The following table outlines MECASA’s regular offerings. The table is separated by:
Member center directors review and approve all new peer calls, workgroups, and formal groups. They also review some, but not all, scheduled trainings. Center staff are always advised to make decisions about which offerings to attend in collaboration with their supervisor/director. For offerings with teal lettering under the “who’s invited” – directors are specifically asked to select what staff (if any) will be participating.
- Peer Support Calls (calls designed to connect staff with shared roles, on topics connected to their work, or with shared identities)
- Workgroups (cohorts who are developing shared statewide programming together)
- Formal Groups (Councils/Committees) - groups with diverse purposes which are formally structured
Member center directors review and approve all new peer calls, workgroups, and formal groups. They also review some, but not all, scheduled trainings. Center staff are always advised to make decisions about which offerings to attend in collaboration with their supervisor/director. For offerings with teal lettering under the “who’s invited” – directors are specifically asked to select what staff (if any) will be participating.
Trainings
2024
Deep Rest For Advocates
June 25, 2024, 3:30p-4:15p. Register here!
Deep Rest for Advocates is a guided meditation exercise led by Molly Donlan, rooted in the practices of Yoga Nidra and Reiki to help reduce burnout related to trauma exposure. Scientific studies show that these practices have helped to improve symptoms of PTSD in soldiers, reduce burnout in hospital workers, and relieve anxiety for college students, among other benefits! For 30 minutes, you don’t have to help anyone make decisions, and you don’t need to be a space holder for others. You get to be physically & energetically held in a virtual container that is for you and your needs. Doing nothing is everything here. You won’t need a yoga mat or fancy clothing, just a chair and your willingness to breathe.
Additional Information:
- Auto Closed Captioning will be turned on.
- This session will not include any printed or PowerPoint materials.
- This session is for center staff and volunteers, so please feel free to forward this invitation to your volunteer teams.
Navigating DHHS contracts
TBD
2024
Supporting Trans Survivors
May 1st: 1pm- 5pm
Click Here to Register
Evaluation Lunch'n'Learn
May 8th 12:00-1:00p Zoom Link
Come and chat about how using client evaluation is working for you and your team!
Mindbridge Racial Equity Learning Series
Beginning in May, MECASA and Mindbridge will be offering a multifaceted Racial Equity Learning Series to all staff across the state. Throughout this series, there will be additional opportunities to deepen the work using a POD system, which allows for small cohorts to dig in more on topics that may be challenging or need more time to work through and metabolize in between sessions. Following this summer series, there will be additional opportunities in the fall available through Coalition Manager.
To Watch the Introductory Video by our Racial Equity Stewardship Committee, Click Here
For The Pre-Session Survey Link, Click Here
Individual Session Descriptions (same topic, offered two times during the month):
Session 1- May 2024: Charting Our Internal Landscape
Emotional regulation, trauma-informed approaches to practice; neuropsychology of implicit bias; racial identity & foundational concepts of anti-racist practice.
--Tuesday, May 14th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Click Here to Register
--Friday, May 17th, 9:30am to 11:00am
Click Here to Register
Session 2- June 2024: Language of Power
Introduction to the three levels of power, their role in racial equity work, and how the three levels can be applied to advocacy.
--Tuesday, June 11th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Click Here to Register
--Friday, June 14th, 9:30am to 11:00am
Click Here to Register
Session 3- July 2024: Structural Equity Applied Practice
Applying stories, rules, resources, and people; developing disruption plans.
--Tuesday, July 16th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Click Here to Register
--Friday, July 19th, 9:30am to 11:00am
Click Here to Register
MECASACon 2024: Creating a Collective Compass for Change
Tuesday September 10th at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor
More details TBA
Practical Trial Skills Training for Forensic Interviewers and Expert Witnesses
October 20-25
More details TBA
Evaluation Lunch'n'Learn
November 6th 12:00-1:00p Zoom Link
Come and chat about how using client evaluation is working for you and your team!
WebinARS
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) in Maine
May 9th 2pm- 3:30pm
Click Here to Register
Utilizing Canva
June 6th 2pm- 3:30pm
More details TBA
Most past MECASA webinars can be accessed by viewing the Webinar Playlist on our YouTube page here.
May 9th 2pm- 3:30pm
Click Here to Register
Utilizing Canva
June 6th 2pm- 3:30pm
More details TBA
Most past MECASA webinars can be accessed by viewing the Webinar Playlist on our YouTube page here.
Peer SUPPORT CALLS
MECASA hosts role-specific, optional Peer Support Calls via Zoom. These calls are designed to connect staff throughout the state, share ideas, and stay up-to-date on resources.
Click on the title of the call to learn more about its purpose, plan, and which staff should consider attending.
Click on the title of the call to learn more about its purpose, plan, and which staff should consider attending.
BIPOC Peer Support Call
For Maine & Vermont DV/SA Advocates Facilitated by René Goddess Last Thursday of the month (No July or August) | 12:00pm-1:00pm Zoom link Contact: Hyde Client Services Peer Support Call Bimonthly 1p-2p Open to all center staff Call Notes Zoom Link Contact: Kayce June 18 - Supporting Trans Survivors August 20 - Schools not responding appropriately October 15 - Sudden stops in communication w/ callers Communications Cohort Call Communications Cohort Call Notes This call is for center staff working in communications/outreach and selected to participate by their director. Last Wednesday of each month | 11:00a -12:30p Contact: Jessica Directors' Call Weekly on Thursdays | 9:00am-10:30am Contact: Jess Family Advocate Peer Sharing Call Bimonthly| 8:30am-10am Next meeting is April 18th Contact: Jess A. Finance & Grant Peer Support Call TBD Time and Date Contact: Dan Forensic Interviewer Peer Review Quarterly (February, May, August, November)| 9:00am-11:00am November 9 and 14 Contact: Hyde |
Helpline Volunteer Managers Call
Call Notes Zoom Link Contact: Kayce or Jessica Bimonthly on the 4th Tuesday|2p-3:30p May 28th | Energize Training and Recruitment Videos Incarcerated Services Call Incarcerated Services Call Notes Bimonthly 1PM to 2PM on the 4th Thursday Contact: Carlie April 25th - Different facilities, different approaches June 27th - Unique advocacy needs of incarcerated survivors August 22nd - PREA audits October 24th - Survivors who are Indigenous and incarcerated December 26th - CANCELLED Prevention Peer Support Call Prevention Call Notes 2nd Thursday of every month | 3-4pm Contact: Lisa for Zoom link password April 11 May 9 June - no call because of the Prevention Summit on June 26 July 11 - focus group with CCCS in lieu of call Rural Advocate Peer Support Call Rural Call Notes *ON HOLD UNTIL EQUITY & ACCESS COORDINATOR IS HIRED* Upcoming Topics: Landscape of Recovery & Detox Services; Working with Island Communities, Topic: Title IX & Rural Colleges Contact: Jess Supervisor Learning Cohort 4th Thursday of each month| 11:00am-12:00pm Contact: Sarah Systems/SART Peer Support Call (Open to all center staff) Systems Call Notes Bimonthly 1PM to 2PM on the 3rd Tuesday Contact: Carlie May 21 - Campus advocacy July 16 - Working with DVRC Partners September 17 - Emergency medical advocacy |
Welcome calls for center staff
FORMAL GROUP (COUNCILS/COMMITTEES)
Member Advisory Council (MAC)
The Member Advisory Council (MAC) is comprised of the directors of MECASA member programs. Below is a list of their responsibilities:
STEN Provider Council
The Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network (STEN) provides training, technical assistance, and resources to direct service providers engaged in anti-trafficking efforts in Maine, as well as community awareness and public policy support.
Contact: Carlie
June 5 |1:00pm-3:00pm
August 7 |9:00am-11:00am
October 2 |1:00pm-3:00pm
December 4 |9:00am-11:00am
CAC Provider Council (More details coming soon)
The Children’s Advocacy Center Provider Council was established as a means of meeting criteria for accreditation by the National Children's Alliance and offering critical networking and collaborative opportunities to strengthen the statewide CAC model.
Contact: Jess
Racial Equity Stewardship Committee
The Member Advisory Council (MAC) is comprised of the directors of MECASA member programs. Below is a list of their responsibilities:
- With MECASA, Set Vision and Direction for Statewide Services
- Inform and Implement Statewide Programming & Messaging
- Represent Local Centers & Communities to MECASA; Represent MECASA to Local Centers & Communities
- Provide Peer Support and Community for SASCs
STEN Provider Council
The Maine Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Network (STEN) provides training, technical assistance, and resources to direct service providers engaged in anti-trafficking efforts in Maine, as well as community awareness and public policy support.
- The goal of the STEN provider council is to provide a forum for providers of direct service for trafficking and exploitation victims to share efforts taking place locally. This forum will promote statewide communication, cooperation and collaboration among all providers, to improve outcomes for victims across Maine.
- All direct service providers represented on the AG’s Trafficking Work Group and service provider chairs of local anti-trafficking multidisciplinary teams are invited to participate
Contact: Carlie
June 5 |1:00pm-3:00pm
August 7 |9:00am-11:00am
October 2 |1:00pm-3:00pm
December 4 |9:00am-11:00am
CAC Provider Council (More details coming soon)
The Children’s Advocacy Center Provider Council was established as a means of meeting criteria for accreditation by the National Children's Alliance and offering critical networking and collaborative opportunities to strengthen the statewide CAC model.
Contact: Jess
Racial Equity Stewardship Committee
WORKGROUPS
EmpowerDB Committee
The group has two main goals:
1.Review requested/suggested changes to the database and inform decisions about those changes
2. Support communication about database practices (including changes) with your teams to help improve data entry consistency state-wide
Advocate Training Workgroup
This workgroup develops and updates Advocate Training materials, shares training and facilitation resources, and discusses issues and needs related to Advocate Training.
Helpline Workgroup
Through this workgroup MECASA and centers continue to develop strong partnerships with each other with the goal of providing the highest quality of helpline services possible that strive to be in line with the best and most promising known practices.
Prevention Curriculum Workgroup
Public Policy and Legislative Workgroup
The group has two main goals:
1.Review requested/suggested changes to the database and inform decisions about those changes
2. Support communication about database practices (including changes) with your teams to help improve data entry consistency state-wide
Advocate Training Workgroup
This workgroup develops and updates Advocate Training materials, shares training and facilitation resources, and discusses issues and needs related to Advocate Training.
Helpline Workgroup
Through this workgroup MECASA and centers continue to develop strong partnerships with each other with the goal of providing the highest quality of helpline services possible that strive to be in line with the best and most promising known practices.
Prevention Curriculum Workgroup
Public Policy and Legislative Workgroup
Looking for the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault? Head to mecasa.org. |