Sweetser R E P O R TFall 2012

Sweetser promises to do whatever it takes to connect adults and children to the

mental health care and related services they need.

Sweetser’s Learning & Recovery Center Celebrates 10th AnniversarySweetser’s Learning & Recovery Center recently marked the occasion of its 10th Anniversary with a celebration in Brunswick. The celebration included a picnic lunch as well as games, including trivia about Sweetser, and was attended by both the consumers who benefit from the services provided there, as well as employees.

In the ten years since the Learning & Recovery Center opened its doors to the Greater Brunswick community, it has helped hundreds of people in need. The center offers peer support services, through which individuals who are striving to walk a path of wellness support each other. The Center also offers peers a meditation labyrinth, a healing garden, quiet places to sit and relax, as well as weekly classes in creative arts, ceramics, recovery focused groups and field trips. If someone is feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of day-to-day life and needs a place to turn, the center provides respite bedrooms as well as a drop-in service. Often, peers go just to talk and relax among familiar faces.

Paula Gustafson, Coordinator of the Learning & Recovery Center says, “Mental illness can be managed successfully, and people do recover. This place offers a respite for so many people who just need to be in a supportive environment in order to thrive in their recovery. We offer them an opportunity to grow and work on themselves in a very safe place - what we call a “judgment-free zone” - which is most often just what they need.”

The Learning & Recovery Center seeks to complement traditional mental health services by providing an atmosphere of healing, wellness, creativity and a commitment to personal growth. The Center aims to assist those individuals who visit and participate in activities with an opportunity to work on building mutually supportive relationships they can rely on in times of wellness and crisis.

The Learning & Recovery Center is located at 174 Mere Point Road in Brunswick. For more information, call the Learning & Recovery Center at 207.373.4273 or toll free at the Sweetser PromiseLine 1.800.434.3000.

President & CEO MessagePage 2

Jon Mistos Receives Honor; Flash Mob for RecoveryPage 3

Auction Raises $86,000; Heritage Society HonoredPage 4

Golf Classic; Grants Awarded; Upcoming Events Page 5

Volunteering at Sweetser; Crisis TrainingPage 6

ACT Community Garden; Martin’s Point PartnershipPage 7

Give to Sweetserback cover

Inside This Issue

Linda Danielson (l), Director of Volunteer Services, enjoyed the sunny celebration on the deck of the LRC with her daughter, Christine Dipiazza, a Peer Support Specialist

Carlton Pendleton President & CEO

Mission

Sweetser’s mission is to provide quality treatment, support and hope to children, adults and families through a network of mental health, behavioral health and educational services.

Vision

Helping people create promising futures.

2

Board of Directors

Chair: David M. Tourangeau Vice Chair: Mary E. TurgeonSecretary: Dennis EaglesonTreasurer: Robert E. Convery

Members:Claudia L. AdamsJohn S. BeliveauEric S. ChristensenRobert M. DavisErin Ehrlenbach CollinsChristopher T. Emmet Sarah S. HardcastleDr. Robert A. LobisJerry Mansfield Tammy L. O’Hare Carlton D. Pendleton Gregory R. PrinceMeredith L. Richardson Melissa R. RichterDr. Margaret A. SheppPatricia A. Small Joan V. SmithCarol G. Thorne Roberta M. WrightWilliam J. Zafirson

Unum hosted a mini-golf fundraiser for the United Way and designed one of the holes based on the Ricker Farm at The School at Sweetser in Saco. Many Unum employees have found themselves at the farm through volunteer work over the years and were excited to have the fun concept to play with and model for one of the holes. The event also helped raise awareness for Sweetser with many of their employees.

Dear Friends,

Our feature story in our Spring 2012 Report was sharing the exciting news of Sweetser forging new partnerships for service delivery in response to national healthcare reform and best practice standards. Things are going very well with our efforts and we have several new partnerships to report with Martin’s Point, DFD Russell Medical Center in Leeds, York Family Medicine, and Pediatric Associates of Lewiston. We are proud and excited to be working side by side with these very fine primary care practices. Undoubtedly those we serve will reap the benefits of these integrated care efforts.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful content of this Fall 2012 Report. As always, we are proud of our accomplishments. Likewise, we are proud so many of you continue your dedicated support of Sweetser.

Sincerely,

3

“Flash Mob” Honors Those in RecoverySeptember is National Recovery Month, a time to promote the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders, celebrate people in recovery, laud the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promote the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. Many events were planned across the nation to bring awareness to issues of recovery, and on September 6, at 10:10 a.m., a Flash Mob commenced in Portland’s Monument Square as one such event.

Sweetser co-sponsored the multi-agency effort which brought together hundreds of people. The crowd performed a choreographed dance to Katy Perry’s “Firework,” listened to keynote speakers and visited booths to learn about available resources for those in recovery or those seeking assistance.

Flash Mob Keynote Speakers Ron Welch (left), Sweetser’s Director of Peer Services, is pictured with Kevin Mannix, WCSH6 (Portland).

Jon Mistos Awarded Keeping Maine’s Children Connected “Great People Who Rock” AwardJon Mistos, Sweetser’s Senior Director of Facilities, recently received a Keeping Maine’s Children Connected “Great People Who Rock” award. He was presented with the award by Maine’s First Lady, Ann LePage, during a ceremony at the Blaine House.

The awards are given out annually to those people throughout Maine who have worked with and support youth in their educational endeavors. Jon was one of four individuals who received an award; one team award and six student awards were also given out.

The nomination form completed by a fellow Sweetser employee stated, “Jon takes the time to connect with youth on campus and helps to work toward a successful transition off-campus. He volunteers to work on teams and is always willing to ask difficult questions and participate in finding answers. By doing these types of transitional activities with clients and families, Jon has created a positive impact with the state systems as well as local community stakeholders.”

Humbled by the honor, Jon accepted the award and addressed the audience, reminding them that one person can make a difference. He said, “If you have a chance to help somebody, you help them. If you have the time, share it; if you have the resources, use them; if you have the passion, display it.”

Jon Mistos pictured with his award at The Blaine House in Augusta.

4

20th Sold on Kids Auction Raises $86,000

Sweetser’s 20th Annual Sold on Kids Auction presented by KeyBank raised $86,000. Over 400 people attended the event held at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks. WCSH6-TV sports director Lee Goldberg acted as emcee and Bill Zafirson as auctioneer.

“We always look forward to this event. To see such a wonderful group of friends from the community donate and bid on items attests to

the strength of our organization and the work we are doing at Sweetser,” said Todd Henry, Sweetser’s Director of Development.

Attendees bid on silent and live auction items, enjoyed a musical performance by Lauren Magnuson (pictured at left), and a video of a Sweetser student reading a special poem about her experiences in recovery.

Heritage Society HonoredKathy Meeker (left of center) receives a special recognition gift for her years of dedication to Sweetser at the recent Cornelius Sweetser Heritage Society dinner held at the Falmouth Country Club. Joining Kathy is her husband, Dr. Irving Meeker, Development Director, Todd Henry and Sweetser President & CEO, Carlton Pendleton. More than thirty friends attended the annual gathering.

The Heritage Society was created in 1997 to recognize a distinct group of friends who have made an extraordinary commitment to Sweetser and/or have included Sweetser in their estate plans. Thanks to the generosity of Heritage Society members, Sweetser’s endowment continues to grow and help build a legacy of support for those in need.

Sweetser Board Member and auctioneer Bill Zafirson is pictured with his wife, Louise.

5

Sweetser/Prime Motor Group Golf Classic

The Sweetser/Prime Motor Group Golf Classic was held in June at the Dunegrass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach, and raised over $45,000.

Many of the funds raised come from our corporate tournament sponsors, including Ira Rosenberg of Prime Motor Group, who has generously supported this event for many years. Other major sponsors who help make this event possible include PM Construction Company, Toyota Financial Services, P&C Insurance, Casella Waste Systems, CTI Telecommunications, Domestiks Cleaning Services, Dunkin’ Donuts and Systems Engineering.

This year’s tournament winners were Wormwood’s Restaurant who took First Place Gross, and the team from Northeast Labs, who took First Place Net!

Grants Awarded from Elmina B. Sewall Foundation & Bangor Savings Bank

21st Sold on Kids Auction & Dinner

Spring 2013Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks South Portland

For more information about our events, please contact Jennifer Steele Skillings at jsteele@sweetser.org or 207.294.4485.

Sweetser Events 24th Sweetser/Prime Motor Group Golf Classic

Monday, June 17, 20139 a.m. shotgun startDunegrass Country ClubOld Orchard Beach

Todd Henry, Director of Development and Jennifer Steele Skillings, Development Officer accept a

$10,000 check from Robin Gioia (center), Prime Motor Group Comptroller.

Sweetser recently received a $15,000 grant from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation. Elmina Sewall, who passed away in 2005, was a longtime Sweetser supporter. She established the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation in 1982, which continues her philanthropic legacy to benefit numerous charitable organizations.

Sweetser also received the most votes in York County in the Bangor Savings Bank “Community Matters More” campaign and was awarded $5,000. The campaign donates funds to non-profit organizations throughout the state, and are distributed based on the number of votes each receives. A hearty thank you to all the support we received in this effort, and to those who voted and shared ballot information with family and friends.

6

Corporate Friends Volunteer at Sweetser

At Sweetser, we are always excited to welcome volunteers from all over Maine. Summer in particular is a great opportunity for many businesses and corporations to send their employees to help us with projects at our different locations.

Employees of Keller-Williams Real Estate came to our Saco administration building and The School at Sweetser in Saco and were not only willing to roll up their sleeves and help out our maintenance crew, but also came bearing gifts and donations.

On United Way’s Cumberland County Day of Caring, TD Bank volunteers descended on our Forest Avenue, Portland, office to do landscaping and yard work.

During the United Way’s York County Day of Caring, 35 energetic and hard-working volunteers from the Portsmouth/Kittery Shipyard arrived early and ready to get to work. They eagerly painted, completed landscaping projects, did some weed-

whacking and pulled out several tree stumps on our School Campus in Saco.

To celebrate Liberty Mutual’s 100th Anniversary, employees of that company are participating in volunteer projects with various organizations. We are honored to have been chosen as one of the organizations to participate in their “Serve with Liberty” program, which saw their employees painting at our School in Saco and landscaping at the Learning & Recovery Center in Brunswick.

Trainers Complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) TrainingNine Sweetser staff who are Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) trainers attended a three day conference sponsored by the Residential Child Care Project through Cornell University. Throughout the conference were over 38 workshops to choose from and six of the nation’s most well-respected Child Mental Health Professionals presented keynote speeches. At the end of the conference, the trainers completed a mandatory written test in addition to a physical test in order to maintain TCI Trainer Certification. The trainers now train all Sweetser employees in TCI training.

This year’s theme was, “In the Best Interests of the Child - Caring for Them - Caring for Us”.

Sweetser employees who participated in the training (left to right): Norm Cantara, Gail Lawrence, Donna Sincyr, Jodie Hansen, Jen Burgess, Amy Redford, Kassi Goulet, John Center, and Bunny Wermenchuk.

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ACT Community Garden Grows and Teaches

As part of a program through the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, members of Sweetser’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program recently planted a vegetable garden in Brunswick. The ACT program assists those with serious, persistent mental illness and severe functional impairments, striving to enhance the quality of

life for individuals by promoting independence and recovery.

The group consulted a master gardener, and using seeds and seedlings donated by the Land Trust, planted and maintained a garden plot. The idea for this endeavor was initially suggested by Dr. Edward Pontius, who serves clients on the Brunswick Psychiatric Medication Management team. The ACT team employment specialist, Marc Rodrigue, assisted with keeping things on track.

Planting and maintaining the plot helps ACT participants add to their

employment skills and helps them re-engage in purposeful planning and organization. This is the first year completing such a project, which was fully embraced by those who participated, and who are eager to continue the relationship with the Land Trust and expand the plot next year. Clients also hope to be able to offer the vegetables that are grown there at a farm stand at Sweetser’s location in Brunswick next year.

Martin’s Point Added to Growing List of Behavioral Health PartnersAs Sweetser continues to expand its Behavioral Health Partnership program, we are pleased to share that we have now added two Behavioral Health Specialists at Martin’s Point in Brunswick.

“We’re excited to be embarking on this endeavor to offer a better continuum of care for Martin’s Point patients in southern and mid-coast Maine. We’ve been working toward this goal for a while, and it speaks to the strength of all organizations involved, that we can now move forward with providing patients seamless access to appropriate services across both behavioral and physical health systems,” said Carl Pendleton, Sweetser President and CEO.

This partnership - like previous ones Sweetser has forged with primary care providers in Wiscasset, Lewiston, Indian Township and others - aims to provide more patients with both primary care and behavioral health services in the same place, in turn helping to minimize the stress, stigma, and inconvenience of managing behavioral health symptoms.

Close integration of primary care and behavioral health services has been shown to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of many patients. By treating both physical and behavioral health issues together in a whole-person approach, better overall health can be achieved while at the same time, improving the patient’s health care experience and reducing costs both for the patient and the health care system as a whole.

A variety of lettuces were planted in the plot.

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