HOULTON, Maine — For 50 years, Community Living Association has provided a place for people with developmental disabilities to find a place and a purpose in their lives.
To commemorate the occasion, CLA will host a barbecue/fun day on Aug. 16 from 11-1 at Riverside Park. There will be games for children with small prizes as well as hot dogs, chips and sodas for all who choose to attend. The rain date for this event will be Aug. 17.
The history of CLA as a major employer in Houlton is a long one. In 1967, Roger Randall and David Green led a group of individuals who had an idea that people with developmental disabilities would be able to have their wants and needs met.
The group got together to discuss the problems that each of them were facing being a parent or relative of someone with developmental disabilities. The focus of the group was how to provide a better life with more opportunities for their children. The original group also included Louise Lambert, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gough, Mr. and Mrs. Horace London, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Brown, Sharon Delong,Lucy Chamberlain,Dr. Milton Downing, Clovis Frame, Mr. and Mrs. Merle Tyrell, Mrs. Walter Wakefield, Althea Gravelle, Myrtle Tracy, Will Callnan, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Porter and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Callnan.
Jeremy Dorr is all smiles at the CLA prom. Community Living Association is celebrating is 50th anniversary of helping people with learning disabilities in the greater Houlton area.
(Contributed photo)
The group decided to develop and operate their own educational program for their children. The group became incorporated as a non-profit organization, the Southern Aroostook Association of Retarded Children. Fundraisers were held and led by Dr. Milton Downing, with $5,000 raised by early 1968. The group was was aided in their fundraising cause by the Rotary Club, Girl Scouts, and many other local organizations.
Dennis King was the executive director of SAARC from 1978-1985 and Ron Langworthy was executive director of CLA from 1985-2013 and saw many changes throughout the organization as well as the field itself, CLA moved to primarily a Waiver Home Model during that time and Pineland Center, the last large state institution, was closed in 1991 which was a big victory.
Rob Moran was chosen as CLA’s executive director in 2013. His focus has been on continuing the excellent services and care provided to clients, becoming more visible in the community, and more active in legislative actions that affect CLA.
The current board includes Jane Stile, Rob Faulkner, Karen Bouchard, Suzette Belyea, Joe Porter, Audrey Brown and Lori Weston (current board president).
The first class was held on Oct. 23, 1968 at Hayden Hall of the Court Street Baptist Church. It was taught by Audrey Brown, who is now a member of CLA’s Board of Directors, and assisted by Laurel Buckingham. There were six students in the first class. The purpose of the class was to foster student independence. They showed great gains in things such as speech, vocational skills, and daily living skills.
The original group expanded its membership to 75 active members and the number of students served also grew. In 1970 a second teacher was added to the class, Irene London. That same year a third staff person was added, Mrs. Harold Grant.
During the early 1970s, the needs of developmentally disabled citizens came to light on the state and federal level. Legislation was passed in the 94th Congress mandating equal education for all children. Maine followed this up with its own legislation and locally, SAD 29 began to pay tuition for the children in the SAARC school. This allowed the SAARC school to move to its own building.
Recognizing that the children who had started in the original program were growing up, SAARC, with David Green as president, changed the focus to adult services. The organization was renamed the Southern Aroostook Association for Retarded Citizens.
In March of 1977, SAARC developed a new program known as the Houlton Residential Center. The former Houlton Hospital was purchased and became Houlton Residential Center. This was started at the request of the Bureau of Mental Retardation, which wanted to develop a smaller residential facility for people who were at that time living in Pineland Center in Pownal.
Thirty-four adults returned to Aroostook County to live in a smaller setting with more individualized care. That same year, in addition to the residential center, a workshop was opened on Green Street, which did furniture stripping and chair caning. This paid work allowed people with developmental disabilities living in the area to work and make some money which was a big boost to their self-esteem.
In 1980, the board was approached by different members in the community who were concerned about the lack of a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. SAARC received a $2,500 grant from the Bureau of Mental Retardation and raised more funds, hired a teacher, and supplied an empty office room in the Residential Center on School Street. The SAARC preschool soon developed services for all children.
In 1983 and 1987, SAARC opened two group homes, the first being located on Park Street and the second being located at the end of High Street. The High Street home reduced the size of the Houlton Residential Center by six people and was the beginning of a five-year plan to downsize living quarters and empty HRC.
SAARC became Community Living Association in 1990. It was felt that with the push to spend more time in the community that Community Living Association was a more appropriate name. In 1991 CLA opened two ICF/IID Nursing Homes and another group home, located on Joseph Street, thus emptying the building at School Street so it could be remodeled for office space.
In 1994, CLA once again paved the way in the state when it established eight Waiver homes in the area. People living in these homes “waive” the right to live in ICF/IID facilities. Waiver homes came with less restrictions in State regulations. They were designed for less people and this makes for a more “homelike” environment. People living in these homes have more independence and are able to make more choices because of the environment that they live in.
Today, there are now six Waiver Homes and multiple supported independent living homes. The Community Supports Programs has expanded to three different buildings. Emphasis is placed on being out into the community and making connections wherever and however possible. CLA’s Community Supports program is recognized as one of the most progressive and creative in the whole state They have held events such as proms, Las Vegas day(complete with a wedding chapel) a Sock- Hop and many other special activities.
Emphasis on people being given the opportunity to work is paramount and CLA has a large Supported Employment Program. People work in the community with support with the hope of someday working independently.
Community Case Management is a growing program at CLA with six people employed in that department. This department helps makes sure that people get essential services they need. CLA’S Case Management Department provides service for 130 people from Bangor to Fort Kent.
Community Living Association also oversees the Shared Living program; in-home support services are provided to a member by a host family with whom that member shares a home. The provider enters into a contact with CLA in order to provide home support services under this model.
CLA also has a substantial training department that provides training to many different agencies in the area on things such as CRMA certification and CPR/first aid.
Over the years CLA has proudly served hundreds of people with disabilities. They continue to be the second largest employer in the area with over 230 employees and have probably employed over 1,000 staff since inception.
