Also known as Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers
2022 Goals
Maine Children’s Home (MCH) has more than 122 years of experience providing essential home services and care for children, youth, and families across Maine. In 2021 and 2022, MCH plans to continue evolving with the changing needs of the 3,000 people — families, adults, teens, and children — who receive services and assistance through MCH’s core programs:
- Family Adoption Program
- Family Counseling Center
- Teen Parent Education Program
- Connected Families Project
- Christmas Program
MCH is expanding on its successful efforts to adapt during the pandemic crisis by hiring more counselors and investing in trauma-focused and trust-based training for its counseling and adoption staff. MCH’s Family Counseling Center will continue to offer Telehealth counseling to provide quality remote therapy to 346 active clients of all ages. MCH’s Connected Families Project plans to offer more virtual classes on trauma-informed care of children and youth for caregivers, kinship families, and educators, as well as Trust-Based Relational Intervention® for expanding awareness and support for children that have been impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). MCH is also working toward providing more social work resources to families who receive assistance during the holidays through Christmas Program.
Fundraising Events / Opportunities
MCH supporters across the state raise resources for the MCH mission — to build and strengthen families and their children — including the Friends of Maine Children’s Home (The Friends). The Friends hold a Lobster Roll Lunch each fall, Dining for Dollars events, and gift drives.
The MCH staff and board members plan three events annually:
- The Annual Meeting Celebration in January
- The There’s No Place Like Home annual fundraiser in June
- The Christmas in July drive for toys, art supplies, and clothes
Corporate support is essential to meeting annual needs. Anyone interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities can call Development Director Elizabeth Barron at (207) 873-4253 extension 217 or email her at ebarron@mainechildrenshome.org.
Giving Opportunities
MCH welcomes charitable gifts and donations that meet personal and corporate philanthropic and legacy-building goals.
- Individualized legacy gift and planned giving: bequests, appreciated securities, charitable distributions, charitable trusts, real estate, etc.
- Sponsorships of MCH programs and events: offering broad exposure with promotions on the MCH website and marketing materials.
- The “Red Stocking Fund”: Annual, monthly, and quarterly donations to this fund support the more than 3,000 Maine people — children, youth, adults, and families – receiving services from MCH each year. Donations can also be designated to support specific MCH programs.
- In-kind donations: New books, warm clothing, boots, board games, and toys are needed to meet all the needs of holiday gift boxes for children across Maine through MCH’s Christmas Program.
Volunteer Opportunities
MCH typically welcomes volunteers from local schools, colleges, civic clubs, and businesses to complete activities and projects for MCH programs. Volunteers can contribute through the following:
- Join the Friends of Maine Children’s Home (The Friends)
- The Friends are goodwill ambassadors that help promote and carry out activities as well as fundraising support to provide resources to grow and maintain MCH’s core programs.
- Assist with Christmas Program
- Assist with other MCH programs
- Find out about serving on the board of directors or other planning or development committees
Anyone interested in learning more about group volunteer opportunities at MCH can call Development Director Elizabeth Barron at (207) 873-4253 or email her at ebarron@mainechildrenshome.org.
