Article Title: (COVID-19) Updates

Please see current information on our services below.  If you have specific questions, you can call us at 207-973-3500, email us at info@penquis.org or connect with us through messenger on our Penquis Facebook page.

All AARP/United Way Tax Preparation – appointments hosted at Penquis in Dover-Foxcroft are postponed until further notice.

Business Booster Loan – MaineStream Finance also has opened a new loan program for small businesses affected by COVID-19.  For more information, please visit their website.

Childcare and Head Start – ALL of our Child Development Centers and Classrooms are open.  We have saftey protocols we are following including screenings for both children and staff.  The educational and community support and resources for families in these times is on-gong and our family support workers and teachers are ready and able to meet new children and families through telephone and other technology. Applications and registrations for childcare, Head Start and Early Head Start are now open. For enrollment information contact Kelley Graffam, 207-973-3567 or 1-800-215-4942   kgraffam@penquis.org

Application Here!

We also have positions available for the upcoming grant year for staffing positions. Please visit our employment page for those opportunities.

Central Heating and Improvement Program (CHIP) – The CHIP program will discontinue until  April 27th and we will evaluate the availability of services at that time.

Charlotte White Support Services – Our Community Supports Program will be closed until May 1st. Services will be reevaluated at that time. All Residential Services remain fully operational as an essential service.

Family Time Coaching – will be connecting with families remotely rather than in-person.

Heating Assistance Appointments – The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will no longer hold face to face applications. We will conduct phone applications until further notice.  For more information, call 973-3500.

Homebuyer Education Classes – have been cancelled and we are encouraging individuals to take the online classes. We will continue to provide updated information and resources for small business owners as we receive updates from the Small Business Association (SBA). You can visit MaineStream Finance website and Facebook page for more information.

Home Repair – Home repairs will discontinue until  April 27th and we will evaluate the availability of services at that time.

Law Project – Although we may not be at the office or able to meet with you in-person, the Law Project is still available.  We are answering phone calls on a daily basis, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us.  We are accepting applications for consultations over the phone with our attorney for Protection from Abuse and Protection from Harassment cases as well as related family matters.  Please call 973-3671. (some eligibility guidelines do apply)

Lead Inspections – with continue as needed and reviewed.

Maine Families Home Visiting Program – for Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties will be pausing all in-home visiting and group activities in an effort to ensure the health and safety of all our families and staff. Family Visitors will check-in with families by phone to offer support and resources during this time.  We are also accepting referrals. Babies are still being born and families are able to receive phone calls and virtual home visits to talk about pregnancy, parenting and child development through virtual home visits and also get connected to additional community resources. For more information, call 973-3674 or check us out at www.mainefamilies.org.

Maine Stream Finance Services – Will provide virtual meetings when possible and continue with 1:1 counseling and lending services through the phone or other telecommuting tools.  Please visit their website for an update on their specific services.

Parenting Classes and Groups – All in-person parenting classes, training and events have been cancelled until further notice. We are offering online parenting classes and groups free to all parents through Zoom.  Go to our Facebook page under ‘events’ to learn more and to register. Parents can call 735-6413 or email Christine McMillen at cmcmillen@penquis.org for more information. For a list of all current classes and to register, click here.

Rape Response Services – 24 hour crisis and support line (1-800-871-7741) and accompaniment services.

Rent Relief Program – April 16, 2020, Governor Mills put in effect the Rent Relief program and you can find the application and more information on MaineHousing’s website.  Frequently Asked Questions

The Journey House – The house remains open with current resident and child and staff are able to take referrals and assist with community supports and options during these times.

Transportation Services – for non-emergency  medical transportation trips are currently in service. Many healthcare providers are following recommendations, that all non-urgent medical procedures, elective surgeries, and appointments at hospitals and health care providers across the state be postponed until further notice.  Please note that when it comes to non medical trips, we need to prioritize those trips, for example trips to food pantries, grocery stores and pharmacies will take priority.  We request postponing all non essential trips until further notice.

Weatherization – In home weatherization audits will discontinue until May 1 and we will evaluate the availability of this service at that time.

MAINEHOUSING ANNOUNCES EXPANDED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

MaineHousing announced expanded eligibility for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, increasing both the potential number of Maine people who can receive help paying their rent and utilities and the number of months they may receive assistance.  MaineHousing oversees the program, and has contracted with Maine’s Community Action Agencies to administer the program regionally in all 16 counties. Penquis administers the program for Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties.

The following changes will be effective at noon on Monday, August 2, 2021:

• Updating one of the eligibility requirements from having financial difficulty because of the pandemic to during the pandemic.
• Increasing the total number of months a household can receive assistance from 15 months to 18 months.

Please review the income guidelines.

Click here for the application.

If someone needs a paper application or has general questions about the program, they can call MaineHousing at 1-800-452-4668.

Penobscot County Vaccination Appt Information Piscataquis County Vaccination Appt Info

Piscataquis County Vaccination Appt Info

To get answers to questions about COVID-19 at any time dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), text your ZIP Code to 898-211, or email info@211maine.org

COVID-19 Messaging GuideParental Controls for TV and Digital Video

You might be asking WHAT IS A ZOOM MEETING AND HOW DO I JOIN? If you are anything like some of us at Penquis, joining a zoom meeting or video conferencing can be a little intimidating for the first time! Now, with the way things are, this option is being offered for our parenting classes and support, meetings and other educational opportunities not just by us but throughout the county.

Here are some simple How to Use Zoom tutorials we found on YouTube, they cover the basics; including options on how to mute and unmute, how to turn the video off and on. It does not cost to download Zoom. To all who use Penquis services, we want to stay connected during this time, while apart, we still have phones, social media, email and yes, Zoom is what we are using to video conference.

Zoom: Running a Meeting & Screen Zoom Meeting Controls

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