​For more than three decades, passionate environmentalists throughout Maine have come together at various locations to participate in the Coastal Cleanup program. Held every September, the Maine Coastal Cleanup is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) initiative, launched more than 35 years ago by the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. The Maine Coastal Program, part of the state's Department of Maine Resources, oversees registration for the Coastal Cleanup at nearly 150 sites near coastal communities.

Since 2020, the annual Coastal Cleanup in Maine has expanded from a one-day event to a weeklong celebration of conservancy and coastal resources, bringing together hundreds of volunteers to remove marine debris, among the greatest threats to the ocean and marine life, from beaches and coastlines. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, 533 volunteers removed 2,580 pounds of debris from 56 miles of Maine coastline.

Data collection is a vital component of the ICC program. The Ocean Conservancy encourages groups to select a designated data collector, who can download the Clean Swell app to record all of the debris their group has collected. After signing into the app and entering relevant group details, the data collector can easily record the group's findings by selecting the appropriate icons, such as cans, bottles, bottle caps, cups, and cigarette butts, and entering how many of each they found. Volunteers can earn badges to share on social media based on the amount of trash collected.

Groups should also have a leader who provides safety instruction to all volunteers, including directives to avoid sharp and hazardous items and what to do with other relevant safety hazards, such as poison ivy or power lines. Once the cleanup is concluded, leaders are encouraged to upload before and after photos of the site to the Clean Swell app and enter the total weight of their collected trash, found by either weighing with a scale or using the standard 15-pound estimate per trash bag. The group then directs the trash to a designated drop-off location.

Linda Maraniss and Kathy O'Hara organized the first-ever Ocean Conservancy cleanup in 1986. Maraniss, an Ocean Conservancy employee who moved to Texas from Washington, D.C., was inspired by O'Hara's ongoing research on marine debris, later published in the groundbreaking report Plastics in the Ocean: More than a Litter Problem, and together with O'Hara orchestrated a cleanup with local businesses and conservationists in partnership with the Texas General Land Office. Roughly 2,800 volunteers participated in the first cleanup. Since then, more than 17 million people have participated in ICC events, collecting over 350 million pounds of debris.

The Ocean Conservancy's Maine Coastal Cleanup isn't the only widespread effort to remove debris from the state's coastline. Prior to the summer, several coastal communities organize beach cleanups. Wells, for example, has hosted a beach cleanup every year since 2017, during which time volunteers have collected about 3,000 pounds of trash.

The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is another organization committed to cleaning coastlines and protecting marine life. It has been organizing cleanups in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts since 2001. In 2023, more than 560 volunteers participated in 50 cleanups in Maine, removing 1,326 pounds of debris, including 4,505 cigarette butts and 1,206 plastic wrappers.

​A form of alternative or complementary medicine, homeopathy involves the targeted use of highly diluted and often natural substances. It is based on the late 18th century research of Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician who believed that the same substances responsible for various ailment symptoms could be applied in alleviating those symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are created through succussion, or diluting and shaking an extract in alcohol and water, until very little of the source ingredient remains. The resulting remedies are used for a wide range of common issues, including toothaches, nausea, coughs, and bruises. They are also used to treat chronic illnesses and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and premenstrual syndrome.

There are actually a number of dilution types, with “C” dilutions (centesimal dilutions) the most common. They start with a Mother Tincture, a 1/10 dilution of the actual plant. One part of Mother Tincture is combined with 99 parts of ethanol and vigorously shaken (succussed) in a new vial. This 1/100 dilution of the plant is known as 1C, with 2C obtained through mixing a single part of the 1C with 99 parts ethanol (again in a new vial) and succussing. Similarly, creating 3C involves mixing one part of 2C with 99 parts ethanol (in yet another vial) and succussing.

By this time, traces of the original source plant or substance are difficult to find, even at the molecular level. Homeopathic medicine holds that trace elements do exist and present health benefits. Being highly diluted, they are safe and nontoxic for the body to absorb.

One example of a homeopathic remedy involves treatments for hay fever, which vary based on the specific symptoms of the patient. In cases where watery eyes and clear nasal discharge are present, as well as thirst, sneezing, and tickling cough, the recommended remedy is a dilution of allium cepa (onion).

In cases of a watery, burning runny nose, as well as stuffy, tickling feeling associated with allergy attacks, homeopaths recommend an arsenicum album dilution. This is notably not derived from a natural ingredient, but from aqueous arsenic trioxide, which is also used to treat a range of digestive ailments.

If the symptoms involve a heavy-feeling head and flushed face when allergies strike, paired with frequent sneezing and aching in the back of the head, homeopaths recommend a dilution of the flowering plant gelsemium (jessamine). When lengthy paroxysms of sneezing are combined with persistent itching of the nose, homeopaths recommend sabadilla dilutions. There are various other remedies indicated by specific hay fever symptoms. This makes the arsenal of potential homeopathic treatments for what might be treated by a single allopathic drug both very broad and extremely specific.

Fever, involving a body temperature above 98.6 Fahrenheit, carries with it another set of homeopathic remedies. When the fever is viral, symptoms such as cold, cough, and body ache determine the best remedy. Aconite (wolfsbane) is recommended for fever accompanied by symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and severe body aches, as well as thirst for cold water. Bryonia alba is used for body aches and fever, including cases where the aches are so severe that any movement other than lying down will cause pain. A nux vomica (strychnine tree) dilution is applied when the fever involves shivering or chills. Some fever conditions such as influenza may have a number of recommended remedies, such as aconite, gelsemium, and eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset), and these can be used in conjunction with one another.

​A personal care plan is a detailed outline of a person’s health and lifestyle, as well as the options the person prefers for treatment and care in specific situations. Personal care plans are relatively new. While elements of personal care planning date back decades, it was not until the advent of digital technology and subsequent standardization that adaptive care plans could be developed and implemented effectively.

The development of a personal care plan is a collaborative process that may include numerous medical and mental health professionals. Regardless of how many professionals are involved, the subject of the care plan should always have a voice.

Much like personal care plans themselves, the notion of an individual taking a lead role in their own mental health and care is relatively new. As recently as 2014, an article published on The Accountable Patient Blog by Don Kemper, MPH, the founder and chief executive officer of the HealthWell Foundation, noted that care plans were common tools in American hospitals, but that they were generally not available to the entire medical team. Patients were even less likely to view or take part in their care planning.

Kemper went on to describe Care Plans 2.0, a plan developed by a coalition of professionals as an extension of the Consumer Partnership for eHealth, which remains the world’s only coalition of consumers and patient advocates. A decade later, personal care planning more closely resembles the focus points described in the Care Plans 2.0 proposal.

While no two care plans are exactly alike, there are a few core concepts that should be followed to make an effective personal care plan. Care plans should be goal-focused, yet with the understanding that goals must shift as a patient’s needs evolve, or as they accomplish previously stated goals. A care plan should also identify what challenges may prevent the patient from achieving stated goals and how to overcome these challenges.

Certain people or professionals can be barred from viewing an individual’s personal care plan, but it is advisable to grant access to all members of the care team. That said, a personal care plan is not a set of directions that dozens of professionals can use to direct a single patient. The care plan should establish accountability for every member of the care team, including the patient.

Many different people require personal care plans. They can benefit individuals dealing with severe mental or physical challenges, as well as people who simply want to improve their health and wellness. Young, healthy people with personal care plans often emphasize preventative care so that they can continue to enjoy life as they age and health concerns become more prevalent.

Personal care plans can also benefit individuals living with chronic illnesses. These care plans not only outline a path to optimal health, but also provide a clear roadmap that can help keep a large, interdisciplinary team on the same page and prevent gaps in care.

Finally, personalization is key when developing care plans for individuals living with mental health conditions that place them at high risk. These plans must reflect the patients’ personal preferences for care in a variety of mental health scenarios, including crisis plans.

​United Way was established more than 135 years ago as a philanthropic organization in Denver, Colorado. Prior to 2015, United Way received more donations from the American public than any other nonprofit organization. Today, the group exists as a network of more than 1,800 local service providers and programs. United Way has established numerous projects and events to raise funds and awareness for the United Way mission, including the United Way Day of Caring.

The Day of Caring event is United Way’s single biggest day of the year. Over 24 hours, United Way members contribute time, effort, and money to a diversity of nonprofit agencies in their region. The popularity of the event allows local groups to complete tasks and projects that would be impossible at any other time of the year. It also represents a great opportunity for local businesses to demonstrate their commitment to supporting their communities.

United Way hosted the first Day of Caring more than three decades ago, and the event has continued to grow since then. Local United Way chapters in South Central Massachusetts, Washington County, and many other parts of the country welcomed more volunteers and business sponsors than ever before. Day of Caring events in 2022 and 2023 were particularly joyful following several years of socially-distant fundraising and volunteerism.

The 2023 Day of Caring was held under the theme of “Show You Care Everywhere,” and urged citizens and corporate entities to collaborate on projects with long-lasting benefits for the entire community. Participants at Tulsa Area United Way collected about 25,000 pounds of food from more than 1,100 contributors.

The “care everywhere” element has received considerable attention from United Way in recent years as the Day of Caring event has expanded to include the United Way Worldwide Global Day of Caring. An estimated 1.4 million volunteers and donors took part in the 2023 Global Day of Caring, including a school-building project in Trinidad and Tobago that benefited over 13,500 locals.

It is important for United Way supporters, or care ambassadors, to understand that Day of Caring activities are happening year-round. The network consists of over 15 million volunteers, 6.8 million donors, and about 45,000 business partners. Individuals do not have to wait for the Day of Caring to take action in their communities. For example, tax professionals can volunteer during tax season to help families avoid undue tax burdens. Other volunteer opportunities range from supporting a local construction project to spending time as an academic tutor at a local school.

Individuals can improve their communities by investing in themselves and their families. United Way Born Learning is a program that helps caregivers prepare children for academic success, which can be particularly advantageous in communities that have limited educational opportunities.

Finally, United Way observes many additional one-day events similar to the Day of Caring, such as the Day of Action. Each year on or near June 21, care ambassadors dedicate their time as volunteers with local causes. To learn more about Day of Caring, Day of Action, and other volunteer opportunities at your local United Way chapter, please visit unitedway.org.

​An adult case manager working in the mental health profession is a person who provides intimate care to clients, partly through the development and execution of a personalized treatment plan designed to meet the specific needs of each client as they work toward their version of recovery. A case manager’s duties can be divided into four categories: assessment, development, evaluation, and coordination.

Case managers begin their work with clients by assessing their conditions and needs. The initial assessment period amounts to the case manager and client getting to know one another, ideally through a professional but caring relationship. Assessments generally take the form of one-on-one interviews, although case managers may also speak to other professionals or family members. A basic assessment can be completed by reviewing the client’s mental health history.

Following the initial assessment period, case managers can begin focusing on some of the daily obstacles troubling the client, with an emphasis on regular activities and sources of stress that pose a challenge to the client’s emotional well-being. This can be a difficult process, as case managers must assess the clients’ home and work life, as well as their close relationships, their physical condition, how much of a threat the clients may be to their own personal safety, and many additional factors.

After the assessment process has ended, case managers direct the development of personalized care plans, which may include crisis planning. In the field of mental health, a crisis plan exists as a plan of action that enables a person and the people supporting their mental health to take actionable steps in the event of a mental health emergency.

Treatment plans can vary considerably based on the client’s needs. Substance abuse intervention may be a critical component of some treatment plans, but a non-factor in others. Similarly, adults recovering from catastrophic injuries or those living with certain mental and physical disabilities can benefit from physical health care plans, while others are purely in need of mental health support.

Case managers are not only responsible for developing care plans, but also ensuring that clients adhere to these plans. They also track the clients’ progress and make adjustments when needed. Case managers often share the care plans with other care professionals involved with the clients, as well as the clients’ families.

Holistic, wrap-around care is a major element of a case manager’s job. During the development of treatment plans, case managers may put the clients in touch with other professionals or resources that can optimize the plans’ effectiveness. It can be particularly helpful to provide resources that the clients can access on their own, fostering a sense of independence and keeping the clients involved with their own health and development.

The development period overlaps with evaluation processes. Case managers must consistently monitor progress and make adjustments when the existing plans are not working. Case managers must not view these adjustments as failures, but rather as progress. Treatment and care plans rarely work perfectly on the first run, and there is no way to tell what will work for a particular client other than trial and error. Evaluations take the form of frequent check-ins and follow-ups. In addition, many case managers schedule regular evaluation meetings.

Finally, case managers must continue to coordinate activities among all care professionals and family members involved so that they are aware of changes made to the plans and progress made by the clients. A case manager serving as a single point of contact on behalf of a client allows the client to focus entirely on adhering to the treatment plan.