Easter Seals Maine’sMilitary & Veterans

Services

Easter Seals Maine’s Mission:

Provide exceptional services that enable people with challenges to enjoy equal opportunities to work, live, learn and play in their communities.

Service Menu: Early Intervention Therapies

(birth to age 3)- Physical, occupational,

speech &developmental therapies Specially Designed

Instruction/ Therapeutic Preschool (ages 3-6)

Case Management Services (birth to age 20)

Vocational Services (teens & adults)

Military & Veterans Services:

Based on successful model at Easter Seals New Hampshire since 2007

Launched with support of NH’s TAG and the NH National Guard

Funded by Department of Defense & private donations

Care Coordination / Case Management Services during deployment cycle

Emergency financial assistance

Military & Veterans Services (cont’d): Care Coordination Program:

- Clinical supervisor (LCSW)- Case management staff- In-home model

• Hallmark of program is one-to-one relationships & convenience, confidentiality of in-home service

Military & Veterans Services (cont’d): NH’s Significant Outcomes

(N= 2,900 over past 6 years)

63 averted suicides 400 employment placements 200 housing placements No one in the program has

committed suicide since launch

Looking to replicate these results in Maine

Military & Veterans Services (cont’d):Emergency Assistance Fund

Philanthropic arm called “Maine Veterans Count”

$1 million raised annually in NH

800 families helped in total Covers emergency auto

repair, childcare, food, medical, rent, etc

“Hand up” not “handout” Part of an individualized

community re-integration plan

Client Testimonial:

click here for WCSH6 news story

Maine Program Launch: Hire program director Build awareness Raise funds to support the work

Gala on November 15th w/ Col David Sutherland of Easter Seals National

Partner with military & civilian programs to build support network

Advocate for “program of record” status / long-term sustainability

Partnership Opportunities:VA Rural Coordinating Pilot Grant

Invited to participate as a partner with DOL, BVS, MMCN

ESME to supply Care Coordination

Focus on rural counties of Aroostook and Washington

ESME as part of a strategy that considers the whole person

Partnership Opportunities:Portland Veterans Network

Chamber program to be acquired by ESME

Links veterans with mentors in Greater Portland to enhance employment opportunities

Military & Veterans “Summit” October 2, Portland

Other Potential Partnerships:

Habitat for Humanity

SBA

How You Can Help:Spread the wordSupport our advocacy for becoming a “program of record”

Link us to providers of servicesAttend our October 2nd “Summit” or November 15th Kickoff Gala

Questions?

FMI:

Charlie Summers, Military & Veterans Program Directorcsummers@eastersealsme.org

Gail Wilkerson, Executive Director gwilkerson@eastersealsme.org