AMHC Targeted Case Management: 1-800-244-6431
Services to children ages of 0 to 20 who have a developmental disability or a mental health diagnosis. Case managers meet regularly with children and families in their homes to develop service plans, identify community resources and advocate for needed supports. They support families by attending school meetings, medical appointments, making referrals, and monitoring services as they progress.
Bridging Program: 598-5639
Support for prenatal moms on drug replacement therapy or who have a high-risk pregnancy, or moms with newborns that have medical complications. Program can provide home visiting nurses or non-medical home visitors to work with families to help address their immediate needs and identify & facilitate on-going supports.
Car Seat Safety Program:
Free child car seats & booster seats for low-income families. Installation assistance, safety & recall information, car seat checks, and free trainings available to groups or individuals
Machias: Maine Families 255-0481
Catholic Charities Education Services:
1-800-781-8550
Support services for parents with children who are blind or visually impaired
Child Development Services (CDS): 255-4892
Screenings and evaluations; Services for preschool children with special needs
Family Respite Program (through NAMI Maine): 1-800-464-5767
NAMI Maine Family Respite exists to assist families by enabling a much needed break in the responsibility of caring for a child with significant developmental delays and behavioral or emotional disorders. Through a certified provider network, trained per diem staff are available to care for children with special needs in their communities so that their parents can get a break. Qualified applicants can earn extra income while providing short-term relief to families of children with disabilities and special needs.
Grandparents Parenting:
Click here for a comprehensive Fact-sheet Guide for Grand-families. See also Maine Kids-Kin (listed below).
Hear Me Now: 688-4544 x205
Parent-Infant support program to assist in education of infants who are deaf or hearing impaired
Help Me Grow – Maine: 1-833-714-7969 or 207-624-7969
Help Me Grow Maine is a free information line for families AND providers in Maine. They provide information about child development, pregnancy, and community resources for children all over Maine up to the age of eight years old, including developmental screenings. When you call, you will be connected to a Family Support Specialist who will listen, link you to services, and provide ongoing support when needed.
Email: HelpMeGrow@Maine.gov or call 211, and choose option 5 to speak to a Family Support Specialist.
Maine Equal Justice Partners: 1-866-626-7059
Help navigating MaineCare programs for different family needs; Help with TANF or Aspire sanctions, and more…
Maine Families: 255-0481
Home Visitors provide support for expectant parents and parents of newborns, providing resources around infant care, healthy growth and development, home safety, and more. Services also include: Childbirth classes, lactation counseling, car seat safety technicians, online resource library.
Maine Kids-Kin: 1-866-298-0896
Support services for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousin, siblings, or other family members raising children. Support groups, clothing exchange, and other support services including legal resources.
The Openshaw Spot (Occupational Therapy Clinic): 546-0723
Casey Openshaw is a pediatric therapist looking to serve kids in Downeast Maine. Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to grow into independent adults. Currently Casey is contracted through CDS as an early intervention provider as well as serving her own clients in her home based clinic. Also on Facebook.
Email: theotspot@gmail.com
231 North Main Street, Milbridge
Parent Enrichment Classes (from Sunrise Opportunities/CAN): 263-5270
Free courses are offered in Machias, Calais and other locations around the county several times a year. Courses include: “Active Parenting Now”, Cooperative Parenting Through Separation & Divorce”, “Father’s Connection”, “Infant Safe Sleep Workshop”, “Period of Purple Crying”, ”Strengthen Maine Families”. Courses offered in the evenings with dinner and childcare provided free. Call for more information about the classes and workshops, and to find out about locations and times.
Pathways of Maine (formerly called Providence): 888-480-9550
Offering a range of services for children with behavioral health disorders, developmental disabilities, or autism. Services include targeted case management, home-based therapy, an Intensive home-based therapy program, and community-based behavioral health treatment for children and their families.
Project Linus: 598-5963
Handmade quilts for children who are ill, experienced trauma “or need a hug”
Public Health Nursing (PHN): 287-4112 / 1-877-763-0438
Nurse Home Visiting – Nurses can provide support to parents in their home if they have an infant with a medical condition or who has been exposed to substances prenatally. This is a free service for residents of Maine, no insurance or Mainecare required
Resource Advocates Program (DCP): 598-5648
Support for a parent who needs help tackling an issue and finding the resources that may be available to them. Whether it be finding childcare, reliable transportation, any kind of life issue. The Resource Advocate can come to your home to work with you or you can meet at the DCP offices or another location convenient to you. No fees – MaineCare is not required
Safe Families for Children: 713-0523
Volunteer host families provide temporary safe care for children while their parents take time to cope with stress or difficult situations in their lives. This arrangement is made between the parent/caregiver and Safe Families and does not involve DHHS.
Email: maine@safefamilies.net
SSI Benefits for Infants: 1-800-772-1213
Disability benefits for premature babies or babies born with a low birth-weight called “presumptive disability” on SSI website
We Care Community Baby Center: 255-8903
Free diapers, wipes and other baby care needs available monthly to WIC or MaineCare eligible families. We Care also has a closet of gently used clothing, shoes, outerwear, toys, and books donated from the community and We Care participants. For more information contact: info@wecarebabycenter.com.
Machias: 5 Water Street
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday 9a – 11am
Tuesdays 9a – 1p
We Care now provides delivery service for Machias and Lubec for families that cannot get to the center due to lack of transportation, illness, or other issues. Message We Care’s Facebook page to get on the delivery list.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Calais 454-3634 | Machias 255-8280
Healthy food packages and food vouchers for pregnant women and children up until they turn five (food includes eggs, cheese, whole grains, peanut butter, fruit & vegetables, baby foods, formula, Farmer’s market vouchers and so much more); Prenatal vitamins; Breastfeeding support. Mainecare not required to be eligible. Call for more info or to make an appointment.
Calais: 10 Barker Street, Suite D 454-3634
Tuesdays 10a – 6p, Fridays 8a – 4pm
Eastport: 30 Boynton Street (at Eastport Health Center)
For Eastport dates and times call the Machias office 255-8280
Machias: 247 Main Street 255-8280
Mondays 8am – 4pm
Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesdays 8am – 4pm
Thursdays 8am – 4pm
Fridays 8am – 4pm
Milbridge: 87 Main Street (at the WHRL – Women for Healthy Rural Living building)
2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month 9a – 2:30p Call the Ellsworth office to schedule an appointment for Milbridge 667-5304
WINGS: 1-800- 823-2988
Case management services for children with cognitive and behavioral challenges, mental health, medical, and developmental diagnosis
Safety Tips for Parents and Care Givers
Choking Assistance for Infants and Toddlers:
This helpful article from the ACLS Training Center explains hazards for children as well as the signs of choking and how to provide emergency assistance for a choking child.
Lead Dust Test Kit:
This is a free kit available from the Maine CDC for you to test for lead paint dust. They also offer other resources and information on how to test your child for lead, get your home inspected for lead, and how to identify other sources of lead in your home.
Safe Kids Worldwide:
This online resource specializes in safety tips for caregivers on topics such as safety around cars, in the kitchen, choking hazards and toys, swimming safety and pool protection, and they also offer helpful tools like making safety plans for emergencies like escaping a fire, and they offer specific safety tips for parents with children who have special needs.