SEPTEMBER 2018

Greetings!

One of the great honors serving as the ExecutiveDirector of The Maine Children’s Home for LittleWanderers is to help support pregnant andparenting teens at The Sharon Abrams TeenParent School Program. These young parentsare some of the most courageous, hard-workingand hopeful young people that I know. The missionof the Maine Children’s Home is to build andstrengthen families and their children, instillinghope for the future and a better quality oflife. The Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program is a prime example of our missionin action.The Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program at The Maine Children’s Home is analternative high school program for pregnant and parenting teens that we operate inpartnership with the Waterville school district, AOS #92. Our school program has been inexistence since 1974 and has supported more than 1,000 teen parents. The programprovides prenatal and parenting instruction along with academic and life skills courses.The unique wraparound approach of the Teen Parent School Program opens manydoors to learning, support, encouragement and vital new parenting tools to prepare for ahealthy pregnancy & childbirth, as well as an effective education that meets theirschedule and learning goals to earn a Waterville High School Diploma. The teen parentsjuggle many competing demands every morning to get themselves and their infants fed,dressed and prepared for a full day of learning at The Children’s Place Early Careand Education Center for the infants and to the Teen Parent School for the parents. On September 20th we held our annual fundraiser, Celebrating Resilience, tohighlight the success of the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School and its students. Weheard from panelists who were both graduates and current students of the Program andeach highlighted that they did not know where they would be without the powerfulsupport, encouragement and assistance they have received from the Maine Children'sHome. We are so proud of the teen parents and the great care to assist them and theirchildren. They are strengthened because of hundreds of supporters each year. Thankyou for your support in making life better for the teen parents and their precious children.

In sincere gratitude,

Richard Dorian, Executive Director

Christmas Program:

Volunteers Needed!It’s that time of year again when The MaineChildren’s Home begins scheduling volunteersto help us with the many tasks it takes topack Christmas boxes for over 1,700 children oflow-income families. We are officially invitingyou to sign up for your volunteer spotsnow! Whether you come to pack boxes, sortinventory, stock shelves or man the phone, youreffort is needed and appreciated. We look forwardto having you here.

Please follow the link below to schedule your spots, they are filling up fast! If you have

any questions, feel free to contact Cristen!

VOLUNTEER

The application for our Christmas Program opens on November 5th. Check out ourwebsite for information on guidelines and requirements.

Urgent Christmas Needs ListOutfits of clothing in size 0-16Hand knit mittens in solid colorsWarm pajamas (size 10, 12, 14, 16)Toys and play-sets depictingpopular characters from movie/TVFamily board games up to age 12Infant and toddler toys encouragingmobility, development, or education

Gifts for older children (craft kits,model car kits, larger Lego sets,makeup kits, science kits, pre-teenthemed bedding or room decor,sporting goods, etc.)Books for newborns/toddlers & pre-teensColoring books and crayons

COMPLETE CHRISTMAS NEEDS LIST

Giving Tuesday #GivingTuesday is a global giving

movement that has been built by individuals,families, organizations, businesses, and

communities in countries around the world.Millions of people have come together tosupport and champion the causes they

believe in and the communities in which theylive. This year, we are joining this movementto help our Adoption & Counseling programsbuild an inventory of sensory-rich items as

we create a training program for parents and children in Central Maine and beyond. OurAdoption Program Director, Lindsay Bragdon, and Clinical Director, Deb Levenseller, arethe only two practitioners in the state of Maine for Trust-Based Relational Intervention®(TBRI®). TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed

to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Our goal for this year is to raise$5,000 so we can help support adoptive and foster families in Central Maine!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program:Celebrating Resilience

On September 20th we held a benefit fundraiser for the Sharon Abrams Teen ParentSchool Program at O'Brien's Event Center at the Best Western Plus in Waterville. Thenight consisted of silent auctions and a panel including graduates and current studentsof the program. This was a very successful night in raising money for our Teen ParentSchool Program thanks to our sponsors, donors, staff, and attendees. A very specialthank the speakers: Jami White, Cheyenne Storm, Alaina Wolman, McKayla Morin,

Adriana Lund, Hailey Lownsbury, and Kelsey Pease for sharing their stories.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

GOLD MENTOR SILVER ALLY

ZIMBACOMPANY

SUSTAINING PARTNERS

TEEN CARE PACKAGE SPONSORS

John & JackieDalton

Dorothy 'Bibby' Alfond Campus:Ride In & Fundraiser

On Saturday, September 15th, Low XII Central Maine chapter Widows Sons MasonicRiders Association organized a ride and fundraiser! Motorcyclists rode over to our

campus with a police escort, there was a bike judging contest with a trophy, raffles, andlunch! They also were able to collect over 400 boxes of diapers for our Teen ParentTeen Parent

School ProgramSchool Program , many new toys for our Christmas Program and raised over $2,000!

Thank you to Low XII Central Maine chapter Widows Sons Masonic RidersAssociation, Townsquare Media Central Maine, Josh & Jade Couture for DJing, Board

Member, Meghan Loubier for judging the Bike Contest, Mayor Nick Isgro for participatingand judging the Bike Contest, Sturdy Productions for their drone work, Waterville Police

Department, Sam's Club in Augusta, Marcoux's Meat Shop, Waterville CountryClub, Frito-Lay, Fireside Inn & Suites Waterville, Waterville Hospice, and our amazing

volunteers of the day: Tony Couture, Don Sawyer, Donna LaLiberte, Joyce Zimmerman,Elijah Dorian, Morgan Hannigan and Maine Children's Home staff!

Check out a video recap of the ride in!

Upcoming EventsADOPTION INFORMATION MEETING

Are you interested in learning about whetheradoption is an option for your family? The MaineChildren's Home for Little Wanderers AdoptionProgram hosts FREE adoption information meetingsthe last Wednesday of each monthlast Wednesday of each month (October'swill be held the 3rd Wednesday - 10/24) at ourWaterville (93 Silver St.) and Portland (527 Ocean

Ave.) offices at 6 pm6 pm . If you are interested inattending, please complete this formform .

CRAFT FAIRJoin us for a Craft Fair October 6th fromOctober 6th from9 am to 3 pm9 am to 3 pm at Champion's FitnessClub in Waterville to benefit the MaineChildren's Home for Little WanderersChristmas ProgramChristmas Program . Admission is free

but you are encouraged to bring a new toy for our Christmas boxes! To apply to becomea vendor, please contact Amy at 659-6595.

RIBBON CUTTINGThe Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is hosting a

ribbon cutting for our Harland A. Turner FamilyCounseling Center Expansion on Wednesday, October

24th at 5:30 on the Dorothy 'Bibby' Alfond Campus at theMaine Children's Home in the Parks Building! Please joinus to take a look at our new counseling center and enjoy

some refreshments.

GIVING TUESDAYTuesday, November 27th is Giving Tuesday! Thisglobal movement helps nonprofit organizations,like MCH, raise money for a specific need. Thisyear, we are focusing our efforts on our Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) trainingand outreach! Check out our websitewebsite for moreinformation and be sure to give on November

27th!

Agency Report Card

On the Dorothy 'Bibby' Alfond Campus

DONATE

www.mainechildrenshome.org