Michael Tausek and Jennifer Garcia

Sweetser recently welcomed two additions to its leadership team. 

Jennifer Garcia joined Sweetser in 2022 and has been promoted to Clinical Director of Residential and Day Treatment. Jennifer collaborates with the Director of Education, children’s residential programs and Saco CSU to ensure the quality of clinical care is best meeting the needs of children and families. She is responsible for developing structure and implementing processes. Jennifer is involved in the day-to-day needs of the programs’ clients and staff. Prior to Sweetser, Jennifer worked in residential programs and had a private practice for nearly 10 years. Her therapeutic focus has been on co-occurring disorders, substance abuse disorders and mental health diagnosis. Jennifer earned a master’s in mental health counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is a licensed LMHC in Florida and LCPC in Maine. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking with her black labs, photography, and exploring new places as she re-acclimates to her home state.

Michael Tausek joined Sweetser in 2023 as the Director of Recovery Services. In this role, Michael oversees our peer-focused recovery programs. Prior to Sweetser, Michael spent a career in various leadership roles in government and non-profits focusing on program development, case management and community relations. Michael is passionate about working with justice-involved and marginalized populations. He is also Veteran of United States Coast Guard. Michael earned a BA in Criminology from the University of Southern Maine and a Juris Doctor from Western New England College School of Law.

On our final episode of our podcast’s 1st season, we are focused on queer teen mental health. LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression and twice as likely to be suicidal than their peers AND, according to The Trevor Project, 60% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in 2022 were not able to get it. Listen to this episode to hear about resources, trends, and Maine queer-friendly events featuring special guest, Maura Oakes from OUT Maine and creator and host of “Thinking OUT Loud: The OUT Maine Podcast”. Listen below:

Left to right: Saco Team Member Andrew Horvat, Community Marketing Manager Crystal Brown, Sweetser Donor Engagement & Events Manager Jodie Hansen, Sweetser Development Officer Morgan Stickney, Area Supervisor Courtney Gilkey.

Aroma Joe’s Coffee in Saco recently presented Sweetser with a check for its Mental Health Month fundraiser in which they earmarked 10% of net proceeds every Wednesday in May. The effort raised more than $2,700 to help ensure Mainers receive the Sweetser services they need regardless of insurance or their ability to pay.

Sweetser OPTIONS Liaison — Lacey Bailey and Dawn Kearns (photos from Journey Magazine)

The latest edition of Journey Magazine features two of Sweetser’s OPTIONS (Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety) Liaisons — Lacey Bailey and Dawn Kearns. 

‘Lacey Bailey, the OPTIONS Liaison at Sweetser for York County, is a Maine native who enjoys giving people a lifeline when they most need it. “Through my position with OPTIONS I am able to connect people with the services they need,” she said. “Many people check in with me on a regular basis as another person they can reach out to and be connected with.”’

Read Lacey’s spotlight

‘Dawn Kearns has been in recovery for a number of years and, as is her nature, she wanted to pay it forward to others on their own journeys. That’s why Dawn is such an asset to Kennebec County as OPTIONS Liaison, working for Sweetser.’ 

Read Dawn’s spotlight

The OPTIONS initiative at Sweetser is a partnership with the Maine Office of Behavioral Health to improve the health of Mainers who use substances by using harm reduction strategies, supporting recovery, and providing referrals for services. Learn more about OPTIONS at knowyouroptions.me.

Connected Office Technologies Presidents Kyle Romick (left) & Thomas Mitchell (right) present a check to Kelly Thayer, Sweetser’s Development Director

SACO – An office equipment supplier in Portland has donated $20,000 to Sweetser, to provide Mainers with critical mental health services.

Connected Office Technologies is a printer and copier service and document management system provider that is partnering with Sweetser because of shared goals of helping those in need.

“Sweetser’s mission centers around helping people through various challenges and our business reflects those same values,” says Kyle Romick, President of Connected Office Technologies. “Mental health is something we all can grapple with and this partnership ensures more individuals in need of care get the support they need.”

“Partnerships like the one we have with Connected Office Technologies is about a long-term connection with making a difference,” says Jodie Hansen, Sweetser’s Donor and Events Engagement Manager. “Their commitment to mental health and to streamlining our internal printing needs as an organization is greatly appreciated.”

Connected Office Technologies is an official broker of Brother and Sharp.

Learn more about how to access mental health services at https://www.sweetser.org, by emailing info@sweetser.org, or by calling 1-800-434-3000.

On the 7th episode of “Not Now, Maybe Later”, listen to the story of a real teen who has been through it – anxiety since she was very young, starting therapy in high school, and finishing therapy too. Hear about this teen’s real experience of COVID and school in the era of school shootings. And her honesty about her therapy and her family playing their part in her mental health getting better.  This episode includes one (now) funny story about how anxiety and a haunted trail are not a great combination.