Category: Family Corner

Family Corner 5/24/17

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Homelessness in Hancock County

Program Topic: Families First Community Center (FFCC)

Key Discussion Points:
a) Young families, especially young women ages 18-23, and young children constitute the greatest increase in homelessness nationally and here in Maine
b) FFCC is working to break th ecucle of homelessness by equipping young families with minor children with the skills they need to gain self-sufficiency
c) They are working to open a transitional home that will house up to six families for between 12-18 months, supporting them to learn essential like skills (cooking, money management, child development, etc.), prepare for life through employment training, etc. with mentors to support them in overcoming barriers and learning new skills.

Guests
Dawn Carter Coffin, President of FFCC Board of Directors
Jamie Willis Hunt, FFCC Board member and lead for their fund development efforts

Family Corner 4/26/17

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Thriving in Place: Quality Life for Seniors

Program Topic: Ensuring Quality of Life for our Seniors

Key Discussion Points:
a) Communities throughout Maine are working together to ensure that Seniors are recognized as valuable members of their communities!
b) Thriving in Place or TIP are working to reduce isolation, expand socialization and connect medical, healthcare and community services to Seniors
c) Many communities in Maine are also implementing Age-Friendly Communities status to welcome Seniors to their communities

Guests:
Meg Callaway, Piscataquis Thriving in Place
Anne Schroth, Thriving in Place Downeast

Family Corner 2/22/17

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Food Insecurity in Maine: Focus on Washington, Hancock Counties

Program Topic: Helping Our Neighbors: Combating Hunger
Key Discussion Points:
a) Food insecurity, or HUNGER, has increased substantially in Maine subsequent to the LePage Administration restrictions to eligibility for SNAP benefits
b) Maine is now 9th in the country; 1st in New England in terms of food insecurity
c)Affects all Mainers – children, youth, families, adults and seniors
d)There are many opportunities in Washington/Hancock County to both volunteer or receive help and assistance
e) Organizations throughout Maine are partnering together to maximize resources (people, time, money) to address food insecurity

Guests
Joe Perkins, Director of Development & Community Services
Emily Herwerden, AmericaCorps VISTA with Healthy Acadia
Marjorie Peronto, Extenstion Educator with University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Family Corner 12/28/16

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: The Safety Net

Program Topic: Supports for people in need/opportunities to make a difference

Key Discussion Points:
a) Washington Hancock Community Action Program provides an array of services to indicate individuals living in poverty in these two counties
b) WHCA is one of 10 Community Action Agencies in Maine
c) Services are focused on families, adults, seniors, veterans and include housing/transportation/food/fuel/access to health care, ADSC and the At Home supports

Guests:
Joe Perkins Director of Development and Community Services
Jennifer Trowbridge, Housing Director
Bob I Harris, Special Projects/HRS director

Family Corner 9/28/16

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Program Topic: Access to high quality health care for all Mainers

Key Discussion Points:
a) federally qualified health centers throughout Maine provide access to a full range of high quality health care – medical, dental and behavioral health services
b) services are àvailable regardless of insurance status or ability to pay
c) Mainers of all ages are served through 20 FQHCs with 70 sites statewide

Guests:
Vanessa Santarelli, CEO Maine Primary Health Care
Carol Carew, CEO Bucksport Regional Center

Family Corner 7/27/16

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Raising Healthy Happy Children

Program Topic: Emotions and Mindfulness

Key Discussion Points:
a) It is important to acknowledge and experience feelings and emotions
b) By doing this, we can help our children and others around us to manage their emotions, becoming more healthy and vibrant in their lives
c) Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose without judgment

Guest: Nancy Hathaway, PhD

Family Corner 6/22/16

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: John Greenman

Issue: Resilient Children, Families and Communities

Program Topic: Resilience Building: Something we all can do!

Key Discussion Points:
a) Resilience is the ability to overcome the challenges of all kinds – trauma, tragedy, personal crisis, and everyday life problems – whether you are a child, adult or a community of any type – and to be able to bounce back stronger, more wide and more connected with others.
b) There is a growing body of scientific research that tells us when people or communities are experiencing a lot of stress or risk, without support or help to reduce the stress, people can turn to unhealthy ways to cope through the challenges.
c) Anyone can help another person to raise resilience – Hunt the Good Stuff – have time everyday to “debrief” and to focus on three good things that happened during the day, what do these good things meant o you, and what can you do tomorrow to have more good things happen? It also helps to talk about ways that you or others helped to contribute to these good things as ways to identify successful strategies and celebrate them.

Guest:
Tara Young, Healthy Acadia