MISSION
Spurwink responds to community needs by providing behavioral health care, substance use disorder services and support services for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, and their families.
VISION OF SUCCESS
People of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, and their families, served by Spurwink lead engaged, connected, and meaningful lives in their communities.
HISTORY
IN 1960, SPURWINK SERVED 8 BOYS
In 1960, Spurwink began with one house in Portland, Maine, serving eight boys. Today, we operate an active residential campus serving children, 22 group home settings for adults, one group home intermediate care facility, one nursing home/intermediate care facility for adults, and four day treatment special purpose private schools, including a preschool. We have a wide array of community-based, residential and educational services for children, adults, and families across the state. Spurwink’s wide array of community-based services include outpatient therapy, behavioral health home services, treatment foster care, public school counseling, trauma therapy for refugees, forensic child abuse evaluations, a crisis center, opioid health homes, and much more.
Starting with a handful of staff, Spurwink today draws much of its strength from its nearly 1,000 employees. They are the cornerstone of what the organization accomplishes and how services are delivered: developing positive self-regard in those they serve by honoring and respecting who they are, delivering evidence-based treatment, and then building upon the strengths of the individual and the family.
OUR VALUES
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
Many of the people we serve, and our staff have faced adversity. This influences how they see and experience the world. We have a responsibility to reflect a person’s best-self. We build relationships with one another and with clients based on honesty, mutual respect, humility, acceptance, and compassion.
PERSON CENTERED
We partner collaboratively with the people we serve to develop individualized plans, services, and supports. We are committed to working with individuals and staff to reach the goals they have set for themselves.
EXCELLENCE
We are committed to continuous learning and growth. We thoroughly evaluate the outcomes of our work. We reflect on how we can improve. We incorporate proven, effective models into our practices, and hold one another accountable in a culture of continuous improvement.
COMMITMENT
We go the distance to change lives. We draw on our organization’s expertise and ingenuity in creating solutions with the people we serve. We are committed to maintaining a workplace community in which our colleagues thrive personally and professionally.
RECOVERY
We partner with people in a process of growth and recovery through which they improve their health and wellness, lead self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.
BELONGING
We believe belonging is a fundamental human need. Having purpose and value in life, coping with painful and challenging experiences, and having a feeling of belonging are critically important. We celebrate diversity and recognize the impact of racism and other forms of discrimination in our society. We value equity and social justice within Spurwink and in our community. All along this journey, we foster an environment in which people are seen, heard, and know they matter.
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
At Spurwink, evidence-based practices, or EBP, are the foundation of the clinical work we perform. It is an approach to how we treat and provide services to clients. This approach includes important components:
Learning what treatments “work” based on the best available research
Obtaining the skills, techniques, and strategies that influence positive results
Understanding and honoring the views toward treatment of the people we serve
Taking into account cultural and other differences
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