Staff Writer
HOULTON — At any given time there are “16 beating hearts” living at the Maine Adoption Placement Services (MAPS) home in Houlton. Add to that a few monkeys, lions and tropical frogs and you’ve got a jungle.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
A JOB WELL DONE — Susan York stands beside her finished mural at the Stepping Stones’ Maine Adoption Placement Services (MAPS) home. See her story on page one.
Susan York is an education coordinator for Stepping Stones and she brought the world of the jungle to life at the MAPS. For approximately five weeks, York and several of her students worked effortlessly to create a special mural for the children and their parents living there.
“This is the ‘Hide and Seek Jungle,’” explained York. “We have parrots, monkeys, snakes, a bookworm, frogs, leopards, bears, lions and orangutans. It’s a place for the children to feel safe and have fun.”
The mural was created in the direct care room, which is used for one-on-one care and parental visits for the children living there.
Two walls live out the scene of a typical jungle. Monkeys are hanging from a tree that stands directly in the middle. Its leaves stretch out into the ceiling, while leopards and lions hide out in the bushes and flowers along the floor. York said she geared the mural for all age groups, including babies.
“At night, you can see twinkling stars when you look up,” she said. “The babies, when they’re laying on the floor, it’s much more interesting for them — they like that.”
The home is outfitted to provide comfort and care for young mothers and their children who are just starting out. Contrast to its name, it is not a place where parents are encouraged to give up their children — it’s the complete opposite.
“These girls deserve to feel good about themselves and that’s what this home is for,” explained Luetta Goodall, the director of Stepping Stones. “We really try to overstress safety here in the hopes of when they leave they’ll remember it.”
MOPS is also a place of reunification and healing and York said that was one of the reasons why she chose to paint the mural.
For more information on Stepping Stones call 532-6689 or online at www.stepstones4youth.org or mail them at P.O. Box 189, Houlton, ME., 04730.
