Staff Secure Treatment Program

Spurwink operates two Staff Secure Treatment Programs located in Brunswick and Cornville.

The Staff Secure Programs offer treatment to clients who are returning from out-of-state treatment facilities and clients within the state of Maine who are "difficult-to-place" and may need more structure than a typical community placement can provide.

The Brunswick Staff Secure facility is designed for male and female clients, ages 10 through 20, who have a chronic history of violent acting out, temper outbursts, self-destructive acts and academic failure. The Cornville Staff Secure facility serves males and females ages 5 to 14, with similar histories. These clients also have significant associated events, such as prolonged periods of abuse (physical and/or sexual) and neglect. Generally speaking, clients have avoided school, in some instances have penetrated the juvenile justice systems and have had repeated psychiatric hospitalizations.

Both sites consist of an admitting unit, linked residences, and community-based residences, all utilized in a "step-down" manner. The admitting unit's objectives are to divert clients from psychiatric hospitalization and to provide detailed plans for treatment and placement. Education services are provided on-campus during the admitting period. The linked residences are homes located on the same campus as the admitting unit and are staffed by therapeutic couples and child care workers. The community-based residences are “off-campus” family-style homes with two clients and a therapeutic couple trained and supervised by Spurwink. These residences provide care and treatment for clients, enhancing and solidifying the stabilization achieved in the linked residences. Clients are prepared for transitioning to alternative living situations.

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