August 11, 2004, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Candy Eaton, Program Director

“Ellsworth Area Communities for Children & Youth”

The Ellsworth Area Communities for Children invites you to join our next quarterly meeting to learn about programs and services provided by “The Next Step” domestic violence project from Tara Young, with a special emphasis on services for children & youth. This meeting will be held at 4:30pm on September 1st, 2004, at the Downeast Family YMCA, Outer State Street, Ellsworth. All community members are welcome to participate in this meeting.

The Next Step domestic violence project services families through Hancock and Washington Counties. They provide educational programs in the schools to raise awareness about domestic violence, dating violence and the characteristics of healthy relationships. They also provide information about community resources available to youth and their families.

The Zero to Three Coalition has completed their brochure about two free presentations available; “Rethinking the Brain”, a presentation and discussion on early childhood brain development, and “The First Years Last Forever” video presentation and discussion. Copies will be available for distribution and the community is encouraged to request either free presentation.

The Ellsworth Area Communities for Children & Youth locally represents a statewide approach to solving the problems that children face in Maine by bringing together local community leadership and young people to increase the social assets available to improve educational attainment and achievement. Members of all Communities for Children seek to maintain the 5 promises of America’s Promise: 1) An ongoing relationship with a caring adult, 2) safe place, 3) healthy start, 4) marketable skills, and 5) opportunities to give back through community service through programs and local initiatives. For additional information on this Maine initiative, log on to www.state.me.us/cfc or our local Ellsworth Area Communities for Children website at www.downeasthealth.org.

Please confirm your attendance, and if you desire additional information concerning this meeting, please call Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext 261, or email children@downeasthealth.org .