Community Partnerships
Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Since 2005, THRIVE has provided trauma-informed training and technical assistance to mental health agencies serving youth and their families. In 2008, THRIVE began collaborating with families, youth, a national evaluator and two mental health agencies to develop and implement the Trauma-Informed Agency Assessment (TIAA). CBHS now requires all agencies it contracts with to complete the TIAA annually. Several other states are also using this data-driven, validated, decision-making tool to improve service delivery.
Maine Alliance of Family Organizations (MAFO). THRIVE’s partnership with family organizations began in 2008 when it helped define the role and evaluation process for a “Family Support Partner” followed by a training curriculum and the beginnings of a certification process for family partnering in Maine’s Wraparound Initiative. In 2009, THRIVE funded facilitation for seven family organizations forming a statewide alliance to strengthen family voice and better serve families of children with disabilities and special health care needs. THRIVE’s social marketing director helped MAFO create and distribute an identity flier and awareness video, which Community Access Television stations and international networks have broadcast to more than 400,000 households in 32 Maine communities, six other states, New Zealand, Europe and Africa. In 2010, MAFO hosted a forum for gubernatorial candidates, and continues to educate policy makers on its vital work in support of Maine families.
New Mainer Collaborative. THRIVE is a founding member of this group of refugee and immigrant-serving organizations in southern and southwestern Maine. Activities include: a grief support group (2009) for youth in school; a six-month culturally and linguistically competent (CLC) learning series (2010) on topics ranging from foundational training to vicarious trauma and the interpreter to an all-day forum on CLC services and supports for Maine’s racial, ethnic and native youth; trauma-informed, CLC trainings and webinars for mental health providers, and co-sponsorship with the Developmental Disabilities Council of Maine of a Somali parent outreach specialist at Maine Parent Federation.
Youth MOVE Maine (YMM). THRIVE has supported youth-guided voice in Maine’s child-serving systems of care since 2005. Initially its LewistonYouth Group for ages 14-21 offered peer support, training, experiential learning activities, mental health awareness raising, and insight sharing with state and local decision makers. Participating youth all had lived experiences in mental health and/or juvenile justice, child welfare or education systems. In 2009, an expanded program for ages up to 25 became Maine’s chapter of the national Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience. THRIVE remains YMM’s lead agency, andYMM is now a five-region program. More than 60% of its statewide Advisory Council is under the age of 26. YMM supports youth and adults in building the skills, partnerships, policies and practices essential to making sure all youth are connected, resilient, growing and included in the decisions that impact their lives.
