Happy Wednesday!

This is the Community Caring Collaborative Weekly Communiqué 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 Events section, and job postings and other items of interest in the Announcements 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. This mailing goes out every Wednesday, so if you have announcements, please send them to Christine by 5 pm Monday to be included. Thanks!

Photo above: The 50 doves that form Free at Last, a sculpture inspired by the memorable words of Martin Luther King, Jr., in his “I Have a Dream” speech. The sculpture, created by Chilean artist Sergio Castillo, was erected on Marsh Plaza in 1975 for Boston University. Photo by John O’Rourke

Announcements

Cancer Caregivers Workshop: The Beth Wright Cancer Center will be hosting a free Cancer Caregivers Workshop at the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth Tuesday, January 23, 2018 – 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Much research, as well as our own life experience, tells us that wellness is not only a physical state, but a psychological one. Our emotional well-being is as important as our body’s healthiness. Please RSVP at 207-664-0339. See more.

Thriving in Place Surveys: The Washington County Thriving in Place team invites all TiP partner agencies to take 2 surveys for the Washington County Thriving in Place Program (WC TiP). One survey is administered by the funder of this program(MEHAF – Maine Health Access Foundation) and is designed to assess the TIP network. The other survey is from the Center of Aging at the University of Maine in Orono which is working with the MEHAF to learn how WC TiP has impacted participating people and organizations. Feedback will inform our program about what is working well or not so well with the TiP network, and what people value about the program. Your answers to both surveys will be confidential and the results will only be compiled in aggregate. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact our independent evaluator Carry Buterbaugh at cbuterbaugh@q2evaluation.com or 207 899 5413.

Parent Enrichment Classes: the CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Council is offering 2 free parent enrichment classes in Machias starting in January – free dinner & childcare provided:

Active Parenting Now – for parents of children ages birth – 12, Wednesdays from Jan 17th to Feb 28th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Kay Parker Conference room. Read this flyer for details and registration information
Nurturing Father’s Program – for fathers of children prenatal – 12, Thursdays from Jan 11th to April 15th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Kay Parker Conference room. Read this flyer for details and registration information.

Introduction to Gerontology Course: Washington County Community College is offering this online course beginning in January. Read this flyer for details.

Training Topics for Parents: Just a reminder that here is a form you can print to bring to home visits to find out what training topics parents might want for the family event CCC and partners are planning in April. Completed forms can be turned in at CCC meetings, dropped off at the CCC office (front desk) or scanned to Christine.

Your announcement could go here: email the details to Christine by 5 pm Monday for inclusion in Wednesday’s Weekly Communiqué.

Updates

This is where we post updates on programs, initiatives and pending legislation.

Helpful tips from the Maine Office of Family Independence:

Clients and their advocates can contact the Machias OFI office the day before to confirm that OFI staff will be onsite in Calais. The numbers to call for this verification are 1-800-432-7846 or 207-255-2000, do not select any options on this call line, but stay on the line for the receptionist to pick up.
Contact info for OFI & Fedcap, with walk-in hours and phone numbers for Ellsworth, Machias and Calais.
Email address to reach the ASPIRE Support Service Team with questions on ASPIRE support services (whether they have been issued and when – including child care providers): SupportServices.DHHS@maine.gov

Events (Chronologically Listed)

Families & Youth in Transitions Conference: Save the date of March 10, 2018 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Maine General Hospital in Augusta for Families & Youth in Transitions – a conference for families and youth with emotional and behavioral needs, special needs, and special health care needs transitioning through high school to adult life. Youth and parent workshops will be offered. Keynote speaker tba. Sponsored by the Maine Parent Federation and G.E.A.R. Parent Network.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Save the date of April 12, 2018 for NAMI Maine’s Youth Mental Health First Aid Training at the Cherryfield Academy Community Center. Details about this event are here. You can also Download general information about Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings.

Elder Abuse Summit: Save the date of May 10th for the 5th annual conference on Elder Abuse, hosted by the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Augusta Civic Center. See flyer for details or visit MCEAP’s website.

Needs & Offers

PTAC Advisor: The Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of PTAC Advisor. This Machias based professional position works with Washington County businesses to help them sell goods and services to the local, state, and federal government. For a full job description and application requirements, please visit http://sunrisecounty.org/ or contact Jen Peters at scec@sunrisecounty.org or 207.255.0983. The deadline for applications is Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 5pm.

Training Assistance: Have you or a family member worked on a farm (blueberries, livestock, vegetables, aquaculture, etc.) within the last 2 years? If so, you may be eligible for training assistance for various career paths in areas such as healthcare, commercial driving, and more. Contact Chris Huh (951-0840; chuh@emdc.org) to find out if you qualify for the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP).

We Care Baby Center is now providing delivery service for the Machias area on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for families that cannot get to the center due to lack of transportation, illness, or other issues. Call 255-8903 or send a message to We Care’s Facebook page to get on the delivery list.

Downeast Feast 2018: The next community meal (Black Bean Chili and Curried Winter Squash Soup) will take place at the Center Street Congregational Church, hosted by Healthy Acadia, on January 25th at 5 pm. A flyer with the schedule for the next few months is coming soon.

Storm Window Kits for Seniors: Maine Seacoast Mission has reusable, plastic, interior storm windows that are easy to install and help block drafts to lower heating costs. They will measure and install the windows for seniors by appointment – see flyer for more information.

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

Favorite Resources

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

Fact sheets, guides and other publications on Cocaine and other substances:

Quick Guide for Clinicians: Treatment for Stimulant Use. SAMHSA
Methamphetamine and Cocaine Presentation, SAMHSA
Drugs of Abuse, a DEA Resource Guide 2017 edition

Meetings

Work Group & Poverty Busters: Read minutes from the January 3rd meeting. The next meeting of this combined group is on February 7th from 1 to 3:30 in the large conference room at SCEC. It’s not too early to RSVP. Don’t forget to bring your completed forms with training topics requested by parents (see more about this in the announcement section).

Photo courtesy of Susan Bennett

CCC Wednesday Communique — January 17, 2018