Healthy Community Coalition Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition presents

Free Special Showing at Narrow Gauge Cinema

Documentary Point of No Return playing on May 4

As prom and graduation season approaches, extra efforts are underway to prevent underage drinking and subsequent drinking and driving. Healthy Community Coalition (HCC) encourages parents and the community to be proactive and monitor adolescents closely. Even if you believe that alcohol is not an issue in your household, it may be in other households in your adolescent’s life.

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of HCC is hosting a free showing of the documentary Point of No Return at the Narrow Gauge Cinema on May 4 at 11 a.m. This event is intended for parents, high school students, teachers, counselors, and interested community members. Free popcorn and a small drink will be offered for each attendee.

Special guest Matt Clark of Rangeley will speak about his choices and life-changing experience with drinking and driving.  

“Created and produced in Maine using local actors, this film really hits close to home and shows the negative consequences of drinking and driving,” said Christine Bruen, HCC program associate. “It’s a great way to open candid conversations with teens about the dangers of alcohol, and drinking and driving.”

The mission of the HCC Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is to strategically reduce and prevent substance abuse in youth and adults in Greater Franklin County by fostering collaboration among communities and other partners and by addressing the environmental factors in a community that contribute to substance abuse.   

Economy Continues to Strengthen Under LePage Leadership; More than 17,000 Private Sector Jobs Created 

Maine's unemployment rate for March drops to 5.9 percent  

AUGUSTA – Under leadership of Governor Paul R. LePage, workforce conditions in Maine continue to improve. The March unemployment rate of 5.9 percent released Friday morning demonstrates significant job growth in a variety of private sectors, meaning thousands more Mainers are working.

The number of private sector jobs is up 9,100 over the past year, primarily in professional & business services, retail trade, leisure & hospitality, education & healthcare, and financial activities. Government jobs are down 1,100. About 17,500 jobs have spurred Maine’s economy since Governor LePage took office in 2011, which may be attributed to common-sense, business-friendly economic policies supported by the LePage Administration.  

““We have 17,500 more jobs in the private sector now compared to when I took office,” said Governor LePage. “Our Administration is focused on helping to create jobs through reducing taxes, limiting the size of government and reforming our welfare system. We have made progress, even without liberals onboard with these policies. However, just think of where we would be if they were truly committed to the same goal. Improving the economy is not political. It’s about putting more Mainers back to work, which is good for everyone.”

The unemployment rate of 5.9 percent is down from 6.1 percent in February and 6.8 percent one year ago. The number of unemployed declined 6,700 over the year to 41,800.

Meanwhile, Maine’s Job Bank, at www.mainecareercenter.com, continues to increase its number of job listings with more than 7,500 available for applicants. The Job Bank, a service of the Maine Department of Labor, is an online job board that is free for both employers and job seekers.

“Employers and job seekers all over Maine are connecting through the Maine Job Bank,” said Governor LePage. “Job openings will become more competitive as our unemployment rate continues to fall. Now is the time to take advantage of this tool in your job search.”

Legislature Kills Governor’s Drug Crimes Bill

Governor LePage says the lawmakers inaction is appalling 

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today expressed his extreme disappointment in lawmakers who neglected to identify funding for one of Maine’s most troubling epidemics. During the early morning hours this week, lawmakers decided to ignore a Governor’s bill aimed to provide Maine with additional resources to combat the State’s growing drug problem.

LD 1811, "An Act To Appropriate and Allocate Funds To Strengthen the State's Efforts To Investigate, Prosecute and Punish Persons Committing Drug Crimes", sponsored by Senator Gary Plummer, would have provided funding for four new District Court Judge positions within the Judicial Branch, fourteen Drug Enforcement Agent positions in the Department of Public Safety and four Assistant Attorney General positions within the Office of the Attorney General.

“While liberals dominated their time on trying to expand welfare this session they ignored bills that would truly help Mainers,” said Governor LePage. “It’s clear that lawmakers misplaced their priorities this session by refusing to take action on a bill that would have combatted the drug crimes epidemic. The bill had broad bipartisan support, including endorsement from the Judicial Branch and law enforcement agencies across the state. Lawmakers have a major disconnect with the Maine people who want real reform. I find it appalling that they have neglected their duty to provide for basic public safety and safe streets,” said Governor LePage.

LD 1811 was submitted to the Legislature in early March leaving ample time for public discussion and debate on the bill. It was killed in the early morning hours during the last days of the 126^th Legislature.

Last fall, in an effort to learn more about the increased drug problems in Maine, Governor LePage hosted two Governor’s Drug Awareness Summits in Westbrook and Auburn. The Governor and Public Safety Commissioner John Morris joined local law enforcement from around the state to focus on the impacts of drug crimes on local communities, and the amount of illicit drug use that is taking place in Maine.

“Mainers need to feel safe in their homes and communities,” said Governor LePage. “The personal and economic costs associated with drug and alcohol abuse are significant. These forums provided the Administration an opportunity to discuss and work with local law enforcement to identify what absolutely needed to be done to fight those who are poisoning our communities with illegal drugs. This bill came as a result of those discussions. It’s inexcusable that the Legislature ignored this solution proving that they are all talk and no action.”

Mainers Honored with Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism 

Four Mainers and two organizations receive notable award

AUGUSTA – First Lady Ann LePage presided over the 28^th annual presentation of the Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism. The six category winners have had an impact in communities from Orono to South Portland.

The Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteer are presented each year as a celebration of citizen volunteer action. This award program focuses attention on businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals whose service is considered a model for others to emulate. The winners are selected because their efforts and leadership have made a significant difference in the quality of life for Maine residents.

Clarence Smith of South Portland received the Volunteer of the Year for the service he provides to patients and their families through Beacon Hospice. He provides a listening heart, a compassionate presence, and a winning smile to support people at the end of their lives and helps comfort their families. As a veteran himself, Clarence has embraced the “We Honor Vets” program. He participates in “pinning” ceremonies to honor veterans and goes an extra step by researching individual veteran’s unit insignias. Clarence also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Veterans for Peace.

Tyler Cross of Brooks received the Youth Volunteer of the Year for the leadership role he has at The Game Loft. As a teen mentor, he has led many young people on quests through fantasy worlds, inspiring them to use their imaginations while simultaneously fostering development of positive social skills like cooperation, collaboration, communication and decision making. As a member of the Youth Board of Directors, Tyler represents youth voice in the administration of The Game Loft, making decisions about programming, fundraising, and membership. He also volunteers as a member of the Snow Shovel Brigade, digging out the houses of elderly community members after snowstorms.

Becca Stabler of Portland received the Outstanding National Service Volunteer Award for her service at Portland Housing Authority’s Riverton Park Study Center as an AmeriCorps member for the Multilingual Leadership Corps, a program of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. She trains and supervises 26 volunteers serving in the study center program. The volunteers provide academic support and mentoring to the youth of Riverton Park. Becca has also volunteered to coordinate the summer lunch program at Riverton Park

Lisa Morin of Orono received the Excellence in Volunteer Administration for her work as the Coordinator of the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism at the University of Maine.

Under her leadership several successful programs have been launched: Welcome Weekend Day of Service, Gobblefest, and Black Bears Leader Program. These multi-faceted programs take on challenges presented by the community and incorporate thoughtful reflections to help students understand how their service impacts themselves as well as the community.

Gardiner Federal Credit Union received the Small Business Volunteerism Award for commitment to supporting its local community not only with monetary and food contributions, but also the skills of its employees. Through the “Kirby Kangaroo” program, kindergarten and first graders learn why it is important to save money and practice money skills. GFCU and Laura Richards School have partnered to establish savings accounts for students.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Gardiner received the Outstanding Non-Profit Volunteer Program Award for its Keystone Club which fosters positive peer interactions, encourages good citizenship and gives youth a voice. Keystone Club members participate in at least one major volunteer effort and one fundraiser activity each month. Last summer, Keystone Club worked with the City of Gardiner to identify the walkability of the city and reported the findings of their eight week project to the City Council.

Exemplary Service Award was presented to Ella Friend of Industry.

Also at the ceremony, the names of 511 individuals that were inducted to the Volunteer Roll of Honor were on display. During the past year, each of these individuals contributed 500 hours or more to programs scattered from Caribou to Farmington to York. The 2014 Volunteer Roll of Honor list may be viewed at www.VolunteerMaine.org.

The Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism were established in 1986. The presentation ceremony is held at the Capitol each year during National Volunteer Week in April. The award program is managed for the Governor’s Office by the Maine Commission for Community Service.

The Maine Commission for Community Service builds capacity and sustainability in Maine's volunteer and service communities by funding programs, developing managers of volunteers and service-learning practitioners, raising awareness of sector issues, and promoting service as a strategy. For more information about the Maine Commission for Community Service, visit www.maineservicecommission.gov. 

Eves’ Eleventh Hour Medicaid Expansion Ploy Is as Political as It Gets

So-called “Dramatically Different” Plan Would Cost Maine Taxpayers Millions  

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today responded to the introduction by House Speaker Mark Eves of a fourth bill to expand Medicaid. Eves calls the bill “dramatically different” from other Medicaid expansion-related bills. However, the legislation comes on the final day of session, leaving no time for a public discussion or debate.

“Leave it to liberals to wait until the absolute last minute to try to pull the wool over everybody’s eyes. The only problem is we all saw it coming,” said Governor LePage. “It’s disturbing that liberal leadership refuses to listen to the people of Maine when they say they want real welfare reform. Instead, liberals push policies that will cost Maine taxpayers millions of dollars and put the state deeper into debt.”

Speaker Eves’ bill is similar to legislation that recently passed in New Hampshire. New Hampshire lawmakers crafted the legislation after Medicaid expansion model in Arkansas, which uses federal money to pay for subsidies for low-income childless adults. However, experts have shown Arkansas, which is only in its fourth month of operation, is experiencing significant problems with the cost of the program.

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) recently released data indicating the “private option” Medicaid expansion plan in Arkansas is suffering enormous cost overruns into the millions of dollars.

Unfortunately for Arkansas taxpayers, they are already on the hook for all of those overruns. The federal government caps its per-member, per-month contribution for newly eligible Medicaid recipients on the program. In other words, the feds cover 100%, but only up to the cap. If the Medicaid program exceeds the per-member, per-month cap, the state’s taxpayers are responsible for making up the difference. In two of the first three months that the Arkansas “private option” plan has been operating, the number of Medicaid recipients has exceeded the cap.

“What we see happening in Arkansas is another reason that Maine would be reasonable and prudent not to expand Medicaid,” said Governor LePage. “We cannot go grab federal money without understanding just how much Maine taxpayers will wind up paying. Furthermore, it is incredibly irresponsible to put taxpayers on the hook when federal health care subsidies are available that would provide virtually free health care for low-income Mainers.”

Governor LePage Designates $20,000 in Contingency Funds for Penquis Journey House

Services to continue for parenting youth and their children

AUGUSTA – Governor LePage has designated $20,000 from his contingency funds to support the continuation of services offered by the Penquis Journey House in Dexter. Founded in 2009, the Journey House serves as a safe haven for primarily young women and their children who are in transition. Programs ranging from parenting classes to job training offered by Penquis support each resident for up to eighteen months.

“The Penquis Journey House is a great example of Mainers working together to fulfill an unmet need in their community,” said Governor LePage. “I appreciate the meaningful services the Penquis board and staff offer in order to equip Maine’s youth to become self-sufficient.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” said Denise Trafton, Residential Services Director for the Penquis Journey House. “This funding is essential to maintaining services for homeless pregnant and parenting youth in Piscataquis County and the surrounding area.”

According to Trafton, there are very few programs in the state that provide housing to parenting youth, and even fewer that offer services in rural areas. The Penquis Journey House provides short-term shelter and support services to pregnant and parenting young women 16 to 21 years of age who are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness.

“The Penquis Journey House provides a safe, supportive environment and the opportunity for young women to improve their lives and build a better future for their children,” said Trafton. “By helping youth to become self-sufficient individuals as well as nurturing parents, we are able to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty and violence.”

The vast majority of the young women served through the program have experienced instability, child abuse, neglect and/or domestic violence.

“I’m proud to support an organization which has proven itself successful in equipping young people to lead productive and rewarding lives,” said Governor LePage.

Maine Faces $7 Million in Fines for Failing to Meet Welfare Work Requirements 

Democrats Rejected Governor’s Welfare-to-Work Bills

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage announced today that Maine faces a $7.1 million penalty because its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program failed to meet work participation rates in 2011. In a letter received Tuesday (see attached), the Federal Administration for Children and Families detailed Maine’s poor record of requiring TANF recipients to work.

“I submitted bills this session that would have required welfare recipients to look for a job and would have removed Maine’s lenient exemptions that allow them to avoid working,” said Governor LePage. “We simply wanted Maine to conform to federal work participation guidelines for TANF, but liberal politicians rejected our bill. They don’t want people on welfare to have to work, and now Maine is facing millions of dollars in fines for just one year. Without welfare reform, these fines will just keep comingundefinedand Maine taxpayers will foot the bill.”

The TANF program requires welfare recipients to work or be engaged in an approved work-related activity. To avoid fines, Maine needed an overall work participation rate of 47.5 percent and an 87.5 parent rate for two-parent families receiving TANF. In 2011, the overall rate was only 19.1 percent, and the two-parent family rate was a dismal 18.7 percent.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has collaborated with the Maine Department of Labor to assist welfare recipients get a job, and Governor LePage’s bills would have helped Maine achieve higher work participation rates.

LD 1815 required work-ready job applicants to apply for three jobs before receiving benefits. LD 1842 would have eliminated Maine’s extensive list of exemptions to the federal work requirements. While the federal government has three exemptions in its policies, Maine has 13. Liberals in the Legislature rejected the bills along party lines.

“Maine makes it far too easy for welfare recipients to avoid getting the experience they need to get a job, and this is costing millions of wasted taxpayer dollars in federal fines,’’ said Governor LePage. “Our common-sense legislation would have sent a very clear message that if you are on welfare, Maine taxpayers expect you to do all you can to get a job and work. But Democrats would rather let welfare recipients skip out on work.”

Governor Administers Oath to Justice Daniel Billings and Judge William Schneider

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage administered the oath Tuesday to Judge William Schneider of the Maine District Court. Governor LePage nominated Judge Schneider in February.

“Maine’s Judicial Branch is of the highest quality,” said Governor LePage. “Judge Schneider has proven throughout his career that he has the temperament and experience required to serve as excellent judge. I have the utmost confidence that he will serve the people of Maine justly and with integrity.”

The Maine State Senate unanimously confirmed Schneider on March 18, 2014.

William Schneider, a resident of Durham, served as Maine Attorney General from 2011 to 2013 prior to joining the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management in 2013. Schneider has also served as Assistant United States Attorney and Anti-Terrorism Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice from 2002 to 2010. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the University of Maine School of Law. Schneider also served two terms in the Legislature, including one term as Assistant Republican Leader.

Schneider lives in Durham on an alpaca farm with his wife, Barbara, and their daughter.

Earlier this month, Governor LePage administered the oath to Justice Daniel Billings of the Supreme Judicial Court.

Billings, a resident of Bowdoinham, served as Governor LePage’s Chief Legal Counsel since January 2011. Prior to that, he was a partner at Marden, Dubord, Bernier, and Stevens in Waterville, where his practice focused on civil litigation and criminal defense. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine School of Law.

Billings was sworn in on April 4. 

Franklin Community Health Network’s Healthy Community Coalition Awarded $2 Million from the U.S. Department of Education

Affects Mt. Blue Regional School District, MSAD 58, and the Stratton School

FARMINGTON, MAINE¾

Franklin Community Health Network (FCHN) President/CEO Rebecca Arsenault today announced that its affiliate Healthy Community Coalition has been awarded a $2 million grant over three years from the U.S. Department of Education through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program to expand and develop youth physical and nutrition education programs in collaboration with Mt. Blue Regional School District, MSAD 58, and the Stratton School.

The grant is one of 67 grants awarded nationwide totaling more than $33 million to schools and community-based organizations that plan to implement comprehensive, integrated physical activity and nutrition programs for students. Through these programs, it is expected that students will develop an appreciation for lifelong healthy nutrition and physical education habits, and make progress toward meeting their state standards for physical education.

Healthy Community Coalition’s Executive Director Jennifer McCormack said, “This new funding will allow the community and schools to work together to create a gold standard program of physical activity opportunities and nutrition education at nine area elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools.”

Local programming for youth will include increased afterschool and summer programs that encourage lifelong physical activities and promote optimum health for area youth. Programming will include collaboration among existing projects such as 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go to enhance learning opportunities.

“It is the mission of FCHN to work cooperatively with others in the community to achieve the highest level of health and wellness possible,” said Arsenault. “This grant will demonstrate the ability of HCC and schools taking action together to teach approximately 3,000 students the importance of developing healthy lifestyles, which are also key components toward improving student engagement and achievement. School nutrition and physical activity related policies will also be reviewed and revised to address the highest standards possible for students.”

About Healthy Community Coalition

Healthy Community Coalition, founded in 1989, is one of the oldest health coalitions in the country. Its mission is to measurably improve the wellbeing of all people in Greater Franklin County and neighboring towns using a coordinated public health approach of education, promotion, and outreach. With its qualified staff of public health professionals, Healthy Community Coalition offers health screenings, health information, programs and events to support healthy lifestyles that prevent disease and improve quality of life.  Its community outreach efforts appear in every town and corner of the region. For more information, visit www.fchn.org/hcc.