LIMESTONE, Maine — Aroostook Mental Health Services Inc. is celebrating the 45th anniversary of its Residential Treatment Facility, commonly referred to as “The Farm,” and a special project will allow residents to grow in their recovery by nurturing plants.
“We are very proud to reach this milestone anniversary,” said Rebecca Fournier, RTF site coordinator. “RTF is special for many reasons, including our tightly woven group of staff members. We work very hard to make our clients feel comfortable, safe and hopeful. We want them to know they are not alone in their recovery journey.”
During this anniversary year, residents will be involved in a gardening project.
“The idea is that residents will have a chance to be invested in a task that correlates to growth in recovery. For example, our current residents are planting seeds and providing what the seeds need to grow,” Fournier said.
“The care they provide helps them understand that they also need support such as personal care and surrounding themselves with others who provide light in their world. By being intentional, they will see themselves grow.”
Depending on when they arrive, each resident will have a different experience during the growing season. Some residents will plant the seeds outside and then need to weed the garden on a regular basis.
“In recovery it is important to pull or ‘weed’ out all the negative messages, characteristics and behaviors that can take over one’s mind. Other residents will harvest the plants and reap the benefits of all the work. Not all residents will see the fruits of their labor,” Fournier said.
“Similarly, in recovery we may interact with a person and never know how much of an impact we have had on their life,” she added.
Opened in 1975, RTF is the only 28-day substance use treatment facility in the state of Maine that serves both men and women ages 18 and older. The facility is ADA accessible and serves up to 150 individuals per year.
During its history, RTF has supported thousands of individuals in their recovery journey.
Celebrating more than 55 years, AMHC is a nonprofit organization supporting nearly 6,000 clients annually. The agency has 26 service sites and 325 employees located across Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties providing mental health, substance use, crisis, sexual assault services and brain injury services (Aroostook County).
For more information, connect with AMHC at www.amhc.org.
