We’ve waited all winter to enjoy our beautiful Maine summers, but did you know there is a connection between prolonged exposure to high temperatures and a negative impact on our mental health? Sweetser’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement Justin Chenette discusses on WMTW.

Sold out for Sweetser! Together we raised $8,000 for mental health at our Higher Ground – A Tribute to Stevie Wonder benefit concert! We appreciate the amazing venue Vinegar Hill Music Theatre for their partnership to make this such a success, the talented band members led by Sweetser’s own Dr. Marc Kaplan, our sponsors Saco Valley Credit Union and 99.3 The Wave, and to American Idol finalist Julia Gagnon for being our special performing guest. Who’s ready to do this again next year?

If an adult is experiencing a mental health crisis, where can they go to get immediate support? Mike Andrick, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Adult Crisis & Residential Services, appeared on our weekly TV segment to discuss our crisis residential program.

Sweetser received some wonderful coverage on Newscenter Maine about the launch of our new Child ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) program and what it means for families trying to access services in Southern Maine. Watch story below…

Below is a collection of other stories highlighting the launch of our program.

• Maine Public Radio piece – https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2024-06-27/sweetser-launches-community-based-program-for-children-with-severe-mental-illness

• Press Herald – https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/01/sweetser-launches-maines-only-community-based-youth-mental-health-program/ & front of the Courier Newspaper

• Bangor Daily News – https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/07/08/bdn-maine/sweetser-launches-maines-only-community-based-youth-mental-health-program-after-critical-fed-report/

Motherhood can be a rewarding journey, but it can also impact a woman’s mental health. Sweetser’s Chief Growth Officer, Joanne Grant, who also happens to be a mother herself, spoke about the subject on WMTW’s Mental Health Moment segment.

Members of Sweetser’s leadership team touring the new CSU

Sweetser has re-opened its Child Crisis Stabilization Unit in Saco after designing a truly therapeutic, trauma-informed environment for our clients. This reset allowed us to use an available building on our campus and set up the space in a way conducive to providing children with the care they require. This includes designated spaces for group therapy and using therapeutic colors throughout the unit. Staff have also received additional training to ensure we provide the most therapeutic care possible. Referrals for this program come through via the statewide crisis line.

Sweetser’s Chief Program Officer, Kristie Worster, discusses how families can access our children’s crisis stabilization units on WMTW Channel 8’s Mental Health Moment segment.

Now that summer is officially here, people might be thinking about taking that vacation or taking time to recharge, but did you know more than 765 million vacation days have gone unused by Americans? Sweetser’s Medical Director Dr. Marc Kaplan speaks to WMTW to discuss the mental health impact of taking time away from work. Watch the segment below!

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.