November 2025

November reminds us to pause, look around, and give thanks - for the people we work beside, the partnerships that make our communities stronger, and the shared belief that workplaces can be places of hope, healing, and connection.

This month, we’re celebrating the power of gratitude in action, highlighting local partners who bring heart to their work, sharing opportunities to connect, and offering simple ways to support your team through the holiday season.

In the heart of Trescott, Cobscook Institute continues to model what it means to blend learning, work, and community. 

This November, we’re especially thankful for places like Cobscook Institute - where learning and belonging come together.

As a Recovery Friendly Workplace, Cobscook Institute embodies what it means to create space for growth, connection, and purpose. Their programs in sustainable agriculture, trades, health, and leadership help people build skills and confidence, but, even more than that, they help people find community.

Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and local employers, Cobscook makes sure that education in Washington County isn’t just about the classroom; it’s about the whole person.

Thank you to the Cobscook team for showing that when we invest in people, we strengthen the entire community - and for leading with heart and helping build a region where recovery, wellness, and opportunity are part of everyday life.

As we step into a season of gratitude, we’re especially thankful for partners like Healthy Acadia, whose work touches nearly every corner of our communities - and every part of what it means to support a healthy, resilient workforce.

Healthy Acadia leads with heart. Their team shows up for individuals, families, and workplaces through programs that strengthen wellbeing and connection across Washington County. From recovery coaching and prevention education to youth leadership, food security initiatives, and community wellness programs, they help ensure people have what they need to thrive at home and at work.

For Recovery Friendly Workplaces, Healthy Acadia is an invaluable partner, offering supports that reduce stigma, build understanding, and remind employees that support is close by.

Their collaborative approach reflects a simple truth: recovery and wellness happen in community.

We’re grateful for Healthy Acadia’s commitment to building a stronger, healthier Downeast Maine, and for walking alongside employers as we work to create workplaces where people feel supported, valued, and connected.

The holidays can be wonderful, and they can also be overwhelming. Between family obligations, financial pressures, shifting schedules, and shorter days, many employees feel stretched thin this time of year. Workplaces can make a meaningful difference with a few thoughtful practices:

Offer flexible scheduling when you can.

Flexibility is one of the most powerful supports a workplace can offer. Even small adjustments — a shifted start time, space for a school event, or a remote option when possible — can ease stress and help employees stay balanced.

Set clear expectations and avoid overload.

Holiday weeks come with moving pieces. Clear communication around deadlines, coverage, and priorities helps everyone feel more grounded and in control.

Encourage breaks and healthy boundaries.

This season is busy for everyone. Normalize stepping away, resting when needed, and using earned time off without guilt.

Check in with your team.

A simple, genuine “How are you doing?” can open the door for someone who may be carrying more than they’re saying out loud.

Celebrate with inclusion in mind.

Not everyone celebrates the same holidays — and some don’t celebrate at all. Offering optional, low-pressure ways to connect helps everyone feel welcome.

Q & A Corner

Your Recovery Friendly Workplace Questions Answered

Q: How Can Workplaces Access and Use the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)?

A: As we enter a season centered on gratitude, it’s a good reminder that simple supports can make a meaningful difference — both for employees and for the workplaces they help shape.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) offers employers a federal tax credit for hiring individuals who face barriers to employment, including people in recovery, veterans, and others who deserve the chance to rebuild and thrive.

WOTC is straightforward, and even small workplaces can benefit. It’s one more way to open doors, strengthen your team, and get rewarded for doing what Washington County employers do best: believing in people.

Have a question you'd like us to feature next?

Email Dodie at demerson@sunrisecounty.org or send it to info@recoveryfriendlydowneast.org

This month, we’re grateful for every workplace, partner, and person helping to make Washington County a place where wellness and recovery are part of the culture, not just the conversation.

As we gather for Thanksgiving and move toward winter, may we carry gratitude into our work — for the people beside us, the progress we’ve made, and the hope that keeps us moving forward together.