FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello everyone, and welcome to our summer newsletter!
The warmth has settled in. Please be safe as we get the hot ones and ask for help when needed! For Mainers, we appreciate the season as it seems a brief moment in our year.
We hope to see many of you at our summer bash coming up.
We are balancing rest and fun with planning for the fall and beyond. We are planning for the next legislative session; we are partnering with other organizations to have a candidates’ forum before the elections. We are looking ahead to topics and issues we will discuss in 2027. We also have podcasts and blogs happening too! So many important issues to tackle and it all takes planning to make them happen.
If you have not seen, we have new items in our CCSM shop as well. It is a great way to support the CCSM and is a great way to share with others what we all do!
I hope you see how much value each one of us brings to the work we do. One voice added to another grows our impact! We need you and we value what you bring.
I am most grateful for the work we all do: board, staff, local members, and allies day in and day out to raise the issues, concerns, wants and needs that you share and hopefully bring positive change in Maine’s behavioral health systems.
Take good care of yourself and enjoy this magnificent summer and all that it has to offer!
Office Update
It’s been a HOT summer so far and it has just begun!
We have a couple summer staff outings planned in-between our important work!
Need some CCSM merchandise /Visit our SHOP
Support CCSM – Consumer Council System of Maine
Important Reminder
Our office location 219 Capitol Street Suite 7 Augusta Maine is only open by appointment; Staff are working remotely.
We can be reached by phone or email during normal business hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
All contact information can be found on our website https://maineccsm.org/about-us/contact/
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Legislative and Issues Updates
Our two bills from last session (LD 748- An Act to Increase Bridging Rental Assistance Program Housing Voucher Funding to Reduce the Current Partial Waiting List and Increase Housing Vouchers for Persons Living with Mental Health Challenges and LD 1843- An Act to Provide Peer Respite for Individuals with Mental Health Care Needs) unfortunately did not get funded by the end of the legislative session.
We will continue to advocate for these services and are evaluating our legislative priorities for next session.
Together with some of our greater disability community partners, we are hosting a Disability-Focused Candidate Forum. Be on the lookout for more information about this event!
The Legislative Subcommittee is on summer break for the months of June and July. Our work together will continue in August!
Reminder that our Legislative Subcommittee meets every 1st Wednesday of each month from 10AM – 12PM
Local Council Meetings
Hybrid Meetings Always Available
Currently, the Bangor, Farmington, and Greater Lewiston and Auburn Area local council meetings can be attended both in person and virtually via Zoom. Augusta local council can be attended via Zoom only.
For a list of current local council meetings with detailed information, click the button below….
UPCOMING EVENT
Summer Bash
DATE: August 27, 2026
TIME: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Lake St. George State Park
ISSUE STATEMENT UPDATE
The Issues Subcommittee has been working through some incredibly complex and significant statements. We would love input from members of various communities to better understand the realistic impact of these issues.
Intersection of Law Enforcement and Mental Health Crisis Issue:
The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) has received peer concerns regarding law enforcement response to crisis intervention. The Council recognizes that the effectiveness and compliance with Crisis Intervention Training in law enforcement officers has been identified as a concern and possible remediation. We will reference several concerns, and we acknowledge that some of these are specific to OBH and some are not. We will attempt to be clear with what belongs to OBH and hope we can partner with other entities to address additional concerns.
Inappropriate Emergency Room Discharge
Issue:
The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) has been made aware of an increase in stories being shared about unsafe discharges from emergency rooms to places unable to provide adequate care such as warming centers, shelters, or even the streets. This is posing a major safety concern. Many of these patients are not only experiencing mental health challenges, but also physical health problems that require sustained hospital care.
Reminder that our Issues Subcommittee meets every 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10AM-12PM.
For any questions, feedback, or information needed regarding our Legislative and Issues Subcommittees, please reach out to Kerri Pitts: kpitts@maineccsm.org / 207-707-2435
Would you like to share your thoughts on this subject? Do you or someone you know have a personal story to share that relates to this issue statement?
Please submit feedback/comments and/or personal stories to: info@maineccsm.org
or send through the mail to:
CCSM
Issue Statement Comments
219 Capitol Street, Suite #7
Augusta, Maine 04330
OUTREACH UPDATE
As the summer sun shines over Maine, the CCSM Outreach team has been energized by the momentum we’ve built together.
Our Local Councils continue to be the heartbeat of our organization, and this summer, our members looked at the critical landscape of Crisis Response Services. In our monthly meetings, members have been engaged in robust discussions about what effective crisis support looks like across Maine. By sharing personal experiences and identifying service gaps, our councils are crafting a clearer picture of how we can advocate for more responsive, peer-informed, and compassionate crisis care systems.
We are thrilled to invite you to our CCSM Summer Bash! This day is dedicated to every single person who has contributed to our movement, members, volunteers, staff, and family alike. It is our way of saying thank you for all you do to sustain our community.
When: August 27th, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Lake St. George State Park (278 Belfast Augusta Rd, Liberty, ME)
Bring your own snacks, drinks, beach gear, and chairs for a day of sun and relaxation. Admission: $5 for adults (13–64); Free for seniors (65+). We want everyone to join us! If the entrance fee is a barrier, please stop by our on-site table to complete a reimbursement form.
For more information about any of our meetings including how you can help start or attend a local council in your area, please contact our Outreach Coordinator team
Brittany Lorance:
Work Cell: (207) 687-6035
Blorance@maineccsm.org
Sarah Bellavance:
Work Cell: (207) 446-3249
Ssavage-bellavance@maineccsm.org
