CCC Wednesday Communique — September 2, 2020


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Happy Wednesday!

Labor Day at the railroad station in Rumford,1902
Photo and text from Maine AFL-CIO, Andy O’Brien article,
“The Origins of Labor Day in Maine!”

The legendary Knights of Labor were the first Maine workers to celebrate Labor Day on August 31, 1886 when over 3,000 people gathered at Peaks Island for a day of rest and recreation. It was a time of intense labor unrest with the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Haymarket Riot of 1886 and at least twenty-one strikes in Maine that year alone. As workers fought for the eight-hour day, the secret ballot, the citizen initiative and an end to anti-union conspiracy laws, Maine became the ninth state to legally recognize Labor Day in 1891.

In this Newsletter:

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New this Week

Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care Training

On September 25th from 8 — 9:30 am, Healthy Acadia, Northern Light Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals, and our partners at the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Washington County Substance Use Response Collaborative are happy to offer Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care: Applications at Work and Home.  PCDC (Primary Care Development Corporation) from New York will be presenting this interactive training over Zoom.  All are invited and the training will be recorded for those who cannot attend.  Register here.  This training is made possible by funds from SAMHSA.


Your COVID-19 Employment Questions Answered LIVE

Employers: Mark your calendars for 3 pm, Monday, September 14th, for a live presentation to Zoom and streamed to Facebook by Anne-Marie Storey, Attorney with Rudman Winchell, and Deb Neuman, Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.  Anne-Marie and Deb will be taking your questions.  Check Rudman Winchell’s facebook page for a link to this event.


New Guidelines for Unemployment Benefits

Wondering what the new executive order means for your unemployment?  You don’t need to do anything if you’ve already filed. Maine Equal Justice has new guides to help you understand  the temporary additional $300 benefit and work search requirements on our COVID-19 website. If you have questions about work search, the new $300 benefit, or other unemployment issues, you are certainly not alone. You can contact MEJ legal services through their website for help. You can also join the Maine Unemployment Insurance Assistance facebook group for help from legal and labor groups and your fellow Mainers.


Can Caregiving Cause PTSD?

“Kaci Smith, 36, recalls the gradual emergence of her PTSD symptoms about three years ago when she’d been caring for her mother at home following her mom’s 2012 stroke.  ‘It would be things like almost feeling like a panic attack,’ says Smith, a Rochester, N.Y. teacher. ‘If she would complain of leg pain, I would think, ‘Oh, no. It’s a blood clot. We’re going to have to go through all this medical stuff again.’’   Smith, who stopped working when COVID-19 forced the U.S. into lockdown, has been a 24/7 caregiver for her mother during the pandemic and is on anti-anxiety medicine.”  From: Next Avenue | August 21, 2020.  Read full article here.


SUD Patient Navigator Sought for RMCL

The Regional Medical Center at Lubec seeks to hire a patient navigator to facilitate access to treatment for substance use disorder in Washington County. The patient navigator will work with clients both directly and indirectly, strive to enhance linkage-to-care infrastructure, conduct initial brief assessments, connect patients with substance use disorder treatment and support services, offer outreach rapid testing for HIV and Hepatitis C, serve as a support person for clients, and maintain ongoing contact with clients through the referral process.  Details and application information in the Needs & Offers section of this newsletter.


Online Grandfamilies Certificate course

The University of Maine Center on Aging is pleased to once again offer an online certificate program for professionals and volunteers who work with grandfamily caregivers. The online Certificate in Grandfamilies Leadership program provides core education, technical support, and leadership development for professionals delivering grandfamily and kinship programming across the country.  Registration is now open! Space is limited, and participation is on a first come first served basis, so please visit www.kinshipcert.org and register now. Registration will be capped to allow participants the opportunity for online discussion with colleagues in the field.  The course will begin on Monday, September 28th with 9 modules completed over a 12-week period.


  Harvest Truck Campaign a Success!

We did it!! Because of your support, Healthy Acadia has just purchased a 2019 Ford Transit Van – just in time for peak harvest season – to help bring more good, local produce to food pantries across our region and to feed more families in need. Thanks to community, business, and foundation contributions we exceeded our campaign goal, raising a total of $50,157. Every gift has humbled, moved, and inspired our team. Thank you.  Read more about the harvest van here.


 

Dr. McCance-Katz delivers video message to celebrate beginning of Recovery Month

Updates  

Updates on programs, research, initiatives and pending legislation

September is National Recovery Month

In recognition of National Recovery Month, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, honors the millions of Americans who have achieved recovery from mental and substance use disorders. Watch her video message celebrating the work done by the recovery community and the impressive strides in the fight against addiction.

Check for awareness events in the One-Time Events section of this newsletter below, and on the facebook pages of partners organizing events, like Healthy Acadia and the Downeast Recovery Support Center.  Also be sure to check the CCC’s facebook page for informational posts by Abby Frutchey this month.



One-Time Events  

Fairs, trainings, conferences and more in the state of Maine

Your COVID-19 Employment Questions Answered LIVE
September 14, 2020

Employers: Mark your calendars for 3 pm, Monday, September 14th, for a live presentation to Zoom and streamed to Facebook by Anne-Marie Storey, Attorney with Rudman Winchell, and Deb Neuman, Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.  Anne-Marie and Deb will be taking your questions.  Check Rudman Winchell’s facebook page for a link to this event.


Recovery Walk & Celebration
September 15, 2020

The Recovery Walk and Celebration will be hosted in Calais by the Downeast Recovery Support Center and FADE group.


Building Resilience with Hope
September 15, 2020

Rescheduled from May 5th, the Maine Resilience Building Network, in partnership with UNE’s Center for Excellence in Public Health, invites you to join colleagues from Maine for a one-day conference on HOPE (Healthy Outcomes of Positive Experiences); a framework co-authored by Dr. Robert Sege from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.  The conference will be held on at UNE Portland, Innovation Hall. This daylong session will leave participants, from trainee to experienced practitioners, with new approaches and concrete skills to improve the effectiveness of their work with young children and their families.  All professionals are invited to attend: social workers, public health and healthcare professionals, guidance counselors, educators, child and family advocates, therapists, behavioral health professionals, policy makers and public safety officers. Education credit for this program is pending. Registration Fees: $75 member, $150 non-member, $30 full-time student.  Details and link to register here.


Maine Wisdom Summit

September 16 & 23, 2020

Registration now open for the Maine Wisdom Summit: Aging Well Through COVID – Supporting Resiliency & Growth in the Midst of a Pandemic. The Summit has moved to a virtual platform and will be held over two days. See event schedule for more information.


Understanding Substance Use Related Stigma
September 24, 2020

The CCC is offering Understanding substance use related stigma: Strategies for better practice and social change, a virtual training presented by Abby Frutchey from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Substance use disorders are the most widely stigmatized public health issue of our time. In recognition of National Recovery month, we see the need to continue learning, supporting, and addressing the ways in which we respond to individuals impacted by substance use disorders. During this 90 minute virtual training, participants will gain knowledge on the cycle of stigma, impacts of substance use related stigma, and the many ways in which substance use stigma is present in our daily lives. Participants will learn to identify personal bias and strategies to reduce substance use related stigma in personal, professional, and community settings. This free Zoom event is open to all community members.  Register in advance to attend and Zoom will email you the links to join.


Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care Training
September 25 2020

On September 25th from 8 — 9:30 am, Healthy Acadia, Northern Light Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals, and our partners at the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Washington County Substance Use Response Collaborative are happy to offer Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care: Applications at Work and Home.  PCDC (Primary Care Development Corporation) from New York will be presenting this interactive training over Zoom.  All are invited and the training will be recorded for those who cannot attend.  Register here.  This training is made possible by funds from SAMHSA.


Machias Recovery Walk & Film
September 25, 2020

Join the Machias Recovery walk and film showing (Recovery in Maine).  Line-up starts at 6 pm across the street from Helen’s Restaurant.  Hosted by the WC Community Action Team.  Flyers will be available soon.


Keeping the Faith
October 8, 2020

The Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging will be hosting a follow up conversation with faith leaders across Northern New England from 1 – 2 pm to hear about how they helped older people stay connected to their communities of faith during COVID-19. In our last conversation on June 17th, we learned ways faith communities are coming together to help keep older people connected to each other and core services during future periods of isolation due to caregiving, illness, or a new outbreak. We welcome you to join this conversation to share how your own faith community has adapted during this time and what reopening looks like in your community.  Click here to register


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Serial Classes & Groups  

Classes, play groups, support circles and other repeating events

Online Grandfamilies Certificate course

The University of Maine Center on Aging is pleased to once again offer an online certificate program for professionals and volunteers who work with grandfamily caregivers. The online Certificate in Grandfamilies Leadership program provides core education, technical support, and leadership development for professionals delivering grandfamily and kinship programming across the country.  Registration is now open! Space is limited, and participation is on a first come first served basis, so please visit www.kinshipcert.org and register now. Registration will be capped to allow participants the opportunity for online discussion with colleagues in the field.  The course will begin on Monday, September 28th with 9 modules completed over a 12-week period.


Monthly Virtual Opioid Response Seminar Series

Following Governor Mills’ 2nd Annual Opioid Response Summit, the Governor’s Office is excited to announce the beginning of a monthly virtual seminar series to improve public education and understanding around Substance/Opioid Use Disorder and highlight state and community responses to this deadly epidemic from across Maine. The first seminar will be held on Friday, September 4th from 11:30-12:30. We are thrilled to announce that our first guest will be Dr. Kinna Thakarar of Maine Health ( BIO ). Together, Dr. Thakarar and Maine’s Director of Opioid Response Gordon Smith will discuss harm reduction access in Maine, how COVID-19 has affected that access, and why harm reduction is a critical healthcare service keeping Mainers alive.  Register for free HERE.  CME credits offered with $20 fee.  For more information on the State Opioid Response efforts see: Governor Mills 2nd Annual Opioid Response Summit and Governor’s Office of Policy and Innovation.


LiveWell: Virtual Health and Wellness Program

The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center is presenting a virtual  6-week series, LiveWell: Health and Wellness Program, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10 am – 11:30 am and running each Wednesday morning through Oct. 28, 2020.  Making healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of cancer. The LiveWell Program is a holistic approach to creating a personal wellness plan focusing on: emotional and spiritual wellness; physical activity; healthy diet; personal environment; and rejuvenation. These five elements are based on the American Cancer Institute’s Five To Thrive program.  Accessible steps offer the opportunity for people living with cancer to achieve better treatment outcomes, and to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.  This series is also open to those without a cancer diagnosis who wish to reduce their cancer risk and lead a healthy lifestyle.  Each session will include an explanation of the topic for the week and a guest speaker to talk about specific strategies and resources.  Time for questions and discussion will follow. The six weeks of topics are:
Week 1 – Sept. 23 – Introduction to LiveWell, Five to Thrive & Thriving After Cancer.
Week 2 – Sept. 30 – Enhance Your Spirit
Week 3 – Oct. 7 – Let’s Move
Week 4 – Oct. 14 – Enrich Your Diet
Week 5 – Oct. 21 – Create a Healthy Living Environment
Week 6 – Oct. 28 – Create Rejuvenation

Leading this program is Carla Tanguay, a nationally board-certified music therapist with over 17 years of experience helping people make changes and meet their goals through music. Carla has worked in both large and small healthcare organizations and currently runs her own private practice in Hancock County. She is passionate about helping people live better, healthier, and more active lives. The meetings will be held online via Zoom which is accessible by smartphone, tablet, computer or telephone.  To participate contact the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 664-0339.


Songwriting Workshop For Cancer Survivors

The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center and Modulations Therapies are co-hosting a 3-week songwriting workshop in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop is designed to give “non-musicians” with Cancer the opportunity to explore and express how COVID-19 has affected their lives. We are looking for participants who are interested in a collaborative, creative process that will highlight the unique experience of facing a life-threatening illness during this pandemic. We aim to give those who may not otherwise consider themselves “musical” an opportunity to share their voice and strengthen connections with others.  This workshop is sponsored by the Jack Pine Project at the University of Maine, whose purpose is to help people express and record their feelings and stories about Covid-19 through art. Participation is not confidential, but rather a way to publicly share your story and our collective experience. A final composition will be created by the group and shared with the public. The workshop will occur over Zoom, and is scheduled for Wednesday mornings from 10-11:30 am, starting August 5th. If you are interested in learning more and potentially participating, please contact the Beth C. Wright Center at info@bethwrightcancercenter.org or 664-0339.


GEAR Support Groups 2x/ Week

G.E.A.R. Parent Network is offering offering support groups twice a week in an effort to accommodate more people’s schedules. They will be held on Monday evenings from 7 pm-8 pm and Wednesday afternoons from 1 pm-2 pm, and you may sign up to attend one or both if you like.  See flyer for details.


Online CRMA Course

Washington County Adult Education invites you to register for an online CRMA (Certified Residential Medication Aide) training every Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 — 9:30 pm from September 15th through October 18th presented by Brenda Dugan. The course fee is $395.  Scholarships available from Sunrise County Economic Council (call Jen at 255-0983).  To sign up for the course, please contact Cassidy at 207-370-4139 or email classes@aetc.us.


Eating Your Way
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a free, self-paced, three-part online nutrition series for Washington County parents and adults with children living at home. “Eating Your Way” includes information on nutrition, simple cooking demonstrations, and child-friendly nutrition resources. On completion of the series, participants will receive a gift bag including a cookbook and relevant cooking utensils available for pick-up at the UMaine Extension Washington County office. Register for the free series here. Details in this flyer. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact rita.stephenson@maine.edu or 207-255-3345.

3 upcoming Virtual Recovery Coach Trainings

Healthy Acadia is holding 3 virtual recovery coach trainings in academic year 2020-2021:

For more information, contact Terri Woodruff.


10 Steps to a Healthier You

Are you or someone you know interested in improving you and your family’s health, saving money at the store and basic nutrition tips?  University of Maine Cooperative Extension educators now have the resources to conduct EFNEP nutrition education classes at a distance with the option of classes taught one-on-one or in small groups.  Choose either telephone or online series.  Learn more here.

Cobscook Institute Maker Series

Cobscook Institute has launched a Makers Series free and now open to all ages. Upcoming workshops include Tie-Dye/Bleach-Dye, Bleach “Printing”, and “Patching Clothing for Function & Fashion” Register NOW, so we can get you materials in time for the workshop. Click here for details and registration.


New food preservation webinar series from UMaine Extension

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is launching a food preservation webinar series Tuesday, May 26, at 2 pm, continuing through October 27. “Preserving the Maine Harvest” begins with freezing fiddleheads and making refrigerator spring pickles. The 45-minute sessions will include discussion and demonstration of research-based preserving methods by UMaine Extension food preservation staff. Topics for June include freezing rhubarb and greens, preserving strawberries and herbs, and drinks from the garden. Participants will have the opportunity to be paired with a trained Extension Master Food Preserver volunteer for advice throughout the growing season. A $5 donation is suggested for each webinar; payment is not required to participate. Registration is available on the program webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kate McCarty, 207.781.6099; kate.mccarty@maine.edu


FrontLine WarmLine

Maine DHHS is launching a volunteer support service to Help Maine’s Health Care Workers and First Responders Manage Emotional Toll of COVID-19 — FrontLine WarmLineRead the full press release here.


Daily Virtual Recovery Support

The Downeast Recovery Support Center is offering daily virtual recovery support meetings Monday through Friday from 10-11 am and 4-5 pm.  Open discussion, all recovery meeting are for individuals impacted by substance use disorder or affected others.  Visit their facebook page for more information.  To join a group by Zoom:

https://amhc.zoom.us/j/373022686…

Meeting ID: 373 022 686
Password: 091927

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,373022686# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,373022686# US (New York)


Caregiver Monday:
An Initiative Dedicated To Helping Caregivers Take Care of Themselves

The Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit public health initiative, has announced Sherri Snelling, caregiving expert and corporate gerontologist, is taking a leading role with Caregiver Monday, a program dedicated to supporting the self-care of 65 million family caregivers by offering weekly health and wellness practices, research and collaborative activities through partner organizations. Family caregivers are under added stress now, with older people being more vulnerable to COVID-19.  The Caregiver Monday program will be offered through Caregiving Club, a leading organization founded by Snelling that calls attention to the issues facing caregivers by offering practical health, wellness and resource-based information. Every month, the program will offer a themed article with evidence-based research information on specific topics related to caregiver self-care, as well as provide weekly practices and health promotions related to that monthly theme. Organizations supporting the campaign can access these materials on the updated Caregiver Monday site.


CAN Council Groups

For play groups and classes, go to the Washington County CAN Prevention Council’s facebook page for up-to-the-minute info.


Caregivers Facebook Group

The CCC is launching a private facebook group for caregivers in Washington County – professional caregivers like RNs and CNAs, and informal caregivers like family members providing care for a spouse, parent, specials needs child, sibling or the neighbor across the street.  Our goal is for this group to provide a platform for caregivers to talk to each other, ask questions, offer solutions based on experience with similar challenges, and point to helpful resources.  Use this link to join.

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Standing Meetings & Calendars

Monthly and quarterly meetings, agency/initiative calendars at a glance and other meeting schedules 

Farmers’ Markets Calendar

 Healthy Acadia has published a list of Washington County Farmers’ Markets and other Local Markets that you can download here.


Maine Roads to Quality

Our Community of Practice meetings continue in Washington County!  For now, we have combined our Calais and Machias groups, and are meeting every other week via Zoom.  Please contact MRTQ District Coordinator Theresa Fisk for more information:  theresa.fisk@maine.edu or 207-956-2070

Work Group & Poverty Busters

This is a meeting of direct service providers to share resources and network with other providers in your area.  This group meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 1 — 3 pm.  Due to  the current public health COVID-19 shutdown, we are meeting via Zoom.  Read notes from the August meeting here. Next meeting is September 2nd.  Register to receive your Zoom links.  Download the agenda here for information on this special meeting, with guest Jeff Smith from the Schmidt Institute who will be conducting a group interview for the “Right Care, Right Place, Right Time in Maine” project.  Send your questions about this meeting to Christine.

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Needs & Offers 

Send us your agency/community needs or offers, such as job recruiting
or housing needs.

SUD Patient Navigator Sought for RMCL

The Regional Medical Center at Lubec seeks to hire a patient navigator to facilitate access to treatment for substance use disorder in Washington County. The patient navigator will work with clients both directly and indirectly, strive to enhance linkage-to-care infrastructure, conduct initial brief assessments, connect patients with substance use disorder treatment and support services, offer outreach rapid testing for HIV and Hepatitis C, serve as a support person for clients, and maintain ongoing contact with clients through the referral process.  Competitive wage and excellent benefit package.  For more information call 207-733-1090 ext 5203 or email trier@rmcl.org. Apply to:  HealthWays/Regional Medical Center at Lubec, Att: Terry Rier, Human Resources, 43 South Lubec Road, Lubec, Maine 04652.


Peer Navigator Job Opportunities

Workforce Solutions, operated by Goodwill of Northern New England, has 10 immediate full-time Peer Navigator job opportunities for individuals who are unemployed, furloughed or have been out of work for at least 27 weeks. Positions are full-time for 12-months, with starting wages are $16/hour and full benefits.  See flyer for details.

Right Care, Right Place, Right Time in Maine

CCC partners are invited to participate in an important research study for Washington County called “Right Care, Right Place, Right Time in Maine.”  Jeff Brown, MEd, of the Schmidt Institute in Bangor, is the lead researcher and the CCC is helping Jeff connect to key people in our local health systems.  “Right Care, Right Place, Right Time in Maine” is seeking to understand which essential services will help people in Washington County remain well and live healthy, productive lives. The aim is to understand and share the local picture for what matters most and what stands in the way of reaching health-related goals with entities that have the resources and influence over health services Downeast.  Interviews will be conducted by Jeff who will ask questions that elicit gaps and the effects of gaps in health services, including those that embrace social determinants. Jeff hopes to learn what gets in the way of the various efforts to meet needs and what matters most for meeting them. What is currently offered and how is the pandemic affecting services? CCC convened groups, including the Work Group and Council, will have an opportunity to participate in this process. Group and individual interviews will be done primarily via zoom and will take about an hour.  Participants will be asked to verbally consent to the interview.  The Consent form can be downloaded and read in advance here.


Safe Harbor Accepting Resident Applications
Washington County’s first recovery residence for women and their children is now accepting applications for residents. Safe Harbor: A Recovery Home for Women and Children, is the result of a collaborative effort to provide a safe, supportive, affordable living environment for women in recovery. Safe Harbor will serve people from Washington and Hancock counties, but residency in either county is not a requirement. Often, individuals in recovery seek to relocate temporarily in order to change patterns, be around different people, and avoid triggers that could lead to relapse. While there is much-needed focus on opioids currently, Safe Harbor will also serve women seeking recovery from other substances such as alcohol. (Read full press release.) Women interested in living at Safe Harbor can find the application by visiting www.HealthyAcadia.org. Healthy Acadia is currently seeking applicants for recovery residence staff, various shifts are available. Visit www.HealthyAcadia.org for more information.

Help with Unemployment Claims

Some Mainers have no computer or phone minutes. Others do not speak English as their first language. That’s why Maine Equal Justice is asking YOU to help these Mainers connect to their unclaimed unemployment benefits. Many Mainers are eligible for unemployment benefits but, for different reasons, they haven’t been able to contact the Department of Labor to start a claim. Perhaps you’ve been in this situation. Working with the Maine Department of Labor, Maine Equal Justice has created a first-of-its-kind tool to get claims started and make sure Mainers get a call back with appropriate support. Here’s how the tool works:

Answer three simple questions and provide your contact information.

A representative from the Maine Department of Labor will call you to help set up your claim.

The form is quick and easy to complete and has been translated into Arabic, French, Khmer, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, and Spanish. You can request an interpreter in any language.

You can help by reaching out to your friends, neighbors, and family members! 

Please share the tool with anyone you know who worked in the last 18 months and couldn’t work or earned less money due to Covid-19, and has not yet applied for unemployment benefits.

Offer to help fill the form out if needed. Call your friends who may not use social media or email. Think about local religious, volunteer, or social groups you can share this email with. And you can share our post on social media to reach other helpers.


Director of Human Resources for Downeast Community Partners

Downeast Community Partners is seeking candidates for the role of Director of Human Resources for the downeast office.  This role is responsible for planning, managing and evaluating the human resource programs that support agency goals and objectives.  The HR Director will oversee all human resource programs while maintaining a personnel system that is compliant with all related laws and is fair and transparent to employees. The HR Director is a member of the senior management team reporting directly to the Executive Director. Read full job description here. Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: Downeast Community Partners, Attn: Human Resource, P.O. Box 648, Ellsworth, ME 04605 or go to our website to download an application


Downeast Director Sought for Maine Seacoast Mission

The Mission has created a new position based in Cherryfield at the Downeast Campus and we hope that you will help us spread the word.  The Downeast Director will lead the initiative to integrate the Mission’s efforts in a multi-generational, place-based, and strength-based partnership supporting children, their families, and community, working with Isaac Marnik and Wendy Harrington to integrate the Mission’s Downeast programs that address education, food security, housing rehabilitation, and community building.  We are looking for someone with at least ten years leadership experience in program work. We believe this is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to working with people’s strengths in Washington County, and we offer excellent salary and benefits. More information about the position can be found on our website.

If you know of anyone who might be intrigued by this new position, please feel free to forward this email or ask them to contact our Director of Administration, Ann Cox Halkett. Or you could send their name to Ann and she’ll contact them.


   Donations needed for Women’s Recovery Residence

As Healthy Acadia and partners work towards welcoming women and their children into the new recovery home in a few short weeks, they are seeking donations of new or gently used items, or monetary donations to help  purchase these needed items. We value the commitment our community has extended to support recovery efforts in Washington County, and we greatly appreciate any support you may be able to give.  Items needed to help make this house into a home can be viewed here. Item donations can be dropped off at the Downeast Recovery Support Centers (M-F 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at 11 Free St., Machias, or 311 Main St., Calais. Pick-up can also be arranged. Donations of funds can be made at healthyacadia.org/donate (please write ‘Recovery House’ in the notes section of your check), or by mailing a check to Healthy Acadia, 140 State Street, Ellsworth, ME, 04605.


Family Coach Position Available

Downeast Community Partners is hiring a full-time position of Family Coach.  Responsibilities:  Working with individuals and families who are economically vulnerable to provide assistance and support in managing the challenges they are experiencing.  The position will offer support in an effort to empower families to achieve the growth and change they seek.  It will include assisting participants working on many different areas of life depending on the needs.  The position is based in Hancock/Washington County and includes extensive travel throughout the county.  See full job description for details, eligibility requirements, amazing list of benefits, and how to apply.


Donations Needed for Shelter Guests
NextStep DV Project is gratefully accepting donations of new & unused household items for their shelter guests.  See list of items needed.  Please contact Marcie or Jasmine to arrange for drop-off of items or for more information.

MaineHousing Extend Rent Relief Program

MaineHousing announced an extension of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.  The rental assistance program, established in April, allows households that meet certain income and ability to pay requirements to receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in rental assistance to be paid directly to their landlord.  With the extension, the Program now covers rent for the months of April, May, or June.  Each household that meets certain income and ability to pay requirements may receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in rental assistance paid directly to their landlord.  When a landlord accepts payment, they agree not to evict the tenant for nonpayment for the month the payment was issued.  MaineHousing will continue to administer the program on a statewide level with local implementation provided by Maine’s community action agencies.

Those who received rent relief through this program in April or May are not eligible for program funds in June.  Those who applied in April and May but have yet to hear back from their local community action agency should contact that agency to check on the status of their application.  A list of agencies and their service areas can be found here (PDF). People who live in subsidized housing are not eligible for this program, because they have other programs available to them and should contact their property manager.

Applicants can find application materials and answers to commonly asked questions here.  Materials are also available in six additional languages.


Community Learning for ME

Island Readers & Writers has been collaborating with a group of organizations for several months, originally coming together as schools shut down to respond to the needs of teachers and families. Our initial idea was to create a curated and vetted selection of Maine based, quality resources in one place to help address the overwhelming inundation of resources that people were facing. As we have moved along we recognized the need for ongoing support and that we had an opportunity to uplift multiple Maine organizations through one collaborative site. As an organization, you can also provide resources by submitting a form.


Project ReachOut

Maine Seacoast Mission’s Project ReachOut was highlighted in WABI-TV’s April 24 report. Our initiative is based on the idea that we are all better off when we connect. Through Project ReachOut, Mission staff and volunteers make phone-calls to families in the EdGE program, seniors, residents of the unbridged islands, and other households in the Mission service area.

In this moment of profound isolation, the calls offer anything from the hello of a familiar voice, to an antidote for loneliness, to the first step in getting food. As WABI-TV put it, “The Maine Seacoast Mission has found a way to still be a positive voice for members of the Downeast community.”

As of May 1, Project ReachOut’s 39 callers have touched base with over 400 families and individuals. The Mission is still training and adding volunteer callers so we can reach another 1,000 families that we work with through our various services. You can help. Please fill out and submit your volunteer application online here. Or email resources@seacoastmission.org or call 207-546-5860 to request a volunteer application.


Social Call Service

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many new challenges. It has also offered an opportunity for our community to come together in support of one another. Healthy Acadia’s Maine RecoveryCorps and MDI Hospital are partnering to respond to the isolation many community members are facing through a new Social Call service.

Social Calls are to be made by trained recovery coaches. Their recovery coach training and background has steeped them in a culture of empathy, support, compassion, and resilience. The callers are able to provide information on resources and offer reflective listening, encouragement, and honesty.

There are several avenues available to request a social call. One may discuss it with their provider who can send a referral on their behalf. The Healthy Acadia website has both on online form and one to print and return. Additionally Beth Alteri is available to 207 – 460 -2312 to take requests over the phone as needed. She can also be reached at socialcalls@healthyacadia.org or receive faxes at 207-331-5423.

Social calls offer an opportunity for connection and can serve to buffer the negative effects of physical distancing. These calls are not intended to replace an individual’s need to connect with their mental health professional, but rather be an additional service for them to tap into. If you or someone you know could benefit from a Social Call please reach out to us. We are here to help.


Sunrise Scholarship Fund

Has your job been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic? For the immediate future, Washington County residents who answer yes to that question are eligible to apply for up to $500 to assist with training that will increase your opportunities for employment regardless of prior income levels!  Click here for an application.  Visit www.sunrisecounty.org.  Call Jen at 255-0983 with any questions.


DCT Offers Virtual Services to Support Opioid Recovery

As a result of new virtual services, same-day access to anyone with opioid use disorder (OUD) who wishes to begin medication assisted treatment (MAT) is now available to anyone across Washington and Hancock counties. In response to the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, the Downeast Treatment Center (DTC) in Ellsworth has begun offering immediate, virtual, rapid access to MAT for all in the Downeast region…. Patients can expect a virtual intake over phone or Zoom, prescriptions called to pharmacies near them; ongoing, remote access to a medical provider, and access to virtual group or individual sessions with a behavioral health provider. Anyone who does not have insurance or who cannot afford their insurance deductibles or copays can apply for financial support from Healthy Acadia’s Treatment Fund.  Read the full press release from Healthy Acadia.


COVID-19 Rental Relief Program

Maine Housing has started a new program, the MaineHousing COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, for renters who cannot afford to pay their rent due to circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic. Downeast Community Partners is administering this program in Washington and Hancock Counties and will help renters apply.  Call 207-664-2424 option 5.  Read DCP’s press release about this program.  The program is designed to provide a one-time rental assistance payment of up to $500 for residential and commercial renters.  If the landlord agrees to participate in the program, the landlord is postponing the balance of the payment, not forgiving it. In addition, the landlord is agreeing not to evict the renter for non-payment of rent during the month in which the rental relief payment is made.  Renters who already receive any kind of direct or indirect Federal/State subsidy are not eligible.  There are no immigration/citizenship status requirements and there does not appear to be any required documentation of eligibility.  Download an application form and visit Maine State Housing Authority for more information about this program.


If you are Aware of a Senior in Need….

Healthy Acadia would like to share an Eastern Area Agency on Aging link to refer people for all services including the Meals on Wheels program. Please share this information widely!


PTLA Available to Help
Pine Tree Legal Assistance is open to the public by phone and accepting new cases for representation and advice. As always, please feel free to refer those whom you feel are in need of Pine Tree’s services to either Atty Ross Argir at 552-3102 or Debi Berthiaume in the Machias Office at 400-3248. We have also added a COVID-19 specific page to our website with answers to commonly asked COVID-19 legal questions.

UWEM Help with Volunteer Needs

United Way of Eastern Maine has established a COVID-19 Volunteer Site and invites organizations to share their volunteer needs with UWEM to help get them posted.  Review this PDF for the details they will to post your opportunity.  Simply send an email what that information to info@unitedwayem.org with the subject line “Volunteer Opportunity for Posting.”


Census 2020 – FAQs
The CCC is part of the Washington County Census Coalition working with the Census Bureau to help recruit temporary Census workers and to encourage everyone in Washington County to be counted so our Census data is as accurate as possible.  We depend on this data for reporting, grant writing, promoting programs and services, and many other projects, and the data itself directly corresponds to how much federal dollars our schools, programs and services receive.  Please share this 2020 Census FAQ fact sheet with partners, colleagues and clients, along with this safety fact sheet on how Census data received from respondents is safe and confidential.   Did you know that every Census Bureau employee takes an oath to protect your personal information for life? Or did you know that by law, your census responses cannot be used against you by any government agency or court in any way?  Learn the facts and share them!

 EMDC Workforce Development Services
Connect with EMDC staff for employment and training assistance to eligible individuals in EMDC’s five county service area. For assistance in Washington County call Amanda Smith at 951-2349 or email asmith@emdc.org, or call Samantha Giasson at 951-0832 or email Samantha.Giasson@emdc.org if you’ve worked in agriculture/farm work in the last two years.  Additional information can be found here.

Free Financial Coaching

Thanks to support from Downeast Community Partners, Joseph Connors has been able to continue offering free coaching on any financial matter to individuals and families in Washington County, following the termination of this program at the end of March by the Consumer Protection Bureau.  To make an appointment with Joe, call him at 207-598-5657 or email  joe.connors@downeastcommunitypartners.org.

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Favorite Resources  

Send us your favorite links to share with other Communique readers. 

New Guidelines for Unemployment Benefits

Wondering what the new executive order means for your unemployment?  You don’t need to do anything if you’ve already filed. Maine Equal Justice has new guides to help you understand  the temporary additional $300 benefit and work search requirements on our COVID-19 website. If you have questions about work search, the new $300 benefit, or other unemployment issues, you are certainly not alone. You can contact MEJ legal services through their website for help. You can also join the Maine Unemployment Insurance Assistance facebook group for help from legal and labor groups and your fellow Mainers.


AMHC 24-hour Recovery Resource & Support Referral Line

AMHC is launching a 6-month pilot program providing a 24-hour recovery resource and support referral line: 1-833-NVR-GVUP or 207-454-1999.  Read more about this here.


Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19

SAMHSA is committed to providing regular training and technical assistance (TTA) on matters related to the mental and substance use disorder field as they deal with COVID-19.  Our TA programs are delivering great resources during this time. View the updated available TTA resources to assist with the current situation.  Download flyer for more information.

Neighbor4Neighbor Fund

The “neighbor4neighbor” Fund (n4n) a program of Healthy Acadia, provides one-time mini-grants of up to $500 to seniors in Washington and Hancock counties who are facing any one of many life crises that can arise unexpectedly and for which they may not have adequate funds. n4n funds may be used for eyeglasses, dentures, medical equipment, emergency household repairs, or other one-time challenges which may undermine a senior’s ability to live independently and have a high quality of life. Learn more about n4n here.  To apply for a n4n Fund mini-grant, click here.


Financial Planning for Memory Loss Caregivers

 “Becoming a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is demanding. You’ll need to help your loved one with daily tasks as well as with financial decisions. Despite the challenges, being a caregiver can also be rewarding. It provides the opportunity to oversee important decisions and to ensure quality support for your loved one.  This guide helps caregivers prepare for the expenses associated with caring for someone with memory loss and offers caregiver resources that can help make the journey easier.”

From: Insider.com | June 29, 2020 — See more.


VA Maine Caregiver Support Program

The VA has a new caregiver support program that provides a range of supports to caregivers of veterans, including education & training, peer support mentoring, home and community based care, and more.  They will be holding their first ever summit which will be on a virtual platform.  Details about that coming soon as this is still under development.  See their fact sheet and flyer.


Helpful Wifi Resources

Lois-Ann Kuntz has 2 free WiFi resources to share:

  • An updated map of ‘Study-From-Car’ sites where WiFi guest access is available for outside of buildings is now available.  For each site, please check the website information provided for availability and connection information.
  • The Maine State Library has this on their website a list of libraries that have their WiFi on 24/7 with available parking within range. I don’t see how to sort this by county. https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/directories/wireless.shtml
Maine Families of Washington County publishes a comprehensive list of free Wi-Fi access in their online community resource guide.

Washington County Recovery Resources

The CCC in collaboration with Healthy Acadia has created a comprehensive, up-to-date list of recovery resources with contact info for Washington County.  As we know, services have shifted in light of COVID-19.  We want to ensure providers and community members are aware of the current available resources to support individuals impacted by substance use disorder. Here is a link to a “live” document that will be updated regularly.  Please keep checking back for the most up-to-date information.  We will be adding a Hancock County resource list soon!  If you are aware of other recovery resources in Washington County or believe an edit needs to be made to this document, please contact Abby Frutchey at afrutchey@cccmaine.org or Penny Guisinger at penny@healthyacadia.org.


Bolstering General Assistance

Under the Governor’s March 31 Executive Order, all applications for General Assistance will be processed as emergency applications for eligibility purposes, and certain other requirements are waived. The order also allows eligible individuals to reapply after 60 days rather than 30 days for ongoing assistance.  General Assistance is funded through communities, with DHHS reimbursing 70 percent of municipalities’ costs. Under the Executive Order, DHHS will use existing funding to increase reimbursement to Maine Tribes to up to 100 percent. General Assistance can be used for basic necessities including food, housing, electricity and medical expenses. Assistance is not provided directly to eligible individuals, but rather it is issued in the form of vouchers used to pay vendors who provide goods and services to eligible individuals.

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CCC’s Response to the COVID-19 Situation

In light of CDC recommendations about social distancing, all ECCO services have moved to phone or tele-health connections. Any new referrals will be contacted via phone and follow similar protocols.

CCC staff will continue to work from home, and meetings will be held using Zoom technology until further notice.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us using either the form or email/phone contacts listed on the Contact Us page of our website.  We also encourage people to share needs and offers in this newsletter, and remind service providers that we have a needs & offers platform for you on facebook: Poverty Buster Resource Connection.

We encourage people to consult the Maine CDC website which provides helpful guidance in the FAQ section.  We are developing our own resources that we will share with you asap and are gearing up to respond to any requests for help with online trainings and convenings as you and your staff lean more on virtual tools to conduct business, provide services and address community needs.  To request an online training, please use our Training & Technical Assistance Request form.

About the Wednesday Communique

This is the Community Caring Collaborative’s weekly newsletter where we share announcements about trainings, meetings and other events, including announcements from our collaborative partners.  Look for links to meeting minutes and agendas in the Meetings section, training registration forms and flyers in the One-Time Events section, and job postings and announcements about services and programs in the Needs & Offers section.  Subscribe here to get the Communiqué.  Make sure to add Community Caring Collaborative to your contacts at claurel@cccmaine.org.  Gmail users, check for the Communiqué under the Promotions tab.Want to change how you receive these emails?  You can  update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

This mailing goes out every Wednesday, so if you have announcements, please send them to Christine by 5 pm Monday to be included.   Thanks!

The mission of the CCC is to nurture and sustain collaboration that expands resources and results in greater hope, health and wellbeing for Washington County people.

Contact: Christine Laurel, Communication & Training Coordinator
Community Caring Collaborative

PO Box 224, East Machias, ME 04630
Phone: 207-249-3318
Fax: 207-835-4500

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