Radio personality Lori Voornas interviewed Patrice Lockhart, MD, Medical Director of Sweetser’s New England Eating Disorders (NEED) Program. The Public Service Announcement was broadcast during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week in February on radio stations owned by Townsquare Media. Listen to the interview:

Sweetser’s annual holiday gift tag program is underway until December 17, when members of the community can pick holiday gifts for children in Crisis and Residential Services to make sure they are able to experience the joy of Christmas away from their families and homes. In the past 20 years, the community has donated 8,000 gifts (and counting) to the program. Participation only requires a simple online purchase that will have a huge impact on children who receive the gifts. 

Karen Harper of IDEXX organizes the participation of her company’s employees in Sweetser’s Holiday Gift Tag Program every year for approximately 20 years. “People are thrilled to be able to help local families. We’ve had participation from virtual employees from all over the U.S. take part this year.” She added that “hosting the Giving Tree annually to support Sweetser provides a welcome way to help a very deserving group.”

Sweetser staff member Jennifer Adams recalls the many years she worked in direct care with children at Sweetser and saw firsthand the impact that donated gifts make for children going through an especially hard time. “I always asked to work Christmas so I could be there in the morning when the children opened their gifts. It made them feel special that someone cared enough to think of them.” 

In the photo: A pre-COVID photo of IDEXX employees dropping off presents at Sweetser.

Listen to an interview with Sweetser’s Medical Director Marc Kaplan in an interview with Celeste Baranyi of WBLM 102.9 to learn many reasons to support this year’s Sweetser/KeyBank Sold On Kids Auction, held online again this year.

Sweetser President & CEO Debra Taylor has announced that she will be stepping down from her role after more than 20 years with the organization.

“I have made the decision to pass the baton to new leadership after serving the organization in many capacities throughout the years,” said Taylor. “It has been my absolute pleasure to work with our staff members, donors and volunteers providing services that are needed now more than ever before.”

Sweetser Board Chair Jessica Demers said, “We are appreciative of Deb’s leadership and contributions to Sweetser throughout the years,” adding that the Board has initiated a search for the organization’s next President & CEO. In the meantime, Sweetser Chief Program Officer Jim Martin will support the transition leading day to day operations.

Sweetser is a community mental health organization, based in Saco, with services statewide for clients of all ages in need of services in mental and behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, recovery, and education. In addition, Sweetser is the largest provider of mobile crisis services provider in the state. Visit sweetser.org.

In recognition of Mental Health Month in May, Sweetser is partnering with 10 Domino’s Pizza stores in Maine owned by Lee and Amanda Prior to deliver an important message that resources are available. Thousands of Mental Health Month 2021 flyers will be delivered on pizza boxes throughout Maine promoting the Maine Crisis Line, Intentional Warm Line and the myStrength online wellness tool.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on February 5, 2021 that it has awarded Sweetser a $2.9 million grant to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCHBC) in midcoast Maine. The award will expand services Sweetser delivers in Sagadahoc, northern coastal Cumberland County, and parts of Lincoln and Androscoggin counties.

Sweetser is one of the first two providers in the state of Maine to be recognized as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

SAMHSA released grants to 134 clinics in the nation, enabling them to implement comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment by becoming a CCBHC. The grants are funded from the $4.5 billion allocated to SAMHSA as part of the COVID-19 relief package passed in December. With the addition of this grant funding, there are now 340 CCBHCs across the country – nearly a 50% increase from just days ago.

National Council for Behavioral Health President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said: “This funding will dramatically improve the health and welfare of people in hundreds of communities across the country. CCBHCs provide vital services by increasing access to evidence-based substance use and mental health treatment services, including 24/7 crisis care. Now, thanks to the commitment made by these clinics, people in 40 states, plus D.C. and Guam, will be able to access a CCBHC. We also thank SAMHSA for their support and recognition of the value CCBHCs provide, particularly for vulnerable individuals. This is an incredible step forward for health care in America, and we look to continuing our work to highlight the opportunities provided by the CCBHC model in every community across the country.”