Individuals seeking treatment can now text with 2-1-1 to be connected with a local substance use treatment provider

The Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with 2-1-1 Maine and the United Ways of Maine, recently unveiled a new texting service in an effort to facilitate communications for those seeking access to opioid treatment services.

When you text your zip code to 898-211, a Maine-based information specialist will be notified that a new transaction has been received.  The person requesting assistance will receive an automated “Thank you for contacting 2-1-1” response and can immediately begin their dialogue with the trained and friendly specialist.

Initially, the text line will be available from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday–Friday.  If an individual is in need of assistance outside of those hours, they will receive a text response encouraging them to dial 2-1-1 and speak with an information specialist.  DHHS launched the 24/7 opiate help line in April of 2016 through a contract with 2-1-1 Maine with a focus on pregnant women and young mothers seeking treatment.

Trips in the car are some of the best times to have conversations with your kids.

• Parenting Means Being Connected
• Let Your Teen Plan a Family Trip
• Take Advantage of the Little Moments
• Be Prepared for Important Topics

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Ask. Listen. Learn. and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility writes about how can you help your teen or preteen say “no” to using substances.

Click here to visit the site.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and healthychildren.org have created a media plan calculator for families. As stated on their website, “Media should work for you & work within your family values & parenting style. When media is used thoughtfully & appropriately, media can enhance daily life. But when used inappropriately or without thought, media can displace many important activities such as face-to-face interaction, family-time, outdoor-play, exercise, unplugged downtime & sleep.”

Click here to start creating a plan that works best for your family.

Read the full article from Candace Lindemann, BA, Ed.M., educational writer and curriculum designer, here.

1. Try Something New
2. Set Goals
3. Screen Time Rule of Three
4. Make Family Time a Priority

Vroom is a set of tools and resources from the Bezos Family Foundation designed to inspire families to turn everyday moments into “brain building moments” by layering activities that are essential to healthy brain development onto existing routines.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Healthy Students, just released this great resource

Click here to access the full document