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: courtesy of Susan Bennett
Announcements
Winter Playtime for Tots & Parents: Bring your babies & toddlers to the UMM lower gymnasium for unstructured activity time. Plenty of floor mats and lots of space for running, jumping and playing on Thursdays, 1 — 2:30 pm, March 8, 22, April 5, 19. See flyer for details. Sponsored by Maine Families, UMM and the Washington County CAN Council.
Round table 2018 – Date Correction: Please note that the correct date for By the Sea Seminars’ Round Table 2018 is March 23rd, not March 28th. See more about this opportunity for mental health practitioners to earn CEU’s in the Event Section below.
Maine Child Welfare Conference: Save the Date of June 21st for the 24th annual Maine Child Welfare Conference, Navigating Pathways for Families in Recovery, with Keynote speaker, Nancy K. Young, PhD, MSW, at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. See flyer for details.
Childcare Provider Training: The Washington County CAN Council is offering a free training for childcare providers on March 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Sunrise Opportunities Conference Room, 232 Court St, Machias. See flyer for details. Free dinner and childcare provided.
Maine Geriatrics Conference: Early bird registration for the 28th annual Maine Geriatrics Conference on June 24th & 25th at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor begins now through May 1st. CEUs and contact hours from the UNE. Sponsorship funding is available to support community older adults participating in the conference. See the brochure for descriptions of this year’s exciting workshops, fireside chats and more.
Free Tax Filing: United Way of Eastern Maine offers 2 ways individuals and families can file taxes for free:
- The Eastern Maine CA$H Coalition helps low- to middle-income individuals and families file their taxes and learn more about financial re-sources in their community. Our IRS certfied tax preparers are specially trained to ensure that you receive all eligible tax credits.
- My Free Taxes – United Way partners with industry leader H&R Block to help people easily and accurately file both their federal and state taxes through MyFreeTaxesTM. If your household earned $66,000 or less in 2017 you can file both your federal and state returns for free.
Calais area Community of Practice: Maine Roads to Quality is looking for Early Care and Education professionals in the Calais area to join a community of practice. See flyer for details.
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.
Calendar of Events
Legal Issues regarding Substance Use in the Workplace:
March 8, 2018
From 9 am to 12 Noon the law firm of Drummond Woodsum will present a free workshop for employers anxious to learn the legal ramifications of working with employees in recovery and/or using medical Cannabis and other substances, in light of legislation such as “The Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act” and “The Americans with Disabilities Act.” Questions will be encouraged and practical tips offered for challenging or awkward conversations and situations. Sunrise County Economics Council is coordinating this workshop at the University of Maine, Machias in Science 102, with a teleconference option for participants to attend simultaneously at Washington County Community College in the Assembly Room. Contact Amy Lentz at alentz@sunrisecounty.org or 207-255-0983 to register by March 5th. See this flyer for details, including a snow date.
Families & Youth in Transitions Conference:
March 10, 2018
8:30 am — 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. dynamic mental health speaker and circle drummer Mike Veny will be the keynote. More information here. Sponsored by the Maine Parent Federation and G.E.A.R. Parent Network.
Childcare Provider Training:
March 20, 2018
The Washington County CAN Council is offering a free training for childcare providers from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Sunrise Opportunities Conference Room, 232 Court St, Machias. See flyer for details. Free dinner and childcare provided.
Recovery Resource Fair:
March 23, 2018
The Washington County Community Action team will host a Recovery Resource Fair from 12pm to 6pm at the University of Maine at Machias’ Reynolds Athletics Center (116 O’Brien Avenue, Machias). The Recovery Resource Fair will provide an opportunity for area residents and community members to learn about resources available in Washington County and surrounding counties to support people who are seeking recovery, navigating the early stages of recovery, and maintaining long-term recovery, as well as supporting families in recovery. Those who provide substance use disorder prevention and treatment services, including direct treatment, medical care, employment assistance, financial services, spiritual, personal growth and development, and complementary health services are invited and encouraged to take part in this community event. There is no charge to participate as a provider or to attend this event. To reserve your free table, or for more information, please contact Terri Woodruff at(207) 255-3741 or email terri@healthyacadia.org.
Roundtable 2018:
March 23, 2018
The Roundtable is a great place for mental health therapists to learn from one another and to support each other while earning CEU’s. We will meet at the Harrington Family Health Center from 9-4:30 PM for two workshops (6 CEU’s):
- School-based Play Therapy for Traumatized Children: A Systems Approach (Brittany Ray, MS in School Counseling and Sue Carroll Duffy, Psy.D., RPT-S)
- Healing Stories in Play Therapy (Sarah Waite, Retired LCSW)
For more details and to register go to: By The Sea Seminars—Roundtable 2018 (APT Approved Provider #04-144).
Local Food Map-a-Thon:
March 24, 2018 – Axiom Technologies, Machias
March 31, 2018 – WCCC, Calais
Please join Healthy Acadia and Washington County Council of Governments for this hands-on workshop from 9 am to 12 pm to get producers, harvesters, fishermen, retailers and any other entities or businesses dealing with local food on the Maine Food Atlas. Choice of 2 locations – see flyer for details.
Lives in the Balance:
April 2, 2018
The GEAR Parent Network invites you to hear child psychologist Dr. Ross Greene, originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions at the Windham High School from 6 – 8 pm. See flyer for details.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: 
April 12, 2018
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:
May 10, 2018
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.
Infant Mental Health Conference:
May 18, 2018
Save this date for the 31st annual Maine Association for Infant Mental Health Conference in Freeport featuring Jayne Singer, PhD. See flyer for details.
Maine Child Welfare Conference:
June 21, 2018
Save this date for the 24th annual Maine Child Welfare Conference, Navigating Pathways for Families in Recovery, with Keynote speaker, Nancy K. Young, PhD, MSW, at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. See flyer for details.
Maine Geriatrics Conference:
June 24-25, 2018
Early bird registration for the 28th annual Maine Geriatrics Conference at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor begins now through May 1st. CEUs and contact hours from the UNE. Sponsorship funding is available to support community older adults participating in the conference. See the brochure for descriptions of this year’s exciting workshops, fireside chats and more.
SAVVY Caregiver Training:
August 22 – September 26, 2018
This free course provides skills,knowledge and emotional support to assist informal caregivers who are caring for a family member or friend with dementia. Lisa King will present this 2-hour class each Wednesday over a 6-week period beginning August 22nd at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Machias. See flyer for details and forward to caregivers who could benefit.
Needs & Offers
Americorps VISTA: Healthy Acadia is recruiting for an Americorps VISTA through Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. If you know someone who has a passion for preventing food waste, increasing food access for all people and loves Washington County or who already lives here, please share this information with them and encourage them to apply.
4 Office Phones Offered: Healthy Acadia has recently changed over to a new phone system. They have 4 remaining Allworx model 9212L phones to give away. These are relatively new and all are in excellent condition. Contact Regina if interested.
Downeast Feast 2018: Download the flyer for the month of March!
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.
Meetings
Maine Resilience Building Network: The date and location for the next meeting has changed to April 12, 2018 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at The Ice Vault, 203 Whitten Road, Hallowell.
Caregivers Support Group: Join other family/informal caregivers monthly for a supportive meeting at the Maine Veterans Home in Machias, facilitated by Lisa King, LCPC, on the first Friday of the month from 2-4 pm. Next meeting is March 2nd. Contact Lisa King for more information.
Work Group & Poverty Busters: Next month’s meeting is on March 7th from 1 — 3:30 pm at SCEC. Updates will include a mini presentation on WIC by Mariah Mace and FFD update by Marsha Sloan – see Agenda. RSVP to Christine.
Photo courtesy of Susan Bennett