Mercy Newsletter

PARTICIPANTS PROGRESS through three program phases over a period of 18 months to two years. In the first phase, women connect with a network of health providers and community partners to stabilize and access treatment while building a durable network of support. The second phase is aspirational, with women exploring career and education options. In the third phase, they secure outside housing and receive continued support for a successful transition into their new lives. What makes McAuley Residence even more successful is the two-generation model it uses to support mothers and their children simultaneously. If mothers have lost custody of their children, there is a closely monitored process with the state to reunify them – with many families eventually living together in the residence. A parent coach from The Opportunity Alliance provides critical support and skill-building to help make the reunifications successful. And after being assessed for their own trauma and needs, children in the program receive a range of coordinated supports – including healthcare, counseling, and access to quality early education. McAuley Residence has had persistently positive results for the rate of family reunification and Part of Northern Light Mercy Hospital, the nationally recognized McAuley Residence has two locations, with 15 family apartments in Portland and 10 in Bangor. Strengthening McAuley Residence’s Innovative Model From the John T. Gorman Foundation Newsletter

sustained recovery. But Melissa Skahan, who heads the program as the hospital’s Vice President of Mission Integration, said one trend began to concern her in recent years – a decline in the number of women enrolled in college. Eager to provide for their families, more women were choosing to enter the workforce in entry-level or low-wage jobs.

8 | Northern Light Mercy Hospital Foundation