Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
The CCC Work Group will be meeting in person today, January 8th, at SCEC’s Machias office on 7 Ames Way. Download an agenda for this meeting. We welcome Jace Farris to talk about the Point in Time Count starting January 22nd and continuing for another week. Learn how you can help this effort to identify the number of homeless individuals in Washington County. Hope to see you there Make sure to check for information pertaining to this monthly meeting in the Standing Meetings section of this Newsletter.
The Principles of Harm Reduction Virtual Series
- Syringe harm reduction, deaths of despair, and overdose
- Roles of trauma, stigma, and bias
- Interdisciplinary perspectives
- Effects of COVID-19 on behavioral health of persons with SUD
Register here. Download a flyer to share.
Home Buyers Education Live Webinar
Thinking about buying a home? Attend CEI’s Home Buyer Education class to get more information about programs that may be able to help you such as Maine Housing’s Home Assist Program that offers $5,000.00 in closing cost assistance! 3 sessions, January 13, 14, and 15th from 6 – 9 pm. This class will be held as a live webinar, you will receive an invitation to join the webinar the day of the first class. Register here.
January 28th, 2 – 3:30 pm Webinar: Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging for a webinar exploring innovative transportation solutions to enhance mobility and independence for older adults in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Learn from experts about:
- best practices,
- challenges, and
- opportunities for transportation programs.
Whether you’re a seasoned transportation coordinator or just starting out, this webinar will provide valuable insights to help you improve your program and better serve older adults in your community. Register here.
Join Safe Families for Children for a virtual lunch n’ learn, 12 – 1 pm on your choice of 3 dates: January 15th, March 11th, or April 10th. We will share information about who we are, what we offer, whom we serve and more. Email maine@safefamilies.net for more information. Download a flyer to share.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering an eight-session introduction to beekeeping course from 10 am – Noon every Saturday from Feb. 8 – March 29 in Room 102 of the University of Maine at Machias’ Science Building, 116 O’Brien Ave. Led by master beekeeper Andrew Dewey, the course will cover a wide range of topics, including basic bee biology, hive construction and location, seasonal management and honey production. On March 22, attendees will also hear a special two-hour presentation by state apiarist Jennifer Lund on honey bee pests and diseases. The course is designed to provide participants with valuable knowledge and practical skills to start their own beekeeping journey. The course fee is $75 per person, or per couple if sharing materials. Participants will receive a free copy of the book “Simple Smart Beekeeping,” by Kirsten S. and Michael J. Traynor. For a tentative schedule and to register, visit the program webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 800-287-1542 (in Maine), 207-255-3345; Tara Wood at tara.a.wood@maine.edu.
G.E.A.R. Parent Network has a new quarterly workshops/events flyer. Register for workshops & support groups here. Support groups and workshops are held virtually, and some may be virtual and location specific. You will receive a link for the virtual workshop/event after registering online. Your registration for in-person workshops is necessary so we can ensure we bring enough handouts. Our workshops are not recorded in order to safeguard personal information shared by participants related to the topics during these interactive trainings. In the event of potential power outages or cancellations, check our Facebook page or call our 800#.
To kick off the New Year, the StoryWalk® at Porter Memorial Library in Machias features, Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, an enchanting winter tale that invites young readers to discover the magical world beneath the snow. Through the eyes of a father and daughter on a cross-country skiing adventure, Over and Under the Snow reveals a secret world where animals like squirrels, snowshoe hares, bears, and bullfrogs find warmth and safety under the winter blanket of snow. Keep reading.
SAMHSA has released two recovery fact sheets designed to empower individuals navigating mental health and substance use services and expand the adoption of recovery-oriented services and supports in state, local and community behavioral health settings:
- Housing Supports Recovery and Well-Being: Definitions and Shared Values summarizes the role that housing plays in supporting recovery for recovery and housing leaders.
- Countering Discrimination and Improving Recovery Supports Across Court, Corrections, and Reentry Settings highlights and addresses public misconceptions and misperceptions linking mental health and substance use conditions with crime rather than recognizing systemic barriers to accessing needed care.
Mission Scholarship Application Period Opens
Maine Seacoast Mission is accepting scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 academic year starting Wednesday, January 1. Applications can be submitted until Saturday, March 1. Mission Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors, and adults who have completed the HiSET or GED, who live in Washington County, Hancock County, or on a Maine outer island served by the Mission. The Mission’s scholarships are available for individuals entering trade, technical, two and four-year colleges. For more information on the Scholarships and to apply, visit https://seacoastmission.org/downeast/scholarships. For inquiries about Scholarships, email scholarships@seacoastmission.org or call (207) 546-5852.
Danyel Crabtree of Sunrise County Economic Council is providing free tech support at various sites and times throughout Washington County between January and March. This is a walk-in service, no appointment needed. Danyel can help with issues like: password recovery, setting up a new device, remote storage, and more. Download a flyer for details.
5 Lessons In Setting Boundaries
(By Anne Tumlinson of Daughterhood.org). Let’s be real for a moment. The job of taking care of aging parents can be a total life destroyer. It takes your money, your time, your ability to work, your friends, your relationships, your ability to do the things you love, or even to take a rest. Click HERE to read the entire blog.