By Anthony Brino
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Addison Point, a nonprofit services organization, is expanding north of Houlton to meet a need for intellectual and developmental support.
Serving youth and adults with behavioral and intellectual support, Addison Point is receiving more demand in and around Presque Isle, from individuals who are covered under sections of MaineCare.
“We were getting a lot of referrals for that area but we didn’t have staff,” said Stephanie Stiles, Addison Point supervisor and an autism specialist and evaluator, who manages the organization’s regional work out of her home in Blaine.
Stiles said Addison Point is looking for individuals to serve that need, working as behavioral health professional helping youth and adults with a range of mental health diagnoses, including autism, attention and oppositional disorders and Down syndrome.
College students and others interested in psychology and social work, who expect to be in greater Presque Isle for at least the next several years, could find a rewarding and flexible job, Stiles said. “We’re looking to grow,” she said.
“Each client is an individual, and being with them for a length of time builds trust,” she said.
“It’s good part-time work for a college student. They can work for three or four years, and they can develop their own schedule with the families.”
The Addison Point Agency originated in Walpole, Massachusetts, in 1979, as a residence for individuals with cognitive disorders who could still participate in the community. Today the organization serves residents in central, Downeast and northern Maine, and is part of a new wave of support services in home and community settings promoting healthy behaviors.
Workers receive training and then meet regularly with the individuals to walk them through interpersonal, expression and self-esteem skills, personal finance and medication management.
The goal with the youth and adults being served is to help them reach their potential, “increasing community inclusion, and becoming a contributing member of their community’s workforce,” Stiles said.
