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Happy New Year!

ACAP Houlton Center, Region 2 School of Applied Technology Partnership Program

and RSU 50 Partnership Program Team

Caribou Early Care and Education Center Team

Administration, Finance and Prevention Teams

Presque Isle Customer Service Center Team

St. John Valley Team

Gouldville Early Care and Education and SAD 1 Partnership Program Team

Throughout the month of December, ACAP team gatherings were held at Agency locations across Aroostook County. In addition to extending appreciation to all gathered in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Kent, employees reaching milestone years of service were recognized and presented with a gift on behalf of the Agency for their commitment and dedication to the work of ACAP County-wide. The photos above feature team members attending each gathering. The photos below feature honorees recognized for milestone years of service at each location.

Milestone employee honorees at ACAP's Gouldville Early Care and Education Center (front row) Elena Cyr (five years), Hope Ladd (five years), (center) Wendy Deeves (ten years), (back row) Lorena Witham (twenty years), Christine Condon (thirty years), and Grace Yu (fifteen years).

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Houlton Center Lisa Bates (five consecutive/thirty cumulative years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent.

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Houlton Center/RSU 50 Partnership Classroom Kimberly Dignan (five years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent.

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Administrative/Prevention Team Recognition Event Jamie Chandler (ten years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent.

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Houlton Center Julie Duff (ten years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent.

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Presque Isle Customer Service Center Raymond Saucier (ten years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent.

Milestone employee honoree at ACAP's Presque Isle Customer Service Center Holiday Gathering Kelly Edgecomb (fifteen years) with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent and ACAP Board Chair Trudy Gorneault.

ACAP's longest-serving Team Member, 45- year milestone employee honoree Pat Good, at ACAP's Presque Isle Customer Service Center Holiday Gathering with Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent and ACAP Board Chair Trudy Gorneault.

Programs for youth, offered by ACAP in partnership with local public schools, were the recent feature interview topic on the regular WAGM-TV Intervention Aroostook segment. The interview, which can be viewed on WAGM-TV's website by clicking on the image above, featured ACAP Program Coordinator Theresa Dow and two SAD 27 school officials discussing opportunities they are introducing into the Fort Kent area school, and others across The County, for local youth.

Christmas came early to Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton. Renee Bragdon, Community Educator with Aroostook County Action Program presented the organization with a $500 grant award to support outdoor, hands-on programming.

Funding for the grant was made possible through ACAP's work as the coordinator of Maine Prevention Network initiatives in Aroostook County. The Maine Prevention Network is a collaboration between the Maine CDC Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program, Maine CDC Chronic Disease Programs (Obesity Prevention), and Public Health District-level community partners. ACAP, and other contracted providers across Maine, with guidance from the Maine CDC, work to implement evidence-based prevention programming for Substance Use, Tobacco, Obesity, and Youth Engagement and Empowerment.

Although the calendar may have turned to 2024, it's not too late to enroll for health insurance coverage for the New Year through CoverME.gov. On the early January 2024 edition of ACAP Today, CEO Jason Parent connects with ACAP Program Coordinator Karen Milton, who is assisting individuals County-wide as a navigator for consumers to get connected with affordable health insurance coverage as the 2024 open enrollment period is fast coming to an end on January 16, 2024.

ACAP continues to offer navigation assistance for individuals looking for health insurance through Maine's open marketplace. CoverME.gov is Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace and the only place to get the financial assistance to make insurance and care more affordable. Open enrollment continues through January 16, but Navigation Assistance through ACAP extends year-round for individuals with qualifying events - such as loss of employment and other circumstances. Free local help is available! For navigation assistance, contact us at 207-764-3721 or info@acap-me.org. To learn more about the insurance plans and prices for 2024 visit: coverme.gov.

Openings are available at ACAP Head Start locations around the County. Head Start provides full day comprehensive developmental programing for 3 and 4-year-olds, with transportation being provided at most locations! FMI or to fill out an online application, visit: https://acap-me.org/programs/earlycareeducation/

ACAP offers a hoMEworks approved 8-hour homebuyer education class taught by industry professionals (lenders, home inspectors, real estate agents) in an educational, non-sales oriented environment. The course offering is open to the public, registration is required.

2024 Class Schedule:

• Monday, January 22 (Zoom)
• Saturday, February 17 (in-person)
• Saturday, March 23 (Zoom)
• Saturday, April 20 (Zoom)
• Saturday, May 18 (in-person)
• Saturday, June 22 (Zoom)

For more information about or to register for the next available Homebuyer Education class, contact ACAP registration 207-554-4175 or homebuyeredu@acap-me.org. 

Supporting and growing the Aroostook County economy and workforce is dependent on many factors, but the three most often noted are childcare, housing and transportation – specifically the lack thereof as it relates to each of these.

Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) and Aroostook Partnership (AP) are collaborating to gather information on all current and upcoming initiatives happening County-wide by organizations (public, private, non-profit) and individuals who are working on projects, convening discussions, working collaboratively, or otherwise engaging in activity to enhance or better the current state in one or more of the three sectors.

This is not a community needs assessment (a comprehensive community assessment will be conducted in 2024).  Rather, this is a tool to capture the various initiatives underway or in the planning stages so that we can better assess all that is happening in the region as it relates to these critical areas in need of development and see where additional synergy and collaboration might be possible.

The need for such an assessment was identified at a recent meeting of a Workforce Steering Committee convened by Aroostook Partnership and comprised of the members of the organization's Executive Committee and representatives of some of the region's largest employers and educational institutions.

Any County organizations (public or private, for-profit or non-profit) or individuals engaging in any planning or current activity in childcare, housing and/or transportation is asked to please complete the brief questionnaire by clicking on the button below.

One year ago Versant Power launched Power Match, a charitable matching program that provides help with electricity bills for those who do not qualify for traditional assistance programs. Through the unique partnership with Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), Penquis, and Downeast Community Partners (DCP), nearly $160,000 in electricity bill credits have been provided to customers in need. 

‌To celebrate the one-year Power Match anniversary, Versant will donate $25 for every customer who signs up for paperless billing from November 28 until December 31.  All funds raised from this initiative will be split evenly amongst the individual Power Match funds for the three participating community action programs, providing much needed relief to customers across our service territory. ‌‌

‌If you're a Versant customer, you can sign up for paperless billing by visiting bit.ly/paperless-versant, or clicking on the image above. If you're already signed up for paperless billing, or if you receive your service from Central Maine Power, consider a small donation instead; Versant is matching all donations up to $200,000 to the Power Match fund. 

High-speed internet helps you connect to the things that matter — like work, school, health care, and more. Nearly seven thousand households in Aroostook County have access to internet savings thanks to the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.

Want to see if you’re eligible? Visit GetInternet.gov. 

If you need assistance contact ACAP at 207-764-3721 or help@acap-me.org

As the video featuring images of our service to Aroostook County in 2023 attests, it was a busy and fruitful year of service for the Agency. Through the support of many, we are better able to help to strengthen towns and communities across The County as ACAP has done for over 50 years. Your tax-deductible donation is important to us as it helps provide the service that other programs do not provide for, but that are critically needed by the individuals, children, and families we serve that call Aroostook County home. Consider supporting our work by making your donation today. Click on the button below to give.

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SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK

Members of ACAP's Leadership Team recently took to the roads of Aroostook County to visit with Team Members at all locations for regional appreciation and recognition gatherings. This "snapshot of the week" was taken in the van heading back from the final gathering in the St. John Valley on December 22. Not seen in this photo are Director of Programs Heidi Rackliffe and Megan Barnes who also were in attendance.

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