FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maine Center Inc. Park Ridge, Illinois
awarded three-year CARF accreditation April 8, 2008.
CARF International announced that Maine Center Inc. has been accredited for a period of three years for the following programs:
Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults)
Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Children and Adolescents)
Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults)
Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)
Maine Center Inc. has had continued accreditation from the international accrediting body of CARF since 1998. This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.
The CARF Survey Summary states, “Maine Center, Inc., has strengths in the following areas:
· The longevity of Maine Center as a provider of quality services allows for stability in times of change and a clear sense of its mission and values.
· Staff members are professional, dedicated, and caring. Many staff members have been with the organization for a number of years, which speaks to the quality of the organization as an employer.
· The organization demonstrates a strong commitment to the persons served. Persons served and other stakeholders who were interviewed expressed a high degree of satisfaction with services and stated that persons served benefit from the services provided.
· Maine Center provides needed services to a population that can be challenging to serve in a community that is not particularly sensitive to the plight of persons in lower socioeconomic brackets who have mental health and addiction difficulties.
· Community involvement is a particular strength of this organization. Leadership, management, and other staff members are extensively involved in a wide variety of outreach, education, and awareness activities that span many aspects of community life.
In the following are Maine Center demonstrates exemplary conformance to the standards:
· Maine Center is highly commended for its perseverance in ably managing the financial uncertainties that are a chronic and potentially disruptive reality it has been dealing with for some time. The leadership, management, and staff members remain positive and strive to reduce unnecessary costs whenever possible. Maine Center manages its fiscal difficulties through prudence, extensive and successful fundraising, and a thriving intern initiative. Quality of services remains high, and strategic planning is focused on continuous improvement.
Maine Center Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with offices at 819 Busse Highway, and 832 Busse Highway, in Park Ridge, Illinois providing mental health and substance abuse services. Maine Center has been serving the greater Maine Township community since 1966.
CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
For additional information, contact David Billingham at 847-696-1570, ext. 305.
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April 3, 2008
Celebrate an Early Father’s Day with Maine Center’s Fourth
Annual Odyssey Fundraising Cruise
Maine Center Inc. is a 40+ year old, non-for-profit community behavioral health organization in the heart of Maine Township and serves those in the surrounding communities suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues. This past year, over 3000 people were served by our organization, ages 3-90. The majority of our clients are below the poverty level and have no insurance. We provide a much needed service to this population of our community and raise 50% of our annual budget through fundraising activities. We have two annual fundraising events: one being the Christmas in Park Ridge Housewalk in December, and then mid- year the Odyssey Brunch Cruise.
On Sunday, June 8th, we will host our 4th Annual Odyssey Brunch Cruise on Lake Michigan. We are expecting 200 attendees from the NW suburbs. This past year, 2007, was our first go at a raffle and auction. We were very successful and hope to repeat the event in 2008.
There is a full deck of the ship reserved which features a full jazz-band, chocolate fountain, complimentary champagne bar as well as a beautiful array of food. There will be 15 themed packages raffled off to help raise money for Maine Center. A taste of the packages include:
“So You Always Wanted to Learn to …..” which features:
Music lessons from Allegro Music Center; Dancing class for 2 from Arthur Murray Studios; One-on-One with a pastry chef from the French Pastry School of Chicago; Boxing lessons from a trainer along with a 6 month membership to a boxing gym; a 3 hour/4 person sailing lesson from the Columbia Yacht Club Chicago; and skating lessons from Chicago’s own Johnny’s Icehouse.
“Grillers Delight” which features:
A portable gas grill from Home Depot; $150 in Gift Certificates from Home Depot; gift certificates from local Butchers and Dominick’s for fresh Meat to grill; Hardback classic book on grilling; Apron; Smoked Wooden planks from Crate & Barrel for added flair; an array of barbeque sauces from Sweet Baby Rays; deck of grilling cards; and grilling classes from the Backyard Barbecue in Wilmette.
Boarding begins at 11:00 a.m. and the ship will embark at noon. Come enjoy the lovely panoramic views of the beautiful Chicago skyline. For a boarding pass, please call Maine Center and make your reservations.
Price is $85.00 per person, of which $35 of each is a charitable donation.
Seats are limited due to size of deck. Call now. 847-696-1570 and reserve your seat today.
Maine Center brings the pieces together to change lives.
Your support does make a positive difference in the lives of others.
For further information contact Suzanne Henn 847-696-1570 xt. 310
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