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: Check out Maine Roads to Quality’s new website – see announcement below

Announcements

New Website for MRTQ: Maine Roads to Quality – Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) is excited to announce that we have launched a new website! The new site comes complete with a new address: https://mrtq.org. Download this flyer for more new links you may have book marked for MRTQ activities.

2 Free Computer Classes: Axiom Education & Training Center is offering 2 new classes this winter to help build computer skills, free of charge, from 9 am to 12 Noon in their training center at 6 Colonial Way, Machias:

Basic Computer Skills Class — January 18th & 25th
Beginner & Intermediate Microsoft Word Class — February 1st, 8th, 15th

Team UP for Your Child: a free G.E.A.R Parent Network workshop that is a road map to behavioral health services that families need for autism, ADHD, psychiatric and developmental issues Saturday, Feb 2nd, 9 am to 4 pm at Wings in Bangor. 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. Photos and links are appreciated (jpg, not gif or png).

Updates

This is where we post updates on programs, initiatives and pending legislation.
MaineCare Expansion Update (from Kathy Kilrain del Rio, Policy Analyst with Maine Equal Justice):
We were overjoyed last week when Gov. Mills made Medicaid expansion implementation her first priority as she took office. She issued an executive order that will ensure Mainers awaiting health care under the law receive it as soon as possible…DHHS has already made several things clear:

They are now processing applications for MaineCare under expansion that have already been received.
Someone who has already applied for expanded MaineCare need not reapply, even if they were denied under the LePage administration. If this advice changes, we will let you know.
For now, DHHS will determine an individual’s eligibility beginning in January 2019. A decision about whether an individual should receive retroactive coverage will be made after this initial determination of eligibility.
DHHS officials will hold a meeting later this week to coordinate the roll-out of expansion with stakeholders and we will have a better understanding of the process and share it with you after that meeting.

Next week, Maine Equal Justice will hold a video conference/call to share updates about implementation and help answer your questions about enrollment. Please join us on Wednesday Jan. 16th from 1-2 pm. Register for the meeting here.

One-Time Events

ADHD 101 – What We Want to Know but Forgot to Ask!:
January 10, 2019
G.E.A.R. parent network workshop from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Webinar Only* – see flyer for details.

Positive Behavioral Supports & Tantrum Management:
January 24, 2019
“Self-Preservation & Success in Parenting Children with Behavioral Health Needs” – G.E.A.R. parent workshop from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Crisis and Counseling Center, 120 Tillson Ave. Rockland (Go ToMeeting™ available) – see flyer for details.

Team UP for Your Child:
February 2, 2019
A free G.E.A.R Parent Network workshop that is a road map to behavioral health services that families need for autism, ADHD, psychiatric and developmental issues Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm at Wings in Bangor. See flyer for details.

Impulsivity & Disruptive Behaviors in Children & Youth:
February 23, 2019
G.E.A.R. parent network workshop from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Blue Hill Library, 5 Parker Point Rd. Blue Hill (Go ToMeeting™ available) – see flyer for details.

Building a Bridge: Navigating Youth to Adult Transition:
March 1, 2019
G.E.A.R. parent network workshop from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.at MAS, 60 Main St, Machias (Go ToMeeting™ available) – see flyer for details.

Maine Geriatrics Conference:
June 13-14, 2019
Registration is open for the 29th annual Maine Geriatrics Conference “where policy meets practice,” at the Harborside Hotel, Bar Harbor. Speaker lineup includes:

Wendy Lustbader, MSW, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, WA.
Toni Miles, MD, PhD, University of Georgia, Athens
Lewis A. Lipsitz, MD, Institute for Aging Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Boston, MA
Mikhail Kogan, MD, George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine, Washington, DC

For more information visit: https://www.une.edu/com/cme/events/geriatrics-conference.

Serial Classes & Groups

classes, play groups, support circles and other repeating events

Basic Computer Skills Class — January 18th & 25th
Beginner & Intermediate Microsoft Word Class — February 1st, 8th, 15th

C.N.A. Certification Training: Axiom Education and Training Center is offering this 180-hour training Tuesdays through Thursdays (4:30 – 8:30 pm) and Fridays (7:30 am to 5:00 pm) beginning February 19, 2019. Locations are Axiom Education and Training Center Classroom time and Marshall Health Care Facility for Clinical and Lab training. Cost is $1,575.93 (scholarships available). Course instructor is Brenda Dugan. Students are required to provide:

Scrubs any color, no leggings accepted
A wrist watch with second hand. Not digital
Comfortable shoes for clinical
Stethoscope only if you prefer using your own

For more information contact: Cassidy Stevens @ 207-255-4917.

Recovery Coach Academy: Healthy Acadia is offering a 30-hour training for recovery coaches from Jan 22nd through 25th in the assembly room at Washington County Community College from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm each day. See this flyer for more details. Contact Terri Woodruff with questions. Seats are limited so don’t delay – register now!

G.E.A.R. “Parenting with Dignity: Picking Up this Ball is a Victory for All!” nine hour parenting education course developed by Mac Bledsoe, at Belfast Head Start, 275 High St, Belfast beginning March 4th. See flyer for times and dates.

WC CAN Council Classes:
Circle of Parents: for parents with children who have special needs

Pembroke Elementary School, first Monday of the month starting 11/5, 3 — 4:30 pm

Co-Parenting Classes:

Sunrise Opportunities (232 Court Street), Wednesdays 3 — 4:30 pm 11/7 through 1/2

Contact Mandie Pepperman with questions about any of these classes at 263-5270.

Nurturing Program: The CAN Council invites parents to a multi-session educational program sharing tips and tricks to help navigate the difficult challenges of parenting. Lots of opportunity for discussion and questions – free refreshments and childcare. Text/call Mandie at 263-5270 to sign up. See flyer for locations and dates.

Calais Circle of Parents Playgroup:
The WC CAN Council with partner Maine Families is holding a playgroup on Tuesdays 11 am – 12 pm beginning in September at the Calais Recreation Center, 344 Main Street. “Get a chance to meet other parents while your kiddo gets some energy out.” Contact Mandie Pepperman with questions at is 263-5270.

Community of Practice Groups:
6-8 pm
Maine Roads to Quality invites Early Care & Education professionals to join one of 2 community of practice groups (see flyers below):

Calais area – 6-8 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at WCCC, room 301
Machias/Harrington/Milbridge area – 6-8 pm on the 3rd Monday each month at a Machias location tbd

For more information or to register, please contact Theresa Fisk, District Early Childhood and Youth Coordinator – 207-956-2070 or email: theresa.fisk@maine.edu.

Standing Meetings

Monthly and quarterly meetings

2019 MRBN: Save these dates for Maine Resilience Building Network meetings held at EduCare in Waterville:

January 31, 2019
March 28, 2019
May 30, 2019
Sept 26, 2019
October 31, 2019

Washington County Food Pantry Network: Washington County Food and Fuel Alliance invites you to mark your calendar for the next meeting of this county-wide organization. The network offers technical and infrastructure support and education to all of the county’s pantries as well as to provide an opportunity for pantries to share successes and struggles. Dessert, beverages and gas cards will be provided to all food pantry participants. Meeting dates (Thursdays) and locations for 2019 are as follows:

March 7, 1-3 pm ( March 21 for a snow date)at Eastport’s Labor of Love Food Pantry, 137 County Road, (route 190), Eastport
June 6, 1-3 pm; Location to be determined.
Oct 3, 1-3 pm; Location to be determined.

Questions? Contact Regina Grabrovac at our Machias Healthy Acadia office by phone at 255 3741 or by email at regina@healthyacadia.org

Calais Area Breast Cancer Support Group: meets on the 4th Friday of each month at 3 PM at the Calais United Methodist Church, 849 Main St. (downstairs parlor), in Calais. This free “gathering” is a comforting and safe environment to find encouragement and hope. Open to all that have a breast cancer diagnosis. FMI call Marianne at 454-0501. Download a flyer for more information.

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. Contact Lisa King for more information.

Work Group & Poverty Busters: Join this meeting of direct service providers to share resources and network with other providers in your area. Download notes from the December and January meetings. The next meeting is February 6th in the large conference room at SCEC, 7 Ames Way, from 1 — 3:00 pm with another 30 minutes for informal networking and discussion.

Needs & Offers

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

Healthy Acadia is Hiring! Please see links to flyers below on two immediate job openings at Healthy Acadia – please spread the word as you are able:

RecoveryCorps Project Manager: This position will oversee the daily functions and coordination of activities that support the new Maine RecoveryCorps AmeriCorps Project. Maine RecoveryCorps expands recovery coaching by training and supporting 30 or more individuals to become full-time or part-time coaches through the structure of AmeriCorps. Application deadline: January 11, 2019.
Operations and Human Resources Manager: This position will provide leadership and coordination of Healthy Acadia’s operations and human resources activities, including oversight of staff supporting these activities. This is a new position, and will therefore include significant systems development. Application deadline: January 18, 2019.

Miracle Flights: a non-profit organization that seeks to provide free commercial airfare to individuals in need of life-changing medical care within the U.S. The organization works to connect patients to the care they need including: medical treatment, second opinions, follow-up visits, or clinical trials at U.S.-based treatment centers. The organization also provides fare to both parents/guardians of the patient. If you or someone you know is in need of the help Miracle Flights provides, you can learn more or request a flight by contacting the organization’s flight department at flightspecialist@miracleflights.org or 800-359-1711. Learn more here.

Facebook Needs & Offers Group: Got a client looking for a couch? See a couch at a garage sale? Join Poverty Busters’ Resource Connection – a facebook group that connects needs with offers 24/7. Here’s a link to request access to this group. Before posting, please make sure to review the ground rules – thanks!

CEI is hiring! We are seeking a Business Advisor / Program Director to work with the Women’s Business Center at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) to service the Washington County region. The Business Advisor / Program Director works with women business owners by facilitating start-up, survival and business expansion; providing business planning, management development, and assistance with preparing for and obtaining financing. The Business Advisor / Program Director may participate on panel discussions and in presentations as appropriate, as well as organizing and presenting workshops on a variety of business related topics, managing communications and reporting for the regional WBC advising activities, and conducting market research and developing local partnerships. Due to the client-facing nature of this role, telecommuting is not an option. In-state travel to meet with clients and to attend once a month staff meeting in our Brunswick central office is required. Competitive compensation and benefits package. To apply, please submit a cover letter and current resume (both are required for full consideration for this position) to: employment@ceimaine.org

SNAP for Seniors: Jack Comart with Maine Equal Justice Partners has put together an informational sheet about Food Supplement (SNAP) benefits for people who are 60 or older or disabled (download here), forwarded by Hilary Fernald of LSE to help promote SNAP enrollment among these vulnerable populations in Washington and Hancock Counties. This can also be found on MEJP’s website.

Reusable, plastic interior storm windows: Maine Seacoast Mission has purchased these easy to install, no blow dryer or plastic sheeting needed, storm window inserts and are offering them free of charge. They can be adapted to any size window and are clear, high-quality plastic. Contact Scott Shaw at 546-5869 for more information or email Charley or Christine at the CCC if you’d like to pick up a kit. The CCC is storing two sizes, typical window size and extra-large (sliding door size) in our office at 7 Ames Way, Machias.

CCC Partner Survey: As the CCC finishes the final year of our 3-year strategic plan, we’re evaluating how well we accomplished our goals and commitments to you and to community members in Washington County. Our intern, MSW student Nicole Cannizzaro, has compiled data for participation in CCC activities by collaborative partners over the past year. Highlights of this look back reveal that:

A total of 61 organizations interacted with the CCC;
Partners showed up 139 times to monthly convenings of Work Group/Poverty Busters and CCC;
27 partner organizations participated in program efforts like Thriving in Place, Family Futures Downeast, and Mentor/Neighbor design;
24 partner organizations participated in the June 12^th Family Discovery Day in Calais; and
130 applications from partner organizations were submitted to the Hope and Dream Funds.
392 people attended CCC Trainings.

But numbers alone can’t paint a full picture of the CCC’s impact, so we’re asking you to complete a simple survey on the effectiveness of the CCC in its 4 major areas of commitment. We are excited to read your responses and thankful for your time, your honesty, and your partnership! Here is a link to the survey. Thank you!

Favorite Resources

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

AARP’s Maine Caregiver Resource Guide: a pdf with live links that includes tips for caregivers as well as state and national resources, such as the Maine directory of assisted living facilities and services.

CCC Wednesday Communique — January 9, 2019