Penobscot Bay Community Health Partnerships

05/31/2026

Every year on May 31st, individuals, communities, and organizations all over the world come together with one common goal in mind- to abstain from using to***co products. We hope that you will join us this year in observing this 'holiday'.

According to the World Health Organization, "At least 40 million children aged 13–15 globally report current use of at least one to***co product. Of these, 20 million smoke ci******es and 10 million use smokeless (oral/nasal) to***co. Also, at least 15 million adolescents aged 13–15 years are already using e-ci******es, and in countries with data, children are on average nine times more likely than adults to v**e."

The goal of this year's campaign is centered around preventing youth to***co usage. They aim to raise awareness on the new and always evolving strategies of big to***co and how they reel in youth in order to hook them for life, fight for stronger policies in regards to flavor bans and advertising, and push for more prevention and education to equip young people with the knowledge to make informed choices.

Help is always available to make today the first day of your quit journey. Maine QuitLink is available for adults, and My Life, My Quit is available for teens, all free of cost.

To read more about the World Health Organization's 2026 No To***co Day campaign, click here: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-10-2025-world-no-to***co-day-2026--unmasking-the-appeal---countering-nicotine-and-to***co-addiction

05/19/2026

You can't see thirdhand smoke, but smoking and va**ng leave harmful chemicals that can linger for years.

Know the risks of thirdhand smoke. Learn more at MaineQuitLink.com.

05/15/2026

So grateful to be part of Solutionaries Stakeholder Day at Camden Rockport Middle School for the third year in a row! This year I had the opportunity to work with two students focused on improving support for individuals impacted by substance use disorder in their communities. We had great conversations about recovery resources, prevention, and stigma reduction. Inspiring to see young people leading with compassion and creative problem-solving!

05/14/2026

Our “Natural is Enough” posters are up, promoting healthy choices and pushing back on the pressures young people feel around body image and performance, which sometimes drive interest in youth steroid use. This project was inspired by conversations with youth during lunch tabling sessions! 💪🏼

05/13/2026

📢 WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!🥦🍎
Our Nutrition Education programming in Knox County is restarting soon!
Thanks to Rural Health Transformation Program funding, we are thrilled to bring no-cost nutrition programming back to our community. Led statewide by UNE, this new initiative will provide fresh, healthy education for everyone! 🥗
We are so excited and have lots more new information to share soon. 🍅 Stay tuned for updates!

05/12/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of participating in The Landing Place's spring celebration. Local youth and community members came together to celebrate our youth with games, treats, a parade, and good times! It was truly beautiful to see everyone come together and PBCHP is so grateful to have been a part of this amazing event! Thank you for having us!!

05/12/2026

Check out this month's update newsletter to see what's going on with PBCHP! 🌿🌷

Knowledge can empower and make us more resilient. Some groups that share our newsletters and articles include local schools, other community organizations, law enforcement, religious organizations, and more.

05/11/2026

Want to join a free watercolor class at the CMCA? Join us this Thursday at 3pm! Explore mixed media botanical illustration techniques with CMCA teaching artist Tara Morin. Tara will guide us through simple, beginner-friendly painting and drawing strategies for illustrating plant forms with a focus on expressive line and color! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjGkC66nwUzPsK7-mx9PZ0MhDTm5L9tmodfPW4vtAcxhHE8Q/viewform?urp=gmail_link

05/11/2026

💚🧠💐May is mental health awareness month! Mental health is just as important as physical health, so don't forget to take a moment to check in with yourself. Everyone has mental health and everyone deserves access to the proper resources to help them nourish their mental wellbeing. It's always okay to ask for help if or when you need it! 💐🧠💚

05/08/2026

We’re working with students at Belfast Area High School on a Youth Mattering project 🎥

We’re currently creating a student-led film exploring what it means to feel like you belong, alongside creative projects that lift up youth identity and voice. More to come soon!