Children’s residential beds are disappearing across Maine. In this WMTW Mental Health Moment, Sweetser’s Chief Program Officer Kristie Worster breaks down what’s driving the crisis—and why lawmakers say action is needed now to prevent further closures.

Sweetser’s Special Purpose School was featured in a Portland Press Herald article highlighting how Maine students are learning how to make maple syrup.

Here’s an excerpt quoting the school’s Teacher BA, Julia Birtolo:

‘Sweetser students celebrate the sugaring season in a big way: They, too, enjoy the syrup over ice cream, and they cook with it— maple fudge, maple caramel, an especially awesome maple cookie sandwiched with maple cream. Every student who helped produce the syrup gets a small bottle of their own, which they can refill as much as they like, while supplies last. There’s a farmers breakfast and Maine Maple Monday, Sweetser’s twist on the state’s annual Maine Maple Sunday tradition. Moreover, bottles of the school-made syrup raffled off at a school fundraiser can fetch hundreds of dollars, said Birtolo, who started the maple-sugaring program around 1996 when she was hired as an ed tech.’

Read the full article here.

A mental health crisis can happen anytime, anywhere. Sweetser’s Mobile Crisis Services provide immediate, on‑site support for children and adults in crisis—meeting people where they are to help stabilize situations and connect them to ongoing care. In this Spotlight on ME, WGME’s Adrienne Stein sits down with Sweetser’s Chief Growth Officer, Joanne Grant to discuss how Sweetser’s Mobile Crisis teams can help Mainers.

If you or someone you love needs help, call or text 988—the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In Maine, Sweetser responds 24/7 across much of the state.

Help is here. You’re not alone.

Fatal overdoses are declining in Maine—but rising among older adults. In this WMTW Mental Health Moment, Sweetser’s OPTIONS Liaison Johnny Loftus explains why seniors are struggling with substance use and where they can find help.

Interested individuals can self-refer or seek a free prescreen by visiting the 329 Bath Road location, calling 800-434-3000, or emailing info@sweetser.org.

Thinking about opening a clinical private practice in Maine? It’s an exciting path—but it comes with important steps and decisions along the way.

In this WMTW Mental Health Moment, Jan Dubois, Sweetser’s Affiliate Program Manager, breaks down why many clinicians choose private practice—like autonomy, flexible caseloads, and reduced burnout—and what you need to know before getting started, from credentialing and business structure to liability coverage, office setup, and HIPAA‑compliant systems.

If you’re ready to trade paperwork for passion, visit Sweetser.org/AffiliateNetwork to learn more and get a free guide to launching your own practice.