NEW RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS & TEACHERS |
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It is estimated that 1 in 5 youth in America are affected by substance use. Data from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey places the rate in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties at 1 in 3. As a new school year begins, the Penquis SAY (Substance Affected Youth) program is ready with new dynamic programming to support students who have witnessed substance misuse or who are at risk of substance misuse themselves.
Botvin e-LST is a 15-session program focusing on helping students make better decisions. It is available to any 7th-grade class in Penobscot or Piscataquis County. Each 30-minute in-person session is preceded by 30-minutes of student prep time in a web-based workbook. Botvin e-LST has proven to reduce the use of alcohol, drug, violence, tobacco, and vapor.
SAY student groups are currently offered in several area schools and the program has the capacity for three more groups! SAY utilizes the Children’s Programming Kit created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to increase resiliency among youth and incorporates the NaraTeen model for affected others when the participating youth request more robust supports.
A variety of lesson plans are available discussing common substance use prevention and mental health topics. Age-appropriate material is available covering such topics as the impact of substance use on the brain, risk of substance use disorder, stigma of mental health, post-traumatic growth, and vaping risks.
Additional training is available for staff and parents who are considering how to best help the youth in their community or schools. For more information or to be added to the SAY newsletter email list, contact Mike Gray at cmgray@penquis.org.
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INCREASING ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION |
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Transportation is important in a rural state like Maine but there are challenges to meeting the significant transit needs in our communities. Penquis Transportation is building its capacity to help ensure people can get where they need to go. The recent purchase of two new vehicles doubles the sedan fleet and helps to better meet transportation needs when other community transportation options in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties are unavailable.
The sedans complement the fleet of Penquis agency vans and, together with the corps of volunteer drivers, bus pass/ticket distribution, and family and friend reimbursement option, support 10 million miles of travel annually.
For information about available transportation, call 1-855-437-5883 for MaineCare-covered transportation and 1-866-853-5969 for all other transportation.
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SUPPORTING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
IN NORTHERN PENOBSCOT COUNTY
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Penquis Child Development is pleased to announce the opening of the pre-K classroom at Opal Myrick School in East Millinocket. Penquis and the school have been partners for many years, offering a pre-K classroom at the Katahdin Higher Education Center. Moving the classroom to this beautiful space enables children to become familiar with the school where they will attend Kindergarten and allows for in-person partnering with the pre-K and Kindergarten staff. The space created at the Katahdin Higher Education Center as a result of the move is now being used for a 3-4-year-old program as well as for a 6-hour Early Head Start program providing services to children 18 months to 3 years.
For information about Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care services and locations, visit HERE or contact Kelley Graffam at kgraffam@penquis.org or 207-973-3567 or 1-800-215-4942.
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IT'S NATIONAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MONTH |
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Meet Roberta Teeto, NMLS# 1780580, Loan Officer for Penquis subsidiary MaineStream Finance. Roberta processes loan applications for home purchase and mortgage refinancing loans, helping homeowners and new homebuyers secure a loan that meets their budget and goals.
"I will definitely highly recommend you to any of my friends and family that will be getting into the process of financing a home of their own. You have been so wonderful and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all your time, hard work, help, and patience that you have given to us from the start!! You're amazing!"
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If you know someone who doesn't qualify for a bank loan, MaineStream Finance may be able to help. For more information, start HERE.
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IT'S INTERGENERATION MONTH |
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If you know someone who would be a perfect Classroom Grammie or Grampy, please have them call 1-800-215-4942 to learn about the Penquis Foster Grandparent Program. Foster Grandparent volunteers are tutors and mentors in schools, Head Start and child care centers. In the words of a retired Foster Grandparent, "Anyone who does this will have one of the most rewarding experiences of their life! The love you give out is returned a hundred times! I had the privilege to do this for fourteen years… not one second of regret!" Penquis operates the Foster Grandparent Program in 14 counties. Learn more HERE.
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COVID-19 RESOURCES IN MAINE |
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For resources and information on the State of Maine COVID-19 response, including vaccine distribution, visit coronavirus.maine.gov. For general information about COVID-19: Call 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or email info@211maine.org. Maine is committed to an accessible, flexible, and equitable vaccination effort.
Get Your Free Test Now
To order Free Rapid at-home COVID-19 kits and learn more about testing in Maine including a list of locations providing FREE testing to the public visit the COVID-19 Testing page. .
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Another year, another 1,200 children served through We’ve Got Your Back! This annual backpack and school supply drive is coordinated by Penquis in partnership with BlueBerry Broadcasting and sponsor Katahdin Trust. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of backpacks and school supply items were donated to give children a great start to the school year and alleviate some of the financial burden facing families.
Students need our support more than ever, and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who contributed. Thank you to all who helped to provide students with supplies as well as the confidence needed to succeed in school.
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Thanks to a large donation of household goods, Penquis was able to distribute box fans, toilet paper, sponges, and garbage bags to families. Many of the items were distributed during the We've Got Your Back backpack distribution event, offering a nice surprise for parents during a financially stressful time of year. The items were provided by our friends at Maine Needs through a grant from Home Depot. |
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An impressive 500 pairs of high-quality leather shoes were donated by H.H. Brown. Many were distributed during the We've Got Your Back drive, much to the delight of families. Thank you, H.H. Brown, for sharing this amazing footwear! |
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Penquis was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from United Midcoast Charities to support early care and education at the Penquis Child Development Center in Rockland. Providing children access to educational, social, emotional, medical, and nutritional services is an investment in their futures and enhances the well-being of the entire community! |
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The Penquis Children's Advocacy Center was pleased to receive a donation of 30 blankets from Project Linus. These beautiful homemade blankets will be given to children ages 4 to 18 who are survivors of sexual abuse. Thank you, Project Linus! |
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COMMUNITY ACTION AND YOU! |
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Join us on social media and keep up with Penquis news as it happens! |
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Penquis | 1-800-215-4942 | 262 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401 | www.penquis.org
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