FARMINGTON — The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area has selected three organizations to receive a portion of $10,000 in funding to launch new and innovative programming in Greater Franklin County.
The organizations include HealthReach Community Health Centers, Western Maine Homeless Outreach and Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center.
HealthReach Community Health Centers was awarded funding to better manage diabetes at the Strong Area Health Center. Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting about 8 percent of the patient population.
The grant will allow the Health Center to purchase a glucose monitor that will help patients to continuously monitor their glucose profile. This monitoring will be part of an overall care management/education plan with the goal of facilitating self-management to improve glycemic control in challenging situations.
Western Maine Homeless Outreach shelter was awarded funds to expand its ability to provide emergency shelter to homeless individuals and families.
This includes help with organizational and infrastructure projects, such as website development and the creation of outreach materials to better inform donors and the general public about its services.
Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center was awarded funds to help minimize trauma among Franklin County’s children and those with cognitive impairments.
According to the Maine Children’s Alliance, approximately 6,100 children live in Franklin County. Current studies show that persons under 18 years of age account for 67 percent of all sexual assault victimizations reported to law enforcement agencies. Children under 12 years old account for 34 percent of those cases, and children under six years of age account for 14 percent.
In recent months, 40 children have been interviewed at the Farmington Police Department in a less-than-child-friendly interview room.
With increasing needs in Franklin County, the ACAC formed a multi-disciplinary team consisting of law enforcement, DHHS staff and mental health and sexual assault crisis professionals to develop and implement a child advocacy center where a child who has been abused is interviewed in a home-like atmosphere by a professionally trained forensic interviewer. The family is also given appropriate support.
With Venture Grant funding, this center has been established at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services offices at 227 Main St., Farmington.
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