Donor Spotlight: Clark Insurance & Strategic Media Support PRTF

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Sweetser is proud to recognize Clark Insurance and Strategic Media as our Partners in Hope!

Their generous support of Sweetser’s capital campaign is helping us make history in Maine with the construction of the state’s first youth Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) on our Saco campus.

Clark Insurance has been a longstanding supporter of Sweetser, and we are so thankful they’re investing in Sweetser’s future. We thank them for supporting this project with a $10,000 commitment!

For 17 years, Strategic Media has been a dedicated partner and champion of Sweetser’s mission, and we are deeply grateful for their continued commitment as they help bring this transformative project for Maine youth and families to life. We thank them for supporting this project with a $4,500 commitment!

Clark Insurance and Strategic Media join a growing list of corporate partners who are helping Sweetser build hope for Maine youth and families for generations to come.

3rd Annual Battle for the Brook Raises $11,000 for Sweetser

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Sweetser’s 3rd Annual Battle for the Brook Softball Tournament was a home run for our mission, bringing together community partners for a day of friendly competition, teamwork, and giving back at Rotary Park in Biddeford.

This year’s tournament raised an incredible $11,000 to support Sweetser’s mission of providing hope and healing to children, adults, and families throughout Maine.

Four teams stepped up to the plate this year:

  • MMQCI
  • Pond Cove Millwork
  • Nikel Precision Group
  • Keith’s Meter Service

We’re grateful to every player, supporter, and donor who helped make the tournament such a success.

Congratulations to Pond Cove Millwork, who had an especially impressive showing, taking home both the title of Tournament Champion and Top Fundraising Team! Their commitment on and off the field helped make a meaningful difference for the people Sweetser serves.

Events like Battle for the Brook are only possible because of the generosity of our community. A special thank you goes to Hannaford, Saco House of Pizza, and Firehouse Subs for donating food and drinks to keep our players and volunteers fueled throughout the tournament.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 3rd Annual Battle for the Brook a success. Your support goes far beyond the softball field—it helps Sweetser continue providing critical behavioral health services and creating brighter futures for Mainers.

TV Segment: Sweetser Expands Mobile Crisis Services in Central Maine

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Sweetser is expanding mobile crisis services to Kennebec and Somerset counties, ensuring 24/7 mental health crisis support remains available across the region. Sweetser Director of Crisis Services Elise Chase joins WMTW’s Mental Health Moment to explain what the transition means, how mobile crisis teams respond in the community, signs that someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis, and how to get help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 anytime, day or night.

Welcome Dr. Abhilasha Khurana as our PRTF Medical Director

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Please welcome Dr. Abhilasha Khurana to Sweetser’s leadership team!

Dr. Khurana is Sweetser’s new Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Medical Director.

Dr. Khurana brings an exceptional combination of clinical expertise, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to compassionate, evidence-based behavioral healthcare. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Washington University, a master’s degree in anatomical sciences from the University at Buffalo, and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine.

She completed her psychiatry internship at the University of Connecticut and her residency in General Psychiatry at the University at Buffalo, where she cared for diverse patient populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings. During her residency, she developed specialized expertise in early psychosis through OnTrackNY and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment while also pursuing additional training in medical education.

Dr. Khurana went on to complete a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Maine Medical Center, where she received advanced training in family therapy and play therapy. During her fellowship, she served as Chief Fellow and was selected for the Medical Education and Leadership Track.

She further expanded her expertise by completing a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Brown University and two years of postgraduate training at the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Khurana is dual board-certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and is board-eligible in Forensic Psychiatry.

Throughout her career, Dr. Khurana has demonstrated a passion for partnering with children, adolescents, and families to develop individualized treatment plans that support the well-being of the entire family. She is equally committed to mentoring clinicians, fostering collaboration, and advancing medical education.

As Medical Director, Dr. Khurana will play an important role in supporting our Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, strengthening clinical excellence, and helping us deliver the highest-quality care to the youth and families we serve.

We are excited to have her expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm as part of our team. She will be a tremendous asset to our organization.

Welcome to Sweetser, Dr. Khurana!

34th Annual Auction & Gala

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Thursday, September 17th
Doors Open: 5pm
Brick South – Thompson’s Point, Portland, ME

Join us at the 34th Annual Auction & Gala, Sweetser’s signature fundraising celebration, an inspiring evening where generosity fuels real impact for Maine children and families. This year’s event will rally support for Sweetser’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) project, helping bring Maine youth back home from out-of-state placement and into care closer to the people and communities who matter most.

Every bid placed, and every ticket purchased, helps create local solutions for youth facing serious mental health challenges—ensuring children can receive the care they need in Maine, near their families, and their communities.

 

 

 

 

TV Segment: Sweetser Brings Mental Health Support to Biddeford

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

In this WMTW Mental Health Moment, Joanne Grant, Sweetser’s Chief Growth Officer, discusses how Sweetser partnered with the City of Biddeford to provide free, confidential trauma support following a recent community tragedy. Learn how Critical Incident Stress Management helps individuals process traumatic events, why early mental health support matters, and the resources available for those in need.

Tom’s of Maine Makes Sweetser Shine on Goodness Day

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

We were thrilled to welcome the Tom’s of Maine team to our Saco campus as part of their annual Goodness Day volunteer initiative. Their dedication, energy, and generosity will make a lasting impact on our campus, and we are incredibly grateful they chose to spend the day supporting Sweetser and the youth we serve.

Creating safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environments is essential to helping young people heal, grow, and thrive. Thanks to community partners like Tom’s of Maine, we can continue to enhance our spaces and provide the very best experience for those in our care.

Throughout the day, nearly 70 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and tackled a variety of projects across campus. The team painted fences around our Special Purpose School and outside the former NEED building, installed and painted benches along our new walking trails that the Facilities team has been working to create, and even built bat boxes to support local wildlife.

As an added gift, Tom’s of Maine also donated beautiful benches that will provide a place for reflection and connection for staff and youth for years to come. The benches will be installed near the basketball courts to enhance the usability of our outdoor recreation area.

A special thank you goes to Sweetser’s Facilities Team and Advancement Team for their hard work coordinating the day and ensuring the volunteer projects were organized and ran smoothly. Their planning and support helped make this meaningful partnership a success for all involved.

To the entire Tom’s of Maine team: thank you for your commitment to giving back and for helping make Sweetser an even better place for everyone who visits our campus.

If you have an interest in volunteering with Sweetser, you can learn more here.

Grow With Sweetser: New Sweetser Training Catalog is here

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Invest in yourself. Grow with Sweetser!

The latest Sweetser Training Institute Professional Development Workshop Catalog for the 2026-2027 training season is hot off the presses! Sweeter’s training team has worked hard to cultivate a range of offerings that feature innovative trainings and workshops designed to support your professional growth, strengthen clinical skills, and develop leadership capacity across our organization and out in the community.

New Catalog. New Skills. New Possibilities.

NEW for Clinicians:

Explore new approaches to client engagement and treatment through courses such as:

  • Tips for Testifying in the Legal System
  • SoulCollage®
  • The Platinum Thread: Taking a Client from Assessment to Discharge
  • Spiritual Dimensions in Clinical Practice
  • Understanding the Basics of Hypnosis in Clinical Practice

NEW Leadership Development Workshops:

Strengthen your leadership skills with practical, interactive trainings focused on team development and communication:

  • Building the Bench: Succession Planning for Sustainable Leadership
  • The Art of Delegation: Building Trust, Accountability & Stronger Teams
  • Communicating with Impact: Strengthening Employee Communication as a Leader

NEW Youth-Focused Workshops:

Build your knowledge and resources for supporting children and adolescents through new workshops, including:

  • Anxiety in Schools: Collaboration and Treatment
  • High Conflict Family Therapy
  • Working with Youth Who Demonstrate Problematic Sexualized Behaviors (PSB)

Introducing a NEW Substance Use Disorder Certificate Program

Our Institute is also launching a new Substance Use Disorder Certificate Program designed to help non-LADC clinicians build confidence and competence in treating clients with substance use disorders. Participants complete a series of core courses and an elective to earn their certificate.

Core Courses:

  • Motivational Interviewing & Stage of Change
  • Treating Substance Use Disorders
  • Substance Use: Effects and Awareness
  • Understanding Substance Use Disorders in Special Populations

Electives:

  • Neuroscience of Addiction: The Impact of Substance Use Disorder on the Brain
  • Recovery Planning and Self-Help/Peer Resources

View the full catalog below or use this link: https://publuu.com/flip-book/1084386/2567994 

Click here to register for courses.

New Murals at Brunswick CCBHC Inspire Hope

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

We’re spreading hope in Brunswick—one wall at a time.

The halls of our Brunswick Hope & Healing Center have been transformed thanks to the talent and vision of our own Art Educator, Nick Blunier, who designed and painted a series of inspiring murals throughout our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).

From the moment clients walk through the doors, they are welcomed by a powerful reminder that Recovery Is Possible. As they make their way to appointments, they are surrounded by a vibrant Maine-inspired mural anchored by one simple but meaningful word: HOPE.

These murals do more than brighten the space; they reflect the heart of the work happening inside our clinic every day. They serve as a visual reminder that healing is possible, recovery is real, and no one has to face life’s challenges alone.
At Sweetser, hope isn’t just something we talk about; it’s something we strive to make visible. Thanks to Nick’s incredible work, that message now greets and inspires everyone who enters our Brunswick Hope & Healing Center.

Burnt Ends Barbecue Community Day

Posted by Jessica Tornatore

Thursday, August 27th
11:00am – 8:00pm
120 Center St., Auburn, ME

Eat local. Give back. Make a difference.

On August 27, Burnt Ends Barbecue is donating 10% of all in-house and online sales to support Sweetser’s mental health mission. Gather your friends and family and join us for a delicious way to support mental health for Mainers all across the state.