Member Agencies
Center For Parents And Children
Center for Parents and Children, 19 Main Street, Livermore Falls, ME, 04254, (207) 897-6384, Contact: Ronnie Sanborn. The Center for Parents and Children is a community based program which provides opportunities for learning in an environment which is supportive and participatory in nature. Parenting classes work on several topics such as; fire safety, nutrition, child development, art for children, car and street safety, bathroom issues, temper management, limit setting, and reading to children. The program is free to everyone. The Center is open 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. everyday.

Franklin County Children's Task Force
Parent to Parent (P2P), 69 N. Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-6960, Contact: Lila Balch. The Parent to Parent Program (P2P) supports new parents throughout their baby's first year through regular home visits and telephone calls by trained volunteer mentors. The purpose of these contacts is to give information on child development and child rearing, provide "a sympathetic ear" to relieve the expected anxieties and stress of parenting an infant, and provide emotional support.

Kennebec Girl Scout Council, Inc.,
Troop/Group Program, PO Box 9421, South Portland, ME 04106, (800) 660-1072, Contact: Ellen Young. Girl Scouting, available to all girls 5-17 in the Tri-Valley area, is most often accessed by girls through the troop/group program. The Girl Scout program is unique among youth programs in that it is values-based, committed to serving all girls, and designed to empower girls to grow to their full potential. In a safe environment girls are encouraged to explore options, learn new skills, seek challenges, take risks, make friends, and have fun.

Positive Turning Points for Youth
Warmline, Response Teams and Safe/Host Homes Program, PO Box 106, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-3787, Contact: Patty Schoen. We provide a willing ear and access to resources and referrals for parents and acquaintances of teens who are in a crisis with their living situation through a 24-hour warmline program. We believe that the needs of displaced teens are best met within their community. We rely on possibilities for temporary shelter through volunteer safe/host homes and volunteers to work with the teens on solutions to crisis living situations (Community Response Teams). The creation of these two programs with in the community is the heart and soul of the Turning Points philosophy.

Counseling and Family Services
Center for Community Dental Health
Franklin County Dental Health Center, Mt. Blue Health Center, RR4, Box 5122-I, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 779-2659 or 777-7442, Contact: Kathy Gregory. Provides access to basic dental preventive, restorative and emergency care for all ages on a sliding fee based on income and family size. The mission and purpose is to enable Franklin County residents who have been unable to access dental care, now obtain care. This is the only center and agency in the area available to accept Medicaid recipients and individuals with limited resources.

HealthReach Network/New Directions
New Directions, c/o HealthReach Network, PO Box 1568, Waterville, ME 04903, (207) 778-6320, Contact: Kary Laban. By providing individual and group substance abuse and mental health counseling in Kingfield, Strong, Livermore Falls and Farmington, New Directions strives to decrease the incidence of substance abuse and increase mental health in the Tri-Valley area. Counselors offer individual, couples, family and group treatment to those customers who are struggling with alcohol, drug, and/or mental health issues. Geographic access to care is created by offering services in different sites. Financial access to substance abuse counseling is offered by the sliding fee scale, based on income and family size.

Tri-County Mental Health Services
Outpatient Services, 28 High Street, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-3556, Contact: Ed Miller. The purpose of this program is to intervene in the lives of children, individuals, families and ultimately the community through the provision of mental health counseling services throughout Franklin County, Livermore, East Livermore, and Livermore Falls. Funds donated through United Way, are used to pay professional staff for the services provided to individuals and groups that would otherwise be unavailable due to inability to pay for the needed services.

Western Maine Community Action
Family Development Partnership, PO Box 200, E. Wilton, ME 04234, (207) 645-3764, Contact: Lydia Parson. Western Maine Community Action's Family Development Partnership (FDP) is a formal collaboration between WMCA, Mission at the Eastward, and Western Mountains Alliance Sustain Western Maine. The major focus of the partnership is helping families to get off assistance programs by working together to set goals leading to self-sufficiency and the health development of families. This program seeks to increase the capacity of families to rise out of poverty by shifting responsibility for problem solving to the families themselves and providing them with the tools they need to accomplish that task.

Education, Transportation and Volunteer Services
Literacy Volunteers of Franklin County
Basic Literacy, PO Box 643, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-3460, Contact: Joan Moes. Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. is a non-profit group that trains volunteers to tutor adults and teens in Basic Reading and English as a Second Language. Volunteers are assigned individual students, or work in schools, libraries, nursing homes or family literacy programs. The Franklin County affiliate participates in several innovative programs such as: Family Literacy, Teen Tutor Training, Summer Reading Support (Story Camps), and Internships with University of Maine at Farmington students. The affiliate works cooperatively with Adult Education programs, School Administrative Districts, Head Start and other human service agencies in the area.

HealthReach Network/Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Retired Senior & Volunteer Program (RSVP), c/o Mt. Blue Health Center, PO Box 253, East Wilton, ME, 04234, (207) 778-9897, Contact: Nancy White. RSVP matches the skills of people aged 55 and older with the volunteer needs of local non-profit agencies and organizations. Our volunteers make an important impact on meeting critical community needs.

Western Maine Transportation Services, Inc.
Pine Tree Transit, 54 Pine Street, Mexico, ME 04257, (207) 364-2135 or (800) 339-9687, Contact: Elaine Tibbets. Western Maine Transportation Services, Inc. (WMTS), operating under the name of Pine Tree Transit, operates semi-fixed route and demand/response service using small (17-24 passenger) lift-equipped agency buses and agency vans. All agency transit vehicles are open to the public. Additionally, Pine Tree Transit operates its demand/response "Escorted Ride Service" utilizing agency volunteers who use their personal cars and are reimbursed only for their mileage.

Crisis Intervention and Emergency Services
Abused Women's Advocacy Project
Franklin County Outreach, PO Box 713, Auburn, ME 04210, (207) 778-6107. The Franklin County Outreach program, located in Farmington, provides both support and emergency services to victims of domestic violence and education and training for communities in Franklin County. Coordinated outreach efforts have continued to increase over the years with both volunteers and paid staff providing community based services when appropriate or transporting to Auburn when longer term emergency shelter is necessary. On-site services include court advocacy (including assistance with protection from abuse orders), advocacy, support group, children's and youth services, assistance with accessing emergency shelter, transportation to shelter, community education presentations, in-service trainings for police, service providers and other professionals.

American Red Cross - United Valley Chapter
Armed Forces Emergency Services, Blood Services, Disaster Services, Health & Safety Services, PO Box 439, Auburn, ME 04210, (207) 795-4004, Contact: Bonnie Bickford. Provides disaster aid, blood collection, safety training and CPR instruction, services to military and their families and emergency assistance services to local people in need.

Healthy Community Coalition
Resource, Information and Referral Program, PO Box 566, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-7283, Contact: Ann Charles. This is a new program that will (1) include a comprehensive database of local resources, (2) have a 1-800 number phone line that will be staffed by paid individuals and volunteers to provide information and referrals upon request, and (3) will revise, print and distribute a local Resource Guide as needed. The purpose of this program is to provide information to improve the health and well-being of people in the greater Franklin County area.

Rural Community Action Ministry
Housing Program, RR 1, Box 2900, Leeds, ME 04263, (207) 524-5095, Contact: Ron Dubuc. The Housing Program is designed to respond to the emergency and long term housing needs of low income, elderly and disabled people living in 13 towns in rural Maine. Provides Emergency Services in crisis situations, addresses regular Home Maintenance to ensure safety and basic necessities, and provides housing rehab services for homes in need of extensive repair. The Home Building program provides a way for eligible families to own their own home. These affordable homes are built by caring volunteers who come to the RCAM from churches and other organizations around the country hoping to make a difference in the lives of Maine people

Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services (SAVES)
School-Based Intervention & Prevention Program, PO Box 349, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-9522, Contact: Janine Winn. SAVES School-Based Program is designed to increase the availability of the broad spectrum of Rape Crisis Services to teens. A School-Based Advocate is provided to each school in the program one-day a week. The program is comprised of three components: a Drop-In office where students can speak privately with an Advocate knowledgeable about sexual assault, dating violence, and the legal and medical systems as they relate to sexual assault; Support Groups co-facilitated with the school's guidance or substance abuse counselor; Education Programs in classroom setting on topics ranging from child sexual abuse to communication skills. This is the only comprehensive program of its kind in Maine.

Services for Elderly, Sick and Disabled
Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice
Franklin County Service Center, 75 Allen Street, PO Box 797, Wilton, ME 04294, (207) 645-5334, Contact: Laurie Winsor. AHCH is the only non-profit, Medicare-certified corporation providing home health services to residents of Franklin County. The Agency's services, which allow people to maintain their independence and remain safely in their homes, include: skilled nursing; home health aide; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; homemaking; and social work. Specialty services include; hospice, mental health nursing, infusion therapy, respiratory care, cardiac rehabilitation, and maternal and child health services. In 1996, the Agency attained accreditation with commendation from the Joint Commission of Health Care Organizations, an achievement that reflects the successful efforts of staff to provide high-quality care.

Franklin County Animal Shelter
Pet Therapy/Humane Education, RR 1, Box 1413, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-2638, Contact: Andrea Bergman. The purpose of the pet therapy program is to show how the human/animal bond can help people in our society to deal with different problems. Examples of pet therapy are: the rehabilitation of alcoholics, improved self-esteem in elderly people, increased survivorship in persons suffering from cardiac disorders, improvements in severely withdrawn and disturbed children. Pets have even been known to lower high blood pressure in people. The humane education program educates children and adults in the humane care and treatment of animals. It also teaches people how to accept and fulfill their responsibility to companion animals and to understand the consequences of irresponsible behavior.

LEAP (Life Enrichment Advancing People)
Diversified Respite Enrichment Activities Program (D.R.E.A.M.), PO Box 979, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-3443, Contact: Richard Dorian. LEAP's Diversified Respite Enrichment Activities Program is a weekend respite and activities support program for area people with developmental disabilities. This is a collaborative program designed to assist children, teens, and adults to participate in community and recreational programs. LEAP's creative approach utilizes volunteers, staff, and various existing resources to offer this much needed family support program. This partnership focuses on fostering increased independence and access for people with developmental disabilities.

Sandy River Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
Day Habilitation, PO Box 86, Farmington, ME 04938, (207) 778-3200 ext. 22, Contact: Linda LaRue-Keniston The purpose of Sandy River Rehabilitation Center is to promote the achievement of economic self-support and reduce or prevent dependency for individuals with developmental disabilities. This purpose supports the mission by providing day habilitation services that help adults with developmental disabilities find work or meaningful activities that serve as their "place of employment."

SeniorsPlus, Meals-on-Wheels
PO Box 659, Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 778-0556 and Franklin Community Center, Box 251, U.S. Rte. 2 East, Wilton, ME 04294, (207) 645-3315, Contact: Jayne LaPointe. SeniorsPlus' mission is to secure and maintain the independence and dignity of older individuals. To reach this goal, the agency works to remove any barriers to older people and provides or promotes those in-home and community services needed to assure the greatest measure of self-sufficiency.

Stories of United Ways Help

Story about SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels Program
A husband and wife receive Meals on Wheels. He is 81 and she is 74. He has a number of medical problems and walks with great difficulty. She has a history of cancer, arthritis, asthma, and leg ulcers. She qualifies for care in a nursing home; he doesn't. They have been together for a long time and they want to stay together. They have no children and family to help them. He looks after her as much as he can, but food preparation is a major task for him. When he is hospitalized, she goes to stay in a nursing home. The home delivered meals are one piece of the services that allow them to remain together.

Story about Sandy River Rehabilitation Services:
"Frank" is a 30 year old male diagnosed with mental retardation. He can read at about 3rd grade level and can express himself verbally quite clearly. He has a warm, even charming personality that brightens the day of many individuals that are fortunate enough to interact with him. He has many hobbies and loves to look at cars. His attention span is short and he needs assistance in making even very small decisions. Having a choice between two items or ideas is all "Frank" can handle. Even then he may need help with why one choice might work where as one might not. He has worked at Sandy River Rehabilitation Services for 7 years and is a very important worker for helping meet production schedules. His work is accurate, though his speed is far below normal standards. He is paid on a weekly basis and waits each Thursday (payday) for the check he proudly displays to all.

Story about Family Development:
A couple of years ago, "Julie" found herself unemployed after an accident left her with a broken leg. Complications put her in the hospital. No health insurance and no job created a crisis for her and her children. "Julie" was reluctant to seek help because she worried about welfare becoming a trap. When she heard about Family Development, she and her children had been living in a tent for a month because she had no money coming in to pay for housing. Family Development helped "Julie" assess her strengths and weaknesses in 12 life areas and develop goals to help her reach self-sufficiency. "I'm safe in most of the categories now," she said, "when before my family and I were seriously at risk in a number of them." "Julie" is working now and is independent of any financial assistance, although she does live in subsidized housing. "Julie" has plans to get a college degree in special education, and to continue to volunteer her time to help other families learn how Family Development can help them help themselves.

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