Cecil County Connections

Welcome to the latest edition of the Cecil County Connections newsletter. Our mission is simple: to keep you connected, informed, and supported. In this month's edition, you will find updated information on:

• a variety of support groups available around Cecil County
• the January Den 22 calendars
• an opportunity for tickets to a free showing of the movie, "Shuffle," through Voices of Hope
• credit assistance, debt management, and more financial help

All of these resources and much more can be found in this newsletter. Please remember that you can search for many of the resources by utilizing the Find Help link HERE.

Finding the right support is a vital step toward healing and resilience, and our community offers a wealth of resources dedicated to your well-being. This section highlights essential local and national services, ranging from mental health and addiction recovery to specialized support for caregivers, seniors, and those navigating grief or domestic violence. Whether you are seeking a peer support group or need immediate assistance via a 24/7 hotline, these connections ensure that no citizen of Cecil County has to face life's challenges alone.

Mental Health & Peer Support

On Our Own of Cecil County

This is a peer-run wellness and recovery center offering daily groups for mental health, substance use, and trauma.

• Schedule: Generally open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. They offer daily peer-led support groups (specific times vary by day; call for today's rotation).

• Location: 224 E Main St, Elkton, MD 21921.

• Contact: (410) 392-4228 | Email: Info@OnOurOwnCC.org

• Specialty Groups: LGBTQ+ support, trauma-informed sessions, and one-on-one peer mentoring.

Live For Thomas / Den 22

A dedicated safe space for youth and young adults focusing on suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

• Schedule: * Den 22 (Youth ages 14–24): Contact for current weekly evening hours.

  • Support Groups: Regular sessions held for families and peers.

• Location: 22 N Main St, North East, MD 21901.

• Contact: Liveforthomas.org | (Contact via website for 2026 schedule).

Addiction & Family Recovery

Voices of Hope (Recovery Community Organization)

Voices of Hope provides extensive peer support and community events.

• Schedule:

  • Cecil Game Night: Last Saturday of every month at 8:00 PM.

  • Volunteer Orientation: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5:00 PM.

  • 24/7 Helpline: Peers are available at all times.

• Location: 227 Howard Street, Elkton, MD 21921.

• Contact: (443) 933-7055 (Option 1) | Email: info@voicesofhopemaryland.org

12-Step & Family Mutual Aid

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Numerous daily meetings in Elkton, North East, and Rising Sun.

  • Contact: (800) 570-4150 or Find a Meeting.

• Al-Anon / Nar-Anon: For families of those struggling with substance use.

  • Al-Anon Contact: (888) 425-2666.

  • Nar-Anon: Meets at various local churches; check nar-anon.org.

Grief & Loss Support

Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP)

Specifically for those who have lost a loved one to overdose or addiction.

• Schedule: Monthly meetings (typically 4th Wednesday or Thursday; verify with coordinator).

• Contact: (443) 617-7125 | grasphelp.org

Community Grief Support (Coastal Hospice / Various)

• Schedule: * Weekly Ongoing Group: Wednesdays from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Note: Some 2026 groups are held at nearby libraries; call to confirm the closest Elkton/Rising Sun location).

• Contact: (443) 485-4103 (Vicki Costa, Bereavement Coordinator).

Caregiver & Senior Support

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Facilitated by the Cecil County Department of Community Services.

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Office hours; support group meetings are typically once per month).

• Location: 200 Chesapeake Blvd, Elkton, MD 21921.

• Contact: (410) 996-5295 | Email: awoods@ccgov.org

The Bridge (Domestic Violence Support)

Free and confidential support for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.

• Schedule: 24/7 Hotline. In-person survivor support groups meet weekly.

• Contact: (410) 996-0333 (24-Hour Helpline).

Quick Reference

Are you or someone you love in immediate crisis?

Call Eastern Shore Mobile Crisis at (888) 407-8018 for immediate behavioral health crisis

Are you struggling with addiction?

Call the CATCH Hotline at (443) 245-3257 for treatment navigation & peer support

Are you struggling with Mental Health?

Call NAMI Maryland (National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maryland) at (410) 435-2600 for peer & family education/support

Deep Roots at Clairvaux Farm is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the generational cycle of homelessness by providing emergency shelter and transitional housing for families with children. The program offers a comprehensive support system that includes case management, employment assistance, and financial literacy training for parents. For children, they provide a stable environment enriched with mentoring, after-school tutoring, and educational field trips designed to build community and self-esteem. By fostering healthy relationships and personal responsibility, Deep Roots helps families navigate a path toward permanent housing and long-term stability. Please consider donating to support their children's program.

• January 19th ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday ~ Schools & Offices Closed
• January 26th ~ Early dismissal for all students (secondary first, then elementary)
• February 9th ~ Professional Day for Staff ~ Schools Closed for students
• February 16th ~ Presidents Day Holiday ~ Schools & Offices Closed
• March 5th ~ Early dismissal for all students (secondary first, then elementary)
• March 6th ~ Professional Day for Staff ~ Schools Closed for students
• March 10th ~ Multilingual Family and Community Fair ~ 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. @ Gilpin Manor Elementary

We are pleased to invite you to the Fourth Annual Multilingual Family and Community Fair at Gilpin Manor Elementary School on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

This event is designed to celebrate and support families of Multilingual Learners across Cecil County Public Schools. It offers a meaningful opportunity to strengthen connections among schools, families, and community partners in an inclusive, engaging environment.

The evening will feature:

• Participation from over 25 community organizations, including several CCPS programs

• Interactive family-friendly activities and resource sharing

Your presence will help reinforce our commitment to multilingual education and family engagement. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this vibrant and growing part of our school community.

Do you need help with child safety seats?

Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) is a state-wide, non-profit program funded through a federal grant. Their mission is to reduce injuries and death among Maryland's children by helping people to obtain and use car seats and booster seats correctly each time a child rides in a motor vehicle.

Do You Need Food?

Pantry on the Go, brought to Cecil County by the Maryland Food Bank and Community Schools, will be held on December 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until supplies run out. Bring a bag to the Elkton Community Center (121 Stockton Street) and shop for a large variety of fresh fruit and vegetable options. This free opportunity is open to all members of the public.

Do you need help with Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)?

Do You Need Transportation?

Cecil Transit provides low cost transportation to many stops throughout the county. Click the link HERE to find out details for all of the services provided. Check out the links below for information about the stops along each of the four routes:

• Glasgow Connection Route #1 The Glasgow Connection is a fixed route public transportation for all ages servicing the town of Elkton to People's Plaza in Glasgow, DE. The route begins at 5:40AM and ends at 6:20PM, Monday through Friday.
• Cross-County Connection Route #2 The Cross-County Connection is fixed route public transportation for all ages servicing the towns of Elkton, North East, Perryville, The MARC Train, Perry Point V.A., and Cecil College in North East and Elkton. The route begins at 5:30AM and ends at 10:07PM. Monday through Friday with a modified Saturday Schedule. This route was designed to combine the previous Perryville and Mid County Connections.
• Elkton-Newark Connection Route #4 The Elkton - Newark Connection is fixed route transportation for all ages servicing the town of Elkton, Glasgow, DE, Newark Industrial Park, Four Seasons Plaza, Newark Park & Ride, Newark Train Station, Newark Transit Hub and the Rt. 279 corridor including the Elkton Library & Cecil College Elkton Station. This route operates Monday through Friday from 5:50AM to 10:21PM.
• Harford LINK - Teal Line The Teal Line is fixed route transportation for all ages, jointly funded by Cecil Transit and Harford LINK. The route services the towns of Aberdeen, Perryville, Havre de Grace, Perryman, as well as the Hollywood Casino and Great Wolf Lodge. This route operates Monday through Friday from 6:00AM to 8:17PM.

Single rides as low as $1 and up to two children under 46" can ride for free with a fare-paying passenger.

Demand Response transportation must be scheduled directly and are provided on a first come, first served basis.

Are you trying to avoid foreclosure? Help can be found here:

Do You Need Energy Assistance?

The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) provides assistance to income-eligible households to help you stay warm, stay connected, and help pay past due energy bills.

Live For Thomas Foundation

Den 22 is a part of the Live For Thomas Foundation. It is a safe space for ages 12-24 to decompress, receive peer support, and crisis intervention located in downtown North East, Maryland. All services are free of charge and the Den is open to all. You don't have to live in North East to visit the Den!

Hours:

Monday - Friday from 2:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The January Den 22 calendar has something to offer everyone! The second calendar shares a wide range of support group offerings for you aged 12-24. Please share this information with those who you believe could benefit from these supports.

Prioritizing your child’s mental health

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The CCPS student wellness platform is helping students manage and improve their mental

health! Did you know that more than 7,000 students and parents/guardians have already accessed BrightPath? If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit BrightPath and discuss it and explore the platform with your child. Your support and involvement are crucial in helping your child access mental health resources whenever they may need them. Check out BrightPath today: brightpathcecil.com

Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports. The views presented here are those of the grantee organization and not necessarily those of the Commission or Consortium.

The mission of West Cecil Health Center is to provide personal, accessible, and reliable care for our community.

Commitment to Quality

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we provide the surrounding communities with affordable and quality healthcare within reach. We currently serve you with full family medicine, behavioral health, women's health, dental, and optometry services. We strive towards becoming the provider of choice for your family. WCHC is a proud Patient-Centered Medical Home, using a team-based approach to ensure quality care, lower costs, and an excellent patient experience. We partner with you and your other providers to tailor care to your needs, building relationships based on respect, trust, confidence, and care.

Affordable Care

No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay; WCHC offers a sliding fee discount to eligible patients based on household size and income. We also accept most insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP.

West Cecil Health Center is accepting new patients for all services.

Do you have children with special health care needs? You may be eligible for additional assistance through this program.

Voices of Hope is thrilled to partner with film producer Benjamin Flaherty and his team to host the premiere of Shuffle! This special event highlights an important advocacy effort for our organization and provides an opportunity to bring our community together.

Date: January 21st
Arrival Time: 5:30 PM
Movie Start: 6:00 PM - 8 PM (Includes Q&A)
Location: The State Theater, Havre De Grace, MD
Admission: Free for all, and you’re welcome to bring guests!

This premiere is more than just a movie—it’s a celebration of resilience, hope, and the power of storytelling. By attending, you’re supporting Voices of Hope’s mission to provide resources, advocacy, and a voice for those in recovery.

Following the film, there will be a special Q&A session with Benjamin Flaherty, offering insight into the making of Shuffle! and the inspiration behind the story.

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of inspiration, community, and meaningful conversation. If you haven’t already, be sure to reserve your spot—we’d love to see you there!

Claim your tickets here: Shuffle Movie Premiere Tickets

Movie Trailer: Click Here

Drug Free Cecil is a network of local coalitions collaborating and partnering to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth and eliminate duplication of efforts in Cecil County. The coalitions’ purpose is to support a youth-led, adult-guided movement to reduce substance abuse in Cecil County.

The Cecil County Health Department works with Christiana Care Elkton Hospital, the Cecil County Neighborhood Youth Panel and several other partners to offer:

• youth tobacco cessation services to help Cecil County youth quit using tobacco/vapes
• adult cessation classes
• vouchers for nicotine replacement therapy

The Cecil Recovery Center offers 24/7 services including overdose risk identification, harm reduction, substance use treatment coordination, recovery planning, and support for friends and family.

Do You Want to Learn How to Start and Maintain a Business?

Take your great idea or talent and learn how to set up your own business by signing up for this program that can teach you the basics of becoming your own boss!

Financial Courses for Adults

Free credit counseling and debt management support can be found that can help you resolve credit problems, repay debt, create a budget, and learn money management skills.

Caregiver Respite Program for US Military Veteran Families

Wounded Warriers Family SUpport provides respite and supplemental services nationwide to caregivers and families of wounded war veterans. This program ensures that family members are provided with the support they need to keep their families intact, including meals, in-home services, and housekeeping.

There are a wealth of services available to Cecil County residents and many of them can be found here through a simple search.

Looking for previous links and information? You can find the previous editions of the Cecil County Connections newsletters linked below.

November 2025

December 2025