Neighbor to Neighbor: A series of articles to raise awareness of suicide prevention and support resources available in our community. Sponsored by your local Hope & Resiliency Coalition

The Hope & Resiliency Coalition is a group of committed community members who gather regularly to support the both enhancement of suicide prevention as well as those impacted by suicide loss. We sponsor this series of articles to invite our neighbors to take advantage of the services and supports available in our community to assist those struggling with any number of challenges that could include hopelessness, loss, substance misuse or mental health related concerns.

Since forming in the summer of 2016, the Coalition has hosted multiple community and professional events in collaboration with others: Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, Boothbay Harbor Police Department, The Family Care Center, The Community Center, Boothbay Region Community Resource Council, New Hope for Women, Coulombe Center for Health Improvement, St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, as well as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Maine) and Maine Center for Disease Control.

This is a second of a series of articles intended to share resources which are available to our neighbors.

New Hope for Women

Our Mission: New Hope for Women offers confidential support to people in the Boothbay Region who are affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. We provide educational resources to assist our communities in creating a safer and healthier future.

Domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking thrive behind closed doors. No one deserves to be controlled/abused, but many of our clients have struggled to ask for help due to fear, shame, or judgement. We believe we can have the greatest effect in the lives of victims by ensuring that their families, neighbors, employers, medical professionals, and others in the community are able to support them safely and respectfully. New Hope for Women offers free presentations to any group who would like to learn more about how to recognize various types of abuse and how to respond. We believe that everyone has a part to play, and that our combined efforts can create a community where victims are supported and abuse is not tolerated.

New Hope for Women provides services to all people regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, culture, age, physical or mental disability, or socio-economic status. We have offered support to a number of people in the Boothbay region as well as people in all of Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox, and Waldo counties.

New Hope for Women’s services are divided into direct services for clients, and prevention services for the community. The direct services include a 24-hour confidential helpline (also available for family, friends or others who have concerns about someone), advocacy, emergency shelter through a safe home network, court support and information including an on-staff attorney, support groups, transitional housing, and an intervention group for women who use violence. The prevention services include school-based programs that are age appropriate from pre-school to college, as well as community presentations and trainings.

We collaborate with law enforcement, faith-based leaders, medical professionals, businesses, schools, mental health providers, and civic organizations. Together we provide a supportive network for people in need.

New Hope relies on community volunteers to help us carry out our work. Volunteers help staff our helpline, serve on our Board of Directors, provide emergency shelter, and assist with fundraising.

How to reach us: If you would like more information about our services or to schedule a presentation, please call New Hope for Women at 1-800-522-3304, visit our website at www.newhopeforwomen.org, or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NewHopeMaine.