Following the horrific events in Lewiston last week, Disability Rights Maine (DRM), Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA), and the Volunteer Lawyer’s Project (VLP) are working together to address the legal needs of families impacted by this terrible tragedy. Our organizations are also working to coordinate with other legal aid providers to ensure all needs are met.
We know that victims, families, and our community have been profoundly impacted by the violence and trauma of this event. We also know that legal needs will emerge for those most directly impacted, including needs for assistance with matters related to estate and probate court, the impact of victim compensation funds on public benefits, and other issues.
DRM is working with members of the Deaf community on addressing the concerns of families and friends of those victims. Any Deaf person impacted and searching for legal advice can contact DRM at 207-766-7111 (VP) or 1-800-452-1948. Our Deaf Services team can help assess needs and connect individuals to legal resources, including through referrals to our colleagues and partners at PTLA and VLP.
Maine is a small, tight-knit community. Many of us have been personally impacted by the events in Lewiston. As we grieve deeply for our friends, families, and the Lewiston-Auburn and Maine Deaf communities, we also turn to the work of supporting each other. As Governor Mills said, “we will all help you carry this grief.”
Maine’s private and public interest lawyers are working together to support the Lewiston community in this time of need.
Please contact us with any questions you may have.
With hope and love,
Kim Moody
Deaf Community Resources
Maine Association for the Deaf put a website together to centralize support and information that has been coming into the community.
Resources available include:
Additional resources:
General Resources
- Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event – In this tip sheet, SAMHSA defines and describes grief, discusses ways of coping with grief, and explains complicated or traumatic grief. The tip sheet also offers relevant resources for additional support.
- Tips for Young Adults: Coping With Mass Violence – In this tip sheet, SAMHSA DTAC discusses ages 18 to 26 as a phase of development and explains how incidents of mass violence may affect people within this phase. The tip sheet highlights common reactions to mass violence, tips for coping, and resources for disaster behavioral health support.
- The Intentional Warm Line, open 24/7 mental health peer-to-peer phone support line for adults, aged 18 and older, offers free mutual conversations with a trained peer specialist who has lived experience with mental health recovery. V/TTY: 1.866.771.9276
- National Crisis Line: call or text 988;
- For deaf or hard of hearing ASL users, call 988 Videophone.
- Disaster Distress Helpline – Call or text 1-800-985-5990. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 for people experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to natural or human-caused disasters. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing and for whom American Sign Language (ASL) is your primary or preferred language, use your videophone-enabled device to call 1-800-985-5990 or click on “ASL Now” at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov to be connected with a DDH crisis worker fluent in ASL.
- State of Maine Resources
- Gateway Community Services Maine – free mental health crisis therapy sessions sign up
- FBI Resources for Victims –
- Clinicians, educators and first responders can call 1-800-769-9819: The FrontLine WarmLine offers free support services to help these professionals manage the stress of responding to disasters from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
- OneLewiston – another hub of resources, including verified donation platforms.
- Community Resiliency Center – 184 Main St. Lewiston, open Monday-Friday from 12pm-5pm.
- Home Loan Assistance for USDA mortgage holders
- For more information or to request USDA mortgage or loan assistance contact:
- USDA Lewiston Area Office at 207.753.9400 (ext. 4) from 8-4:30 Monday-Friday or
- The USDA Rural Development direct line for borrowers impacted by a tragedy at 1.888.796.0538 or TDD/TTY 800.438.1832 from 8-4 Monday-Friday
- For more information or to request USDA mortgage or loan assistance contact:
Resources for Children, Youth, Parents and Other Caregivers
- Understanding Child Trauma – This web page from SAMHSA presents statistics on child trauma, which may be experienced as part of a natural or human-caused disaster, and lists signs of traumatic stress in children and youth. It also offers tips for parents and other caregivers for helping children and youth to cope with trauma. Links are also provided to downloadable infographics in English and Spanish provided by the SAMHSA National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative.
- Coping after Mass Violence – Written for parents and families, this National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) tip sheet provides information about common reactions to mass violence and self-care tips for those living in communities where an incident of mass violence has taken place. The tip sheet also includes external resources for individuals seeking further support.
- For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence – Written for teens, this NCSTN fact sheet shares insight into common reactions to mass violence. In addition, the fact sheet provides tips for teens to cope and care for themselves, as well as connect with others after mass violence occurs.
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting – In this 3-page tip sheet released shortly after a shooting, NCTSN describes how such an event may affect children and teens as well as parents and other caregivers. The tip sheet lists reactions common among people of all ages, offers coping tips for caregivers, and suggests ways for caregivers to support children and youth in talking about and managing their reactions.
- Bounce Back Now – a free mobile app available through the Google Play and App Stores. It is intended to help people with coping and resilience after a natural disaster or incident of mass violence. Once users have created an account, they can complete regular questionnaires to assess mental health, access education and coping tools, and put together a plan for improving emotional health. There are also parenting tips for helping children and teens in coping with the emotional impacts of a disaster.
- Teens and young adults can text (207) 515-8398: The National Alliance on Mental Illness Teen Text Line connects youth with other youth to help them manage their challenges every day from noon to 10 p.m.