Northern Lighthouse completes building expansion
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MARS HILL — A local treatment facility has completed a much-needed renovation to accommodate the growing need for both residential and outpatient services for the youth of Aroostook County and their families.
To mark the expansion, staff of The Northern Lighthouse, located at 14 Main St. in Mars Hill, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 12. An entire three-story wing was added to the structure to accommodate the growing need for more offices and a meeting room.
“The Northern Lighthouse is a six-bed co-ed facility for youth ages 8-21. Cory Tilley serves as house manager. In addition to in-house services, staff also works with clients throughout Aroostook County,” said Scott Cray, human resource manager. “Last year we had 30 employees; this year we’re up to 85 staff members. Office space was getting too cramped; the added space accommodates our growth.”
THE NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE staff held a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month to mark the completion of an expansion to better serve clients from throughout Aroostook County. Present for the event, from left: Blake Hatt, case manager; Sarah Hatt, 28 supervisor; Brian Faulkner, finance; Crista Donald, case manager; Abby Clockedile, DHW; Tiffany Faulkner, CEO; Mel Guiggey, finance manager; Henry Carpenter, 28 supervisor; Alishia Bretzke, independent living; Linda Guiggey, 28 supervisor; Tami Cote, residential director/clinician; Avis Durost, home management; Andy Shaw, maintenance; Kelly Garrison, finance; Tori Shaw, office manager; Maggie Blevens, family integration; and Scott Cray, human resource manager.
Cray said prior to adding on to the building, offices were located elsewhere. Now offices are consolidated under one roof.
“Before we had to borrow space for training — meetings were held at the Academy House on Academy Street in Presque Isle. The company decided it was time to expand, adding three floors,” said Cray, of the facility which got its start in 2001 as a residential facility for girls.
“The Guiggeys (founders Mel and Linda) were foster parents. They wanted to help more children but due to state guidelines, they could only have so many kids with them at one time. That’s when they decided to become a residential facility,” explained Cray.
Since its inception, the organization has continued to grow, expanding services beyond the home a couple years ago.
“We work with a lot of Section 28 clients, providing rehabilitative and community support services for children with cognitive impairments and functional. We help them with social skills, interacting,” he said.
Staff also provides in-home therapy, with individually-designed treatment plans based on needs.
Blake Hatt, case manager, said staff works as advocates for the children.
“We handle all medical and other appointments, take them shopping, teach them good hygiene and help them with school issues. We make sure their needs are being met,” said Hatt. “Each client gets direct care, through personalized service,” he said. “We help them address issues at school, at home. Years ago kids didn’t have a voice — an advocate. That’s where we fit in.”
A total of 12 residential staff works full- and part-time on a 24/7 basis.
“State licensing requires one staff member for each group of three children. We have six kids and have three staff on at a time,” said Hatt.
Efforts go beyond the Mars Hill facility, with workers meeting with clients and their families at home, through supervised home visits.
“We offer parenting classes; we assess children’s needs,” said Hatt.
Hatt indicated some youth, for whatever reason, haven’t learned essential life skills. Northern Lighthouse’s staff is able to fill that void.
“We teach teens money management skills, teach them how to apply for jobs, offer a pregnancy group — using a ‘pregnancy belly’ that’s the exact weight of a full-term baby, we teach them how to tend to a baby’s needs,” said Hatt. “We teach them how to handle and care for a baby.”
Hatt said residents earn a weekly allowance for helping with chores.
“Each client has chores. The menus are set by the kids. They learn to grocery shop, budget, do their own laundry. We work with them on coping skills,” said Hatt. “We cover everything, doing our best to meet each child’s needs, involving family members as much as possible.”
Henry Carpenter, Section 28 supervisor, said services are offered county-wide.
“We serve clients from Houlton to Cross Lake. Our agency currently serves about 102 families — about 70 families in Section 28. We provide home and community treatment, working to meet the needs of children on such topics as hygiene, coping skills, regulating anger,” said Carpenter.
Performing chores teaches daily skills and will allow children to one day be able to live independently, said Carpenter.
“These are kids that just need a little help,” said Carpenter.
The Northern Lighthouse works primarily through referrals from DHHS and works with other agencies — AMHC, Wings, Care & Comfort, Catholic Charities and Life By Design, said Carpenter.
The Northern Lighthouse, “A Safe Harbor,” also offers seminars, including: team building, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, anger management, love and logic, parenting education, suicide awareness, for business/families, first aid and CPR, and more. For more information on these or any other services, call 425-7188 or 227-5201.
