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TODAY - NOVEMBER 2, 2021 - IS ELECTION DAY -

PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE...

ACAP is encouraging all eligible individuals to get out and vote today - Tuesday, November 2, 2021 - Election Day. Election related information, based on your home address, including the location of your voting place, the candidates that will appear on your ballot, and your elected officials and how to contact them are available by visiting this link: Visit the Maine Voter Information Look Up Service.

For information about the questions that will be on the ballot: Visit the Upcoming Elections Page.

SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS ANNOUNCES $35 MILLION AWARDED TO MAINE

FOR THE HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM...

Following a bipartisan push by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), the State of Maine has been awarded a total of $35,028,729 through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which provides funding to help low-income households pay their energy bills. 

 “During our long winters, vulnerable Mainers rely on the HEAP program to keep warm during the colder months,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will help ensure that low-income families and seniors do not have to make the impossible choice between paying for heat and paying for food or medicine, especially with the sharp increase in energy prices this year. As we combat the ongoing public health and economic crisis, I am pleased that the Administration has distributed these critical funds appropriated by Congress.”

The federal funding is particularly critical, given that the average cost of home heating is unaffordable for millions of low-income households, costing over $900 per year nationally. Nationwide, an estimated 5.3 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through HEAP in 2020. Last year, Maine was awarded more than $40 million in annual federal HEAP appropriations, which served nearly 33,000 households in Maine. In Aroostook County alone, more than 5,500 households were assisted through ACAP. 

HEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance to pay for gas, electric, and other methods customers use to heat their homes. HEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for HEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Read More...

ACAP Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Team members are regularly meeting virtually with customers to take applications for the 2021-2022 heating season. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt normal operations, customers, for the most part, are given the choice of meeting in person or conducting their intake interview over the phone. The intake appointment option is one of a number of changes to this year's HEAP program. Among the others are an expansion of program income guidelines that will allow more County residents to qualify, and the option for customers to connect with a navigator to help determine possible eligibility for other programs, such as rental assistance. Call 207-768-3053 to schedule a HEAP appointment.

ACAP is once again providing navigation services to community members looking for affordable health care through the state's health insurance marketplace. That was the topic of this week's feature interview on ACAP today where Aroostook County regional Health Care Insurance Marketplace Guide Andrea White and Statewide Lead for the program, Patty Lovell, joined ACAP CEO Jason Parent to speak about the new features with this year's open enrollment period. Enrollment for 2022 Affordable Health Coverage is open now through January 15, 2022. It looks different this year as Mainers will enroll for their health coverage on CoverME.gov. If you are already enrolled in a health insurance plan through HealthCare.gov and have elected to have your coverage automatically renewed, your 2022 information, application, and coverage will automatically convert to CoverME.gov. Community members are now able to use their previous account information from Healthcare.gov to sign in and finish setting up their new account on CoverME.gov. It’s always recommended that community members go through the application each year to update information and review plans.

This year, individuals will have a choice from up to 71 plans on the state-based platform.

Free, unbiased, confidential assistance is available virtually or in person throughout the state of Maine. In Aroostook County, that service is provided through ACAP. If you have any questions regarding your coverage or need assistance with enrolling, please contact Andrea White at [email protected] or 764-3721.

STATE OF MAINE "HAZARD PAYMENTS" NOW AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE WORKERS...

Maine Revenue Services will issue Disaster Relief Payments of up to $300 to eligible Maine workers from early November 2021 through December 31, 2021. The payment amount will be approximately $275. The Maine Disaster Relief Program was designed by the Legislature and Governor Mills to support Maine people who worked amid the pandemic.

Single tax filers earning less than $75,000, head-of-households earning less than $112,500, and married or joint-filers earning less than $150,000 who filed a 2020 tax return, are eligible to receive the one-time payment.

All payments will be paper checks. They will be automatically mailed to the address Maine Revenue Services has on file, beginning November 1. It could take five to six weeks to get payment out to everyone who qualifies

Read More...

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR FAMILIES TO RECEIVE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT..

Families have until November 15th to sign up to receive the advanced Child Tax Credit. The benefit was designed to put cash in the pocket of families every month for the things they need, even if they make little or no money.

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law on March 11, 2021, increased the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to provide up to $300 per month per child under age 6, and up to $250 per month per child ages 6 to 17.

Households received payments of up to $300 per child every month starting in July 2021 through December 2021. Individuals will need to file a tax return in 2022 to receive the rest of the payment.

Households may be eligible for the new Child Tax Credit this year and not realize it. Did you get your payments from the IRS to help with the cost of raising kids? Don’t miss out! You could receive up to$3,600 per child.

Visit GetCTC.org to find out more about how to get your credit. .

ACAP AND WAGM-TV PREMIERE THE FIRST SPOT IN A NEW EDUCATIONAL SERIES

TO DRAW ATTENTION TO CHALLENGES CAUSED BY TOBACCO USE...

The first in a series of four of educational promotions produced by ACAP's Prevention Team and WAGM-TV was recently released on multiple platforms, including social media and WAGM. The new series, developed in partnership with Maine Prevention Services of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, can be viewed by clicking on the image above.

The series focuses on the challenges faced, especially by employers, related to tobacco use in the workplace. This series of recorded messages, like a number of others in recent months, features the acting talents of members of the Presque Isle Community Players. ACAP's Prevention Team works County-wide with organizations and municipalities to develop comprehensive tobacco use policies. For more information about implementing or updating a smoke-free workplace policy. contact the Agency at [email protected] or 207-764-3721. Maine Quitlink website: https://mainequitlink.com/

COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS ENCOURAGED TO PLEDGE TO MAKE INSIDE OF THEIR HOMES SMOKE-FREE AS PART OF THE NOVEMBER 18 "GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE-OUT"...

The great American Smoke-Out is right around the corner.

The event started as a way to encourage millions to quit smoking for just one day, and led to a dramatic change in the public view of cigarette use and advertisement.

ACAP is inviting the community to the Agency's Prevention Team on November 18^th for the Great American Smoke-Out by pledging to make the inside of your home smoke free (Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes, and Marijuana).

Give your family a fighting chance against the negative effects of second and thirdhand smoke.

All who take the pledge to make the inside of their home smoke free will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gas card.

To take the pledge, click on the button below.

Drug Free Aroostook, a Coalition of ACAP, has created Marijuana Edibles Lock Boxes with plans to distribute the boxes to community members and local businesses. The boxes are free of charge and are available by contacting Robin Thurston at [email protected] or 207-764-3721.

SUCCESSFUL SOBER OCTOBER 2021 COMES TO AN END...

As Sober October comes to an end, Team ACAP wants to thank those who took the pledge and joined in the many events held countywide. Sober October is a time to reflect on alcohol use and its impact on your health, wallet and family.

“I was looking for an accountability group for Sober October and found a post on FB that lead me to your group. I really enjoyed the mocktails you recommended.”-Jessica Amezquita from Nevada

Pictured here: Community Educator Robin Thurston, and Power of Prevention Coordinator Kim Parent sharing mocktails at The Caribou Recreation Program's Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 29.

A 90-minute informational session on ACAP programs and services will be held on Wednesday, November 3 from 1 to 2:30.

Among the support services to be shared during the informational session include:

• Heating Assistance
• Rent and Utility Assistance – including help avoiding eviction
• Food Assistance for Families
• Available Childcare Services and Assistance for Families to Afford Childcare
• Navigation and Coaching Services for Families in Need of Multiple Programs
• Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
• Programs to Assist Connecting Individuals with Employment
• Assistance Connecting Community Members with Affordable Health Insurance
• 2021 Tax Filing Assistance
• Home Weatherization and Repair Assistance
• And other available programs over the coming months…

Interested community members are invited to join in this final informational session on November 3rd to learn about the many services and assistance programs available to individuals and families across Aroostook County. To register to participate, click on the register link below.

ACAP SHARES DIGITAL VERSION OF THE 2022 DIRECTORY OF SERVICES...

ACAP is excited to share our 2022 Directory of Services! The electronic version is now available on our website and paper copies will be available throughout the Aroostook County community in the coming weeks. Click on the image on the right to view the full electronic directory which features a number of new programs ACAP is offering as a result of new funding and expansion opportunities, including programs to support community members through the Pandemic.

The Directory of Services is the first publication to feature the new ACAP 50th Anniversary Logo to mark 2022 as the year, five decades ago, when the St. John Valley Action Council merged with the Central Aroostook Action Program to form Aroostook County Action Program.

To request printed copies e-mail [email protected].

CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF LET'S GO REGISTERED SITES...

Early Care and Education programs (ECE) in Aroostook County and beyond play an important role in helping children develop healthy habits to last a lifetime. Let’s Go! works with ECE programs across Maine, and especially here in The County to increase healthy eating and physical activity.

“We do this by helping providers create environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice,” says local coordinator, Renee Bragdon. 

This year the program will offer physical activity equipment, such as crawl tunnels shown here, as a celebration of success for currently registered sites who have continued to use the Let’s Go! evidence-based Strategies for Success, communicated the message with families, participated in the annual survey and effectively implemented policies to help sustain 5-2-1-0 healthy habits.

Click below to:

Check out Renee and the Easton Recreation Department moving and grooving!

COMMUNITY CUPBOARD HELPS TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY 24/7...

The ACAP Community Cupboard at 771 Main Street is available to anyone in need 24/7, no questions asked. This cupboard is stocked with non-perishable food items like pasta, canned fruits and veggies, rice, beans and cereal. On average, $500 a month is used to maintain this valuable resource.

If you would like to support this project, monetary and food item donations are accepted. If your organization or business would like to sponsor the Community Cupboard, contact Sherry Locke at 207-554-4130 or [email protected].

Additional Cash Value Benefits (CVB) is being offered to WIC families through December 2021. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have children under the age of 5, contact our team to register for WIC services. We can be reached at [email protected] or 207-764-3721.

ACAP's Community Closet, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, outside the entrance of the Agency's 771 Main Street Presque Isle facility has a limited supply and is looking for new and gently used clean coats for community members in need. As we head into the colder months, the Community Closet is the go-to place for numerous community members looking for appropriate winter clothing. Thanks to the generosity of community members and partner organizations, a supply of winter gear, especially for children, is available for us to start the season. The current full inventory of winter coats is being stored inside the building at 771 Main Street and is accessible Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To ensure coats are available for those in need through the coming weeks, a limited supply is left in the outdoor Community Closet overnight. Donations can be delivered inside the ACAP location near Walmart on weekdays when the office is open or can be left in the Community Closet outside at any time day or night. Currently the closet is low on children's clothing.

All individuals aged 12 and older are eligible for a free COVID-19 Vaccination. You may hear directly from your health care provider about getting a vaccine, or you may contact the locations below for an appointment. If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccination, you may be eligible for a booster shot. The U.S. CDC recommends that some individuals who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine get a booster dose. This includes those who are 65 years and older, residents in long-term care facilities, and people ages 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions. Individuals ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, and those ages 18-64 at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission, may also receive a booster. The U.S. CDC recommends any individual 18 years of age or older who received the J&J vaccine two months or more ago receive a booster dose. For more information, see this FAQ. To find a booster dose, find a vaccination site or call the Community Vaccination Line at 1-888-445-4111.

Also available is the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline. This helpline provides community members unable to access on-line registration sites to locate the vaccination site closest to where they live. ACAP’s Vaccination Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., and can be reached by calling the Agency’s phone number - 207-764-3721. A team of ACAP administrative support professionals staff the helpline. No information (health or otherwise) will be retained by ACAP unless authorized by the caller to explore eligibility for ACAP programs they may be interested in receiving.

ACAP has instituted the following protocols:

• All outside doors will be locked and equipped with doorbells.
• Anyone entering ACAP buildings must be masked and screened for symptoms. Masks are placed outside the entry for the visitor to mask up prior to entry. Anyone refusing to wear a mask will not be allowed to enter the facility.

If you need masks, contact us at 207-764-3721 or [email protected].

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps pay rent and utility costs for eligible renters affected by COVID-19 and continues to accept new applicants. ACAP, in addition to Maine's state-wide community action agencies, are running this program across Maine.

Aroostook County residents qualify if they:

• Pay rent
• Meet the program's income guidelines
• Have COVID related financial impacts (unemployed, reduced income, increased bills, etc.)
• Have trouble paying rent or utilities

Renters meeting the income guidelines generally quality. To complete an application or learn more about the program specifics, go to mainehousing.org/covidrent or call ACAP at 207-764-3721.

Construction continues on building modifications to ACAP's Gouldville Early Care and Education Center at 44 Park Street in Presque Isle. The renovations will allow ACAP to better serve children currently enrolled in Early Care and Education Programs and provide adequate space to expand services in central Aroostook County.

To keep our ACAP Team Members and community "in the know" about the project, photos of the work in progress are being taken on a regular basis and are available for viewing through the link below in our electronic weekly ACAP Briefing. To view the photo gallery: View Pictures

CONGRATULATIONS TO ACAP'S BENJAMIN MONTIETH ON

RECENTLY BECOMING A QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR...

Danica Welton

Ed Tech II

Houlton Center

Mason Sargent

Weatherization Worker

Tammy Tilley

Ed Tech III

Gouldville Center

Starr Flewelling

Program Associate

Presque Isle

Brynn Wilcox

Community Educator

Breakthrough Youth

Terri Gentle

Ed Tech III

Gouldville Center

Kate Easter

Community Educator

Presque Isle

Kassandra Bouley

Teacher Aide

Fort Kent

Nicole Hopkins

Family Coach

Presque Isle

Interested in joining our team? View Current Openings