“In my work with MMCC, I partner with educational personnel, school psychologists, and behavioral analysts to treat youth with developmental disorders, autism, and mental health diagnoses.”  -Dr.  Bowker-Kinley     

(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is happy to announce HAM’s Medical Director, Dr. Melissa Bowker-Kinley will be providing psychiatric services onsite, for children and youth, ages 3 to 20 at the Margaret Murphy Center for Children (MMCC).  The onsite work at MMCC will allow families to access psychiatric care within the school and to have improved communication between parents, the school staff and the child psychiatrist. Dr. Bowker-Kinley’s work with MMCC includes providing psychiatric assessment and treatment to MMCC students and collaborating directly with school staff to help provide the quality care MMCC is recognized for.

Dr. Bowker-Kinley is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who previously worked in inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry.  Her expertise includes inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, assessment and diagnosis, psychopharmacologic treatment, and psychotherapy.  Dr Bowker-Kinley says “In my work with MMCC, I partner with educational personnel, school psychologists, and behavioral analysts to treat youth with developmental disorders, autism, and mental health diagnoses.”  As HAM’s Medical Director, Dr. Bowker-Kinley also oversees the Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment Services program.

MMCC is owned and operated by JFMHomes Inc and is a non-profit organization committed to serving people with developmental disabilities. MMCC has seven locations in LA, providing clinical and educational services to children with autism, developmental disabilities, behavioral disorders and mental health needs. MMCC has plans on expanding to Southern Maine in the fall of 2015.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral     

Posted on May 11, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Portland, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces Dawn Stratton, LCPC, as a new affiliate.  Stratton joins HAM as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and will be providing therapy for young adults, adults and couples from her home office in the Portland area.  Stratton is also set up to provide Teletherapy services, which allows her to provide therapy to clients all over the state by accessing the internet via webcam. 

Stratton’s expertise include diagnosis or recovery from cancer or other health crisis; loss of a loved one; parenting difficulties and family conflict; relationship issues, including communication problems, separation, infidelity and divorce; work-related or professional stress and burnout, job transition, uncertainty about career direction, and work-life balance; women’s issues including menopause and peri-menopause; sexuality, spirituality, life transitions and personal growth. 

Stratton explains “My goal is to help individuals create a full and meaningful life, no matter what is going on inside or what life is throwing their way.  I use concrete, practical strategies and tools to change relationships, uncomfortable feelings and troublesome thoughts, so they no longer rule behaviors or get in the way.” 

Stratton accepts many types of insurances and provides a sliding fee scale for those with high deductibles or no insurance. Stratton also offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to ensure a good match. 

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral

Posted on May 6, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

ELLSWORTH – Health Affiliates Maine (HAM), a growing mental health and substance abuse agency based in Auburn, is opening a brand new clinical office in Ellsworth.  HAM is hosting an open house on Wednesday, April 8th from 4:00-6:00 PM at their new location on 66 Main Street on the 3^rd floor of the Camden National Bank building, to showcase the new space. The agency, which specializes in Psychiatric Treatment, Outpatient Therapy, and Case Management services, is excited about the new location. Due to interest in their services and to meet the growing need for psychiatric, mental health and substance abuse services, the new location provides a comfortable space, which will allow for better access for care, in a safe, and confidential environment.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com

Posted on March 26, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is excited to offer a free cutting edge seminar open to all mental health case managers on “A Recovery-Based, Trauma-Informed Approach to Co-Occurring Disorders” presented by Ruth Johnson, LADC, SAP, CCS.   The trainings will be provided in two locations:  the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor on Friday, April 3, 2015 and the Fireside Inn in Portland on Monday, April 20, 2015.

Andrea Krebs, Executive Director of HAM says “Successfully managing substance abuse and mental health issues with clients can be a complex challenge for Case Managers.”  Understanding the dynamic between these two challenges, better equips Case Managers to provide quality care.

Ruth Johnson is Region 3 Co-Coordinator of the Driver Education and Evaluation Program for the State of Maine and is one of two Coordinators in the State to hold National Master Instructor status with Prevention Research Institute.  Her extensive experience began in 1987 and includes clinical positions, as well as Clinical and Program Directions positions in residential and outpatient treatment programs throughout Maine.  Ruth’s passion is to enhance treatment opportunities for those suffering from addiction through professional development of case managers, counselors, supervisors and leaders in the addiction and mental health professions.

The free training sessions will be from 9 a.m – 4:00 p.m., worth 5.5 contact hours and breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Space is limited.

To register and save your spot for this seminar or for a complete schedule and details call 1-877-888-4304 or visit http://healthaffmaine.wpengine.com/events/

Posted on March 19, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

Health Affiliates Maine is excited and proud to announce Kevin Mannix as their Keynote Speaker at this years’ annual Consortium on June 19th at the Ramada in Lewiston. For nearly 24 years Kevin has been the morning weather forecaster at News Center.   Kevin wrote an autobiography called Weathering Shame, which sheds some light on his little-known mental health struggles, and aims to address the stigma and shame around mental illness.  In a recent open letter Kevin says:

“…shame cuts across all walks of life and everyone deals with it on some level… In the weeks and months ahead, on air and online, you will read and hear my story, and I hope it will lead you to opening up to someone you trust if you have been hesitant. I am not a counselor, I don’t wish to fix anyone or presume anyone needs fixing. I can’t know anything about your level of pain, fear, shame or anxiety; I can only share my experience with my demons and how I chose to deal with them. Just know you are not alone and you may want to start your own journey of recovery. I truly hope you do and find sunny skies ahead.”

Posted on March 12, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Bangor, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces the hiring of Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Jessica Manaker MD.  Dr Manaker joins HAM’s expanding team of Psychiatric providers to help meet the growing need.  Dr. Manaker has been practicing in the greater Bangor area for 10 years and will continue to provide psychiatric care to patients in the greater Bangor area as a HAM Affiliate.  Her experience includes treating a wide range of issues affecting children and teens, including anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, trauma, autism/developmental delays, and bipolar illness.

Originally from Orono, Dr. Manaker returned to Maine to begin her career in 2004. She earned her medical degree and fulfilled her adult psychiatry residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, and completed fellowship training in child psychiatry at Brown University. She has worked primarily in a community mental health setting, and enjoys collaborating with other providers and educators to serve families using a team-based approach.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral

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Posted on March 6, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is excited to offer a cutting edge clinician seminar on “Working with Trauma: Looking through the lens of Neuroscience” presented by Deb Dana, LCSW.   The trainings will be provided in three locations:  the Fireside Inn in Portland on Friday, March 6, 2015, the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston on Friday, March 13, 2015 and the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor on Friday, March 20, 2015.

Andrea Krebs, Executive Director of HAM says “There is a good deal of research in recent years that has revealed more about psychological and neurobiological processes and how they are interconnected in response to trauma”.  Clinicians find that understanding the relationships between the brain and traumatic experiences has become an expectation of an informed, evidence-based practice.

Deb Dana, LCSW is a founding member of Island Institute for Trauma Recovery specializing in work with complex traumatic stress. Deb developed and teaches a trauma theory and practice in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine. Along with her clinical practice she provides neuroscience informed consultation for clinicians and agencies.

Sessions will be from 8:30 a.m – 4:00 p.m., worth 6 contact hours and breakfast and lunch will be provided.  HAM affiliates may attend for free, however, all clinicians are invited and may register for an affordable $80 value.

To register for this seminar or for a complete schedule and details call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/events/

Posted on February 18, 2015by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

(Lewiston/Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announced the hiring of Melissa M. Bowker-Kinley, MD, PhD. Dr. Bowker-Kinley joins HAM as the new Medical Director, expanding and overseeing the Medication Management program, satellite office locations and providing psychiatric care to patients in the L/A and Portland areas.

Dr. Bowker-Kinley brings to HAM extensive professional experience, which includes inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, assessment and diagnosis, psychopharmacologic treatment, and psychotherapy.  She is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, short-term solution-focused therapy, and treatment of adolescent eating disorders.

Currently living in Falmouth, Maine, Dr. Bowker-Kinley is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine and did her psychiatry residency at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, while completing a public psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University.

Dr. Bowker-Kinley comes to HAM from Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, as Medical Director of the integrated Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com/referral/

Posted on November 4, 2014by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

AUGUSTA – Health Affiliates Maine (HAM), a growing mental health and substance abuse agency based in Auburn, is opening a new clinical office in Augusta.   HAM is hosting an open house on Wednesday, November 5^th from 2:00-4:00 PM at the new facility, located at 85 Stone Street in Augusta. The agency, which specializes in Medication Management, Outpatient Therapy, and Case Management, is excited to be expanding to the Augusta area.  Due to interest in their services and to meet the growing need for Medication Management, the new space has additional office space, which will allow for better access and provide a comfortable and confidential environment.

To make a referral, an appointment or for more information call 1-877-888-4304 or visit www.healthaffiliatesmaine.com

Posted on October 24, 2014by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News

Back to school can be both a blessing and hardship for families.  Anxiety about going back to school, financial strains, peer pressure, and changes in routine can all impact student performance.  Now more than ever it is important for educators to have an open line of communications with parents or caregivers.  Teachers, support staff and administrators must also recognize, intervene and provide guidance on a host of issues.

Cindy Mailhot, LCSW and Mary Gagnon, LMFT of Health Affiliates Maine (pictured) are regular guests at schools across the state talking with educators about a host of topics facing schools, students and staff.  These free school trainings cover relevant subjects like “Children & Social Media”, “Responding to Tragedy” and “Bullying: The Victim & the Perpetrator”.

Denise Whitehead, School Counselor at HB Emery Jr. Memorial School and Steep Falls Elementary recently shared her enthusiasm for their training, “Thank you for the wonderfully relevant presentation yesterday on Social Media and The Impact on Children.    It is a topic of high interest as we navigate through  digital space and time as educators and parents. Your ideas of “finding balance” , while keeping lines of home/school communication open were right on and were great take-aways.  Thank you again for taking the time to come out to Limington and share your expertise with us.”

If you are interested in learning more about Health Affiliate Maine’s School Based Trainings or are interested in scheduling a training, please contact Mary Gagnon, LMFT at 207-333-3278 ext. 222 or mary.gagnon@healthaffiliatesmaine.com

Posted on September 8, 2014by Author Danielle Beckwithin Categories News