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: Sign up for the CCC’s Music Therapy brown bag lunch with Carla Tanguay, MA, MT-BC on May 2nd
Announcements
Safe and Effective Use of Medications in Older Adults: Please join Resources for Integrated Care for a webinar on April 18 at 12:00 PM Eastern. The speakers will provide an overview of these important medication issues related to older adults, along with the need for management and coordination among the care team members and the beneficiary. Participants will also learn about effective strategies to empower individuals and their families to manage multiple medications for maintaining their health (CEUs available). Register here.
Suicide Prevention & Bullying: Washington County Community College is hosting an event at 6 pm on April 23rd on this important topic. Guest speaker is Kelly Ela who will share her story of bullying and attempted suicide. See this flyer for more information.
Next Step Calais Support Group: Next Step will be offering a 6 week educational support group in Calais that will meet once a week with the purpose of exploring domestic violence within the context of a relationship. The group will begin at the end of May. Topics will include: How community and cultural supports affect families experiencing DV, effects on children, co-parenting with an abusive ex-partner, coping mechanisms, dating, new relationships, and effects of battering on the victim. See flyer for more information or contact Mary Mitchell at 255-4934 or email mmitchell@nextstepdvproject.org.
Employee? Or Independent Contractor?: SCEC is holding a free business workshop on April 24 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Whiting Town Hall with presenters from the Maine Dept of Labor to help employers determine this important distinction. See flyer for details and registration info.
Correction on Portland Poverty Institutes: We have been advised that the June 26-27 Poverty Institute presented by Donna Beegle is in Portland, Oregon, not Maine – sorry! Dr. Beegle is coming to Maine this August for a training that is currently under development. We will keep you posted.
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.
Leveraging Investments in Families for Tomorrow: Last week, the Maine House and Senate both passed the LIFT bill (LD 1774)! The final version of the bill was a bi-partisan compromise that garnered strong support from both Democrats and Republicans in both chambers of the Legislature. Governor LePage now has several days to either sign the bill into law, veto the bill or allow it to become law without his signature.
Calendar of Events
Period of Purple Crying:
April 20, 2018
The Washington County CAN Council invites parents and providers to a free community workshop on a new way to help all families and providers better understand this stage of a baby’s life from 3-4 pm at Sunrise Opportunities at 232 Court Street, Machias. See flyer to register.
Suicide Prevention & Bullying:
April 23, 2018
Washington County Community College is hosting an event at 6 pm on this important topic. Guest speaker is Kelly Ela who will share her story of bullying and attempted suicide. See this flyer for more information.
Employee? Or Independent Contractor?:
April 24, 2018
SCEC is holding a free business workshop from 9 am to 12 pm at the Whiting Town Hall with presenters from the Maine Dept of Labor to help employers determine this important distinction. See flyer for details and registration info.
Music Therapy Brown Bag Lunch:
May 2, 2018
You’ve heard of “music therapy,” but you still have questions about what it actually is and how it could 
help your clients reach their goals. Learn what makes music a useful tool for therapy; hear clinical examples of music therapy in a variety of clinical settings; and find out how to access these services. Join us for this fun and informative presentation by Carla Tanguay, MA, MT-BC, a board-certified music therapist with over 15 years of experience in clinical practice and healthcare management. Bring your lunch and we’ll provide beverages and dessert. Please RSVP to save your seat in the large conference room at SCEC from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm.
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.
Childcare Provider Training – Calais:
May 15, 2018
The Washington County CAN Council is offering a free Strengthen Maine Families training for childcare providers from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Frank Beckett Center Conference Room, 19 Eaton Street, Calais. See flyer for details. Free dinner and childcare provided.
Maine Infant Mental Health Conference:
May 18, 2018
Registration is open for the 31st annual Maine Association for Infant Mental Health Conference in Freeport featuring Jayne Singer, PhD. See brochure for details.
Estate Planning Seminar:
May 22, 2018
Washington County Thriving in Place is bringing Rebecca J. Sargent, Esq. of Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC in Ellsworth, to Machias for a three-hour seminar on Estate Planning Basics. This free event will provide strategies to give caregivers and family members the legal and financial resources to care for loved ones and themselves. Topics include Powers of Attorney, Advanced Care Directives, Wills & Trusts and asset protection. This seminar will be held at the Kay Parker Building of Sunrise Opportunities in Machias from 1 to 4 pm. Register here and share this flyer with friends, colleagues and clients.
Maine Geriatrics Conference:
June 14-15, 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.
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 flyerfor details.
Classes, Groups & Play Dates
Healthy Solutions for Wellness:
Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 pm
Eastport Health Care and the Cancer Support Center of Maine are offering free classes for patients and community members on fitness, weight management and stress reduction at Eastport Health Center.
Separation & Divorce:
The Washington County CAN Council is holding free parent connection classes for Calais area and Machias area parents:
- Calais Parents: Tuesdays, April 3rd — May 22nd from 5-7 pm at Washington County Community College. See flyer for registration.
- Machias Parents: Wednesdays, April 11th — May 30th from 5-7 pm at Sunrise Opportunities/232 Court Street, Machias. See flyer for registration.
Grief Support Group to begin in Calais:
Beginning April 5, 2018, 6-8 pm
Anthony Giard of Mays Funeral Home and Pam Helmstadter, LCPC, with Don Greene of Downeast Hospice Volunteers, are starting a support group for people who have lost loved ones. The group will meet for 2 hours twice a month to help people connect with others who are grieving for social support as well as to learn some techniques to help cope with grief and loss. There is no charge to attend. The first meeting will be held at the Calais United Methodist Church at 849 Main Street. For more information, contact Anthony 454-3141 at or Pam at 454-0407.
Winter Playtime for Tots & Parents:
April 5, 19, 26 and May 3, 2018, Thursdays, 1-2:30 pm
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 . See flyer for details.
G.E.A.R. Classes in Machias:
April 6, May 4, and June 1, 2018, 10 am to 12 Noon
Misty Day, Regional Parent Support Coordinator for the G.E.A.R. Parent network, is presenting free Parent Learning & Support classes at MAS in Machias. Read the flyer for information on each class and how to register.
Rent Smart Classes:
April 25, May 3, May 10, May 17 from 10 am -12 noon
Downeast Community Partners (DCP) and The Next Step are joining to bring a community renter’s education class to a location in Machias this spring. The class is for renters and will meet weekly. Class size is limited, so please respond by April 13th to reserve your space, using this form.
Next Step Calais Support Group:
Beginning in May, 2018
Next Step will be offering a 6 week educational support group in Calais that will meet once a week with the purpose of exploring domestic violence within the context of a relationship. The group will begin at the end of May. Topics will include: How community and cultural supports affect families experiencing DV, effects on children, co-parenting with an abusive ex-partner, coping mechanisms, dating, new relationships, and effects of battering on the victim. See flyer for more information or contact Mary Mitchell at 255-4934 or email mmitchell@nextstepdvproject.org.
SAVVY Caregiver Training:
August 24 – September 28, 2018, Fridays, 2-4 pm
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 Friday over a 6-week period beginning August 24th at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Machias. See flyer for details and forward to caregivers who could benefit.
Meetings
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: Next Meeting is May 2nd from 1 — 3:30 pm at SCEC, with guest speaker Samantha Williams of Bold Coast Yoga.
Washington County Provider Meeting: Children’s Behavioral Health invites direct service providers working with children to a meeting on May 4th from 10:30 to 12:30 pm at SCEC. Focus of this meeting will be on how to meet the needs of specific children waiting for HCT and RCS services Washington County. See Flyer for details and RSVP to Cheryl Hathaway.
Needs & Offers
Summer Meals to More Kids: The Maine Department of Education is looking to expand its Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to children 18 and under in Washington County, and throughout the State. We can do this a number of ways:
- Provide outreach and advertising for sites and sponsors to increase participation at existing sites (see list of sponsor sites)
- Find the pockets of congregating kids in the summer throughout the county and locate a nearby sponsor and enquire about sateliting meals to these areas (thus creating new sites!)
- Find nonprofit organizations, municipalities and or tribal organizations that are willing to become a sponsor for Summer Meals and coordinate their own meal sites
Sponsor responsibilities include:
- Attend a Maine DOE sponsored training on the Summer Food Service Program ( April 25th 2018)
- locating eligible areas for meal sites
- Supervise staff and volunteers
- Monitor sites
- Prepare claims for reimbursement
- Make sure food being served meets the applicable meal pattern
The Summer Food Service Program offers three different reimbursement rates depending on what type or meals or meals you wish to offer. Contact Kaitlin Fayle for more information.
Help a Teenager, Help Yourself: Repairing steps, installing railings and handicapped access, winterization, fixing leaky roofs, walls and windows, are all part of the mission of All Souls Students in Service to Jesus Christ. In preparation for this summer’s mission, prospective homeowners are asked to submit a copy of the application found either at Bangor City Hall or Eastport Labor of Love, 137 County Road. Sponsored by All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor and the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association. Visit Eastport Labor of Love to learn more.
Family Futures Downeast: FFD is currently accepting applications for the Cohort 3 class that starts in July. The deadline for application is June 1. If you know of a family that would like to join Cohort 3, please complete this referral form, or a parent can contact FFD staff directly at 207-255-0983/ msloan@sunrisecounty.org.
Car Seat Safety Techs Needed: Currently Washington County has only a handful of certified car seat safety technicians and one distribution site for car seats, yet 90% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Even if you’ve received training in the past, there have been many changes to rules, regs and installation techniques, so updating your knowledge is strongly recommended. The Bureau of Highway Safety is holding a car seat safety training to certify/re-certify techs May 14-17th at Eastern Community College in Bangor. The training runs from 8 am to 5 pm each day, with a community safety check event on the last day. The Training is free, except for an $85 fee for materials and certification. Register here.
Office Equipment – Offer: The CCC has the following gently used equipment to give away
- Brother 2820 Fax Machine with extra toner cartridge
- Black AT&T CL2939 office phone
Contact Christine if interested
Reflective Supervision Training: The CCC is seeking interest in reflective supervision training, a distinct form of supervision that explores parallel relationships between practitioner and supervisor, between practitioner and parent, and between parent and infant/toddler, (read a fuller description of reflective supervision here). If you would like to know more about this powerful tool for preventing provider burnout, please contact Julie Redding.
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