September 2022

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

September is National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.” For more information, visit SAMHSA’s website.

Rotary Recovery Conference

Join the Rotary Recovery Initiative Committee for their "Building Recovery Ready Communities" Conference on September 8th at Regatta Banquet and Conference Center. Keynote speakers include: Kennebunk Police Department's Chief MacKenzie, MaineWorks' founder Margo Walsh, and Kennebunk Savings' CEO Bradford Paige.

Scan the QR code to register! Contact Chief Robert MacKenzie at rmackenzie@kennebunkmaine.us or at 207-604-1339 for more information.

Understanding the Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

CHCC's Project Alliance and Kennebunkport Public Health have partnered to bring education, awareness, and support to families, friends, and caring community members about substance use disorders monthly, on the second Thursday of each month at the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library in Kennebunkport. On September 8th at 4:00 pm, we have a special guest: Sharon Trace.

Please join us for a conversation focusing on the connection between ACES and substance misuse and incorporating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCES). Free naloxone and naloxone training are available to anyone interested. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Contact Alissa Wigglesworth for more information: awigglesworth@une.edu.

Sharon Trace is a Master Trainer of the Pinetree Institute focusing on educating all sectors on the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) to build trauma responsive communities.

Sharon has decades of experience as a public educator, and most recently worked with Biddeford Ready!

3 Towns: 1 Community - C.A.R.E.S.

(Conversation, Advocacy, Resources, Education, Support)

Thursday, September 8th at 4:00 pm

Second Thursday of Each Month

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport

Lead-Poisoning Prevention

Free Services & Inspections in Biddeford

Did you know that Biddeford is one of five High-Risk Areas designated by the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) for having the greatest burden of children with lead poisoning?

The City of Biddeford offers a variety of FREE services, including lead inspections to eligible residents through their Safe & Affordable Homes for Healthy Families Program. Click here or visit chccme.org to learn more!

To view all educational videos on simple ways to prevent lead, visit CHCC’s webpage (linked here). For additional information on lead, visit the Maine CDC webpage (linked here) or the City of Biddeford webpage (linked here).

What is so bad about lead?

Updates from SNAP-Ed

This past month one of our SNAP Educators, Lex, tabled at the Kittery Farmers’ Market. Lex offered market-goers a variety of nutrition education materials, including handouts outlining what months different produce items are in season in Maine, CHOP CHOP magazines for kids, and a BINGO scavenger hunt activity. Kids coming to Lex’s table loved the BINGO sheets and picking out a small prize once they were able to find five in a row!

Over the first week of August, Lex visited Aruba with her family and the Maine SuperNova baseball teams. While Lex was there, she had the opportunity to try a couple of new fruits! First, she tried a prickly pear, picked right from the cactus, which she described as tasting like a mix between a watermelon and a strawberry. Lex also tried a Shimaruku cherry, also called a Barbados cherry or a West Indian cherry. The tour guide that offered this said one of these tiny cherries contains more Vitamin C than an orange!

Prickly Pear

Inside of a Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Growing

Shimaruku Cherry

Inside of a Shimaruku Cherry

Old Orchard Beach Fall Fest

Old Orchard Beach will be holding its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, September 24th from 11am-4pm at Veteran's Memorial Park. Available activities will include face painting, bounce houses, a skate park demo, and more! Come see us at the CHCC table for a free goodie bag! The Rain Date for this event is September 25th.

Spotted in Saco & Old Orchard Beach

A huge thank you to Old Orchard Beach Parks and Recreation Department,

Saco Parks & Recreation Department, and all of the Recreation Departments throughout our communities. You have truly helped to make this summer special for our youth and families!

Project Alliance Meeting Notice

Wednesday, September 21st

9-10am via Zoom https://une.zoom.us/j/94828861088

Guest Speaker: TBD

Project Alliance is a substance misuse prevention coalition. All are welcome to join; please email projectalliance@une.edu.

Click here to learn more about the programs offered through Project Alliance and how to get involved.

Child Protective Services 101:

For Parents, By Parents

2nd Wednesday (September 14th) from 5-7pm

4th Thursday (September 22nd) from 1-3pm

Are you involved with Child Protective Services (CPS)? This free class, provided by The Opportunity Alliance, is for parents at the earliest stages of CPS in Maine. It is 100% voluntary and will provide information, resources, and support to help parents understand the process. The class is facilitated by parents who have experienced CPS first-hand or navigated multiple complex systems. For more information, click on the link below, or register here.

Click here for more information.

Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition

207-602-3551

chcc@une.edu

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