Sweetser Spotlight
Sweetser has opened a new mental health and substance use clinic in Sanford thanks to a $4 million grant from the Federal government.
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For many Maine youth who struggle with a highest level of mental health and behavioral challenges, they either have to be sent out of state to secure psychiatric residential treatment facilities as far away as Arkansas and Utah or they get stuck with long stays in Emergency Rooms in hospitals …because there is no place for them to receive care. Sweetser’s President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer discusses the need for such a facility in this week's Mental Health Moment. Recently, the legislature's HHS committee has unanimously voted to recommend moving forward to support PRTF and funding the necessary capital costs.
For many Maine youth who struggle with a highest level of mental health and behavioral challenges, they either have to be sent out of state to secure psychiatric residential treatment facilities as far away as Arkansas and Utah or they get stuck with long stays in Emergency Rooms in hospitals …because there is no place for them to receive care. Sweetser’s President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer discusses the need for such a facility in this week's Mental Health Moment. Recently, the legislature's HHS committee has unanimously voted to recommend moving forward to support PRTF and funding the necessary capital costs.
"Let's bring our children back to Maine. Let's get them out of the emergency rooms. Let's serve them in the setting that best matches their needs," said Van Bramer.
Maine sends dozens of children out of state to get treatment that is not available here
www.wmtw.comJOIN US AT THE SACO CHIPOTLE SATURDAY 5-9PM TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH! PRESENT THIS FLYER AT CHECK OUT TO COUNT.
Please welcome Craig Wilcox as Sweetser's new Director of Facilities! In this role, he provides leadership and guidance for the proper care of all Sweetser facilities by overseeing capital projects, repairs, maintenance, and related activities. Prior to joining Sweetser, Craig focused on …owning and operating his own business, which specializes in the construction of new buildings and remodeling old properties. Outside of work, Craig donates his spare time to causes that assist people in need and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, be it camping, fishing, boating, skiing, four-wheeling, or snowmobiling. Craig is OSHA certified and holds Associate Degrees in both Business and Culinary Arts from Southern Maine Community College.
Please welcome Craig Wilcox as Sweetser's new Director of Facilities! In this role, he provides leadership and guidance for the proper care of all Sweetser facilities by overseeing capital projects, repairs, maintenance, and related activities. Prior to joining Sweetser, Craig focused on …owning and operating his own business, which specializes in the construction of new buildings and remodeling old properties. Outside of work, Craig donates his spare time to causes that assist people in need and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, be it camping, fishing, boating, skiing, four-wheeling, or snowmobiling. Craig is OSHA certified and holds Associate Degrees in both Business and Culinary Arts from Southern Maine Community College.
Sweetser’s President & CEO was interviewed by Maine Public Radio on the dire need for state funding to keep school based therapy services afloat for students and their families. STORY: …https://www.mainepublic.org/education-news/2024-03-11/the-need-for-mental-health-services-in-maine-schools-has-sharply-risen-but-funding-remains-scarce
"…the failure to act has the grave potential to result in more incarceration, more hospitalization, more dysfunction as adults. And so what the money we're asking for, which is like $1.3 million a year, is a drop in the bucket compared to the long-term costs of not doing anything. And …what we potentially will see in our youth. I mean, everyone agrees that we have this major problem, we need to act, we need to do something about it. It needs to be more than yes, we're in the mental health crisis." READ STORY WITH LINK IN BIO.
"…the failure to act has the grave potential to result in more incarceration, more hospitalization, more dysfunction as adults. And so what the money we're asking for, which is like $1.3 million a year, is a drop in the bucket compared to the long-term costs of not doing anything. And …what we potentially will see in our youth. I mean, everyone agrees that we have this major problem, we need to act, we need to do something about it. It needs to be more than yes, we're in the mental health crisis."
Budget challenges could lead to cuts in school-based mental health clinic operations, which could hobble an effective system for getting students the…
www.mainepublic.orgProviders like us are creatively subsidizing the cost of mental health services at public schools. That can't last. L.D. 2002 will not only put us on a path towards sustainability by reducing the deficits being absorbed by community agencies, it will allow providers like us to recruit and …retain highly qualified clinicians, pay clinicians a livable salaried wage, help school districts provide mental health services and ultimately avoid program closure. It’s a win for students, families, schools and our whole state.
Providers like mine are creatively subsidizing the cost of mental health services at public schools. That can’t last.
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