CCC Wednesday Communique – October 4, 2023

Mark your calendar for Trick or Treat Down Main Street and CCC’s Family Harvest Meal at the Lee/Pellon Center from 4 – 6 pm on October 27th.  Contact Christy at claurel@cccmaine.org if you’d like a table or to volunteer. We welcome donations to sponsor a meal.

Happy Wednesday!

New this week:

2023 PHC Health Fair

You’re Invited to the 2023 Passamaquoddy Health Center Fair, Friday, October 13, 2023 9 am – 12 pm, 401 Peter Dana Point Road, Indian Township.  Booths can be set up between 8:15 – 8:30 am.  Download a form to reserve space (deadline is October 8th).


March for Domestic Violence Awareness

NextStep invites you to march for Domestic Violence Awareness on Tuesday, October 10th, starting at 5:30 pm in front of the Performing Arts Center at UMaine Machias. Download a flyer for more information.


Empowering Young Adults with ID/DD

GEAR Parent Network Workshop: October 12, 2023 from 10 am to 12 pm, presented by Dan Kipp, Project Director “Launching & Expanding Youth Self-Advocacy,” funded by the Office of Aging & Discrimination Services (OADS) and led by Disability Rights Maine (DRM) and Speaking Up For Us (SUFU); and Jaheim Franklyn (he/him) a Self-Advocate Trainer.  We are still offering our weekly virtual support group. Please call 1-800-264-9224 to register for support group and/or workshops. Workshop descriptions and registrations here.


Grief: Facing Illness, Death, and Other Losses

12 Noon – 1 pm, online: Grief and loss can be a lonely and isolating experience. As a caregiver, you may encounter grief at different points on your caregiving journey. Join the Ontario Caregiver Organization on November 22nd as it welcomes back Dr. Patrick McGrath to talk about:

  • Different kinds of grief and their accompanying emotions
  • What you can do to understand the grieving process
  • Tips on how to cope with grief and loss

Dr. McGrath is a clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University and a scientist at the IWK Health Centre where his research is based. He is an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and founder and president of 90 Second Health Letters. He frequently treats caregivers with anxiety in his private practice.  Register here.


Wayfinder Schools Fall Open House

Save the date of October 25th for Wayfinder Schools fall open house at the Camden campus from 4 –  6pm.  We bid a Happy Retirement to former Head of Schools Martha Kempe and Welcome to new Head of Schools Erica Gates. Enjoy fall refreshments; view student art; enter to win our door prize; and meet students, staff, board members, and graduates as we celebrate the new school year!


State of the Babies Yearbook

ZERO to THREE State of the Babies Yearbook for 2023 is ready to download.  The data presented in the report are a fervent call to action to stand as champions for change to ensure that every baby has a strong start in life. The data in the Yearbook tell a concerning story but show that policy choices can break the constraints of poverty, safeguard health coverage and provide essential child care support for families with young children.


  Free Community College

High school graduates in the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023 (or students who earned the equivalent of a high school diploma, like a GED or HiSET) can attend Maine community colleges tuition-free (must be living in Maine while enrolled). The same will be true for the classes of 2024 and 2025! See freecommunitycollegemaine.com for more information.  Filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is key to free community college. Most families can complete the FAFSA in less than 30 minutes. If you’re ready to file, go to StudentAid.gov to file the FAFSA. If you need help or have questions, we’ve got answers. Unsure of your plans? You can still file a FAFSA to keep your options open.


Help for Family Caregivers
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed to pay for family caregiver training, care navigation, and dementia care coordination. Howard Gleckman notes in his August 23, 2023 Forbes article that family members are the bedrock of the system of care for frail older adults and younger people with disabilities, and that important steps are being taken to help them.  Read article here.

Dementia Action Alliance Monthly Podcasts

Dementia Action Alliance hosts two monthly podcasts, This Dementia Life and Professional Insights. There is also the podcast series, Calling All Voices, a partnership with the Global Council on Alzheimer’s Disease, that voices the experiences and perspectives of people living with dementia and their care partners from diverse communities.  Learn more here.

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