I am still an IT guy, even though I’ve worked at Spurwink for 18 years. I’ve basically had 3 IT careers. Or as I call them, my 3 lives. Each…
“All communities face unique challenges or barriers in addressing mental health issues.” This opening statement stands out to anyone viewing the NAMI’s, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month website. Mental health issues are…
Have you ever had a cup of coffee or listened to loud music to help yourself wake up in the morning? What about after a long day? Do you take…
Seven years ago, the last thing on Eric Stearns mind was parenthood. Eric was employed at a Spurwink behavioral-health residence in Cornville, where he met a hard-to-forget eight-year-old boy named Ethan. Affected…
After working at Spurwink with youth in residential treatment since 1977, I’ve got some thoughts about what works. I have known hundreds of kids who have passed through our residential…
The lightning flashed and lit up the coffee cup sitting on the arm of my Adirondack chair as I sat in my front yard watching the early spring storm blow…
In the mental health/substance abuse field we often refer to youth and adults affected by a family member’s drinking or drugging as “Affected Others.” As we know, family members do…
On June 16, 2015 the City of Lewiston celebrated World Refugee Day, a global observance held in different cities, states and nations worldwide. I have been fortunate in my role at…
Being a mental health nurse was not my original career choice. I wanted to be a ballerina. As a nurse herself, my mother convinced me that at a minimum I…
Last Friday, Spurwink foster families and foster youth took advantage of free tickets to the Sea Dogs baseball game against the Reading Fightin’ Phils. It was a sunny spring evening, and…