NOVEMBER IS RUNAWAY & HOMELESS YOUTH PREVENTION MONTH
NEW BEGINNINGS E-NEWS
AUTUMN | 2020
HELP US REDUCE COSTS! Moved? Changed jobs? Get the paper newsletter but prefer only the e-news? Please email nicole@newbeginmaine.org to update your contact info.
Hello Friends of New Beginnings:
The days are getting shorter and colder, and there is just so much going on in the world! While all of our lives are getting busier by the day, please don't forget that there are vulnerable youth in all of our communities who continue to face family conflict, hunger, and housing instability. Because of supporters like you, New Beginnings continues to be here for the youth who need our services.

Please enjoy our fall newsletter stories of how New Beginnings has adapted to support youth education in a fully remote world, a new beginning for our website, agency updates, and upcoming campaigns we can't wait for you to join!

Despite everything going on in 2020, we hope you have been enjoying one of Maine's favorite seasons. Thank you for helping homeless youth find opportunities for the safety, connections, and growth that they need to thrive.

Prefer to read your news in the paper newsletter layout?


Find the printable Autumn 2020 Newsletter on our website.
DECEMBER 1, 2020

Make a difference for homeless youth!

Kick off your annual giving at: NEWBEGINMAINE.ORG
SAVE THE DATE:
All November: Look for our street-side banners and Lewiston City Hall Clock lit up green in Lewiston!
• 11/10: Wear Green Day

• 11/12: Online Film Screening 'The Homestretch' followed by virtual Q&A on youth homelessness

• 11/19: Virtual OPEN HOUSE. Join us to "Lunch and Learn" with Board and staff from 12:00p-1:00p

• 12/01-3: Prevention Training: High Risk Adolescent HIV/AIDS Prevention offered online
• 12/10-11: Holiday Drive gift donation drop-offs
• 12/21: L/A Homeless Vigil from 4:00p-5:00p
RSVP to all of our events at: newbeginmaine.org/events

Join us for a virtual film screening of the powerful documentary
The Homestretch 6:30 pm Nov. 12th followed by Q+A at 8 pm
If that day doesn't work for you to watch the film, stream it anytime from November 1st to the 12th and then join us for the Q+A on November 12th.

This award-winning film explores issues of race, juvenile justice, immigration, foster care, and LGBTQ+ rights as it follows three homeless youth in Chicago on their journeys to adulthood. Watch the trailer at homestretchdoc.com

Get the link to stream the film online at: NEWBEGINMAINE.ORG/EVENTS

Special thanks to our event co-sponsors CLARK INSURANCE and KARTEMQUIN FILMS.

YOUTH STORY
Partnering with Youth to Succeed
in the 'New Normal'
When Alice* moved into New Beginnings Transitional Living Program (TLP) in late 2019, she never imagined she would be experiencing a pandemic lockdown less than a year after she was homeless. Alice first stayed at Marian’s Place after her stepfamily would no longer let her live in their home. At age 16, she was accepted to live at the TLP for up to 18 months while she worked on her education, employment, and life skills so she could eventually live on her own.
When Alice moved into the TLP staff- supervised apartments in Lewiston, she was attending high school in a nearby town but had fallen behind while homeless. She was struggling to keep up with school, work a fast-food job, and save the money she needed to be able to eventually move into her own apartment.

With the encouragement of her TLP case manager, Alice began working with New Beginnings’ Youth Educational Support Program (YES) in January 2020. YES offers New Beginnings’ youth individualized services and support to help them stay in school, get their GED/HiSet, graduate, explore careers or college, or reconnect them to education if they’ve dropped out. Staff teach academic skills, but also help youth learn daily goal setting, “soft skills,” and support their interests and talents using positive youth development strategies.
During Alice’s first in-person meetings with YES staff, she received weekly one-on-one tutoring and homework help. Staff helped her check on grades and discussed strategies to improve her academic performance. Alice even chose to participate in science and art activities with YES during her school vacation week. Things were going well until COVID-19 hit Maine.

When Maine schools transitioned to fully remote learning in early April, YES specialists were able to quickly pivot to providing virtual appointments with youth thanks in part to flexible mini grant support from the Onion Foundation and Lewiston Healthy Neighborhoods' COVID-19 funds. Laptops were purchased to allow youth to continue safely meeting with staff virtually without leaving the TLP during the stay at home order.

YES staff reached out to Alice’s school and got a clear understanding of her remote learning expectations, especially with a social studies course where she was struggling. Alice met with YES staff on video nearly every weekday in April and May. Over 30 appointments, staff were able to help Alice successfully keep up to date with her assignments.

Without New Beginnings’ Educational Support, Alice and many other New Beginnings youth would not have been able to stay connected while distance- learning during COVID-19, let alone make progress during the spring semester. In May, Alice was the first student in her social studies course to successfully complete all of her assignments and complete the class!

Alice has since moved out of the TLP to her own apartment and continued to pursue her education. The YES program continues to support youth as they adapt to the “new normal” of hybrid and distance learning through both socially-distanced in person and virtual/online services.

  For more information about New Beginnings’ Educational Support,
contact Program Coordinator Allie Smith at (207) 521-6664 or allie@newbeginmaine.org.
*Name changed for the privacy of the youth
A "new beginning" for our agency website:
Welcome to our new mobile-friendly site!
New Beginnings is excited to announce the November 1 launch of our new and improved website!

The dedicated staff at NB have been working non-stop to ensure better access to the information our youth, donors, supporters, and community members need. Improvements include a fresh modern look, mobile responsiveness, one touch calling, streamlined donation page, and fewer levels for easier navigation. 
40 Years of New Beginnings for youth:
40th Anniversary Project Update:
We are still seeking sponsors for our 40th anniversary print and online storytelling project, rather than for an in-person event. Interested?
Please contact Nicole at nicole@newbeginmaine.org or 207-795-4077 x209
New Beginnings is partnering with National Runaway Safeline (NRS) to raise awareness and “Shine a Light” on the experiences of runaway and homeless youth.

November is our opportunity to highlight the resources available to support youth in crisis throughout Maine and the nation. As part of the campaign, individuals, organizations, and communities across the nation are encouraged to work together to prevent youth homelessness.
Did you know?

  • Over 50% of young people in shelters and on the streets report that their parents told them to leave or knew they were leaving and didn't care.

  • Nationally, 1 in 10 young adults ages 18-25 will experience at least one episode of homelessness each year. Rates in rural areas are similar to those in urban centers.

  • According to estimates by the Urban Institute, nearly 1 in 5 youths under the age of 18 will run away at least once.

  • Approximately 40% of homeless teens identify as LGBTQ+
All November:
Street side New Beginnings banners at Main St. and Mill #5 in Lewiston

Special Thanks to the City of Lewiston for supporting our awareness campaign by lighting up Lewiston City Hall Clock GREEN this November!

Tuesday, November 10:
Wear Green Day is a fun and easy way for you to get involved and raise awareness. Wear green and post your pictures on social media tagged as #NRPM2020 and email your pic to nicole@newbeginmaine.org

Thursday, November 12:
'The Homestretch' Film Watch Party at 6:30pm with Q&A to follow at 8p

Thursday, November 19:
AGENCY NEWS BRIEFS

SHELTER IS NOW ‘MARIAN’S PLACE
In case you missed our summer news – our youth shelter has been renamed in honor of former Director Marian Carney. Learn more at www.newbeginmaine.org/marians-place-dedicated/

COVID-19 RESPONSE
All of our programs are “essential” and have continued to operate during the pandemic. Please find regular updates at www.newbeginmaine.org/covid-19 on our website.

RECENT GRANTS
We are grateful for receiving COVID-19 response support in 2020, including grants from the John T. Gorman, Rocking Moon, Sewall, Onion, and Maine Community Foundations; United Way of Androscoggin County; Hartford Group; Healthy Neighborhoods/LA Metro Chamber; Liberty Mutual; Good Shepherd Food Bank; Harvard Pilgrim; and Hannaford.
Thank you also for programmatic support from Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation for a housing assistance grant, Raymond J. & Mary C. Reisert Foundation for educational support, and the Family + Youth Services Bureau for a federal 3-year Street Outreach grant.

The statewide YAB is recruiting young adults with lived experience of homelessness/systems of care. Contact Bridgette Semler at bridgette@newbeginmaine.org or call/text 207-402-9106.

YHDP UPDATE
Despite setbacks due to COVID-19, Maine’s Youth Homeless Demonstration Program work has continued in fall 2020 with finalizing a statewide Coordinated Community Plan. Requests for Proposals will be announced in Spring 2021. Contact Chris Bicknell at (207)795-4077 or chris@newbeginmaine.org for more information.
Want some of our NEW print materials for your school or agency? Request rack cards, mini youth outreach cards, or flyers/posters by emailing nicole@newbeginmaine.org
Do you know someone who used New Beginnings' services as a youth in the last 40 years? Help spread the word that folks can join our NEW Alumni Facebook group here.
Help make the holidays brighter for homeless youth!
We need your support to give 100 youth each a care package of gifts and needed supplies this holiday season.

For a printable flyer and more info, call (207)795-4077,
email nicole@newbeginmaine.org,
We're Hiring! Full and part-time openings are available now;
make a difference in youths' lives as part of our team.
New Beginnings is funded in part by the State of Maine and US Departments of Health & Human Services, Family & Youth Services Bureau, Housing & Urban Development, and United Way.