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Resources in Maine

82 listings. Please call ahead — hours and services change.

Adoption

  • Community Care — Treatment Foster Care

    Treatment foster care within about an hour of Bangor and Skowhegan and in the Machias area, with a full-time clinician and 24-hour on-call support for foster parents. Toll-free: (888) 236-2273.

  • Spurwink — Foster Care & Adoption Services

    Support for foster families from first inquiry through placement, treatment foster care, and the Adoption Matching Program, which works with DHHS to pair licensed families with children awaiting adoption.

  • A Family for ME

    Statewide

    Maine's foster and adoptive family recruitment program, a partnership between DHHS and Spurwink, with the Maine Heart Gallery of children waiting for families.

  • Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine (AFFM)

    Statewide

    Support services for adoptive, foster and kinship families across Maine, including the Kinship Program, with support from a contract with Maine DHHS. Offices in Brewer and Saco.

  • Maine DHHS — Foster Care & Adoption

    Statewide

    How to become a resource (foster) or adoptive parent in Maine: licensing requirements, informational meetings, and a list of licensed adoption agencies.

  • State of Maine Adoption Reunion Registry

    Statewide

    Maine's registry that helps adoptees and birth families find each other once both have registered and consented. The page also explains how adoptees 18 or older who were born in Maine can request their original birth certificate.

Free / Subsidized Childcare

Churches / Baby Closets

  • ABBA Women's Choice

    Free, confidential pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, STI/STD testing, and support programs and classes in Portland. Call or text (207) 977-2119.

  • First Step Pregnancy Resource Center

    Free women's health clinic for greater Bangor: pregnancy testing, STD testing and information about all options.

  • Open Arms Pregnancy Center

    Free help in Augusta for pregnant women and young families: options information, and for those who decide to parent, emotional and material support and a moms' support group.

  • The Salvation Army — Northern New England

    Emergency help with rent, mortgage and utility bills from the Salvation Army's Northern New England Division, whose local teams assess each family's needs.

  • Catholic Charities Maine

    Statewide

    Catholic social services across Maine since 1966: child development centers, children's behavioral health, food programs and more. Toll-free: (800) 781-8550.

Clothing / Supplies

  • ABBA Women's Choice

    Free, confidential pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, STI/STD testing, and support programs and classes in Portland. Call or text (207) 977-2119.

  • First Step Pregnancy Resource Center

    Free women's health clinic for greater Bangor: pregnancy testing, STD testing and information about all options.

  • Open Arms Pregnancy Center

    Free help in Augusta for pregnant women and young families: options information, and for those who decide to parent, emotional and material support and a moms' support group.

Domestic Violence

  • Maine Statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline

    Statewide

    Free, confidential 24-hour helpline for anyone affected by domestic abuse. Advocates help with next steps and connect callers with local services, including shelter. Deaf or hard of hearing: Maine Relay, (800) 437-1220.

  • love is respect (National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline)

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential 24/7 help for teens and young adults in unhealthy or abusive relationships. Text LOVEIS to 22522, or chat online.

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Nationwide

    Confidential support 24/7 for anyone experiencing abuse.

  • StrongHearts Native Helpline

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential 24/7 support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic and sexual violence, by phone, text or chat.

  • The Deaf Hotline

    Nationwide

    24/7 domestic-violence support for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard-of-hearing survivors, by videophone, chat or email (deafhelp@thehotline.org).

Employment

  • Goodwill Northern New England — Workforce Services

    Job support: career advisors help with resumes, cover letters, interview prep and finding training, and vocational support advisors meet people across southern and central Maine.

  • Maine CareerCenters

    Statewide

    Free job search help, training and career services at CareerCenters across Maine, plus the Maine JobLink job board.

  • American Job Centers (CareerOneStop)

    Nationwide

    Free local help with job searches, training and career services. Find your nearest American Job Center online or by phone.

  • Dress for Success

    Nationwide

    Professional clothing and career support for women. Find your local Dress for Success on the website.

  • Easterseals — Employment Services

    Nationwide

    Job training and employment support for people with disabilities through local Easterseals affiliates.

  • Goodwill Career Centers

    Nationwide

    Free job training, career coaching, résumé and interview help at local Goodwill career centers.

Potential Financial Assistance

  • The Salvation Army — Northern New England

    Emergency help with rent, mortgage and utility bills from the Salvation Army's Northern New England Division, whose local teams assess each family's needs.

  • Catholic Charities Maine

    Statewide

    Catholic social services across Maine since 1966: child development centers, children's behavioral health, food programs and more. Toll-free: (800) 781-8550.

  • Catholic Charities USA (Find a Local Agency)

    Nationwide

    Find the Catholic Charities agency serving your area for emergency, family and housing help.

  • Modest Needs

    Nationwide

    Small one-time grants for working individuals and families facing an emergency expense. Apply online.

  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul

    Nationwide

    Parish volunteers who help neighbors in need. The national office does not give direct help: ask your nearest Catholic parish for its St. Vincent de Paul conference.

  • The Salvation Army

    Nationwide

    Emergency rent, utility and other assistance through local Salvation Army offices nationwide.

Food Programs

  • Catholic Charities Maine — Food Bank (Aroostook County)

    Catholic Charities' food bank in Aroostook County, with a list of its food pantries across the county on its site.

  • Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program

    Free groceries and prepared meals in Brunswick, through its food pantry and satellite pantries in the area.

  • Wayside Food Programs

    Free community meals, and mobile food pantries that bring groceries to Portland neighborhoods where transportation is a barrier.

  • Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine

    Statewide

    Maine's statewide food bank: find a food pantry or meal site near you through its partner network.

  • Feeding America (Find Your Local Food Bank)

    Nationwide

    Enter your ZIP code to find the food bank, pantries and meal programs serving your community.

  • USDA National Hunger Hotline (Hunger Free America)

    Nationwide

    Connects you with nearby food banks, meal sites and programs like SNAP and WIC. Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. En español: 1-877-842-6273.

Health Assistance

  • Greater Portland Health

    Affordable primary care, behavioral health and dental care at locations in Portland, South Portland and Westbrook, with a sliding fee scale.

  • HealthReach Community Health Centers

    Nonprofit network of community health centers in rural central and western Maine. Call the center nearest you.

  • Maine Families Home Visiting

    Statewide

    Free home visits for every family who is expecting or has a new baby. Certified Family Visitors share information and support on health, nutrition, safety and child development.

  • MaineCare (Maine Medicaid)

    Statewide

    Free and low-cost health coverage for Maine children, pregnant people and adults who qualify by household income. The page lists income limits and ways to apply.

  • Abortion Pill Reversal hotline

    Nationwide

    Started a chemical abortion and regret it? Call as soon as you can.

Housing Assistance & Shelters

  • Greater Portland Family Promise

    Case managers help families find housing (applications, references, acting as guarantor), with help for rent, utilities, food and transportation, a monthly food and diaper distribution, and furniture for the new home.

  • Preble Street

    Housing, food and critical services for individuals and families in Portland and across Maine.

  • Tedford Housing

    Emergency shelter in Brunswick with a family wing of ten private units for families with children, plus case managers and housing stability plans. For the family waitlist, call ext. 113.

  • Family Promise

    Nationwide

    Prevention, shelter and housing help for families facing homelessness, through nearly 200 local affiliates. Find yours on the website.

Infant & Baby Equipment

Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance

  • MaineHealth — Breastfeeding & Lactation Support

    Breastfeeding advice and support for new parents, online breastfeeding classes, and lactation help at MaineHealth family birth centers.

  • Maine Families Home Visiting

    Statewide

    Free home visits for every family who is expecting or has a new baby. Certified Family Visitors share information and support on health, nutrition, safety and child development.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Nationwide

    Call or text 988 any time if you are in crisis.

  • National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

    Nationwide

    Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA, free and confidential, for support before, during and after pregnancy.

  • Postpartum Support International HelpLine

    Nationwide

    Support and local resources for postpartum depression and anxiety.

Parenting Classes

Pregnancy Centers

  • ABBA Women's Choice

    Free, confidential pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, STI/STD testing, and support programs and classes in Portland. Call or text (207) 977-2119.

  • First Step Pregnancy Resource Center

    Free women's health clinic for greater Bangor: pregnancy testing, STD testing and information about all options.

  • Open Arms Pregnancy Center

    Free help in Augusta for pregnant women and young families: options information, and for those who decide to parent, emotional and material support and a moms' support group.

  • Pregnancy Care Center of Aroostook

    Free, confidential pregnancy tests and options information. Centers in Presque Isle, Houlton ((207) 532-6380) and Fort Kent ((207) 834-5800).

  • Relief & Hope Services (Catholic Charities Maine)

    Help for expectant and new parents: referrals for career planning, medical, adoption, financial, counseling, parenting and spiritual support, and help finding baby items.

  • American Pregnancy Association

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential pregnancy helpline and a search for local pregnancy centers, adoption agencies and maternity homes.

  • Care Net Pregnancy Decision Line

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential pregnancy decision coaching by phone, and a map of 1,200+ affiliated pregnancy centers.

  • Heartbeat International (Worldwide Directory of Pregnancy Help)

    Nationwide

    Search 7,000+ life-affirming pregnancy help locations by state, city or ZIP.

  • Option Line

    Nationwide

    Call or text 24/7 to talk about a pregnancy and be connected with a pregnancy center near you.

Special Needs Assistance

  • Pine Tree Society

    Services for Maine children and adults with disabilities, including speech-language and assistive technology services, and Pine Tree Camp.

  • Maine Parent Federation

    Statewide

    Maine's Parent Training & Information center, Family-to-Family center and Statewide Family Network: information, training and support for families of children and youth with disabilities or special health care needs.

  • Easterseals

    Nationwide

    Services for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Find your local Easterseals affiliate.

  • Parent to Parent USA

    Nationwide

    Matches parents of children with disabilities or special health needs with a trained support parent. Find your state program on the map.

  • The Arc

    Nationwide

    Support and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, through 549 chapters.

Support for Fathers

  • Maine Families Home Visiting

    Statewide

    Free home visits for every family who is expecting or has a new baby. Certified Family Visitors share information and support on health, nutrition, safety and child development.

  • National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

    Nationwide

    Resources for dads from a national clearinghouse funded by HHS’s Office of Family Assistance.

Transportation

  • Greater Portland Family Promise

    Case managers help families find housing (applications, references, acting as guarantor), with help for rent, utilities, food and transportation, a monthly food and diaper distribution, and furniture for the new home.

  • MaineCare rides to medical appointments

    Statewide

    Rides to MaineCare-covered appointments, scheduled through the transportation broker for your county. Call at least two business days ahead.

  • Family Promise

    Nationwide

    Local Family Promise affiliates help families facing homelessness, including gas cards, transit passes and car-related help where available.

  • Medicaid rides to medical appointments (NEMT)

    Nationwide

    Medicaid covers free rides to covered appointments for members with no other way to get there. Call your Medicaid health plan, ideally two days ahead.