Sweetser News & Events

Department of Corrections Contracts with Sweetser to Provide Behavioral Health Services

Posted on 12/15/2005 at 08:40 am

The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) has signed a three-year contract with Sweetser to provide behavioral health care services to adolescents residing at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland and the Mountain View Youth Development Center in Charleston. Sweetser has been providing these services since 2000 at Long Creek and since 2002 at Mountain View.

"The goal of the program is to provide treatment for youth residing in our Youth Development Centers, many of whom have diagnosed mental health problems, to help them manage their illness and to develop good problem-solving and self control skills," said Lars Olsen, Director of Correctional Programs for the Maine Department of Corrections "Ultimately, these kids will return to the community. We want them to have the positive social and life skills they need to succeed."

A key component of the Sweetser/DOC program is to involve the families in treatment. "In addition to a program of individual and group therapy for the youth, Sweetser clinicians also work closely with the families to enhance communication and family problem-solving skills," said Bob Gauthier, clinical coordinator for the program.

Through the contract, Sweetser provides assessment, therapy and medication management services for adolescents in both Long Creek and Mountain View.

The program also provides pre-release services that connect the youth and families to appropriate community-based treatment and support. "This helps to ensure a seamless transition in treatment when the youth returns to the community," said Gauthier.

According to a 2002 Portland Press Herald article about the plight of youth with mental illness in Maine, 75-90% of the juvenile offenders in Maine's Youth Development Centers are diagnosed with a mental or emotional illness. This reflects prevalence presented by The National Coalition for Juvenile Justice which estimates that number to be 50-75% nationally.

With a history dating back to 1828, Sweetser is Maine's most comprehensive behavioral health care organization dedicated to serving children, adults and families. Sweetser offers services that address emotional disturbances, mental illness, behavioral disorders and learning disabilities through an array of educational programs, preventive services, community-based support services and residential services.

Contact: Heather Chandler, Assistant Director of Communications, 294-4430
Lars Olsen, Maine Department of Corrections, 287-4575