DHHS: Be There for ME: A new campaign for parents and caregivers in Maine and the people who support them

The Maine Child Welfare Action Network (MCWAN) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the launch of Be There for ME, a new campaign for parents and caregivers in Maine and the people who support them. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma of asking for help and provides a judgement-free place for parents and caregivers to start to find support. Please see below for additional details and an invitation to a webinar to learn more about the campaign.

MCWAN and DHHS developed Be There for ME over the past year in partnership with a diverse group of parents and caregivers, as well as many community organizations. The campaign reflects the types of support parents and caregivers of children of all ages said they need and how they spoke about their experiences. Part of this campaign is the new BeThereforME.org website: https://bethereforme.org. The website connects parents and caregivers to resources to start to find support for family needs—including housing, getting everyday items, child care, and dealing with stress. Available in 12 languages, the website is designed to welcome parents, caregivers, and all those who are there for them by encouraging them to take the first step toward support even if they’re not sure where to go.

Everyone—from state and community organizations to neighbors, friends, and professionals—has a role to play in supporting families. The “How to Be There for ME” page features tips on how to support parents and caregivers in Maine and materials that can be shared with your networks. We encourage you to:

• Download Be There for ME flyers, posters, and rack cards in 12 languages from the website:https://bethereforme.org/how-to-be-ther e-for-me#toolkit.
• Request printed Be There for ME posters and rack cards from the Maine Prevention Store: https://www.mainepreventionstore.com/collections/all/be-there-for-me.

• Share Be There for ME’s message on social media with pre-made posts: https://bethereforme.org/how-to-be-there-for-me#toolkit.
• Repost these videos featuring parents and caregivers in Maine: https://www.youtube.com/@bethereformemaine.
• Include the following blurb about Be There for ME in your next newsletter: Be There for ME is a new campaign for parents and caregivers in Maine and the people who support them. Parenting can be a joy, and it can also be hard. Everyone needs help sometimes and support is out there. Learn more and start to find support at: https://BeThereforME.org.

​Learn more about Be There for ME at the second of a 2024 webinar series hosted by the Office of Child and Family Services and the Maine Children’s Trust about how we can all keep children safe by keeping families strong.

• Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm via Zoom
• Participants will:

• Learn about Be There for Me and its development  
• Learn about Be There for ME toolkit materials and identify opportunities to act on Be There for ME’s message  

 
In order to participate or receive the webinar recording and resources, please register here by August 2, 2024, at 5 p.m. A meeting invitation and link to the webinar will be sent to you the day prior to the scheduled webinar.