Monday, June 16, 2014

MDI Hospital, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Healthy Acadia Partner to Offer Educational Program on Human Trafficking

MDI Hospital, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Healthy Acadia Partner to Offer Educational Program on Human Trafficking
  
Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Healthy Acadia are partnering to offer an educational program on human trafficking and how it relates to our local communities on Monday, June 23.

“Human trafficking is in our area and we have community members who may be at risk or inadvertently involved,” stated Chris Costello, Director of Emergency & Obstetrics Services at Mount Desert Island Hospital. “This program will provide opportunities to business owners, emergency medical workers, and other interested community members to better understand the issues surrounding human trafficking and how to prevent it in our region.”

The program will be offered twice on Monday, June 23 at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Conference Center. The first session will run from 10am to 12pm, and the second will run from 5pm to 7pm. The program is free and open to the public.

“Our business owners and employees may encounter victims without recognizing the situation,” stated Jennifer Wright, Events and Development Director at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “The upcoming forums will raise awareness about and understanding of these issues, which is of great importance to our businesses and others in our region.”

The forums will be led by Dan Batsie of Atlantic Partners EMS with assistance of Victoria Eaton, an Emergency Department Nurse and Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner from MDI Hospital. Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Personnel will also be present at each session. Presenters will discuss the risk factors, traffickers, victims, signs, myths, regional cases, first responder roles, and more. The forums will also include a short video and participant discussion.

“Human trafficking victims can be children or adults, forced to work in conditions of involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery through force, fraud or coercion,” said Elsie Flemings, Executive Director of Healthy Acadia. “Understanding what form human trafficking can take in our communities and how to address the situation to prevent further abuse is critical to the health and wellbeing of the victims and of our entire community.”

For more information about the Human Trafficking Forums coming up on Monday, June 23, or to RSVP, contact Chris Costello at MDI Hospital, atchris.costello@mdihospital.org or 288.5081 x1313.  

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

WELCOME TO NEW CHAMBER MEMBER GLEN MICKOWSKI AT THE DOCKSIDE INN!

WELCOME!

To new Chamber member Glen Mickowski at The Dockside Inn!

The Dockside Inn is located above Walker's Mediterranean Restaurant at 48 Shore Road, Southwest Harbor. We are glad to have the Inn open again! For information about availability, rates, or special events, please contact Glen at the_dockside_inn@yahoo.com.