If you need some support while you are going through a divorce, here is a
partial list of services that may be of help to you. They are listed under
three headings: "legal," "other" (including resources for
domestic violence, counseling and support, and parenting help) and "financial."
Check the topic headings to find resources in your geographic area.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Pine Tree Legal Assistance handles only a few divorce
cases. We also have some
written materials we can send you to help you do your own divorce, if you
can. We don't charge for this information if you meet our income limits. Call
your
nearest Pine Tree office. Also, we post information on many
family law topics..
If you are low income, Pine Tree may be able to help you with other legal
problems, such as:
- you apply for government benefits but are turned down
- you are being evicted from public housing
- you have problems with MaineCare
- you need a protection from abuse order
Volunteer Lawyer's Project
If you meet income limits, the Volunteer Lawyers Project
can give you free
legal advice and written information. They may also refer you to a private
lawyer who may handle your case for free. If you are doing your own divorce
or parental rights case, they have a "Helpline." They arrange to
have a lawyer call you on a Wednesday evening between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m.
The lawyer can help you fill out your court forms or answer your questions.To
get a Helpline appointment, contact the
Volunteer Lawyers Project.
Maine Lawyer Referral and Information Service
For a $25 fee, the Maine Lawyer Referral and
Information Service can refer you to a lawyer in your area for a one half
hour consultation or review of your paperwork. This service is approved and supported by the Maine
State Bar Association. If the consultation goes over the half hour, or if you decide to hire the lawyer,
you will need to negotiate fees and payment arrangements.
Penquis Law Project
The Penquis
Law Project gives legal help to people with low and moderate incomes in Penobscot,
Piscataquis and Knox Counties in cases involving domestic relations, including divorce,
protection from abuse, child support and visitation. Priority is given to clients who
have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Services are free.
One-time appointments are available for income-eligible clients who need help with court
forms or have questions about family law matters.
Courthouse Assistance Projects
A volunteer may be able to help you fill out court forms, calculate child support,
and answer questions. These projects are run by different organizations—some with strict
income cap rules and others with more flexible income guidelines.
Check
to see if there is a help project in your area.
Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic
The Cumberland
Legal Aid Clinic is run by the University of Maine School of Law. Students
represent low income people in civil cases, including contested divorces, in
Cumberland, York, Southern Androscoggin, and Western Sagadahoc counties.
Telephone: 780-4370
Toll-free: 1-877-780-2522
Domestic Violence
The Maine Coalition
to End Domestic Violence is a group of organizations set up
to work together to end domestic abuse. The coalition has an office in Bangor.
It helps to coordinate the work of the local domestic violence projects.
If you need help, or just someone to talk to,
contact the agency serving your county.
Many of these projects also have a lawyer on staff, who may be able to help you with
legal issues.
If you are a Native American, the following agencies can also help
you:
Wabanaki Mental Health Association
can make referrals.
Pleasant Point: Peaceful
Relations or call the Tribal Police at
853-2551
Indian Township: Indian Township Health Center Call 796-2321
Hotline #: 1-877-796-2020
Houlton Band of Maliseets: 532-6401 (during office hours M-F 8-4)
694-1353 (after hours).
Aroostook Band of Micmacs: (ask for Sarah Dewitt) 764-1972
Penobscot Indian Nation: (ask for Clarice Chavaree) 817-7491
Counseling and Support Services
2-1-1 Maine
Get quick 24-hour access to health and human services information and resources.
Toll Free Telephone: 2-1-1
Toll Free from outside of Maine:
(877) 463-6207
Search for services online
Maine State Crisis
Hotline
If you are stressed out and need help, the
Maine State Crisis Hotline offers support
and referrals to agencies in your area.
Maine
Centers for Women, Work and Community
(formerly Displaced Homemakers)
If you are going through major life changes, the
Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community can give you support
and assistance. The Maine Centers offer workshops and courses in employability,
career/life planning, job searches, self-esteem, assertiveness, personal resource
management, and self-employment. Call the number below to be referred
to the program nearest you.
Toll-Free Telephone: 1-800-442-2092
Women Unlimited
Women Unlimited is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to improving
the economic well-being of Maine women by placing and training them in
non-traditional occupations in trade and transportation fields.
Women Unlimited's job-placement service (JobBank) is available for women seeking
entry-level or skilled positions.
Toll-Free Telephone: 1-800-281-5259
Catholic Charities Maine
Catholic Charities Maine offers such services
as day care resources, pregnancy counseling and testing, substance
abuse counseling, children's youth services, dental clinics, and services
for the visually and hearing impaired, among others. Not all services are offered in all
locations. Call the number below to be referred to the program nearest you.
Toll Free Telephone: 1-800-781-8550
Ingraham, Inc.
Ingraham, Inc.
offers offers programs to help people deal
with suicide, crisis, homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse
Cumberland County Crisis Response: 774-HELP
Parenting Help and Education
Mainely Parents, Inc.
If you are having trouble coping with your child or your child's situation,
Mainely Parents offers parent support groups and parent
education courses. The
groups include a trained volunteer facilitator, a parent leader and other
parents.
| 188 State Street, Ste. #400 |
| Portland, ME 04101 |
|
Telephone: 842-2984 or 1-800-249-5506
|
Mainely Parents also offers a parent Talkline. The Talkline is a toll-free
statewide service for parents under stress. It provides crisis intervention,
parenting information, referrals and resources.
Talkline operates Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Telephone: 1-800-249-5506
Kids First Center
Kids First Center offers a variety of services
to the community. The Center offers a number of different programs dealing with issues of
divorce and separation for parents and children in various locations throughout the State.
It helps people register for its programs and
makes referrals to lawyers and therapists outside the Center. The Center also offers a
library with books about issues of divorce and separation for parrents, children, and
the professionals who work with them.
Call the Portland number listed below for information regarding programs
in Portland, Topsham and Biddeford. For general information, write or call:
|
Kids First Center |
| 222 St. John Street, Suite 101 |
| Portland, ME 04102-3054 |
| Telephone: 761-2709 |
These organizations also offer the Kids First Program:
Southern Maine Medical Center
One Medical Center Drive
Biddeford, ME 04005
Telephone: 761-2709
Toll-Free: 1-866-543-7347
Woodside Elementary School
42 Barrows Drive
Topsham, ME 04086
Telephone: 761-2709
Toll-Free: 1-866-543-7347
Children's Task Force
113 Church Street
Farmington, ME 04938
Telephone: 778-6960
The Kids First Program is also offered in the following locations.
Please call local numbers for current dates and registration information.
Augusta, Waterville, Skowhegan: 626-3428
Belfast: 338-2200 ext 109
Lewiston: 783-3990
South Paris: 739-6370 (Wed. eve.)
Lubec-Machias: 773-1090 x3114
The following organizations offer similar programs:
Rockland:
Parent Works
P.O. Box 505
Rockland, ME 04841
Telephone: 596-0014
Bangor And Ellsworth:
For Kids Sake
P.O. Box 2367
Bangor, ME 04402-2367
Telephone: 942-9329
Presque Isle:
Moving Forward
CTC of Aroostook
454 Houlton Road
Easton, ME 04740
Telephone: 488-6657 or 488-5650
Drop Off and Pick Up Centers
Home to Home provides a safe place for separated or divorced parents
of mid-coast Maine to exchange their children for visitations. A specific time is
set up for the exchange. For more information about peaceful exchanges at Home to Home,
please contact your lawyer or the Maine Sixth District Court:
West Bath: 442-0200
Wiscasset: 882-6363
Rockland: 596-2240
Home-to-Home Telephone: 837-4894
The Parent Resource Center
(PRC), located at B Street Community Center, 57 Birch Street, Lewiston, offers a wide
range of parent education and support services for all families in Androscoggin County.
Phone: 783-3990
Safe Family Exchange (SAFE) provides a safe place for separated or divorced parents in Hancock
County to peacefully exchange their children for court ordered visitations.Exchanges take place in
neutral settings located in Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.
Phone: 266-7620
Family Care Services Family Access Program provides services designed to help family members have access
to one another on a consistent basis, in a neutral and safe setting, and with qualified staff providing
close supervision. The program also provides a service that transfers children from one parent to another,
in a conflict-free atmosphere.
Phone: 490-5847
If you need financial help during or after your divorce or separation, you
should know about the these programs.
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
TANF replaced the old AFDC program.
If your household qualifies, you can get a monthly check. TANF has a work/training requirement,
the ASPIRE program. This requirement is waived for some people who get
TANF. To apply for TANF, contact the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
office nearest you. If you want to go to
college while
you are getting aid, ask DHHS about the
Parents as Scholars (or PaS) program.
If you are denied or told you cannot apply, call Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Food Stamps
If your income is low, even if you work,
you may be able to get Food Stamps.
To apply, contact the DHHS office nearest you.
MaineCare
An increasing number of children and their parents are eligible for
MaineCare health coverage. Many children who are not financially eligible for TANF or food stamps can
get MaineCare.
If you qualify, MaineCare is free, although some families may have to pay a small premium.
To apply, contact the DHHS office nearest you.
W.I.C.
(Women, Infants and Children)
If you are pregnant, have had a baby within the last six months,
are breastfeeding a baby under 12 months old, or have a child or foster child
under age 5, the
W.I.C. Program can help you buy certain types of food. Call the Toll
Free number below to be referred to the Program nearest you.
Telephone: 1-800-437-9300 TTY: 1-800-438-5514
General
Assistance
General Assistance is a welfare program run by every city and town. You can
use General Assistance vouchers to pay for rent, food, utilities, medicine
or clothing. If your income is too low to pay for your basic necessities,
General Assistance may help you. To qualify, you may have to show that
your income for the past 30 days was spent on basic necessities. If you are
able to work, you may be required to do a work search or "workfare."
If you do not know how to apply, or have questions about how your town or
city is handling your application, call DHHS at 1-800-442-6003. The
local number is 287-2826. The TTY number is 287-6948.
Property
Tax or Rent Refund
Both renters and homeowners can qualify for a
property tax or rent refund.
You can file each year between August 1st and the following May 31st.
To get an application, call 624-7894. That number operates 24 hours
a day. For information, call 626-8475, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m. The TTY number is 287-4477. Or, you can write to Maine Revenue
Services, #24 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04332. Go to online
application and more information
.
Emergency Assistance Program
This program is run by DHHS for low income households with children under
the age of 21 who are threatened by destitution or homelessness because
of emergency situations. DHHS can help pay a security deposit or back rent if that will
prevent an eviction or if your present home is unsafe and you need to move.
The program can also pay a bill to prevent a utility shut-off. You can get
benefits from this program during a 30 day period one time per year. To apply,
contact your area DHHS office.
Get more information
Alternative Aid Assistance
Alternative Aid Assistance is a program to help eligible parents who need short term help to find or
maintain employment. Voucher payments equal to up to three months worth of TANF benefits. This program can
help a family once every 12 months, to help them avoid the need for ongoing TANF benefits. To apply,
contact your area DHHS office.
Get more information
Salvation
Army
If you are low on money, food or clothing, call your local
Salvation Army office. The Divisional
Headquarters are located in Portland at 297 Cumberland Avenue, PO Box 3647, Portland, ME
04104. Telephone: 774-6304.
Community
Action Program (CAP) Offices
CAP agencies offer a number of programs
which may help you. They include:
health services and referrals, job training, day care, housing information
and referral, fuel assistance, insulation and furnace repairs,
surplus food, and transportation.
Go to Divorce and Parental Rights in Maine
|
Notice
© Pine Tree
Legal Assistance
September 2006
Sometimes the laws
change. We cannot promise that this information is always
up-to-date and correct. If the date above is not this year,
call us to see if there is an update.
We provide this
information as a public service. It is not legal advice.
By sending you this information, we are not acting as your lawyer.
Always consult a lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
Please review our full terms-of-use agreement
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