AUGUSTA: Two years after celebrating the agency’s 60th anniversary, Kennebec Behavioral Health (KBH) was finally able to host an in-person annual meeting on September 15, 2022 at the Senator Inn. The event included recognitions of area community partners for exceptional community service and partnership and a presentation about the agency’s Homeless Outreach Program.
Kevin Jones was presented with the 2022 James R. Schmidt Award, which is presented annually to a person or organization that best exemplifies the late Jim Schmidt’s efforts to improve quality of life for adults who experience mental illness by providing them with social, education and employment opportunities. Mr. Jones, who has been working with Old Navy for more than 20 years, has partnered with KBH Clubhouses since 2010. Through his work with the Clubhouses, Mr. Jones has provided over 100 members an opportunity for paid employment.
The Outstanding Community Partnership Award was awarded to Somerset Public Health and its Pathways to Recovery Program for its partnership with KBH as a primary treater of substance use disorder and opioid use disorder and expanding the continuum of prevention, treatment and recovery services. Through their efforts, this multi-year project has built a strong network of providers, other professionals and people with lived experiences across the Somerset community to strengthen connections and linkages to all people seeking recovery.
The Transformational Clinical Collaboration Award was awarded to the Central Maine Youth Trauma Initiative (CMYTI) for working with KBH in expanding evidence-based treatment approaches and trauma awareness for the communities we mutually serve. Through their generous partnership, clinicians at KBH were able to receive training from experts and consultants, so as to build the clinical capacity at KBH in trauma intervention and prevention.
Kennebec Behavioral Health was pleased to have its Administrator of Community Services, Brandi Farrington, present on the agency’s Homeless Outreach Program. Brandi highlighted the unique strengths of the program which aims to support homeless individuals with mental health concerns in central Maine. She presented the various challenges facing the program and homeless individuals, as well as the future goals and actions needed to help remove barriers to care.
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Outstanding Community Partnership Award Photo: From left –Carla Stockdale, KBH Clinical Director, Matthew L’Italien, Somerset Public Health/Redington-Fairview General Hospital Director, Betsy Richard, Somerset Public Health, and Linda MacKenzie
Transformational Clinical Collaboration Award Photo: From left – Pat McKenzie, Outpatient and Substance Use Disorder Services Administrator, Liam Shaw, Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center, Jean Youde, and Dr. Lindsey Tweed.
James R. Schmidt Award: From left- Kevin Jones, Old Navy, Candy Lessard, Village Clubhouse Director, and Rick Pelton, Village Clubhouse Assistant Director
