Growth and change has been a common theme this past year. Partnerships are key to moving forward. CSI was very fortunate this past year to work with the City of Biddeford’s Development Office on the purchase of land at the new Thacher Brook Business Park. We’ll be celebrating the groundbreaking in November 2005 on the first building of the new CSI campus. Two buildings will be constructed within a three-year period and will consolidate most of our Saco and Biddeford services. The initial building will house our outpatient services and Crisis Response Services. The second building will be part of phase two and will consolidate most of our additional services.

How we deliver services responsibly at a cost-savings while still delivering value and quality is important to us. This past year we have made some strategic changes that just make sense, not only for their efficiency, but for an immediate response to families’ needs. To help accommodate the volume of admissions we receive, CSI has combined Admissions and Crisis Response Services (CRS) together to ensure intake services are 24/7. In keeping with what works best for people during times of greatest need, we moved most of our Saco/Biddeford Children’s Services to Park III in Biddeford to accommodate Children’s ACT Teams, Family Preservation, In-Home Behavioral Health Treatment Services, Children’s Outpatient and Psychiatry. The location is next door to CRS and is just a short distance to the community hospital.

Health and happiness do go hand in hand. How people feel about their physical bodies does affect their self-esteem and zest for recovery. A new outpatient clinic in Westbrook opened in the fall that introduced a new weight conscious program called Healthy Life Styles which incorporates weight management strategies with traditional outpatient treatment.

Our Complementary Therapies program continues to thrive and has received recognition in several national publications. Research continues to be of value to such a new and exciting treatment modality. Our Smoking Cessation program has continued through the University of New England collaborative and has helped us to get a total picture of the person’s addiction and their general health when compromised with prolonged use of tobacco.

We can’t emphasize enough that all of these changes would not be successful and worthwhile without the partnerships made with our funding providers, the Board of Directors, towns, businesses and donors, and especially our outstanding 375 staff members who provide the vision in CSI’s mission of changing lives.

Dr. Sherry L. Sabo
Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Vernon Moore
Board President