MADAWASKA, Maine – The Central Aroostook Association marked its expansion into the St. John Valley with the grand opening of a new location in Madawaska on Tuesday.
A group of parents founded the Central Aroostook Association more than 60 years ago to provide support and education for local children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The opening marks the association’s first new spot in the St. John Valley, and is the latest in recent expansions. The group took on additional clients when Northern Maine General, another local service provider, closed, and last year opened a middle school, OTC Next Steps, in Presque Isle.
Most services offered will be geared towards the children’s support program. The new office will also become a base for behavioral health professionals.
“We wanted a community center where we could have the kids come and work on skills with their BHPs [Behavioral Health Professionals], however what we’ve done is made it so when we do activities, the community can also join us,” Cory Tilley, Children’s Support Services director, said.
If the organization hosts a crafting day for kids, a mother could bring their child to join, and then “it just becomes a fun day for all kids,” he said.
The activities will help integrate children the association works with into the larger community, building natural supports in their lives, Tilley said.
The adult program may also use the space for meetings.
If the program continues to see growth, Tilley said he would be willing to expand while staying in the St. John Valley region.
“We do want to keep something up in the Valley because we deal with children and families from Van Buren to Fort Kent, and [Madawaska] is a great central location,” he said.
Madawaska sits between those towns and is roughly a half-hour drive from each.
The association employs six staff in the region, and continues to grow. They are looking to fill part-time positions, Tilley said. The work will involve working one-on-one with children and taking them into the community to work on their various skills.
Several town officials attended an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday. Madawaska Select Board Chairperson Renee Deschaine commended the program’s collaborative nature and community integration.
“I think it’s a tremendous asset to have this right here on our main street for kids in the school system, kids who use the rec, and kids that are homeschooling,” Deschaine said. “So I think there’s going to be a lot of collaboration.”
The Central Aroostook Association works with both adults and children and provides case management, home support, and community based services throughout Aroostook County. It also operates the Opportunity Training Center, a private K-12 school for students with disabilities. The center recently added a new building called “OTC Next Steps,” allowing the organization to serve more students.
The Madawaska space is the first to be located outside of Presque Isle.
“This is a very friendly, warm, welcoming environment where parents can also participate with the kids if they like,” Deschaine said. “I’m excited to see it downtown.”
The Children’s Support Services program helps individuals from 2 to 21 years old.
“We take them into the community and we work on social skills, hygiene, ADLs [activities of daily living], behavior supports, emotional regulation, every one of the children has a plan,” Tilley said. “Central Aroostook Association’s goal is to help the community.”
The entire agency serves about 180 individuals, and Tilley’s program alone serves roughly 50 youth throughout The County.
The new space will host such activities as movie nights, craft fairs, board games, karaoke and sporting events like Special Olympics and basketball camps.
“These are things that kids love to do that we can help them do with other kids,” Tilley said. “So it’s not work they’re doing; they’re having fun while they’re learning.”