Sweetser has opened the state’s only Child Assertive Community Treatment program (Child ACT) following a federal report showing that Maine has critically failed to address youth mental health by with the lack of community-based programs.

Child ACT is often referred to as a service for difficult to reach children with severe mental health challenges, ages 5 to 20, who are on MaineCare and who might have experienced gaps in care. Services are provided in the child’s own natural environment, including at home and in school, helping to avoid costly hospitalization. This community-based approach is something the United States Department of Justice Human Rights Division has deemed a necessity.

According to a letter from the Department of Justice in 2022 to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Governor Janet Mills, the DOJ had “determined that Maine is violating the ADA by failing to provide behavioral health services to children in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.”

Reports found that the State unnecessarily relies on segregated settings like psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities to provide these services. The lack of care has led to children being separated from their families and communities.

To address this gap in services, Sweeter’s goal is to provide children and their families in Southern Maine with a clinician, nurse practitioner, case manager, youth support specialist and family support specialist that will help improve the client’s functioning while remaining in more natural support settings.

Child ACT team on Sweetser’s Saco campus. From left to right: Sonya Hawkins, Nurse Practitioner. Wendy Anders, Senior Director of Community Services, Taylor Paquin, Clinical Team Leader. Garrett Ashley, Family Support Specialist, Katreena Keefe, Program Support. Brooke Reissfelder, Case Manager.

“We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis and the time is now for our state to be investing more in various services for children and their families,” Sweetser’s President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer said. “Sweetser is proud to step up for our state to ensure every Maine family has access to community-based treatment.”

The Federal findings came on the 23^rd anniversary of Olmstead v. L.C., a court decision that held that people with disabilities have a right to live and receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs — typically in their homes and communities instead of in institutions.

“This modality of treatment ensures a child’s full range of behavioral health needs will be met,” Wendy Anders, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Community Services said. “Families need options and children need support. While there is certainly a place for other types of on-site care, the impact of launching this community-based program will be transformative for those we serve.”

The service area for the program is within a 25-mile radius of Saco. You can learn more about Sweetser’s Child Act program here.

If you or someone you know is in need of the Child ACT services, you can reach the PromiseLine at 1.800.434.3000 or email info@sweetser.org.

Sweetser Golf Classic with Team Jack Chevrolet from left to right; Andrew Roseberg, Mike Gibel, Richard Dempsey, Jason Leyro

Earlier this month, the 35th annual Sweetser / Jack Chevrolet Golf Classic raised $112,000 for youth mental health programs, according to organizers.

The event, held on June 10th at the Dunegrass Golf Club in Old Orchard Beach, sold out at 36 teams.

Funds raised for Sweetser, based in Saco with locations across the state, exceeded their $100,000 goal and will go towards serving Maine families in need of mental health care.

“Every year this event grows from the generosity of the community,” said Jodie Hansen, Senior Development Specialist at Sweetser. “We couldn’t do it without the unwavering support from the Rosenburg family.”

The Golf Classic was presented by Jack Chevrolet, a tradition of supporting Sweetser which was started by the Rosenburg family of car dealerships decades prior.

“Our golfers, our businesses, and our supporters are fueling our critically important mission of delivering access to mental health treatment for Maine families regardless of their ability to pay,” said Justin Chenette, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement. “Events like this ensure no one is turned away.”

Sweetser provided over $1 million in services last year to individuals and families who had an inability to cover the cost of care.

The 1st place gross winning team was Northeast Delta Dental, while the 1st place net winning team was Casco Bay Ford. There was also a hole in one individual winner, Curt Jordan from HM Payson.

The next Golf Classic has already been set for June 9th, 2025, at Dunegrass.

View the recap video:

We appreciate everyone who participated in Oxford Casino’s May Give for Change promotion. Coin slips brought in a whopping $4,400 to support our programs here at Sweetser.

A grant from the City of Lewiston’s Opioid Settlement Funds enabled Sweetser to invite consultants from Partnership to End Addiction to offer a workshop on the FamilyFrame model. Clinicians and supervisors attended the training, which was held on Thursday, June 20th on the Saco Campus.

Family-based treatment is crucial for adolescent substance use recovery and increases family therapy skill utilization. Family involvement helps by:

• Improving treatment engagement
• Reducing substance use
• Supporting long-term success

Clinicians enjoy the flexibility and appreciate modeling examples the treatment approach provides. When clinicians integrate FamilyFrame and provide an evidence-based, family-centered approach outcomes are improved.

WMTW Channel 8 reported that nationally, 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, a number that goes even higher for transgender youth and youth of color. One important resource to highlight this Pride Month is The Trevor Project. Sweetser’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement spoke about the importance of reaching out for support and reinforcing that youth are not alone.

Check out our latest monthly column in Saco Bay News about the same topic: https://sacobaynews.com/mental-health-moment-pride-gives-focus-to-lgbtq-support.htm

Thank you Aroma Joe’s Coffee! During Mental Health Awareness Month, $1 from every Blue Pixie AJ’s Rush Energy Drink went to support Sweetser’s youth mental health programs. With your help, we raised $2,300 between the Saco and South Sanford locations! Aroma Joe’s gives back and truly cares about the mental health of their staff and customers alike.

In addition to Pride, June is also Men’s Mental Health Month. Statistics show that women are diagnosed with depression twice as much as men. However, suicide data from the CDC shows that the rate of suicide was four times higher for men than women in 2020 and over 6 million men suffer from depression, often left undiagnosed. Mike Andrick, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Adult Crisis & Residential Services, was a guest on WMTW’s Mental Health Moment to discuss the importance of mental health among men.

Pride Month is a special time of year. It’s an opportunity to be you, for others to celebrate you for being you, and to feel connected to a larger community support network. Check out WMTW’s latest Mental Health Moment segment about the importance of Pride with Sweetser’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement Justin Chenette.

Get ready to groove for an even groovier cause! Don’t miss Higher Ground, a tribute to Stevie Wonder, featuring an all-star band performing 21 of Stevie’s greatest songs. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Sweetser programs. Happening Saturday July 20th at the Vinegar Hill Music Theatre in Arundel. Join us for drinks and a food truck before the show in the outdoor garden. The show is graciously sponsored by Saco Valley Credit Union and 99.3 The Wave and organized by our own Dr. Marc Kaplan.

PURCHASE TICKETS before they sell out: https://vinhillmusic.com/performance/higher-ground-a-stevie-wonder-tribute-to-benefit-sweetser/

Check out highlights from the past show:

Sweetser Director of Children’s Residential Kristine Gile was named one of five finalists, along with her co-presenter, Dr. Elly Romero, for the Bellflasher Award at the ADARA (American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association) Conference recently held in Atlanta.

The award is for the most outstanding and thought provoking presentation. Their topic was “Considerations When Implementing Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.” 

Gile also co-presented with Sitara Sheikh, Terry Morrell and Tristen Evan Hellewell on a second presentation, “It couldn’t happen here: lessons learned from/in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Maine.” There were more than 400 attendees at the conference.

Left to right: Melissa Brymer Director, Terrorism & Disaster Program, University of California, Los Angeles; Tiffany Bridgett, Psychology Associate, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center, Gallaudet University; Kristine Gile; and Allegra Hirsh-Wright. Maine Health Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation.

On May 16th, Gile presented with a group (pictured above) at the National Child Trauma Stress Network’s All Network Conference in Bethesda, MD. Their presentation was “Increasing Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community following Mass Violence and Disasters.”