AMHC Limestone facility cited
CARIBOU — At a recent graduation ceremony, Justice Nancy Mills of the Kennebec County Co-Occurring Disorders Court (CODC), Augusta presented AMHC’s Residential Treatment Facility ‘RTF’) in Limestone with an outstanding treatment provider award. RTF staff members Gail Dodd, Frances O’Hare, Rebecca Fournier and David Rowland were on hand to accept the award.
STAFF MEMBERS at AMHC’s Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) in Limestone recently accepted an outstanding treatment provider award present by Justice Nancy Mills of the Kennebec County Co-occurring Disorders Court (CODC). From left are: Rebecca Fournier, David Rowland, Justice Mills, Gail Dodd and Frances O’Hare.
According to Jamie Owens, director of marketing and development at AMHC, participation in the court requires a mental health diagnosis and a co-occurring substance abuse problem. Defendants charged with any crime are considered for admission. The majority of members of the court have pleaded guilty to Class A, B, or C charges, including sex offenses, drug offenses, robbery, Class C assault, Class C OUI, class C theft, burglary, and multiple probation violations. Increasingly, admission to the CODC requires that the criminal conduct is driven by mental illness and that the amount of incarceration saved by successful completion of the CODC is measured in terms of years, not months.
Upon admission to the court, the defendants are connected to the resources they need to succeed, including housing, insurance, financial support, treatment, medicine, encouragement and support from the team, case management, and, if appropriate, a job or further schooling. The RTF staff received the recognition as a result of their work with individuals participating in the CODC who are referred for treatment at the RTF.
The RTF offers 12 beds for the treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. The program offers individuals a safe and supportive setting in which they can receive intensive services that are tailored to specific needs. Continuous round-the-clock supervision is provided by experienced residential treatment staff.
AMHC’s outpatient counselors coordinate with residential treatment staff to design and implement goal-oriented treatment strategies that address a client’s specific needs and dependencies. AMHC residential staff works with outpatient therapists, community service programs, government agencies, and other appropriate ancillary services to develop discharge and follow-up plans that focus on relapse prevention and reintegration into the community.
