A TV ad featuring Nickie Murray, one of Sweetser’s many independent affiliate providers across the state providing care to clients. The spot has been running on Newscenter Maine and WMTW.

If you are a social worker, therapist, or mental health professional who wants to start a private practice, reach out to Jan at jdubois@sweetser.org or by calling 207-294-4477. Sweetser’s Affiliate Network can help with billing, client documentation, quality assurance, referrals, and more. We take the administrative stress away from their true passion of helping our clients. Learn more https://www.sweetser.org/affiliatenetwork.

Watch our maple syrup adventures from our Saco school campus on this episode of MaineLife Media’s Maine Food Story that aired on Newscenter Maine. Their TV crew shadowed a group of our students in demonstrating our experiential learning program.

In the episode the following students were featured:

Thomas
Selena
Sean
Shandi

Shout out to our rockstar Educator & Farm Manager Julia Birtolo for being featured in the piece and her help with coordination. Our Communications Director Justin Chenette stepped in as a guest host for the program.

Sweetser participated in Maine Mariner’s Mental Health Awareness Night with a booth and the dropping of the puck.

From left to right: Carol, Holly, Jayne, Danielle

Sweetser President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer dropped the ceremonial puck at the Maine Mariner’s hockey game in Portland alongside Newscenter Maine reporter Sam Rogers.

WATCH VIDEO OF PUCK DROP

Sweetser staff received a number of free tickets to give away. Below is a list of winners from our staff ticket contest:

• Kim Vincent
• Adele Bailey
• Katrina Anderson
• Andy Coburn
• Luis Morales
• Laurie Agaran
• Savanah Robbins
• Ann Estabrook
• Emily Batson
• Amos Wolven

Sweetser is being proactive through both of our advocacy organizations and lobbyists: Maine Behavioral Health Community Collaborative and the Maine Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services. We are working to support legislation that enhances and builds on our success at Sweetser in addition to making clear the impact of legislation that would add a burden to behavioral health providers like us.

Our President & CEO Jayne Van Bramer and Chief Growth Officer Danielle Parent recently went to the state house in Augusta to testify on several key legislative priorities.

They testified in support of LD 181, a Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Implement Secure Children’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Services.

Review all the testimony from the hearing here:

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?ld=181&PID=1456&snum=131&sec3

We also wrote this Op-Ed in the Portland Press Herald on the need to bring Maine kids being served in out of state residential treatment facilities back home for the care they deserve and that Maine providers like us can offer with the support of state government.

Read full article

We submitted testimony in support of Rep. Lori Gramlich’s bill LD 435: Resolve, to Ensure the Provision of Medically Necessary Behavioral Health Care Services for Children in Their Homes and Communities.

Review all the testimony from the hearing here: https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?PID=1456&snum=131&paper=HP0268#

According to a 2021 study, over 6 million US children and teens (ages 0 to 17) were taking a prescribed psychiatric medication. Of those, over 3 million of them were teenagers. There are many questions, practical and ethical ones, about the risks and benefits of taking medication to treat your mental health. Fortunately, for this episode of NNML, we have a very smart guest who explains so many important things to know and think about when it comes to taking or not taking psychiatric medication. This episode’s guest is Sam Kingsley, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, who works with kids, teens, and adults to support their mental health.

Listen to Episode 5:

Clockwise from top: Kristie Worster, Danielle Parent, Lindsay Susi

Welcome to the newest members of the Sweetser leadership team and congratulations to those promoted to new leadership roles.

New Member of Leadership
Please welcome Kristie Worster as our new Chief Program Officer. She joins Sweetser after holding both administrative and clinical leadership positions in Maine. She served as an outpatient therapist for several years in York County prior to becoming a Regional Director in the Mid-Coast region, where she managed outpatient, community-based, crisis and residential services. More recently Kristie implemented clinical programs for a large health system. She has an undergraduate degree in English and a master’s degree in social work, both from The University of New England. Kristie also has specialized training in clinical supervision and has several certifications in Evidenced Based Practices, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, MATCH-ADTC, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. She has a Certificate as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Acuity Institute and has experience with leading employee engagement projects. Kristie loves the simple things like spending summers outside discovering new parts of New England and Maine with her family.

Recent Leadership Promotions
Please congratulate Danielle Parent, who has accepted the role of Sweetser’s Chief Growth Officer. In her new role, she’ll focus on program development, expansion and special projects. Danielle began her career at Sweetser in Crisis Services in 2014, leading the expansion of the department, as well as the subsequent development of the OPTIONS, Adult Residential (PNMI) and CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) programs. Prior to Sweetser, Danielle lived briefly in Vietnam, followed by several years in Washington, D.C., where she worked in behavioral health at Community Connections, starting its first Forensic Assertive Community Treatment team. She participated in the Hanley Health Leadership Development course and is the 2019 recipient of NAMI Maine’s Mental Health Leader award. Danielle graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Master’s of Social Work and a Juris Doctorate in Law. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker. She enjoys camping and off-grid adventures with her partner and their dog, Tuukka.

Please congratulate Lindsay Susi, who has accepted the role of Sweetser’s new Clinical Director for our New England Eating Disorders (NEED) program, which she joined as a clinician in 2014. Lindsay became part of the Sweetser team when NEED moved to the organization in 2017. As Clinical Director, she is involved in the day-to-day needs of the program’s patients and staff, supporting staff with helping the program run smoothly and addressing issues that arise. Lindsay also remains involved in direct clinical work and supervises staff. She has worked in mental health for many years, and has been interested in mental and behavioral health since high school. Lindsay is passionate about working with those who struggle with eating disorders. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMaine Orono and obtained her MSW from the University of Southern Maine in 2014. Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her husband, two young daughters, dog, and wonderful friends and family.

Reporter Anne Baldridge left, Educator Julia Birtolo right

Sweetser Educator & Farm Manager Julia Birtolo along with a handful of our students showed Newscenter Maine reporter Anne Baldridge around the farm to demonstrate the entire process of producing bottles of maple syrup from start to finish. Check out the story below:

Sweetser School-Based Clinician Phoebe Smith, LCSW, who works in South Portland schools, talks about her experience helping students with their mental health needs.

FULL STORY ON WGME

From left to right: Katie Shaw (Elks), Bob Shaw (Elks), Steve McGrath (Sweetser board member), Jayne Van Bramer (Sweetser President & CEO), Marise Anagnost (Elks), Denise Labbe (Elks), Karen Staples (American Legion), Kelly Thayer (Sweetser Development Director), Jodie Hansen (Sweetser Donor Engagement & Events Manager)

SANFORD, MAINE (February 28^th, 2023) – The Sanford and Springvale communities came together to raise $20,000 to support mental health services throughout Maine.

Jamming for Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention is an annual February event at the Sanford Elks Lodge that is the culmination of multiple fundraisers throughout the year to benefit Sweetser’s behavioral health programs.

First held in 2019 after Denise Labbe became Exalted Ruler of Sanford Elks Lodge, the annual event is a joint effort of the AMVETS with Son’s & Ladies Auxiliary Post #3, American Legion T.W. Cole Post #19, Sanford Elks Lodge #1470, Sanford VFW & Auxiliary Post #9935, Springvale Social Club & Knights of Columbus, and Wolves Social Club.

Labbe came up with the idea to focus on mental health because of firsthand experiences within her own family and because she recognized that mental illness is often not discussed despite its prevalence. After participating in a Day of Caring event volunteering for Sweetser, she was put in touch with Jodie Hansen, their Donor Engagement & Events Manager.

“My goal is really to bring it to the forefront so people aren’t ashamed to ask for help, or discuss it with another person,” said Labbe. “It just may save a life.”

Covid put the event on hiatus in 2021 and 2022, making 2023 the third time the event has been held. This year’s event proved the most financially successful to date.

“This is my third fundraiser for Sweetser,” she stated. “They are so hands-on in working with us, allocating moneys for the Sanford/Springvale area. That’s where we wanted our efforts, so it really has worked well.”

Bands performed throughout the day, including Hellraizers, C4, Wacko Magnet, Middleman and Wiretap. The event also featured raffles and t-shirt sales, as well as speakers who have lived experience with mental health.

For more information about Sweetser services, visit sweetser.org. If you are interested in volunteering or fundraising for Sweetser, please reach out to Jodie Hansen at 207-294-4476.