Communities for Children, often through the support of an Americorp*VISTA volunteer, helps many programs dedicated to improving the lives of children as well as running it’s own projects.

The Ellsworth Area Communities for Children has also been involved in projects such as the June 1^st Stand for Children Event and the Keeping Kids on Track program. Keep your eyes on the newspaper or visit this page often and watch for what your local Communities for Children is up to!

Your involvement is essential to the success of the Ellsworth Area Communities for Children!

To start hearing about our projects and meetings e-mail Communities for Children at children@downeasthealth.org

Your involvement can be as much or little as your schedule allows. You may just come to a meeting and get caught up on what is going on in your community for children. You can also volunteer for an individual project or even just bring some of your ideas to the table.

Our Meetings

Every person has something a little different to share, which is why we need you to be involved! Our regular meetings are held the first Wednesday of every third month (......March, June, September, December) @ 4:30pm.  Call EAC4C at 667-5304, ext 261 to learn more.

Today more and more we hear about the importance of early brain development in our children. Infants’ and children’s early experiences, good and bad, profoundly influence the wiring of their brains, affecting who they are and who they will become. It is so important to learn about early brain development in children and what we can do to help children grow and succeed as they develop. For this reason the Zero to Three Coalition has dedicated itself to educating people about this very important topic.

The coalition will offer completely free presentations on the subject to any interested group. The presentation, entitled "Rethinking the Brain" is informative and comes complete with visual aids for a better understanding. 

Contact Cathy Jacobs of the Zero to Three Coalition at (207)667-5304 or the local Adult Education Department for more information on these presentations.

New brain-imaging technology shows us that the crucial time to affect brain development is during the first three years of life, when connections and pathways within the brain are increasing with an astonishing rapidity that will never occur again. It’s important to know what you can do to make this time the most beneficial it can be for the children in your life so please join us for a presentation of "Rethinking the Brain".

Communities for Children is excited to announce its third year of partnership with Keeping Kids on Track. The program, funded by the United Way of Eastern Maine, allocates $2,500.00 to programs that benefit youth ages ten to fourteen in the Ellsworth Area.

The Keeping Kids on Track Ellsworth Committee is committed to helping fund programs for youth. To aid this process we have added several youth, between the ages of ten and fourteen, to our committee. We hope our newest members, along with the teens and adults who have worked hard on this committee for many years, will help us best meet the needs of the area.

Examples of programs that the committee would consider funding include awareness and prevention programs, adult role models/mentors programs, or after school programs. To receive an application for the Keeping Kids on Track funds contact Candy Eaton at the above address and phone.

In the past the Ellsworth Keeping Kids on Track has funded programs such as a Children’s Song and Dance Workshop, Game Nights, "Big Changes, Big Choices", Positive Male Role Model Program, and a Community Playground.

Started by the United Way of Eastern Maine, the goal of Keeping Kids on Track is to bring together families, schools, health organizations, community groups and the media to better the life chances of young adults. We hope to make this a very successful year for Keeping Kids on Track and we look forward to hearing about your program!