Frequently Asked Questions

Residential and Educational Services for Youth

Is there a referral process to enter a Spurwink residential program?
Referrals for residential treatment initiate from the Maine State Offices of Child Welfare or Children’s Behavioral Health. Admission can only take place after a Case Manager submits the Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment application (or ITRT) and the State determines and approves a specific level of care. Residential referrals to Spurwink are managed through the Admissions office in Portland, Maine – 207-871-7945.

Do you serve children who live outside of the state of Maine?
Yes, we have contracts with several nearby New England/Mid-Atlantic states and accept youth outside of Maine on a case-by-case basis.

What is your treatment philosophy?
Our residential services offer a safe and highly structured therapeutic environment and are designed to meet the unique needs of each client. It has always been our mission to provide treatment in the least restrictive environment possible.

Can our family tour a Spurwink home prior to being admitted?
We operate 50 homes throughout southern and central Maine. Our Admissions Office is happy to schedule a tour of a Spurwink home. However, we remind families that a particular house or location may not have an opening at the time of admission.

What is the average size of a Spurwink home?
Over 60 percent of our homes are small community-based residences with 2 – 3 children in each. The remaining homes have no more than 4 – 6 residents. Fourteen homes are Staff Secure Homes – this is a different level of care than traditional residential treatment

Are your residential facilities locked?
Spurwink does not operate any locked, secure facilities. The safety and wellbeing of our residents is assured through sufficient staffing including, when appropriate, awake night staff. We may also utilize monitoring devices such as window and door alarms where indicated.

Who does Spurwink serve?
We serve children who are facing a wide array of challenges and match each child to the Spurwink home that will best serve his/her needs. Housemates are selected based upon compatibility in social, intellectual, and presenting problems. Our professional staff is extensively trained to meet the following challenges: autism spectrum disorders; emotional and behavioral problems; major mental illness and substance abuse; trauma and attachment-related disorders; disruptive behavior disorders; youth requiring staff intensive treatment; youth requiring full range of diagnostic services. (NOTE: While we provide co-occurring disorders treatment, we do not serve youth who have a primary diagnosis of substance abuse.)