JANUARY 2005 is:

· National Mentoring Month see www.downeastmentor.org or www.mentoring.org

· Poverty in America Awareness Month see www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/index.htm

· January 24-28, 2005: No Name Calling Week: Schools serving grades 5 through 8 will be asked to take part in a week of educational activities aimed at stopping name calling and creating safer and more affirming schools for all students. Visit www.NoNameCallingWeek.org to register your school, receive educational materials, and find out more about this project.

1.01.05 Pine Tree Camp applications will be available for parents, guardians, special educators or service providers by calling 443-3341 or online at www.pinetreesociety.org. Pine Tree Camp is offering its sixtieth summer season of offering Maine children and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities a traditional summer camp experience, and offers caregivers a 10-day respite, regardless of their ability to pay the $1,400 tuition. A total of 90 camper slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

1.05.05 Machias 9:00-11:00am Maine Parent Federation’s Washington County Family Support meeting will be held at the Machias Career Center, Machias. FMI, call Jackie Stanley at 1-877-963-2588.

1.06.05 Portland 8am-noon “Everything Foster and Adoptive Parents Ever Wanted to Know about Administrative Reviews” (Fair Hearing Process) presented by Child Welfare Training Institute at DHHS, 161 Marginal Way, Portland. All CWTI programs are open to foster and adoptive parents, BCFS staff and staff of agencies contracted to work with children and families. FMI – Jeanine Brown, 1-866-354-0084.

1.08.05: Ellsworth 1:00pm-3:00pm “Boot Camp for New Dads”, will be presented at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital classroom by Parents Are Teachers, Too, a program of Downeast Health Services. All expectant dads are welcome - ew babies don’t show up with an owner’s manual! Learn from experienced dads about: the birth process; holding a baby; what to do when the baby cries; relationship with Mom; changing diapers; breastfeeding, and other concerns that Dads have. Program is led by Christian Koelbl and Paul Markosian (dads of toddlers). To register or if you have questions, please contact Cathy Jacobs at 667-5304 ext. 225 or cjacobs@downeasthealth.org

1.08.05 Portland 9:00am-4:00pm “”Parenting and Temperament” will be presented by Child Welfare Training Institute at DHHS, 161 Marginal Way, Portland. All CWTI programs are open to foster and adoptive parents, BCFS staff and staff of agencies contracted to work with children and families. FMI – Jeanine Brown, 1-866-354-0084 or email jeanine.brown@maine.gov

1.08.05 Statewide – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine will participate in the 2005 Maine Mentoring Partnership Bottle Drive. This event is in partnership with local Rotary Clubs and Shaw’s Supermarkets. In the interim, if you take your returnables over the next month to Shaw’s, you can donate to the event by getting your receipt – but no cash back. Then you can drop off the receipt to BBBS at Downeast Health Services and that money will be donated to the Maine Mentoring Partnership.

1.13.05 Orono 9:00am-1:00pm “Supporting Maine’s Families: Recommendations from Maine’s Relatives as Parents Project”, a workshop focused on educating and mobilizing stakeholders on current and future policy issues facing Maine’s relative parents will be held at the Buchanan Alumni House, University of Maine campus. Lunch & beverages will be provided. Register by January 6th, 2005 at 581-3615 or email: Robert.kitchin@umit.maine.edu

1.15.05 Princeton 9:30am-4:00pm Maine Parent Federation’s Washington County Family Support in collaboration with the Passamaquoddy Sovereign Tribe will have a Winter Family Fun Day at the Indian Township School in Princeton. This will be a multicultural event with Passamaquoddy youth and tribal leaders mentoring families from Washington and Hancock Counties on Passamaquoddy crafts, oral history story telling, pizza party, snow shoeing and cultural activities. FMI, call Jackie Stanley at 1-877-963-2588.

1.18.05 Sullivan (7 Tuesdays) 4:30-6:30pm “STEP – Systematic Training for Effective Parenting” for preschool and school-age families at the Sullivan Head Start Center, Route One in Sullivan. The STEP program offers parents practical alternatives for meeting the challenges of raising children today. Parents will meet in a study group format and develop skills for listening, resolving conflicts and exploring pathways toward better communication. Being an effective parent is both rewarding and challenging. The course is FREE. The Parent’s Handbook is available for $15.00. Please call 667-5304 (ext. 261), Hancock County Children’s Council to register for Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. Refreshments will be provided, and child care may be available – please let us know your needs when you register for the series.

1.18.05: Ellsworth 7:00pm-9:00pm “Boot Camp for New Dads”, will be presented at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital classroom by Parents Are Teachers, Too, a program of Downeast Health Services. All expectant dads are welcome - ew babies don’t show up with an owner’s manual! Learn from experienced dads about: the birth process; holding a baby; what to do when the baby cries; relationship with Mom; changing diapers; breastfeeding, and other concerns that Dads have. Program is led by Christian Koelbl and Paul Markosian (dads of toddlers). To register or if you have questions, please contact Cathy Jacobs at 667-5304 ext. 225 or cjacobs@downeasthealth.org.

1.20.05 Bucksport 9:00-11:00am Maine Parent Federation’s Family Support meeting will be held at the Jewett Elementary School, Bucksport. FMI, call Jackie Stanley at 1-877-963-2588.

1.27.05 Augusta 9:30am-3:00pm “Maximize Your Power Through Advocacy: It’s Easier Than You Think!” at the Maine Principal’s Association. – this training will provide the skills to feel confident talking to decision makers about issues that are important to them. $20 fee, registration by 1/14/05. FMI, call Megan Ride at 621-8118, Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs.

1.27.05 Ellsworth 6:00-8:00pm Ronda Alley, Maine Parent Federation will present a workshop on “No Child Left Behind” to the Committee on Transition and Hancock County Family Support members at Special Children’s Friends, 78 Union Street, Ellsworth. FMI, call Jackie Stanley at 1-877-963-2588.

FEBRUARY is DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Maine Coast Community Dental Clinic, 1 Abbey Lane, Ellsworth, ME 667-0293, is a new program of Downeast Health Services offering dental services to Hancock County residents, accepting MaineCare, private dental insurance and offer services on a sliding fee scale based on income.

· Black History Month - celebrated to commemorate leading events in African-American history – visit the Encyclopedia Britannica at http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/ for more information.

· National Children’s Dental Health Month – visit www.ada.org for more information.

· AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month – visit www.preventblindness.org for more information

· American Heart Month – visit www.americanheart.org for more information

· National Condom Month – visit www.ashastd.org and www.ppsinc.org for more information

· Wise Health Consumer Month – visit www.healthylife.com for more information

· 2/09/05: National Girls and Women in Sports Day – visit www.womenssportfoundation.org FMI.

· February 7-13, 2005: National Child Passenger Safety Week - Visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov FMI

February 7-13, 2005: National Children of Alcoholics Week - Visit www.nacoa.org for more information on the struggles of children living with a parent addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
· February 14-20, 2005: (also observed in November) Random Acts of Kindness Week – visit www.actsofkindness.org for more information.

· February 22-29, 2005: National Eating Disorders Week – visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org FMI

2.03.05 Blue Hill noon-4:30pm Maine Asthma Forum “Where Every Breath Counts” at the Blue Hill Public Library, Howard Room, 5 Parker point Road. No charge – lunch, materials and a snack are included. Registration is required – FMI call Sue-ann Sanford, 622-7566 x232.

2.09.05 Topsham 9:00am-noon ”The Impact of Foster on Children Already in Your Home” will be presented by Child Welfare Training Institute at American Red Cross, 16 Community Way, Topsham. All CWTI programs are open to foster and adoptive parents, BCFS staff and staff of agencies contracted to work with children and families. FMI – Jeanine Brown, 1-866-354-0084 or email jeanine.brown@maine.gov

2.10.05 Augusta 8am-4pm Save the Date: “Home Visitation Conference” at the Augusta Civic Center, co-sponsored by the Maine Children’s Trust and the Dept. of Health & Human Services. Please register by 1/14/05 at www.mechildrenstrust.org or call Laura Woods-Vachon at 626-5028. $35 conference fee.

2.12.05 Bangor 9:00am-4:00pm “”Parenting and Temperament” will be presented by Child Welfare Training Institute at University College Center, 201 Texas Avenue, Bangor. All CWTI programs are open to foster and adoptive parents, BCFS staff and staff of agencies contracted to work with children and families. FMI – Jeanine Brown, 1-866-354-0084 or email jeanine.brown@maine.gov

2.23.05 Bucksport 9:00-11:00am Maine Parent Federation’s Family Support meeting will be held at the Jewett Elementary School, Bucksport. FMI, call Jackie Stanley at 1-877-963-2588.

WEEKLY playgroups Many Groups are FREE of charge

Alternate Mondays 10:00am-noon: Bar Harbor Held at the YWCA, 36 Mount Desert Street, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 233 (Stephanie) for more information. (Jan 3 & 24, Feb 7 & 28, Mar 14 & 28, April 11 & 25, May 9 & 23) *snow days: if school is cancelled, play group will be cancelled.

Alternate Mondays 10:00am-noon: Southwest Harbor Held at St. John’s Church, next to Pemetic School, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 233 (Stephanie) for more information. (Jan 10 & 31, Feb 14, Mar 7 & 21, April 4 & 18, May 9 & 23) *snow days: if school is cancelled, play group will be cancelled.

Tuesdays 10am-noon: Ellsworth Held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 121 Bucksport Road, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too 667-5304 ext. 225 for info.

Tuesdays 10am-11:30am: Stonington Held at the former Stonington Elementary School, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 248 for info.

Wednesdays 10am-11:30am: Blue Hill Held at the Blue Hill Public Library, Parker Point Road, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too 667-5304, ext. 260 for information.

Wednesdays 9am-11am: Prospect Harbor Held at the Prospect Harbor Church, for children birth to five and their parents. Please call Brenda Clough 667-2430 for more information.

Thursdays 10am-11:30am: Bucksport Held at the Miles Lane School, for babies and toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 225 (Cathy Jacobs) for more information.

Thursdays 10-11am: Ellsworth Held at the Downeast Family YMCA, State Street, Ellsworth. Please call 667-3086 for more information.

Fridays 10:30am-noon: Ellsworth Held at Special Children’s Friends, 78 Union Street, for toddlers and parents (brothers & sisters are welcome). Please call 667-2430 for more information.

Fridays 10am -11am: Northeast Harbor Mom/Toddler yoga group at the Neighborhood House, FREE with donations to the Neighborhood House for use of space is appreciated. Call 288-5505 for info.

Alternate Fridays 9:30-11:30am: Franklin/Hancock/Sullivan Held at the Hancock Community Center, US Route One, Hancock, for babies, toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 231 for more information. (January 7 & 21, February 4 & 18, March 4 & 8, 2005)

WEEKLY – FAMILY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Monday through Friday 9am-4pm Statewide Parent Talk-line 1-800-249-5506 Mainely Parents

Monday through Friday 9am-4pm Statewide GEAR 1-800-264-9224

Monday through Friday 9am-4pm Hancock & Washington Counties Maine Parent Federation, 1-877-963-2588, or www.mpf.org, or www.linkmaine.org

Monday through Friday 10:30-11:30am: Ellsworth Open Door Recovery, 8 Old Mill Road, Ellsworth. FREE drop-in support for individuals concerned about substance abuse issues – contact Alicia at 667-3210 FMI.

Monday through Friday 9am-4pm Statewide Kinship Care – Family Connections assists grandparents, aunts and uncles who are stepping in to care for relatives’ children. Family Connections is co-sponsored by Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine and FACT (Families and Children Together) and has several support groups throughout the state. FMI call 941-2347 or 1-800-833-9786.

Mondays 2:00-3:30pm Bar Harbor Mood Disorder Support Group for adults coping with depression and bi-polar disorders. This group is facilitated by trained staff at the Behavioral Health Center, Hancock Street, Bar Harbor. To join, simply let a Behavioral Health Center staff member you are interested in participating or call 288-8604.

Mondays 6:30pm: Ellsworth NAMI Support group for families with children, spouses, and/or siblings with major mental illness, held weekly in the St. Joseph’s Church Rectory basement. Call Susan Noddin at 422-2011 or Kimberley Pietz at 565-3822 for information and registration.

Mondays 7:00pm: Ellsworth Casey Family Services Parent Support Group for families with adopted children. Unitarian-Universalist Church, Bucksport Rd., Ellsworth. Childcare is available and no cost to attend. To arrange for an interview, please call Susan Knowlton at 1-866-662-2739 or Emily Shepard at 973-2491.

Tuesdays 6:00-8:00pm: Ellsworth Survivors’ Support Group for women survivors of sexual assault / incest, offered by Downeast Sexual Assault Services. Call 667-5304 or 1-800-492-5550 FMI.

Tuesday evenings: Ellsworth Family Education and Support meeting for families concerned about substance abuse issues – contact Alicia at 667-3210 for more info and to register. Pre-registration is required.

Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am-4pm: Ellsworth Parent Support / Education with Penquis Family Mediation. Call 973-3586 or 1-888-497-3500 for appointment or drop-in by chance. Hancock County Children’s Council Library in the Downeast Health Services Office, 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605

Wednesdays 3pm-4:30pm: Bar Harbor “Acorns and Oaks” parent-toddler playgroup at the Acadia Waldorf School, 55 Kebo Drive, Bar Harbor. Call 288-9980 to learn more.

Fridays 3:00-4:30pm Bar Harbor Relapse Prevention Group for folks who have been diagnosed as having co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Issues and topics addressed include: identifying triggers; recognizing the progression of relapse; identifying high risk situations; building a positive support system; problem solving; stages of change for motivation, etc. This group is facilitated by trained staff at the Behavioral Health Center, Hancock Street, Bar Harbor. To participate, please call 288-8604.

BI-WEEKLY– FAMILY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Alternate Mondays 10-11:30am: Ellsworth “Signing and Playing with Your Baby” – an informal playgroup for babies, toddlers and their parents. Presented by Parents Are Teachers Too, lead by Holly Kerns, PATT parent. You will meet with other parents who want to learn how to communicate with their babies and young children through sign language. Learn how sign language can help babies and parents communicate, even before the child can speak. Call Holly at 422-8902 or Cathy Jacobs at PATT, 1-800-492-5550 FMI & dates.

Mondays (2nd & 4th) 7pm-8:30pm: Bucksport Parent Support for parents of children with emotional / behavioral special needs. In the event of a holiday, the meeting will be held the following Monday. Meetings are held at the Superintendent’s Office, Elm Street, Bucksport. Call Iris Cohen, 469-3499, for info.

Alternate Fridays 9:30-11:30am: Franklin/Hancock/Sullivan Held at the Hancock Community Center, US Route One, Hancock, for babies, toddlers (under age 3) and parents. Call Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304, ext. 231 for more information. (January 7 & 21, February 4 & 18, March 4 & 8, 2005)

MONTHLY Workshops for Parents who are Divorcing, Separating or Living Apart

Saturdays (2nd): Belfast 8:30am-12:30pm: “Waldo County Kids First” provides a positive way for parents to learn how parents can cooperate to make things easier for their children. Pre-registration is required $45.00/session. Call 338-2200 ext. 109 for info and registration form. Waldo County Kids First, 5 Stephenson Lane, Belfast, ME 04915

Saturdays (2nd): Bangor “For Kids’ Sake” provides a positive way for parents to learn how parents can cooperate to make things easier for their children. Pre-registration is required $45.00/session. Call 942-9329 for info and registration form. For Kids Sake, PO Box 6252, Bangor, ME 04402-6252

Saturdays (3rd): Bangor or Ellsworth “For Kids’ Sake” provides a positive way for parents to learn how parents can cooperate to make things easier for their children. Pre-registration is required $45.00/session. Call 942-9329 for info and registration form. For Kids Sake, PO Box 6252, Bangor, ME 04402-6252

MONTHLY– Family Support Opportunities

Tuesdays

(2nd Tuesday of month) 5-7pm: Bar Harbor Child Safety Seat Fitting Station at the Bar Harbor Police Department, Firefly Lane. For more information, call Rick @ 288-3391.

(3rd Tuesday of month) 9am-1pm: Ellsworth Child Safety Seat Fitting Station at Town Auto Sales, High Street, Ellsworth (go to the large green building in the back). Call Patti @ 288-3391 for more info.

Wednesdays

(2nd Wednesday of month) 9:30-11:00am: Ellsworth Foster and Adoption Informational Meetings held at the Department of Human Services, 17 Eastward Lane, Ellsworth. Call 667-1600 to learn more about the business of becoming / being a foster parent.

(2nd Wednesday of month) 6:00pm: Bar Harbor “Working Mama’s Breastfeeding Support Meeting”, Crooked Road, Bar Harbor, 288-5505 FMI.

(3rd Wednesday of month) 6:30pm: Ellsworth Brain Injury Support Group held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Beechland Road, Ellsworth, ME. For more information, contact Dodie Sullivan at 667-8680 or email: dodie@midmaine.com.

(4th Wednesday of month) 1:30pm: Ellsworth Downeast La Leche League, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Parish Hall, Ellsworth, 667-7245 FMI.

(4th Wednesday of month) 1:30-2:30pm: Ellsworth Downeast La Leche League meetings at St. Joseph’s. Contact Carlene Parsons at 667-7245 or Pam Gagnon at 288-5505 for more information.

(4th Wednesday of month) 6pm: Ellsworth Maine Parent Federation monthly regional support meeting at Special Children’s Friends, 78 Union Street, Ellsworth. FMI, contact Jackie Stanley, 1-877-963-2588.

Thursdays

(3rd Thursday) 10-11am “Baby Talk” with Cathy Jacobs, Parents Are Teacher Too on WERU-FM, 89.9.

Saturdays

(first Saturday of month) 10am-noon: Ellsworth DAD’s Group at Downeast Health Services, 52 Christian Ridge Rd., Ellsworth. FMI, please call Cathy at Parents Are Teachers, Too at 667-5304 or 1-800-492-5550.

F R E E Support Groups and Resources available on-line:

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Online Support Groups offers you the opportunity to give and receive support without leaving your home. They offer online groups for people with depression or bipolar disorder, and separate groups for friends / family members. Online support group meetings meet weekly and follow the general format of face-to-face support groups. www.dbsalliance.org/info/onlinesupport.htm Online Support Groups take place at the following times: General Support Groups for Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Mondays 10:30am (Central Time); and Dual Diagnosis Support Groups, Thursdays 7:00pm (Central Time).

Teen Central located at www.teencentral.net connects you to other teens from around the country and throughout the world, and to a wealth of problem-solving resources just for you. Being a teen isn’t easy. Each day you face choices related to school, parents, dating, and fitting in. Growing up can often be complicated by drugs, violence in schools, relationships, divorce, abuse, and personal loneliness. TeenCentral.Net is a unique website developed by KidsPeace. To learn more about KidsPeace, visit www.kidspeace.org.

Ongoing Opportunities:

Child Welfare Training Institute Correspondence Course Offerings include the following topics for Foster Parents, Adoptive Parents and Other (specify):

Common Sense Parenting of Toddlers and Preschoolers

Choices and Consequences: What to Do When a Teenager Uses Alcohol / Drugs

Teaching Social Skills to Youth Healthy Teens

Conquering Childhood Asthma Autism and the New Law

Grounded for Life?! The Teenage Brain

Learning Disabilities and Self-Esteem Dangerous Kids

Contact Cindy Languet-Stinson, CWTI, 295 Water Street, Augusta, Maine, 04330, or call 1-866-354-0084 ext. 5225, or email Cindy.Languet-Stinson@maine.gov FMI and to register.

The Maine Prevention Calendar www.mainepreventioncalendar.org represents the coordinated efforts of Maine prevention and health promotion programs. The calendar is organized by date and by topic and contains an easy-to-use-summary to allow a quick search.

Parenting Wisely is a highly interactive, multimedia program which includes 9 case studies. Each case opens with a video of a common family problem. The problem is followed by three possible responses, both positive and negative. Parents choose a response, see a video of how their choice would work, and get feedback on the pluses and minuses of their choice. After choosing the best response, parents answer questions about the ideas and skills presented in the case. Parents usually spend 2-3 hours working through the 9 cases. To schedule a self-study session, contact the Hancock County Children’s Council at 667-5304 ext. 261.

Ellsworth Adult Education FMI, call 667-6499 or visit their website at http://w5.downeast.net/eaehttp://w5.downeast.net/eae

Mt. Desert Island Adult Education: FMI, call 288-4703

H.O.M.E. Adult Basic Education: FMI, call 469-7961 or 469-2026

Sumner Adult Education: FMI, call 422-9100 or visit their website at www.sumneradulted.net.

Hancock County Higher Education Center, Call 1-800-696-2540 or visit www.maine.edu/ellsworth.

University of Maine System on-site, online and ITV course listings. FMI, call 1-877-868-7000 or visit their website at www.learn.maine.edu. University of Maine at Augusta. FMI, call 1-877-UMA-1234 or visit their website at www.uma.maine.edu. University of Southern Maine on-site, online and ITV course listings. FMI, call 1-800-787-0468 or visit their website at www.usm.maine.edu/cce.

Girls Online E-Mentoring Program for science and engineering that focuses on girls in middle school and high school. You can access information on this site at www.uic.edu/orgs/gem-set/index.htm.

F R E E Courses and Resources available on-line:

www.maineparents.net provides an online Maine Parents kit of resources for parents and community partners to help reduce underage alcohol us and keep teens safe.

www.mainelykids.com – subscribe to free online bi-monthly magazine for Maine Families.

On-line Training for Foster Parents: www.adoptionlearningpartners.org offers 4 courses free of charge, although there is a $25 fee to users who require a Certificate of Completion for training purposes. The www.fosterclub.com/grownups Foster Club Training Library offers on-line training for free. Registered users will be able to keep track of CEUs earned and will receive a downloadable certificate for each course that is completed, and may print a transcript of all courses taken. There are 11 courses, ranging from 1-3 credit hours. www.fosterparents.com offers 55 on-line courses, ranging from 1-5 credit hours. Course fees range from $4 to $6, payable by credit or debit card through a secured server.

F R E E Courses and Resources available on-line:

Maine Parent Federation now offers two online trainings: “Taking the Mystery Out of Serving on Boards and Committees” and “The No Child Left Behind Act from A to Z: What Parents Need to Know”. To access the trainings, go to www.linkmaine.org.

“The Center for Parent Education” located at www.umext.maine.edu/parentcenter, is designed for parents, for all adults who care for or work with children, and for parenting educators.

www.ksu.edu/wwparent/courses/fireworks/index.htm: “FireWorks” Anger Management in Adult-Child Relationships is an online non-credit course that examines anger management with a special emphasis on adult-child relationships.

www.ksu.edu/wwparent/courses/rd/index.htm: “Responsive Discipline: Effective Tools for Parents” is an informal personal study course that provides tools for guiding and nurturing children from early childhood through adolescence.

Check out the following websites for information on child development and parenting topics!

www.downeasthealth.org * www.mainefamilies.org * www.parentingresources.ncjrs.org

Hancock County Children’s Council, 1-800-492-5550 ext. 261, email: children@downeasthealth.org