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!
Teresa Alley & Jen Wood – the oral health program staff. Congratulations to Teresa Alley, WCCP’s Oral Health Coordinator. On Thursday, the State of Maine Rural Health & Primary Care Program presented her with the 2019 Rural Health Leadership Award for her dedication to rural health. Teresa has been a Registered Dental Hygienist with WCCP for 20 years (following 10 years in private practice) and has helped expand oral health access to children throughout Washington County. Program services include the Tooth Ferry mobile dental unit and the annual outreach to Machias in collaboration with New York University College of Dentistry — from the Washington County Children’s Program facebook page.
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New this Week
WCCC’s HR tHuRsday series
Our third webinar in the tHuRsday series will be held on December 12th from 1-2 pm featuring Abby Frutchey from the Community Caring Collaborative delivering Becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace. Over 22 million Americans are impacted by substance use disorder. 69 percent of individuals impacted are in the workforce. Additionally, 23 million Americans identify as being in recovery. Learn about substance use disorder and the recovery process, how to support individuals impacted by SUD who are in recovery, and what it means to be recovery ready. See flyer for details.
MaineTransNet support group
Read about this trans-only support group in the Serial Classes & Groups section of this newsletter.
Giving Tuesday
Don’t forget to check out the many opportunities for donating to Washington County community and nonprofit organizations on Tuesday, December 3rd. We also wish our partners all the best with their annual appeals underway this time of year.
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:
Family Photos Needed!
In preparation for our Vision Day next Wednesday, December 4th, CCC staff are collecting photos of children and/or families in Washington County for a slide show. Please send your png or jpg photos to claurel@cccmaine.org. Thanks so much!
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.
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Updates
Updates on programs, research, initiatives and pending legislation
Enhancing the Care and Health of Older Adults Living with Dementia
and their Care Partners
The Maine Council on Aging is excited to announce the launch of our Project ECHO – “Enhancing the Care and Health of Older Adults Living with Dementia and their Care Partners”- ECHO-D. ECHO-D is a collaborative project with the Northern New England Network, Qualidigm, and the Maine Council on Aging, through the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging. We’ve put together a great faculty from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, including Katlyn Blackstone from Southern ME Agency on Aging; Dr. Cliff Singer from Northern Light; and Tamara Herrick from MaineHealth Center for Health Improvement. All four of the participating communities from Maine are also MCOA members: Healthy Peninsula, Maine Highlands Senior Center, and a joint effort by Aroostook Agency on Aging and the Elder Abuse Institute of Maine. The purpose of ECHO-D is to share successful approaches, models, and supports that improve the health, healthcare, and care coordination of community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with dementia and their care partners. The first session was held on October 24th. TSLCA will be sharing updates, including the recorded didactic presentations, and recommendations from the sessions and other resources on our new Living Well With Dementia page.
Sandwich Caregiving Generation in the U.S.
In the spirit of National Family Caregivers Month, the National Alliance for Caregiving and Caring Across Generations, in partnership with MassMutual’s SpecialCare program, have released “Burning the Candle at Both Ends: Sandwich Caregiving Generation in the U.S.” on Tuesday, November 26th. The report was released at a briefing with policymakers, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
This groundbreaking study shines some light on the estimated 11 million Americans who are caught between the demands of both childcare and caring for an aging or disabled adult family member. The above info-graphic represents some of the unique characteristics of these caregivers, such as that 67% of sandwich caregivers are employed, underscoring their need for such policies as the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The info-graphic also highlights the diversity of this group of caregivers, demonstrating the importance of solutions that fit their diverse needs. |
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One-Time Events
Fairs, trainings, conferences and more in the state of Maine
Heroin(e) Documentary Screening followed by Narcan Training
December 3, 2019
Join the Downeast Recovery Support Center, Healthy Acadia and the CCC in Calais (311 Main Street) at 5:30 pm on December 3rd 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. Please share this flyer.
CCC Vision Day 2019: Focus on Childcare
December 4, 2019
The Community Caring Collaborative invites you to Vision Day 2019 on December 4th from 9 am to 3 pm at Cobscook Community Learning Center. This is an opportunity for all members of the collaborative — service providers, administrators, educators, advocates, volunteers and community members — to bring ideas to the table that address a specific set of needs for Washington County residents. We do this every couple of years in the relaxed atmosphere of our favorite vision day venue — the CCLC — where creativity and dreaming big are encouraged. This year we’re focusing on childcare. Help us envision a Washington County where all childcare needs and wants are met. Dream of all the ways childcare in Washington County can support children, families, and the economy. It will take people with experience in all aspects of this equation (parents, child care providers/managers, policy makers, educators and workforce development experts) to fully tackle the issues, but we can start on December 4th and go from there. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Sign up here and share a flyer with staff and colleagues.
WCCC’s HR tHuRsday series
December 12, 2019
Our third webinar in the tHuRsday series will be held on December 12th from 1-2 pm featuring Abby Frutchey from the Community Caring Collaborative delivering Becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace. Over 22 million Americans are impacted by substance use disorder. 69 percent of individuals impacted are in the workforce. Additionally, 23 million Americans identify as being in recovery. Learn about substance use disorder and the recovery process, how to support individuals impacted by SUD that are in recovery, and what it means to be recovery ready. See flyer for details.
Isolation: Innovative Ideas from Northern New England
December 17, 2019
Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging on December 17, 12-1 pm, for an “Ideas & Experience Exchange: Wisdom Inquiry” webinar that focuses on isolation. The format will be a little different from some of our other webinars. This month we are celebrating those innovative ideas that encourage people to enjoy social participation, especially during the winter months when getting out can be challenging. We will be “seeding” the conversation with several “kernels of corn” that are already popping in northern New England. Each community will briefly share what they are doing to spark other ideas in peer communities. Join us to hear these innovative ideas and come prepared to share ideas that are working for your community. By sharing, you will help other communities pop. Learn more and register here
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.
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Serial Classes & Groups
Classes, play groups, support circles and other repeating events
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.
WindowDressers Workshop at Machias Savings Bank
350 Downeast and Machias Savings Bank are offering a WindowDresser workshop, December 5-10th, at the Edward L. Hennessey Jr. Training Center, Machias Savings Bank, 1 Colonial Way, Machias. WindowDresser volunteers will help community members assemble insulating window inserts to cut heating costs. Each insulating window insert is made of a custom-made frame wrapped in two layers of tightly-sealed, clear polyolefin film and finished with a compressible foam gasket that allows the inserts to be easily slid into place in the fall and removed in the spring. Inserts are free to low-income households. Anyone interested in more information, to schedule an appointment, or to volunteer to work at the workshop can go to the WindowDressers website or contact Mark Brown at Dr.MaineBlackfly@gmail.com.
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.
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.
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Standing Meetings & Calendars
Monthly and quarterly meetings, agency/initiative calendars at a glance and other meeting schedules
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 Public Health Council Meeting
Downeast Public Health Council Members and Stakeholders are invited to the next Downeast Public Health Council Meeting on Friday November 15th at the Maine Seacoast Mission EDGE Center in Cherryfield. Our focus will be on Health Literacy. We will also have a discussion on the upcoming Local Public Health Systems Assessment as well as our regular updates. Agenda & Meeting Packets will be sent out closer to the meeting. For more information please contact, Maura Goss, Council Coordinator, maura.goss@maine.gov.
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.
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Needs & Offers
Send us your agency/community needs or offers, such as job recruiting
or housing needs.
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!
Learn about new Medicare Coverage available in 2020
Licensed Medicare Specialst, Renata Lahner, a consultant with L3 Benefits Consultants, is offering free appointments to anyone interested in learning more about the expanded coverages available under Medicare for eligible Maine residents beginning in 2020. Enrollment ends December 7th so don’t delay. You could be eligible for hearing aids, dental, vision and home health visits. Contact Renata at 207-706-6477 or renatalahner@l3bc.com.
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.
Christmas Program Wish List Available Online
Each year at Christmas time, Maine Seacoast Mission distributes holiday gifts to children, families, elderly, and nursing home residents. The tradition of Mission Christmas presents began more than 100 years ago when the Mission brought gifts to island residents and lighthouse keepers. Now, generous donors bring new items to the Mission throughout the year to be distributed on the islands and in Hancock and Washington counties at Christmas time. Last year we helped with gifts for over 1,500 children and elderly in need. Our Christmas Program Wish List 2019 with shipping instructions is available for downloading here and on the Mission web site. More info here. For the first time, we are also providing a wish list on Amazon which can be accessed by this link.
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.
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Favorite Resources
Send us your favorite links to share with other Communique readers.
The RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center
To support the Family Caregiver Advisory Council’s work, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has created the RAISE Act Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation to:
- Develop family caregiving resources for state and federal policymakers and other stakeholders;
- Provide support to the council and its subcommittee member as they craft policy recommendations;
- Convene experts and thought leaders to provide perspectives and expertise to the council; and support states as they develop policies to address family caregiver issues.
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