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 Mental Health Cuts are Unacceptable - Please Take Action!

The movement to save mental health services in Illinois is growing. Wednesday, April 11, more than 700 people rallied at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to make sure that funding for mental health services is retained in Illinois. Hundreds of signatures have been collected on NAMI’s petition in support of maintaining community mental health funding.

The proposed cuts for mental health services are unacceptable.  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn proposes to cut $54 million in much-needed mental health services.

What is at stake? Well, for example, consider the plight of a person with severe mental illness who suddenly does not have a safe place to stay. Housing and other services for that person - and thousands of others -- would clearly be threatened if these proposed cuts become a reality.

Proposed cuts need to be restored so that mental health service providers can continue to provide comprehensive housing, psychiatric and crisis intervention services. Proposed cuts would compromise access to critical services for a highly vulnerable population.We are talking about comprehensive and cost-effective community-based services that are essential for a consumer of mental health services' recovery.

Community-based care for even the most complex mental health needs costs several times less than putting people in a hospital, an institution or a jail. It's also considerably more effective. The State of Illinois must do the right thing: retain resources for services that are making a difference in the lives of thousands of persons with mental illness and their families.

What can you do?  Contact your state senator and state representative today. Insist that mental health funding should not be cut and should at least be continued at current levels.

To generate a message that will automatically be sent to your state representative just click on the link below (or copy and paste it into your web browser:

http://capwiz.com/thresholds/utr/1/MKUVRPOMMX/OMMNRPOMVJ/8172623421

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Please save the date for...
Maine Center’s Eighth Annual Odyssey Fundraising Brunch Cruise

Sunday, June 10, 2012

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This is a two-hour brunch cruise along Chicago's beautiful lakefront embarking from Navy Pier at Noon.
Complimentary champagne toast, gourmet brunch buffet, music, cash bar
and fabulous raffle prizes await you.
Tickets are $95 per person, $21 of which goes to support Maine Center's services.
Tickets will be held for pickup at check-in on the dock.
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If you can't join us please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Maine Center.
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For Information and phone Reservations please call 847-232-2908
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The proceeds support the provision of mental health and substance abuse services to the clients of Maine Center

NEWS AT MAINE CENTER
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On September 8, 2011, the Illinois Department of Human Services,
Division of Mental Health
 announced the closure and restructuring
of State Operated Mental Health Centers (Hospitals)
For a pdf copy of a power point presentation
on the planned changes click on this link.

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CARF...the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities...
conducted an accrediation survey of Maine Center's
Outpatient Programs on January 13 and 14, 2011. 

All of Maine Center's Outpatient Treatment programs
received a full Three Year Accreditation.
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Illinois' General Assembly Responds to the Crisis in Human Services

Thanks to Representative Elaine Nekritz and Senator Dan Kotowski for their votes supporting passage of SB 2505 and stepping up to support the possibility of some State funds finding their way to community disability services. State funding cuts over the past three years have resulted in job loss to taxpayers working in mental health and substance abuse treatment services, reduction in treatment services to citizens with disabilities, and community disability providers not being paid for the services they have provided. This tax increase should help rebalance funding in our state moving away from utilizing expensive State institutions to using nationally accredited, cost-effective, and efficient community-based settings. ~ Fran Hook Hume

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Maine Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Marina Smirnov, M.D. has been hired as a part-time psychiatrist.  Dr. Smirnov is Board Certified in both General Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry.  Dr. Smirnov's office appointments are scheduled for Monday through Thursday each week.

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Maine Center is honored and thrilled that the Park Ridge Community Women have stepped up to partner with us for Fiscal Year 2011 to work hand in hand in support of our two annual fund-raising events, the 34th Christmas in Park Ridge Housewalk Friday, December 3, 2010 and our 7th  Annual Odyssey Brunch Cruise Sunday, June 12, 2011.

The PRCW Board and membership will be volunteering in a variety of ways to support the planning and actual event activities to help raise needed funds for Maine Center. 




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The Morton Grove Foundation supports Maine Center. 

 

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Click here to go to Maine Center's Fifth Annual Odyssey Fundraising Cruise
at TRIB Local.com

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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 847-696-1570 ext. 310

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**NEWS RELEASE**

Mayor Arredia proclaims April 20, 2006, Maine Center Day.

Park Ridge, IL – Mayor, Anthony W. Arredia, Mayor of the City of Des Plaines, has proclaimed
April 20, 2006, to be Maine Center Day in Des Plaines. On that day, Maine Center will honor everal “stars” of the local area at its annual Volunteers Recognition Day, to be held at Grazie Ristorante in Des Plaines, on Thursday, April 20, 2006.

Each year, Maine Center, the only behavioral health agency in Maine Township, honors people or groups who have worked to help residents suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse problems. This year, Maine Center honors Mayor Anthony Arredia as its Civic Star, Jan Staley as its Board of Directors Star, and Margaret Polovchak as its Community Star for their volunteer work in helping people for the past several years.

In addition to celebrating its 40th Anniversary in Maine Township, Maine Center, serving Des Plaines and the surrounding communities, honors the Maine Center Auxiliary on its 30th Anniversary. The Auxiliary has raised funds for 30 years in various capacities, but its most cherished event is the Annual Park Ridge Christmas House Walk, always held the first Friday of December. Over the years, the women and men of the Housewalk have worked to raise in excess of $250,000 for the care of men, women and children with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.

For more information about Maine Center please call 847-696-1570.
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