Author: <span>AMHC</span>

AMHC Sexual Assault Services Celebrates 40 Years

AMHC Sexual Assault Services joins the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) to highlight April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “Building Connected Communities” encourages each of us to connect with others in our local communities to help ensure that our communities are safe and become educated on sexual violence.

“We can all play a part in the prevention of sexual assault,” shared Julia Miller, Program Director of Prevention and Sexual Assault Services. “AMHC Sexual Assault Services is celebrating its 40^th anniversary and we’re grateful to all of the community stakeholders who have partnered with us to offer support to individuals who have been affected by sexual violence. We not only advocate for victims and give assistance to survivors 24/7, we provide prevention education for all ages on sexual violence, sexual harassment, internet safety and personal body safety.”

AMHC Sexual Assault Services is bringing visibility to Sexual Assault Awareness Month by participating in the following:

• Teal Tuesdays – As the designated color for sexual assault prevention, staff are sporting teal clothing each Tuesday.
• National Denim Day – Staff will wear denim on Wednesday, April 24, in honor of survivors of sexual assault. This tradition has taken place since 2008. Learn more at denimday.org.
• 40^th Anniversary Celebration – Community members are invited to an 80s themed Dance Party at the Northeastland Hotel, Presque Isle, on April 27 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. For more information and tickets visit www.amhc.org.

AMHC Sexual Assault Services Advocates support nearly 400 victims per year in Aroostook, Hancock, and Washinton counties. They can be reached by calling the 24-hour Sexual Assault Helpline at 1-800-871-7741. Text and chat is also available Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. The service is free and confidential. For more information, visit AMHC Sexual Assault Services at https://www.amhcsas.org/.

Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) is asking community members to participate in a survey that will help the agency and its consortium gauge public opinion on substance use in Aroostook County including stigma, access to services, and gaps in service.

“The survey is an important part of understanding how community members perceive substance use in our area,” shared Deb Jacques, AMHC Director of Marketing and Development. The survey can be accessed on AMHC’s Facebook page and website and will be distributed extensively through community partners. It is designed to be user-friendly on mobile devices, and hard copies are available upon request for individuals and organizations. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

This effort is part of AMHC’s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Community Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Implementation III grant, which aims to reduce the negative impacts of substance use disorder (SUD), including alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder (OUD), in Aroostook County.  A consortium meets quarterly to discuss project initiatives and includes representatives from AMHC, Northern Maine Medical Center, Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital, Houlton Regional Hospital, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, and Mi’kmaq Behavioral Health Center.

Individuals who complete the survey will be able to enter their name and a contact number into a drawing for one of five $100 Amazon gift cards. Winners will be contacted by Friday, April 5. Please note: Gift cards will only be awarded to individuals 18 and older living in Aroostook County.  For more information or to request a copy of the survey, please reach out to Bonnie Davenport at bdavenport@amhc.org; or by calling 207-554-2352.

About HRSA

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,000,000 with 100% percent funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

About AMHC

With 60 years of dedicated service, AMHC is the largest behavioral healthcare provider in the region, operating 27 service locations across Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington counties. The agency annually supports up to 5,500 clientele, with a team of more than 350 employees delivering a comprehensive range of services in mental health, substance use, crisis, sexual assault, prevention, brain injury, and programs for adults with intellectual disabilities. Guided by our mission, we strive to provide integrated healthcare services that empower individuals to recover and enhance their overall quality of life.  For more information, connect with AMHC at www.amhc.org

Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) is pleased to announce that it is relocating to 70 Kingsland Crossing, Ellsworth, combining its outpatient services and Downeast Treatment Center (DTC) in one location. The new facility will open on Monday, December 11, 2023. To prepare for the move, offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 7 and 8.

“We are excited to offer AMHC services from a central location,” said Ellen Bemis, CEO. “Our offices will be close to city amenities, including other healthcare providers, retail stores, and more. In addition, by placing the Downeast Treatment Facility and outpatient services under one roof, we make it easier for our clients to access a full range of behavioral health services, with an opportunity to expand and grow programming.”  An open house is planned for Spring, 2024.

AMHC has been offering mental health, substance use, crisis, and sexual assault services in Hancock County since 2009. Thanks to a partnership with Downeast Treatment Substance Network (DSTN), a partnership of organizations and community members in Downeast, Maine, the Downeast Treatment Center opened in 2018, providing a “hub and spoke” model of care for individuals with substance use disorder.

The Call Center lines have re-opened. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

The AMHC Call Center will be moving locations on Thursday November 16, 2023. The Call Center lines (phone and fax) will be down at 10am and could last for several hours.  During this time, if you have a non-urgent need, please contact the AMHC Outpatient Office located near you. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 or the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112. A notice will be sent when the Call Center lines have re-opened. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) is pleased to announce that it has opened an expanded residential treatment facility (RTF) at 176 Academy Street in Presque Isle, adjacent to AMHC’s Presque Isle Outpatient, Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit, and administrative offices and situated along Presque Isle’s “healthcare corridor,” where numerous healthcare providers are located.

“For nearly 50 years, AMHC residential treatment has been delivered in Limestone at a location known affectionately as ‘The Farm’, and it has served us well,” said Ellen Bemis, CEO. “The move to Presque Isle was prompted by a need to serve more clients and offer additional services; we are extremely grateful for the significant funding AMHC received through both federal and State of Maine grants.”

The new facility will allow bed capacity to increase from 12 to 18 beds. This project was made possible with a $1,000,000 award through the 2022 Congressionally Delegated Services funding request supported by Senator Susan Collins, a $600,000 award through the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which contributed 34% of the funding, and a $150,000 allocation from an award through the Health Resources Services Administration Rural Communities Opioid Response Program*. An open house will be held December 1, 2023. 

The RTF is a structured, intensive treatment facility offering 28-day/24/7 care. Individual and group treatment is required throughout each day; family treatment on Sundays; weekly case coordination meetings with community treatment providers; and skill building for successful daily recovery functioning.

Central Platform for Substance Use Disorder Information and Resources

On behalf of the Aroostook Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (ACORP), Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) is pleased to introduce Share Facts Save Lives, a website and social media platform dedicated to sharing substance use disorder information and resources, including harm reduction, prevention, treatment, recovery support, and ending stigma.

“It is fitting that we launch Share Facts Save Lives in September, which is designated National Recovery Month,” said Deb Jacques, AMHC Director of Marketing and Development. “This website and social media platform provide visitors with education and resources based on facts, evidence-based practices, and more.”

The goal of Share Facts Save Lives is to lower the mortality and morbidity of substance use disorder in Aroostook County by improving the public’s understanding of the science behind addiction, empowering youth to make healthy choices, connecting families to resources through 2-1-1 and OPTIONS, recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdose, sharing the benefits of naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, and the Good Samaritan Law, and providing inspiring stories of individuals in recovery, for more information visit www.sharefactssavelives.org.

Share Facts Save Lives was developed with funding through a federal grant from the Department of Health Resources and Services Administration. It was supported by the Aroostook Communities Opioid Response Program (ACORP), which includes AMHC, Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, Houlton Regional Hospital, Cary Medical Center, Northern Maine Medical Center, The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, Mi’kmaq Behavioral Health Center, and our local recovery community.

About AMHC
Celebrating nearly 60 years, AMHC is a nonprofit organization supporting up to 5,500 clients annually. The agency has 26 service sites and 350 employees across Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties, providing mental health, substance use, crisis, sexual assault services, and traumatic brain injury (Aroostook). For more information, connect with AMHC at www.amhc.org.

This event was supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #GA1RH42873‐01‐00. The information, conclusions, and opinions expressed in this product are those of the authors, and no endorsement by FORHP, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) encourages everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts and what to do and not do in response to helping a loved one.

“According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, on average, one person died by suicide every 32 hours in the State of Maine in 2020,” explains Sarah Wright, Director of Crisis Services. “Maine is ranked 15^th in the nation for its suicide rate; it is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34 and ages 35-54.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says the following warning signs could signal that someone is experiencing suicidal ideation (thoughts about suicide):

• Comments like “I wish I weren’t here” or “Nothing matters”
• Increased alcohol and drug use
• Aggressive behavior
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and community
• Dramatic mood swings
• Impulsive or reckless behavior

NAMI offers this advice: If your friend or family member struggles with suicidal ideation daily, let them know they can talk with you about what they are going through. Make sure that you adopt an open and compassionate mindset when they are talking. Instead of “arguing” or trying to disprove any negative statements they make, try active listening techniques such as reflecting on their feelings and summarizing their thoughts. This approach can help your loved one feel heard and validated.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, AMHC is available to anyone in Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties. To access AMHC’s Mobile Crisis Services team, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112.

Celebrating nearly 60 years, AMHC is a nonprofit organization supporting up to 5,500 clients annually. The agency has 26 service sites and 350 employees across Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties, providing mental health, substance use, crisis, sexual assault services, and traumatic brain injury (Aroostook). For more information, connect with AMHC at www.amhc.org. 

ACAC recognized for its delivery of high quality and effective services to victims of child abuse

Aroostook Children’s Advocacy Center (ACAC), a program of Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC), is pleased to share that it has been awarded accreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, accreditation is the highest level of membership with the National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.

“It seems fitting that we should announce ACAC’s accreditation in April, which is designated Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” explained Julia Miller, Program Director of Prevention and Sexual Assault Services. “We’re extremely proud of our ACAC team and our community partners who made this possible.

As an accredited member, ACAC has demonstrated its ability to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. AMHC Sexual Assault Services opened ACAC in 2018 and has assisted nearly 400 children and their families since that time. “The closest Children’s Advocacy Center used to be in Bangor,” explained Miller. “A local program reduces barriers to services and connects a child and family with resources and supports in their community.”

National Children’s Alliance awards accredited membership based on a CAC’s compliance with ten national accreditation standards to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. According to these standards, which reflect the most recent evidence-based practices in the field of child abuse intervention and prevention, accredited members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and a child-focused setting.

“Aroostook Children’s Advocacy Center is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high-quality services that result from professional collaboration,” remarked Teresa Huizar, executive director of National Children’s Alliance.

National Children’s Alliance is a nonprofit association and accrediting body providing comprehensive care through hundreds of Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide with a forward-thinking approach that stays at the forefront of every child’s future. For more information, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Learn more about Aroostook Children’s Advocacy Center at www.amhcsas.org.

Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) is pleased to provide an update regarding the expansion of adult crisis stabilization unit (ACSU) services at 127 Palmer Street in Calais. An ACSU is for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis that would benefit from a short-term stay in a safe, residential-type environment; it offers trained crisis staff to offer support, intervention, safety planning, and connection to other services that may be needed.

“The ACSU in Washington County opened in July 2021 and is currently accepting new referrals,” explained Shannon Gove, LSW, AMHC Program Director. “Since opening, the staff has served 50 clients, equating to more than 1,200 bed days. Despite workforce shortages, they continue to serve the most vulnerable in our county and beyond.”

Referrals to the ACSU in Calais can be made 24/7 by calling the unit directly at 207-454-1910, through the AMHC 24/7 Call Center at 1-800-244-6431, or by fax at 207-454-0441. Anyone is welcome to make a referral, including the individual in crisis, a family member, behavioral health and medical providers, law enforcement, etc.

“Prior to the opening of this facility, individuals in Washington County in need of a crisis stabilization unit would be referred to Bangor or Presque Isle, up to 120 miles away,” said Gove. “This resulted in individuals having to wait in emergency departments or in the community while their crisis worsened. A local resource is having a positive impact on both the individuals in need of services as well as their family members.”

The space offers five private rooms and two bathrooms, and the facility is handicap accessible. In addition, clients will have a personal space to visit with family, friends, or other supports. The open floor plan provides a kitchen, dining, and living room area.

The opening of the ACSU was made possible thanks to the grant funds provided through Davis Family Foundation, C.F. Adams Charitable Trust, and the Maine Community Foundation.