We are pleased to announce that the Kendal C. & Anna Ham Charitable Foundation has awarded Spurwink a generous grant to support our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team’s work in Bridgton and surrounding towns. This support will help adults with serious mental illness live independently in the community, with access to intensive treatment and holistic support.
Assertive Community Treatment
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is designed to help individuals with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia) live in the community rather than a psychiatric hospital.
Spurwink has provided ACT services for more than 16 years and launched an ACT team in Bridgton in 2025 due to the need in this area. ACT uses a team-based approach, including psychiatrists, licensed clinicians, and case managers, to provide the most comprehensive and individualized community-based care possible.
How the Foundation’s Support Will Make a Difference
Bridgton and its neighboring towns have faced significant challenges. The pandemic, rising living costs, and the opioid epidemic have hit the area hard. Many residents in the Oxford County area struggle to access mental health care, with long waitlists and frequent reliance on emergency departments for urgent needs. Portions of the region are even designated as Mental Health Shortage Areas by the federal government.
The Kendal C. & Anna Ham Charitable Foundation’s funding will directly support Spurwink’s ACT Team, which provides comprehensive, individualized care for people with serious mental illness Key impacts of the grant include:
- Group Therapy Expansion: Funds will allow the ACT Team to run more group therapy sessions, including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and substance use disorder groups. These therapies focus on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and building social relationships, critical for recovery and resilience.
- Quality-of-Life Activities: The grant will support occasional outings and leisure activities, such as visits to the Portland Museum of Art or outdoor excursions. These experiences foster social bonds, reduce stress, and provide a sense of normalcy for clients facing severe challenges.
- Client-Assistance Funds: Financial support will help prevent deprivation of basic needs—like medication, housing, and food—so that clinical treatments aren’t undermined by external social factors. Research has shown that such social determinants can drive as much as 50% of health outcomes (Hacker et al., 2022).
We are deeply grateful to the Kendal C. & Anna Ham Charitable Foundation for their commitment to advancing mental health services in the Bridgton area. Their support will have a profound impact on the lives of those who need it most.
