Inspired Voices in Twin City Times

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Members of the team leading the Trauma-informed System of Care Project in Maine and participating in the launch event are: [L-R] Tina Clark, Director of Development TCMHS; Arabella Perez, Project Manager; Chris Copeland, Executive Director TCMHS; Jay Yoe, DHHS, Andy Cook, MD, Medical Director DHHS, Children's Behavioral Services; Pat Hunt, Federation of Families; Tonya Labbe, Family Voice Representative, Luc Nya, Multicultural Consultant; Ned Vitalis, DHHS; Joan Smyrski, Director, DHHS, Children's Behavioral Health Services; Breanne Masseli, Youth Voice Representative; Catherine Ryder, Program Director, TCMHS, and Chantalle Bradrick, Youth Representative.  

Youth, Family Organizations Unite to Address Child Trauma

AUBURN:  “Trauma takes away dreams.”  That was the message at the core of Wednesday’s event in Auburn that introduced the nation’s first Trauma-Informed System of Care. The project, led by Tri-county Mental Health Services (TCMHS) in partnership with the State of Maine Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Children’s Behavioral Health Services, will transform services for children and families in our region over the next six years. It will create a new way of working as a community to meet the needs of children and families through coordination, collaboration, and communication. Keynote speaker Karen Baldacci called the project an exciting start toward  “building health children, families, communities, and a healthy Maine.” The First Lady is Chair of Maine’s Children’s Cabinet.  “Every child desires the opportunity to be socially and emotionally healthy and a vital part of their community. Each one of you can help us reach this goal,” she said.  The audience of 130+ people included mental health providers, educators, law enforcement, juvenile justice, healthcare,  community groups, policy-makers, youths and families, all of whom will be working together over the next six years in the $9 million project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Tri-County Mental Health Services is Maine’s most comprehensive agency dealing with the psychological and social well-being of children, adults, and elders. TCMHS serves over 6,000 individuals each year with innovative programs and services addressing mental health, substance abuse, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, autism, and more. Its philosophy of building toward recovery and sensitivity to traumatic experiences of consumers gives hope to individuals, families, and communities in Androscoggin, Northern Cumberland, Franklin and Oxford counties.