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!

CCC is running a diaper drive to benefit We Care Baby Center: from now until Valentine’s Day, make a donation of diapers (sizes 4 & 5 especially needed), wipes, or new hats & mittens in the CCC office and enter your name & phone for a drawing to win the basket of cozy, household goodies pictured above (Raven not included!).

New this Week

Good Shepherd Table at Washing Academy — Today!!

Washington Academy invites you to free produce from the Good Shepherd Food Bank today, December 18th, from 3 — 5:50 pm in WA’s Fine Arts building lobby. Share this flyer.

Community-Driven Strategies to End Hunger in Washington County

Good Shepherd Food Bank is beginning a new initiative called Community-Driven Strategies to End Hunger in Washington County. The goal of this initiative is to become more engaged with community partners, including non-hunger-focused social services that interact with the same families our traditional network does, and learn how we can all work together to alleviate hunger at the community level. While Good Shepherd Food Bank will be providing administrative support, as well as up to $30,000 for the group to invest in testing the strategies they identify, the goal is for the initiative to be led by the true experts – the people that live, work, and lead in Washington County! The initiative’s kick-off meeting is Thursday, January 9, 2020, from 11 am – 2 pm at the Machias Veteran’s Home Conference Room (32 Veteran’s Way, Machias, ME 04654). Note: This will replace our regularly scheduled Washington County Food Pantry Network meeting. Please let us know if you’ll be attending by RSVPing here by Friday, January 3rd. If you have any further questions about the Community-Driven Strategies to End Hunger initiative, please feel free to reach out to Regina Grabrovac 207-255-3741.

Cooking Matters for Parents Beginning in January

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Washington County CAN Prevention Council will offer a free six-session nutrition education program to parents and guardians beginning Jan. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the DownEast Recovery Support Center, 11 Free Street, Machias. Classes meet on Mondays through Feb. 24 with the exception of Jan. 20 and Feb. 17. Cooking Matters for Parents will focus on learning healthy, budget-friendly cooking tips and preparing healthy recipes as a group. Participants will receive ingredients to take home at the end of each class and a cookbook upon completion of the course. Register online For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rita Stephenson, 207.255.3345; rita.stephenson@maine.edu.

Domestic Abuse Support Group

Next Step is offering an educational support group starting in January — see flyer. To learn more or to sign up, contact Kelly Brown at 800-315-5579.

CCC Work Group January Meeting

Work Group members, don’t forget that since our January meeting falls on New Year’s Day, we are meeting the following week instead — January 8th from 1 – 3 pm. Learn more about the Work Group in the Standing Meetings & Calendars section of this newsletter.

CCC Communique Holiday Schedule

Both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on CCC newsletter Wednesdays this holiday season so our next issue will be January 8th.

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.

Updates

Updates on programs, research, initiatives and pending legislation

CCC Holiday Letter

Dear Friends, our founding director and dear friend, Marjorie Withers, started a tradition at the CCC of sending a holiday letter to all our partners. Always warm, always full of gratitude and hope, the letters became a way of saying thank you for your countless acts of caring across the year. We’ve kept this tradition alive and this year, each staff member wished to share their personal gratitude for your collaboration. We offer you the 2019 CCC round up of thanks!

Read the letter here

One-Time Events

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

Community-Driven Strategies to End Hunger in Washington County
January 9, 2010

Idea and Experience Exchange:
Digging Deeper into Difficult Conversations
January 14, 2020

Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging on Tuesday, January 14th from 12-1 pm for a webinar digging more deeply into the topic of navigating the difficult conversations that age-friendly organizations and lifelong communities may be asked to help facilitate. Rudy Fedrizzi will share how he has used deliberative dialogue to lead conversations about isolation. Learn more here. Please come prepared to share your expertise and experiences leading community conversations and leave with tools to lead deliberative dialogue in your own community. Host: Rudy Fedrizzi, Public Health Services District Director, Vermont Department of Health. Register here.

Heroin(e) Documentary Screening Rescheduled
January 15, 2020

Postponed from December 3rd due to weather, join Healthy Acadia, CCC and the Downeast Recovery Support Center in Calais (311 Main Street) at 5:30 pm on January 15th for a free screening and panel discussion about the award winning documentary, Heroin(e), and our community’s response to the opioid epidemic. Participants are invited to stay for a free Narcan training following the discussion. Refreshments will be served. This documentary is presented by Points North Institute, the State of Maine and Marshall Communications.

Starting Over: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
January 21, 2020

Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 12:00-1:30 for a webinar discussion of grandparents raising grandchildren. In the United States, more than three million children are being raised by their grandparents or other relatives. When grandparents assume this responsibility, they often take on added financial and legal responsibilities with little outside assistance. About 25% of those kinship families are in rural areas where it can be even more challenging to find needed resources and supports than it is in large cities. During this webinar, we will hear how age-friendly organizations in northern New England are supporting grand-families and helping to meet the economic, social, and health needs of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Presenter: Jennifer Crittenden, Assistant Director, UMaine Center on Aging. Register here.

Serial Classes & Groups

Classes, play groups, support circles and other repeating events

Domestic Abuse Support Group

Next Step is offering an educational support group starting in January — see flyer. To learn more or to sign up, contact Kelly Brown at 800-315-5579.

Cooking Matters for Parents Beginning in January

Maine’s 2020 ECE Policy Leadership Program

Join a cohort of 16 early childhood professionals to learn best practice and strategies in speaking about the most pressing, critical early childhood issues. We will shape our stories of early care and education to inform decision-makers, leaders, and Mainers around the state. Starting in January, there will be monthly calls/webinars and one in-person workshop day, as well as other opportunities to get involved. Program dates and details overview here; short application form here. Applications are due on Friday, December 20th (email to tara@maineaeyc.org) and we will follow up with some brief phone interviews and decisions made in early January.

Washington County Leadership Institute 2020

Sunrise County Economic Council is accepting applications for the 2020 cohort of the Washington County Leadership Institute, a 3-month program of professional skill-building. Visit WCLI’s website for more information or call 255-0983.

Machias Trans-Only Support Group

When: 4th Sundays (NOT the last Sunday of the month), 2-3:30 pm
Where: Health Equity Alliance office, 7 VIP Road, Machias, ME 04654
These meetings are open to trans people only right now (including non-binary and gender non-conforming identities). The meetings are located at Health Equity Alliance office, 7 VIP Road, Machias, ME 04654. Cancellations for this group can be found on the MaineTransNet Facebook page. Questions can be sent to mtn@mainetransnet.org.

Family Gifts From the Kitchen at Porter Memorial Library

Tuesdays 4:00 – 4:45pm, December 3, 10, and 17
Porter Memorial Library, 92 Court St, Machias

Families, come join the Cooperative Extension at Porter Memorial Library to make edible gifts to give over the holidays and learn some healthy eating tips. Jars, ingredients, and samples will be provided. Mixes will include: Oatmeal Raisin Muffins, Alphabet Soup, and Homemade Granola. Families who attend all 3 sessions will receive a gift bag on the last day. Children must be accompanied by adults. Pre-registration is required. Register online, in person at the library, or by phone. To register or request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rita Stephenson, 255.3345; rita.stephenson@maine.edu.

Tai Chi for Kidz

Healthy Acadia is offering a Tai Chi for Kidz program to schools — an eight week course (up to one hour per week). See flyer for details.

The Business of Women: Book & Discussion Group

Ruth Feldman, Program Director/Business Advisor with the Women’s Business Center at CEI, invites women in business or thinking about starting a business to a new book & discussion group at the Porter Memorial Library on Tuesday evenings from 5-6:30 pm beginning October 22nd. “We will use the following books as a basis for conversations and try out some free, online tools that can help us to think, plan and take action. We will invite guests who can help to bring the books and topics to life and serve as real-world models from women within our community who have taken a leap in following their dreams. Books are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to be picked up from Porter Library in Machias. Registration required. $25 refundable book deposit or bring your own books.” Download a flyer with the schedule.

For more information, please contact Ruth at ruth.feldman@ceimaine.org.

Thursday Webinar Series at WCCC

Join Washington County Community College for HR Thursdays beginning in Fall 2019! This is an exciting series of quick lunch-n-learn webinars lead by an exclusive cadre of regional and statewide HR professionals. We will be tapping the robust talent that exists regionally to share best practices and provide technical assistance. See flyer for details, or visit this link.

CAN Council Groups

Weekly infant toddler playgroup in Machias: Fridays from 10-11 at the Kay Parker Building. See flyer for details.
Weekly Social Hour for children 6-11 who are engaged with section 26/65 to come with their BHP’s for a craft/activity/game on Fridays from 3-4. BHP’s and their kiddos are welcome any Friday, but we do ask that they send an RSVP (263-5270) with the kiddo’s age at least 2 hours prior. This way we can make accommodations or modifications to our activities if needed. This will be held at WCCP (232 Court St, Machias). See flyer for details.
Grandparents raising grandchildren – First Thursday of the month from 3:30 — 4:30 at Woodland Public Library
Parents in Recovery (Calais) – Second Thursday of the month from 3:30 — 4:30 at Downeast Recovery and Support Center, Calais
Parents in Recovery (Machias) – Second Monday of the month from 3:30 — 4:40 at Downeast Recovery and Support Center, Machias
Machias Circle of Parents – last Monday of the month from 3:30 — 4:30 at Sunrise Opportunities (232 Court St, Machias)
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. Location: Harrington Family Health Center, 52 East Main Street, Harrington, every Thursday from 12:30 — 2 pm. Text/call Mandie at 263-5270 to sign up.

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.

Recovery Dharma

The Downeast Recovery Supports Center is now hosting weekly meetings of Recovery Dharma, a Buddhist-inspired approach to recovery from addiction. Meetings are on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. No prior experience with Buddhism is required. Meetings are free and all who seek recovery are warmly welcomed. Learn more about Refuge Recovery at: www.refugerecovery.org.

Hepatitis C Support Group

Health Equity Alliance has begun a Hepatitis C support group at the Downeast Machias Recovery Center. They also offer a syringe exchange and FREE HIV and HEPC testing. Hours are Tuesday: 3-6 pm and Friday: 10 am to 1 pm, closed to Walk-In Services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. FMI: Arielle Metcalf at arielle@mainehealthequity.org, 207-255-5849.

Downeast MAT Expansion ECHO

Healthy Acadia in collaboration with Qualidigm (formerly Maine Quality Counts) invites you to join a local effort to respond to Maine’s opioid epidemic through education, skill-building, and networking for Downeast clinicians. The Downeast MAT Expansion ECHO program seeks to build local capacity to treat individuals who are struggling with OUDs across Hancock and Washington Counties by offering free education, skill building, and networking to clinicians and the practices they work in. Healthy Acadia, working closely with many key community partners, is offering a two-part Project ECHO program over the coming year. Sign up for Part 2 now: Second Wednesday of the month from September 2019 to May 2020; 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Meetings will be held virtually using Zoom.

Download a flyer for more information. Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an evidence-based educational model developed by researchers at the University of New Mexico

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:

Calais Community of Practice meets on the second Tuesday of each month at WCCC – Riverview Hall, Room 115 (Multi Media Room
Machias Community of Practice meets on the 4th Monday of each month at UMM – Torrey Hall, Room 228

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 & Calendars

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

Next Downeast Public Health Council Meeting

Friday, January 17, 2020, 9 — 11:30 am, at a site to be determined.

Downeast Recovery Support Center Calendars

Want to be able to plan ahead for the month with meetings and/or events happening at our Centers? Visit the Downeast Recovery Support Center facebook page where calendar of events for both centers are pinned to the top or download the Machias and Calais calendars in MS Word. If there’s something else you’d like to see offered, let us know!

Downeast Rainbow Alliance

The Downeast Rainbow Alliance has the mission of Advocacy, Education, and Support for the LGBTQ Community in Washington County. Meetings alternate between those held at the Eastport Community Health Center and the University of Maine at Machias. All are welcome. Last meeting of the year is November THU, NOV 21 AT 6:30 PM in Torrey Hall 234 at UMaine Machias. Parking is to the side of the building with accessible parking and elevator. FMI: downeastrainbowalliance@gmail.com.

GEAR Fall Quarterly Workshops

Shannan Boyorak, Regional Parent Support Coordinator for the G.E.A.R. Parent Network, is circulating a flyer with their statewide schedule for workshops being offered this fall. If you have any questions or are interested in more information or attending one of these workshops, feel free to reach out to Shannon or call the 1-800 number listed on the flyer. Download the flyer here.

Calais Area Breast Cancer Support Group

Meetings 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. Read November meeting notes here. Work Group will not meet officially in December as the first Wednesday, December 4th, is CCC Vision Day at the Cobscook Community Learning Center. We encourage all Work Group members to attend vision day — read more about it here. Mark your calendars for the next Work Group meeting on January 8th in the large conference room at SCEC, 7 Ames Way, Machias, from 1 — 3 pm. While we usually meet on the first Wednesday of the month, this January the first Wednesday is New Year’s Day! Send your questions to Christine.

Needs & Offers

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

CCC Diaper Drive

CCC is running a diaper drive to benefit We Care Baby Center: from now until Valentine’s Day, make a donation of diapers (sizes 4 & 5 especially needed), wipes, or new hats & mittens in the CCC office and enter your name & phone number for a drawing to win a basket of cozy, household goodies.

CHCS Seeks Peer Specialist

Community Health & Counseling Services is hiring for the part-time position of Peer Specialist in the Machias office. The Peer Specialist works as a member of a team of professionals who provide treatment and services to people who use mental health and co-occurring substance abuse services in the community. The Peer Specialist contributes to the Agency’s mission to assist individuals with recovery from psychiatric difficulties through the provision of a wide range of non-clinical activities that engage, educate, and support individuals, their family members and caregivers. The Peer Specialist provides recovery training and outreach to peers in both group and individual settings while demonstrating the values of hopefulness for recovery, respect, acceptance, personal responsibility, honesty, and self-advocacy to both peers and colleagues. The Peer support specialist must have a high school diploma/GED or higher education; must have personally experienced mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder. Must have Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist (CIPPS) Certification or be willing to obtain certification within first year of employment. Prior experience working in a mental health setting is a plus. For more information, please contact Deborah Dodge, LCPC or apply online here.

Healthy Acadia Hiring for 3 Positions:

Healthy Acadia has the following opportunities available to join a dynamic team passionate about making it easier for all people to lead healthier lives:

Caregiver Survey

The Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine is helping the State of Maine with its needs assessment as part of Maine’s State Plan on Aging under the Older Americans Act. As part of that, an on-line caregiver survey is being conducted. Maine wants to improve services that support older adults to live in our homes and in our communities as long as possible. As part of this, Maine wants to hear from you if you provide any kind of help or care to an older adult or an adult with a disability or if you are an older person who has primary responsibility for the care of a grandchild or other relative under the age of 18. This includes unpaid caregivers as well as caregivers who are paid to provide help to a relative or friend. This statewide survey is being conducted by the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine (USM) on behalf of Maine’s Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS). While the survey is voluntary, the findings will help the State and its community partners focus on the areas that are of greatest concern to you and other caregivers in Maine. Information about this survey, including a link to the survey, is also on the OADS’ website. Please feel free to share this survey with other people or organizations who might be interested. Thank you!

Become an Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator

The Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association invites you to become a volunteer community educator to help bring additional means of education, care, and support to your communities for those navigating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. We welcome you to learn more about the position and joining our amazing team of volunteers. Please visit our website to apply at volunteer.alz.org. Our application and training process is hosted on this site to make training more accessible and time efficient. Contact Alison Russell, Manager of Education and Community Volunteers, at 207-772-0115 x 9692 or alirussell@alz.org with questions.

Hope Fund Closes; will re-open in February

The Hope Fund Committee has paid out the maximum amount of funds in awards for the current Hope Fund trimester and is no longer accepting applications. The Hope Fund will resume in February, 2020.

Toys Needed for FFD

Family Futures Downeast needs some new or gently used toys for our family rooms on campus at UMM and WCCC. We are looking for some little 4-inch action figure people for our playhouses. Also any wooden toys or items for “pretend play” (such as little pots & pans, food items for the play kitchen) would also be appreciated. (Please, no legos). You can drop them off at our office at Sunrise County Economic Council, 7 Ames Way in Machias or contact Marsha Sloan directly at msloan@sunrisecounty.org.

RecoveryCorps Coaches

Do you have a passion to help those struggling with substance use disorder to be successful in recovery? Healthy Acadia is now actively recruiting full-time (32-36 hrs per week) and part-time (8-10 hours per week) volunteers to serve in our AmeriCorps / RecoveryCorps program for the 2019-2020 service year, starting in September, 2019. Download full job description. If you are interested, the first step is to fill out a Pre-Screening Questionnaire found at this link.

Free Window Insulation Kits

Maine Seacoast Mission is once again offering free, reusable interior storm windows in different sizes to seniors and families to help lower heating costs. Contact the Downeast Campus in Cherryfield (546-5870) to pick up your kit, or connect with a Community Caring Collaborative staff member about picking up a kit from their office.

EMDC Workforce Development Services

EMDC has moved to the Career Center in Machias (53 Prescott Drive, near the Hannaford Shopping Plaza). 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 610-1521 or email Samantha.Giasson@emdc.org if you’ve worked in agriculture/farm work in the last two years. Additional information can be found at https://www.emdc.org/page/954/workforce.

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.

Favorite Resources

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

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

Machias Christmas celebration at UMM, December 7th
Photo courtesy of Sharon Kiley Mack

Happy Holidays from the Community Caring Collaborative!

CCC Wednesday Communique — December 18, 2019