Sarah Ferris is the Director of Refugee Services and leads Spurwink’s ShifaME program. Having been with Spurwink for over 20 years, she has been in many roles and locations, including (but not limited to) a Generalist in Auburn, PSC Clinician and Supervisor, and Director in Lewiston. When she isn’t busy leading her program at Spurwink, she can be found reading Frost poems, backpacking in the mountains, or spending time with her children.
When I’m not volunteering/working at Spurwink, I’m: Focused on my two wonderful children — my son Andrew and daughter Emily.
Spurwink program that I connect with most deeply: I am absolutely passionate about the ShifaME program and truly believe that we are providing exemplary care to refugee and immigrant families in Maine. I have an amazing team and each individual brings a level of care and commitment to the children and families we serve and they truly go the distance!
Why behavioral health matters to me: I believe that everyone has a basic human right to live a life where pain and suffering is tended to. I know that part of the human experience is hardship and as a Social Worker I am committed to doing my part to mitigate the distress that people endure.
My favorite way to de-stress: I work lift weights and do resistance training with an amazing group of women at Dirigo Fitness!
Words to live by: Bring your best to each moment and the rest will be what it is supposed to be.
Most interesting thing I’ve read recently: I have been reading Robert Frost Poems. I am also reading Joseph Conrad’s Nostromo.
The music I jam to alone in the car is: I love music but some guilty pleasures recently are REM and the Pixies.
Favorite ice cream: Okay so I actually have a secret love for soft serve vanilla on a hot summer day with crunch coating even though I have no idea what that coating is.
Recent Netflix obsession: Not much of a screen watcher but my boyfriend and I watch Pulp Fiction on a somewhat regular basis…it’s a bit of an obsession!
Sweet or salty?: Oh I love sweet and salty together! Salted chocolate rules.
Mountains or beach? I am a mountain person. From the time I was a little girl, my Dad had me backpacking in Maine and in the White Mountains.
