-Tina Boone Founder of Mid-Coast Mom Prom and Prom Committee Chairperson

Position: Full Time Case Manager.

Job Summary: Working with children, youth and adults.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in related field, some special education/special needs population experience – LSW preferred, MHRT or eligibility for same required.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience.

Application Deadline: May 1, 2012

Please forward interest to Bob Garcia (bgarcia@brmaine.org), 338-2200 ext 117.

His peers agreed with that. Parents – is your kid that “kind of kid”?

       In the same MIYHS survey, 27% of Waldo County middle school students reported using marijuana before age 11.

        It is important to recognize that some children early on form the intention of “using” and wait for an opportunity to try. Parents are the greatest protective force to help their children stay alcohol and drug free. Many parental  heartaches can be relieved when parents commit  to protecting  their child from this early drug experience. Whether you believe or not the idea of what may be a gateway drug, when I have spoken with those therapists who treat adult addicts, and interviewed jail inmates about their drug use, it is nearly guaranteed that early use of substances (including tobacco)  is a pathway to addiction. Research shows that youth who begin drinking alcohol prior to age 15 are 4 times more likely to develop an adult substance use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as an “adolescent developmental disorder” recognizing this pathway.

        The Partnership At Drugfree.Org has recently released a guide for parents citing research-supported parenting practices that will help parents help their kids stay drug and alcohol free.

1.  Build a warm and supportive relationship with your child
2. Be a good role-model when it comes to drinking, taking medicine and handling stress
3. Know your child’s risk-level
4. Know your child’s friends
5. Monitor, supervise and set boundaries
6. Have ongoing conversations and provide information about drugs and alcohol. (note – not a one time or one way talk)

The full guide and a lot more information can be found at www.drugfree.org

       Parents can also consider enrolling in a course planned to begin April 24^th at the Morse School in Brooks. Active Parenting Now focuses on parents of children aged 5 to 12. Call me at 338-2200 ext 109 for more information. The RSU 3 District will be holding a Community Forum on Underage Drinking and other drug use on Wednesday April 25^th; call 948-6136 x6811 for more information.

Patrick Walsh
Healthy Waldo County
Broadreach Family & Community Services
338-2200 ext 109

Not convinced that the ‘80s and mustaches go together?  Just think Hulk Hogan, Magnum P.I. or Mr. Belvedere.  Got it?

I Pity the Fool is sponsored by Café Miranda, Yvette Torres Fine Art, RHEAL Day Spa, Hot Pink Flannel and Machias Savings Bank.  Raffle and contest prizes have been generously donated by many local businesses.  See the complete list at  http://youthlinksonline.org/events.htm#sponsors.

Tickets are available at the door or by calling Youthlinks at 594-2221.
For more information find us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/groups/ipitythefool/.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides youth with community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities. These programs help youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to their peers, to adult mentors, and to their communities. Youthlinks is funded primarily by state grants and the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All Youthlinks programs are free for participating youth. For more information, visit www.youthlinksonline.org, or call 207-594-2221.

Youthlinks invites runners and walkers, big dogs and little dogs, adults and kids to the second annual Run-A-Hound 5k.

 The Run-A-Hound 5k race will start and finish at Youthlinks, located at 420 Broadway in Rockland, on Saturday, April 14th at 9:30am. Participants are asked to park at OHS-East. There will be door prizes, complimentary snacks for all participants, as well as awards for top runner and dog pair and top runner. Registration fees are $10 for Adults with a dog, $15 for Adults without a dog, and $8 for Students with or without a dog. Pre-Registration is greatly appreciated and is available on active.com or by stopping the Youthlinks office.

Youthlinks, a program of Broadreach Family and Community Services, serves over 500 Mid-Coast youth a year through free after-school programs and summer camp. Many of the programs include service-learning and animals. The 5k is modeled on one of Youthlinks’ popular service programs, Run-A-Hound, in which high school students volunteer with local animal shelters by taking dogs out for a run to exercise and train them.  All proceeds from the race will support Youthlinks after-school programs.

Event and prize sponsors are being sought.  Businesses wishing to participate can contact Scott Browning at Youthlinks 207-594-2221 or email sbrowning@brmaine.org.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides youth with community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities. These programs help youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to their peers, to adult mentors, and to their communities.

 Youthlinks is funded primarily by state grants and the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All Youthlinks programs are free for participating youth. For more information, visit www.youthlinksonline.org, or call 207-594-2221.

The proceeds will benefit Broadreach Family & Community Services. All you moms who sent those little ones off to their day cares and four year old programs, here is your chance to say thanks and have a fun night out.

There will be a  DJ, Cash Bar, and prom pictures. We will crown a prom queen and have a super tacky dress contest. It is sure to be a super time for a super cause! Come join us for this ladies’ night out for charity. We need you!

For Tickets

• Call Sandy Billington at 594-8474 Ext 301
• for credit card sales Mail a Check to Broadreach, 5 Stephenson Lane ,Belfast, Maine 04915
• OR pay though PayPal at http://broadreachmaine.org/momprom

Photo courtesy of Jesse Stuart 2011

Youthlinks third annual I Pity The Fool fundraising dance is gearing up to be the most awesome yet. Café Miranda is once again co-sponsoring the ‘80s themed event that will support the free after-school programs of Youthlinks. Live music will be provided by the Nikki Hunt Band, back by popular demand from last year’s event. This year’s dance is on Saturday March 31 at an exciting new location, the beautiful downtown gallery Yvette Torres Fine Art.

Event and prize sponsors are being sought. Last year over a dozen great prizes were awarded in categories such as best outfit and best hair. Businesses wishing to participate can contact Joelle Albury at Youthlinks 207-594-2221 or email jalbury@brmaine.org.

Tickets for the event will go on sale in March. For more information find us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/groups/ipitythefool/.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides youth with community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities. These programs help youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to their peers, to adult mentors, and to their communities. Youthlinks is funded primarily by state grants and the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All Youthlinks programs are free for participating youth. For more information, visit www.youthlinksonline.org, or call 207-594-2221.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983. Each year over 2,000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs. Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or contact by e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983. Each year over 2,000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs. Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

Chef Nancy Wood from Amalfi on the Water teaches RASA students how to make baked sweet potato fries during the Cooking Matters program.

Local middle school students make “blubber burgers” in an after-school program. This “burger” represents the total grams of fat in a chain restaurant meal of mozzarella sticks, ribs, and a shake.

Rockland After-School Alliance (RASA) participants are cooking up delicious dishes each week all while having fun learning about healthy food choices in the Cooking Matters program.

Another session of Cooking Matters will be offered in RASA’s spring session which begins March 6th. Middle School Students can sign up for this and other RASA programs by visiting www.youthlinksonline.org/RASA.

Program participants recently put their math skills to work with University of Maine Cooperative Extension Eat Well Nutrition Associate Beth Chamberlain. The project was to select their favorite fast food restaurant meals and add up the total grams of fat. Students converted grams into teaspoons and measured it out in shortening to make a sandwich. Of course the sandwiches weren’t eaten, but they provided plenty to make the pre-teens think twice about their choices when ordering from the drive through. Each week students learn how to make healthy meals at home. In this class, the menu included Baked Sweet Potato Fries and Baked Flaked Chicken.

Each week, the participants work with Chef/Restaurant Owner Nancy Wood, from Amalfi on the Water, to create delicious healthy meals. The participants then go home with all the ingredients to cook for their families. Cooking Matters is a program of Share Our Strength and teaches skills such as knife and food safety along with nutrition education such as understanding the USDA’s “MyPlate” and how to read nutrition labels. The program is sponsored on a national level by ConAgra Foods and Walmart. The Good Shepherd Food Bank and Hannaford sponsor the program in Maine and have helped bring the program to RASA. Beth Chamberlain and Nancy Wood volunteer their time each week to plan and teach the program alongside Youthlinks Program Manager, Scott Browning.

RASA is a program of Youthlinks offered in collaboration with RSU 13 supported by a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant from the Maine Department of Education. Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services, a non-profit organization that has been serving the children and families of Waldo and Knox Counties since 1983. For more information concerning the Rockland After-School Alliance, please Youthlinks: 594-2221 or visit www.youthlinksonline.org/RASA.