$25,000 grants will support plans to connect patients who receive mental health services and substance abuse treatment with primary care providers

The Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) announced today that its Board of Trustees has approved planning grants of $25,000 each to five nonprofit community mental health organizations to improve how basic primary care services are provided for people experiencing serious mental illness.  The organizations receiving awards are Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc., Charlotte White Center, HealthReach Network Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, The Opportunity Alliance, and Tri-County Mental Health Services. 

Hilary Zayed had to reinvent herself after she fell off her horse several years ago and suffered a traumatic brain injury. She used to be an elementary school teacher, but her brain can no longer handle the sensory input — bells ringing, children walking and talking, all the hub bub that normally happens in an elementary school. So, teaching is out for Hilary, along with some other things that were an integral part of her life. "I was a horseback rider, that's out," she says. "The neurologist says one more fall, it will kill me. I was a flute player and now can't stand the sound. Gone.

You will learn tips and techniques for getting the word out to potential customers for your agriculture products from Donna Coffin in the next workshop in the YOU CAN series to be held, Tuesday, April 9th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office at 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

Even though times are tough, YOU CAN sustain your family! The Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension have put together a series of workshops that will give you the skills to get started in self-sufficiency.

The cost of this workshop is $5 and you can register through PVAEC, 48 Morton Ave., Suite M, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 or call 564-6525 or register online at http://bit.ly/pyoucan.