For Immediate Release

Contact: Donna Murphy, Director of Communications, 871-1200

Portland Help Center To Remain Open

Spurwink announced today the Portland Help Center , a community-based mental health clinic in Portland that was slated to close as of June 30, will remain open. Significant funding cuts had made it impossible for Spurwink to continue to operate the program, which has been providing psychiatric services to adults who have little to no financial resources since 1991.

"Working with the Department of Health and Human Services, we have been successful in reaching an agreement that will make it possible for us to continue to meet the needs of our very vulnerable clients," said Catherine Lorello-Snow, the clinic's Director. " Portland Help Center has been successfully providing outpatient psychiatric treatment to some of our most needy community members for 14 years. We appreciate the interest and support of the many community leaders and citizens who recognized the value of this program and the impact its loss would have on our patients. On behalf of our clients, we extend our thanks to all those who worked hard to ensure there will not be a disruption or termination in our services."

The Portland Help Center , located at 477 Congress Street , was originally established to provide community-based mental health services to patients who had been discharged from the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI). It currently serves 400 adults with chronic mental illness.

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Spurwink Reaccredited by Council on Accreditation

Spurwink has recently been reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, not-for-profit accrediting body of social and behavioral healthcare services. COA accreditation attests that an organization meets the highest national standards and is delivering the best quality services to the community it serves.

COA's mission is to promote best-practice standards and champion quality services for children, youth, and families. With the reaccreditation, Spurwink continues to be part of COA's Community of Excellence that includes more than 1,000 private and public organizations in the United States and Canada .

"The reaccreditation process is a rigorous examination of Spurwink's compliance with best practice standards," said Peter McPherson , Spurwink's President. "This includes a review of both organizational and service standards. We are very proud to receive this acknowledgement of our commitment to achieve the highest standard of professional performance."

Spurwink is a non-profit agency serving the needs of individuals who face emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges. This year, the organization will serve 4,500 individuals in southern and central Maine through a wide array of residential, day, outpatient and prevention-based services.

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