The 2nd annual Spring Into Hope Maine Fashion Show brought the glam, vibes, and runway looks, thanks to our amazing partners at WMTW-TV. They helped organize an unforgettable night at Dunegrass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach. Around 50 models brought the runway to life as they strutted down the …runway in fabulous, eye-catching looks, bringing style and confidence to every step. The event raised over $22,000 to support our mental health mission! 🌺

Shout to Channel 8 anchors Meghan Torjussen WMTW and Jon Chrisos, the team behind the scenes led by Christina Parsons, and the variety of business sponsors for making this possible. We are already looking forward to next year!

WGME Channel 13: The merger between Common Ties and Sweetser will create the largest (CCBHC) mental health provider in Maine. The goal is to ensure long-term stability and expand access to care across the Lewiston region.

Thank you, Blake Hayes and Coast 93.1 – Portland, ME, for highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month every Monday with Sweetser, offering tangible tips and resources to prioritize our overall mental well-being. Conversations like these help reduce stigma and connect people to lifesaving treatment …and support. Be sure to tune in to hear our Chief Program Officer, Kristie Worster, every Monday morning around 8AM for your dose of Mental Health Mondays! 🧠

YOU'RE INVITED

🍷What: An exclusive wine-pairing workshop featuring sweet & savory bites.
💌Who: Hosted by Jared Fischer, CMS Certified Advanced Sommelier
⏰When: May 19th | 6 PM – 7 PM
🍫Where: Mindy's Munchies of Maine, 251 US Route 1, Falmouth
…🎓Expert Insight: Learn to pair like a pro with a world-class sommelier.
💚Sip for a Cause: Proceeds benefit Sweetser, supporting local mental health initiatives.

🎟️Don't wait—seating is limited: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/87ac1dba-5066-493d-bfd1-cfebd0499179/events/vevt:41ba804c-9a96-4b22-bcdb-ff297a553a0e/home/story

We’re stronger together. 💙

By joining forces, Sweetser and Common Ties are expanding access to care, strengthening services, and ensuring stability for both clients and staff—right when our community needs it most. Together, we now form Maine’s largest Certified Community …Behavioral Health Clinic—bringing more services, more access, and more support to the Lewiston community and beyond.

BIG NEWS: Common Ties merges with Sweetser to strengthen behavioral health in Lewiston

Common Ties Mental Health Services, a staple of the Lewiston community for over 40 years, is officially merging into Sweetser, a leading statewide behavioral health organization with a nearly 200-year …history.

This strategic partnership establishes Sweetser as the largest Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) provider in the state, ensuring long-term stability and expanded access to care for the entire Lewiston region. The merger comes at a critical inflection point for behavioral health as smaller organizations face rising operational complexities and funding uncertainties from Augusta and Washington.

"This merger was a necessity to ensure we continue to serve the Lewiston area for decades to come. It provides our team and our clients with an incredible sense of security in an otherwise volatile time,” said Karen Bate, Executive Director of Common Ties. "Choosing a partner to carry forward our legacy was a weighty decision, but Sweetser shares our values and our deep commitment to evidence-based treatment. We are thankful for bringing us on board.”

Of the 18 staff at Common Ties, all but 3 are continuing with Sweetser after the merger. All employees were offered roles at Sweetser in addition to Bate retaining a leadership role.

For the approximately 300 individuals receiving treatment through Common Ties, there will be no disruption in care. Clients will continue to work with their case manager but will now have access to a much broader, more coordinated continuum of behavioral health services, a benefit of being served by a much larger nonprofit.

"By uniting as one organization, we are not only growing in size but also strengthening our collective ability to support the mental well-being of individuals and families in need," said Jayne Van Bramer, President & CEO of Sweetser. "For nearly 200 years, Sweetser has adapted to meet the evolving mental health needs of Maine families. This milestone is a vital reminder that we are stronger together, especially as we work to ensure community members don't lose access to essential treatment".

Common Ties housing services will temporarily remain at their 12 Bates Street location in Lewiston, while all other services, including case management, will be based out of Sweetser’s Hope & Healing Center at 20 Mollison Way, next to Just-in-Time Recreation.

'Van Bramer said this funding will help to create a secure residential program for children who are experiencing serious behavioral health disorders. The facility will be on Sweetser's campus in Saco and will have 16 beds.'