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: Stop by the Family Dollar Parking lot on October 7th, 10 am — 1 pm for Maine Families’ free car seat safety check
Announcements
Merger of 2 Partners: Child and Family Opportunities and the Washington Hancock Community Agency have merged to form Downeast Community Partners. Please see this press release for more information on this exciting announcement.
Taking Action for Health: Healthy Acadia is offering a free, six-week, interactive “Taking Action for Health” workshop series in the conference room of Downeast Community Hospital, 11 Hospital Drive, Machias. This series is open to anyone living with a chronic health condition – caregivers welcome . Classes will meet weekly on Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm beginning October 26, 2017 and continuing through December 7, 2017 (no class on November 23). See flyer and visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about “Taking Action for Health.”
Gerontology Course at WCCC: Washington County Community College will be offering Introduction to Gerontology online starting October 2nd. See flyer for more details on this timely educational opportunity.
Finger Printing Service at UMM: IdentoGo is partnering with the University of Maine, Machias, to offer finger printing for people applying for educational positions – see flyer for details. This service is not applicable for federal applications, such as Border Patrol or TSA.
Diabetes Prevention Coach Training: Healthy Acadia is pleased to offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) Lifestyle Coach Training. This training is for individuals interested in becoming certified as NDPP lifestyle coaches and will enable them to teach NDPP programs to community members at risk for diabetes. The training is free for all participants, and is two days long: October 14th 9-5 and October 15th 9-4, at the Harrington Family Health Center. To register for the training, please send your name, contact information (phone and email), and organizational details by Tuesday, October 10th to Angela Fochesato at Healthy Acadia (angela@healthacadia.org, 207-255-3441, ext.103) You are welcome to register multiple people for the training – please include each person’s name, contact information and organizational details.
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.
Events
Now listed chronologically, so make sure to scroll down for items just added!
POLST Training: Physician Ordered Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) training is coming to Washington County for Providers, Professionals and community members / advocates. Link to register for this important training, scheduled for October 6th (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) at Calais Regional Hospital. Scholarships are available – just check the box when you register. The training will be provided by Maine Hospice Council and is supported by the Washington County Thriving in Place Initiative, funded by Maine Health Access Foundation, and the CCC. Please share this training opportunity widely with providers and professional staff. Registration must be completed by, Friday, September 22, 2017.
Car Seat Safety Check – Machias: Maine Families is holding a free car seat safety check on Saturday, October 7th, at the Family Dollar parking lot in Machias (behind McDonald’s) – see flyer for details.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Offered in Cherryfield: Healthy Acadia is partnering with NAMI Maine to offer a Youth Mental Health First Aid course at the Cherryfield Academy Community Center, 53 Main Street Cherryfield, on Thursday, October 12, 2017 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Participants will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and substance misuse and/or addiction concerns, strategies for how to help youth ages 12-18 in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. All interested educators, counselors, healthcare providers, community members, and others who work with or interact with youth and teens ages 12-18 are welcome and invited to attend. See press release for more details.
Hope Fund Conversation: The CCC invites partner providers who submit Hope Fund applications on behalf of clients to an informal celebration marking the launch of the Fund’s 6th year of operation. Join us on October 18th for some dessert and conversation in the large conference room at SCEC. We will discuss changes to the application form; answer questions on eligibility and interpreting the guidelines; share suggestions for how the Fund is linked to pre-established goals within your program; and ask for feedback on evaluating the impact of the Fund. Please RSVP to Christine before October 13th. Download a flyer to circulate to colleagues at your organization.
Senior Health & Safety Expo: Saturday, October 21st from 9 am to 12 Noon at the Maine Veterans Home 
in Machias. Bring your medications and receive a free consultation with a pharmacist to look at dosage and drug interactions; browse displays of resources on health & safety with a cup of coffee or plate of fresh fruit; sample Eastern Area Agency on Aging’s 3D meals; door prize, plus a chance to share your tips to thriving in place. Download and share this flyer with your senior friends, colleagues and clients.
MRBN 2017 Conference: Save the dates of November 2nd and 3rd for the 2nd Biennial Conference of the Maine Resilience Building Network and the Bingham Program at Point Lookout Resort, Northport, Maine. See flyer for details. Registration opens September 18th.
TCM & BHH Provider Training: Child Behavioral Health Services invites targeted case managers and behavioral health homes providers to a free system overview of the state’s behavioral health services on December 4th, from 9-4 at the Houlton DHHS Office. See flyer for details.
Needs & Offers
Downeast Feast: Share in this free, community, potluck, moveable feast held on the fourth Thursday of each month beginning at 5 pm. See flyer for details and schedule.
Volunteer Drivers Needed: WHCA is looking for volunteer drivers. Benefits include flexible hours, reimbursement at 44 cents a mile, AAA Plus at no coast to you. Volunteers must be at least 25 years old, have a valid, clean Maine driver’s license for 3 years, have a reliable, clean vehicle, and live in Hancock or Washington County. Call or email Joceyln Storey, WHCA’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 207-610-5940 or jstorey@whcacap.org, M-F, 8-5 pm.
Commodity Box giveaways: Eastern Area Agency on Aging (EAAA) receives 40 pound boxes of food to 
give away as part of the Maine Commodity Supplemental Food Program through channels and sites, such as food pantries. There are a lot of boxes unclaimed at some of these sites, and EAAA is asking your help. The program has some eligibility requirements (see application), and is offering $100 grocery gift cards in a contest for help identifying box recipients. Please circulate this flyer to colleagues and staff to spread the word.
Need for Diapers: Family Futures Downeast is delighted to welcome 28 new families to our program this 
fall. Families are enrolled in classes at both the University of Maine at Machias and Washington County Community College. We have many new students with children under 2 years old, and are looking for donations of diapers: newborn size for the Family Center at UMM and sizes 2-4 at WCCC. Donations can be dropped off with Marsha Sloan at the Sunrise County Economic Council office at 7 Ames Way in Machias, or with Jessie McPhail at the Family Futures Downeast office at WCCC. For more information, call Marsha Sloan at 255-0983.
Volunteer Child Care & Pet Sitters Needed: Next Step is in need of volunteers to provide child care for moms attending meetings/appointments/court dates, etc, as well as volunteers to watch pets. Please contact 255-4934 for more information if you can help.
Send us your agency/community needs or offers, such as job recruiting or housing needs.
Favorite Resources
This is a new section of the Communique where we post links to helpful websites and videos.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Publication Catalog: This is a phenomenal clearinghouse of resources on topics ranging from Emergency Preparedness (like getting tips on gauging the safety of refrigerated food during a power outage or staying warm in an unheated house) to weather-stripping windows and doors. Many of these resources can be downloaded for free, while some are books that you can purchase or articles that you can purchase in color at very low cost (50 cents).
Send us your favorite links to share with other Communique readers.
Meetings
Work Group & Poverty Busters: Read notes from the September 6th meeting. Join us on October 4th from 1-3:30 pm at the SCEC House. Download a copy of the WG/PB meeting agenda.
St Croix Community Connections: This is Poverty Buster’s sister group in Calais, organized by Christine Morris. This group meets monthly – new members welcome!
Photo courtesy of Jen Peters