:30-8:30 pm) to learn about the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan and discuss replacement options for the aging Machias dike. The meeting is hosted by the SCEC Upper Machias Bay Master Plan and the Town of Machias, and will be held at the Lee Pellon Center in Machias. The Upper Machias Bay Master Plan is a community-engaged planning effort, and is focused on building a healthy, resilient, and prosperous future for Upper Machias Bay. Learn more here.
Cancer Conference Location Change
FirstAid/CPR/AED Class
The Community Connections Center in Baileyville is offering a certification class through American Red Cross for FirstAid/CPR/AED class on Wednesday, November 12th, from 4-8 pm. Email hhicks@mcd.org to sign-up. Spots are limited so sign-up early!
Join the G.E.A.R. Parent Network for a webinar on November 13, 2025 from 4 – 5:30, Youth Tobacco and Substance Use and What We Can Do About It, facilitated by Diane Bouffard, CFPS; presented by Annie Dymarczyk and Shaleigh Trask, Somerset Public Health Community Health Educators. Register online. Download a flyer to share.
- Individual Advocate: Atlee Reilly, Disability Rights Maine for tirelessly advocating for the rights and education of children with disabilities across the state.
- Business Champion: Wild Oats Bakery & Café for fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace and community space that uplifts youth and families.
- Youth Organization: United YES (Youth Empowerment Services) for empowering young people to use their voices and take action on issues that matter.
- Community Advocacy Leader: Maine Equal Justice – Partners Circle for leading systemic change to reduce poverty and increase opportunity for children and families.
- Educator Award: Dr. Leigh Alley, University of Maine at Augusta for advancing equity in education and supporting students to thrive through inclusive leadership.
- Emerging Leader: James Orrigo, Filmmaker for using creativity and storytelling to uplift the voices and dreams of young people facing medical challenges.
Please join the Maine Children’s Alliance in celebrating this remarkable award winners at our annual Champions for Children-Giraffe Awards Celebration, Maple Hill Conference Center- Hallowell Tuesday, November 18th, 11 – 3. Tickets available here.
The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center announces the return of the Beth’s Trees for HOPE Festival, taking place Saturday and Sunday, December 13th-14th, 2025, at the Maine Coast Mall in Ellsworth, Maine. This event marks the start of the holiday season, transforming the Maine Coast Mall into a festive forest of beautifully decorated trees each created and donated by local businesses, families, and organizations all to benefit individuals affected by cancer in Downeast Maine. The Center is now accepting tree submissions for this year’s event. Interested participants are encouraged to display a decorated tree or become an event sponsor. To sign up, contact the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 207-664-0339 or email info@bethwrightcancercenter.org (please include “TREES” in the subject line).
The Office of Child and Family Services and the Maine Child Welfare Action Network have partnered to support a Mandated Reporting and Community Support for Families initiative, to better understand the current challenges and opportunities in Maine’s systems of mandated reporting and community support for families. This national survey provides an important opportunity to gather insight from mandated reporters in Maine, to inform recommendations. We hope you will take a few moments to complete the survey, and share with other mandated reporters in your networks. Every day, professionals like you make important decisions in order to keep children safe and help families succeed. The Quality Improvement Center on Helplines and Hotlines is conducting practical research to understand more about how these decisions are made. We invite you to complete an anonymous survey about your experiences. Survey results will help the Center make recommendations on policies and practices for better decision making about families and develop new and improved pathways for families to get the help they need. All surveys are anonymous and confidential, and take about 15 minutes to complete. Surveys will be open through November 7. Please share this survey link widely. We hope to get as many responses as possible.