Policy Brief: LD 1020 - An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom

This policy brief is intended to inform voters and policymakers by presenting a discussion of LD1020 and research related to issues brought up in these deliberations about (1) definitions of marriage, (2) impacts on society, and (3) impacts on children

Introduction to the Early Childhood Issue

Guest editors Leslie Forstadt and Sheryl Peavey introduce the articles in this special issue of Maine Policy Review on early childhood by highlighting the myriad of programs and policies affecting Maine’s young children and their families. To illus­trate the challenges faced by parents, they present the fictional account of a young woman facing an unexpected pregnancy. The story illustrates the sometimes confusing array of services, programs, and funding for young children and their parents. The authors argue “it is time to make every door into the system of early childhood services the right door for every parent.

Personal Sustainability: Listening to Extension Staff and Observing Organizational Culture

Extension staff are increasingly challenged to do excellent work and balance their lives. University of Maine Cooperative Extension committed to a 2-year participatory action research project to support staff and to an organizational climate that encourages personal sustainability. With tools from ethnography and appreciative inquiry, staff engaged with colleagues through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and informal conversations. This article describes the richness of the process, the methodology, and the findings. Actions began early, as awareness was raised and people felt empowered. Recommendations resulting from the project address ways to support work-life balance, collegiality and connection, and staff connection to organizational vision

Maine Family Farms: Life and Business in Balance #4800

The needs of farmers at each life stage are unique, as choices about farming practices, child rearing, business growth, and succession planning enter into decision making. This publication series, Maine Family Farms: Life and Business in Balance, provides a starting point for farm families to think about issues that range from family conversations to managing stress and sharing ideas about life and business balance.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1003/thumbnail.jp

How Forming a Cooperative Network Improved Services and Outcomes for Farmers

The Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine (BFRN) is a model for maximizing resources and improving farmer services through increased statewide communication and collaboration among a diverse group of agricultural service providers. Formed in 2012, BFRN is a cooperative network with shared leadership and no financial overhead. In a 2018 survey regarding BFRN\u27s impacts, 92% of members (22 of 24 responding members) said they were more effective and efficient. The survey results also indicated that over 800 farmers had made positive changes as a result of members\u27 participation in BFRN. BFRN\u27s continuing high level of activity is a testament to the value this network model offers to participating organizations, agencies, and institutions

Changing medicine and building community: Maine’s Adverse Childhood Experiences momentum

Physicians are instrumental in community education, prevention, and intervention for adverse childhood experiences. In Maine, a statewide effort is focusing on education about adverse childhood experiences and ways that communities and physicians can approach childhood adversity. This article describes how education about adversity and resilience can positively change the practice of medicine and related fields. The Maine Resilience Building Network brings together ongoing programs, supports new ventures, and builds on existing resources to increase its impact. It exemplifies the collective impact model by increasing community knowledge, affecting medical practice, and improving lives.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_family/1000/thumbnail.jp

Family and Consumer Sciences Focus on the Human Dimension: The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Example

The history of family and consumer sciences (FCS) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is discussed with an emphasis on the critical importance of the human dimension. EFNEP\u27s focus on people, education for change, accountability, strategic partnerships, and public value are highlighted as an example and model for Extension and FCS programs in general. Future FCS success and sustainability depends on ensuring continued attention to the human dimension, while also addressing workforce, societal, and technological developments.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs/1251/thumbnail.jp

Collective Impact Partnership and Backbone Organizations as Enablers of Children’s Well-Being

In this article, the question of partnership is approached from a perspective centred around the creation of a common agenda based on trust and from the children´s point of view. Partnership and collaboration have traditionally been viewed as mechanisms to create bridges between organisations and institutions from the private, public and non-governmental sectors in order to enhance funder collaboratives, public-private partnerships, multi-stakeholder initiatives, social sector networks and collective impact initiatives. It was not however until Kania and Kramer´s (2011) seminal work on collective impact when this subject came to be viewed as a developmental process aiming at the creation of a common agenda and mutually agreed activities and consisting of five integral parts: a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication and backbone support organisations. This article, based on a systematic review of the topic, maintains that partnership – approached from the point of view of children and through the lens of collective impact – constitutes a crucial mechanism in the creation of safe and comprehensive wellbeing for children. Thus, this article – using Kania and Kramer´s (2011) definition of collective impact and focusing on the structure of partnerships and the nature of trust in organisations as the prerequisite for partnership – advocates the importance of the UN SDG17 principle as the bringer of inclusive society built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people at the centre of human endeavour.© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Partnerships for the Goals. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71067-9_111-1.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Growing Maine - Treworgy Family Orchards

Treworgy Orchards in Levant is a 2nd generation orchard. Learn the story of their motto, start small. The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their behind the scenes perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them. UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1010/thumbnail.jp

Growing Maine - Stoneheart Farm

Stoneheart Farm is a family farm, with a couple of very important four-legged members. The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their behind the scenes perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them. UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. Videos in the Growing Maine series can be viewed online extension.umaine.edu/maine-food-system/growing-maine. Viewers also have the opportunity to suggest future story ideas for new videos that will be released throughout the year.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1012/thumbnail.jp