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Mid-Coast Mental Health Integration Initiative
| Topics |
Mental health
Youth
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| States served |
Maine
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| Description |
Almost 21 percent of U.S. children age 9 to 17 (15 million persons) have a mental or addictive disorder that causes some impairment. However, studies show that pediatricians do not identify 80 percent of children living with behavioral and emotional problems, and in any given year, it is estimated that less than one in five of these youth receive treatment. The Maine Medical Association recently passed a resolution identifying the lack of mental health care for children as the biggest health issue for the state, an action well supported by Maine's health statistics.
Northeast Health in cooperation with three partner organizations, Mid-Coast Mental Health Center, the Penobscot Bay YMCA, and the Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services joined forces to form the Mid-Coast Mental Health Integration Initiative in an effort to increase access to adolescent mental health and substance abuse services in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties, Maine.
Nearly 97 percent of Maine's population is Caucasian. The ethnic mix of this program is similar, targeting 95 percent Caucasian, 2 percent Hispanic, 1 percent Asian, and a mix of African Americans and Native Americans totaling less than 1 percent of the target population. Children between the ages of 0 to 12 make up 40 percent of the target population, while adolescents age 13 to 17, at nearly 50 percent, represent the largest group to be served. |
| Services offered |
The goals of the Mid-Coast Mental Health Integration Initiative are to improve access to child and adolescent mental health services, reduce the stigma associated with mental health, reduce the number of crisis interventions, improve coordination and cooperation among local health providers, and disseminate an innovative model. |
| Source |
Rural Health Outreach Grantee Directory, 2006
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| Contact person |
Kay Henderson
Northeast Health
6 Glen Cove Road
Rockport, Maine 04856
Phone: (207) 596-8392
Fax: (207) 596-5316
Email: khenderson@nehealth.org |
| Date added |
January 17, 2007 |
Summaries of success stories are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the success story contact person directly for the most complete and current information.
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