MIDCOAST MAINE COMMUNITY ACTION

COMMUNITY SERVICES: THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING COMPLEMENT OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: THE HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP) IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A FIXED AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO MAINE EACH YEAR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. MMCA ADMINISTERS THE HEAP PROGRAM IN SAGADAHOC AND LINCOLN COUNTIES, OFFERING SUPPORT TO QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS. ASSISTANCE MAY INCLUDE HELP PAYING FOR HEATING FUEL, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY FUEL DELIVERIES TO ENSURE HOUSEHOLDS STAY WARM AND SAFE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE ECONOMIC STABILITY PROGRAM CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS INCLUDES ACCESS TO AGENCY-MANAGED FUNDS THAT CAN HELP COVER ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS FUEL AND UTILITY PAYMENTS, SECURITY DEPOSITS, RENT, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SUPPORTSDEPENDING ON THE TOWN OF RESIDENCE. FAMILIES CAN SERVES AS THE STATE OF MAINES DESIGNATED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION COUNCIL FOR THE GREATER BRUNSWICK AREA AND SAGADAHOC COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, PROMOTING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING TO STAFF AT LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN. THIS TRAINING EQUIPS PROFESSIONALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN ACCORDANCE WITH MAINE LAW.IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, FAMILIES CAN OFFERS A VARIETY OF PARENTING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS FOR INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO US BY PARTNER AGENCIES. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING PARENTING SKILLS, BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROMOTING CHILD WELL-BEING. HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAM: THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM OFFERS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING TO ENROLL IN HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE. MMCAS NAVIGATOR HELP CLIENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTIONS AND GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS. WOMEN, INFANTS & CHILDREN (WIC) NUTRITION PROGRAM: THE WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD VOUCHERS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT TO PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN, AS WELL AS INFANTS AND CHILDREN UP TO FIVE YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DURING THE CRITICAL EARLY YEARS OF LIFE.

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES - THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START: MMCA'S HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDE FREE HIGH-QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR INCOME- QUALIFIED FAMILIES. EARLY HEAD START SERVES CHILDREN 6 WEEKS TO 3 YEARS OLD. HEAD START SERVES PRESCHOOLERS 3 TO 5 YEARS OLD. THESE FREE PROGRAMS GIVE PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS THE TIME THEY NEED TO WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL WHILE THEIR CHILD HAS A CHANCE TO LEARN, SOCIALIZE, GET NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS, AND PLAY IN A LICENSED CENTER WITH CARING, QUALIFIED TEACHERS. EACH CENTER HELPS FAMILIES FIND ASSISTANCE IN CHALLENGING TIMES WITH DEDICATED FAMILY ADVOCATES. HOME VISITING IS ALSO PROVIDED TO FAMILIES NOT ENROLLED IN CENTER BASED CARE. WHOLE FAMILIES PROGRAM INCLUDES A FOCUS ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH A FLEXIBLE DEFINITION OF FAMILY. THE MODEL IS STRENGTH-BASED AND FAMILY- FOCUSED AND ENCOURAGES TEAMWORK BETWEEN FAMILY, AGENCY, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IT INCLUDES AN ASSESSMENT FOR MEASURING LEVELS OF RISK AND PROMOTES PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THAT IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE WHOLE FAMILIES MODEL INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST PARTICIPATING FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS THROUGH COORDINATED ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ON-GOING COACHING SUPPORT. CACFP: THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FEEDING PROGRAM (CACFP) IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE STATES TO ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. MMCA USES CACFP FUNDING TO PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS TO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR HEAD START CENTERS.