ORONO — KidsPeace New England announced that it has opened an expanded special-purpose private school in Orono.
The new KidsPeace Orono Learning Center houses the education program formerly located in Old Town, but can accommodate double the number of students — meaning more children can benefit from KidsPeace’s blending of academics with clinical support and therapeutic services designed for each child’s specific needs.
SPPS schools in Maine are state-approved, with out-of-district placements made by local school administrative units. KidsPeace New England Executive Director Rachel Bousquet said the added capacity at the Orono Learning Center means more kids from rural areas of the state will benefit from its programs.
“By expanding to Orono, we’re not just creating more seats – we’re expanding access to a better future for kids who desperately need specialized care,” she said.
KidsPeace formally dedicated the Orono Learning Center at a “grand opening” community event Nov. 13. Community members and parents joined officials from the national KidsPeace organization and KidsPeace New England at the event, and Bousquet noted the role played by community members in establishing the program.
“This milestone was made possible thanks to the generous support of donors, community partners, and advocates who believe in KidsPeace’s mission. Their contributions, through fundraising efforts and outreach, played a vital role in bringing this vision to life,” Bousquet added. “KidsPeace New England is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that helped turn the dream of expanded services into reality.”
Bousquet also highlighted the strong relationships KidsPeace has with local school districts on making the transition smoother for kids returning to their home schools, and said the program also brings new employment opportunities and other economic benefits for the Orono community at large.
KidsPeace President and CEO Michael W. Slack hailed the opening of the Orono facility as an exciting example of a key trend in the education field.
“In many places in KidsPeace’s Continuum of Care, we’re finding increasing interest in identifying new approaches to collaboration between the education sector and mental healthcare providers,” Slack said. “The opening of Orono Learning Center shows that KidsPeace and Maine are leading the way toward that goal, and on behalf of the entire organization I congratulate Rachel and her team on their achievement.”
Slack joined Bousquet in thanking donors and supporters to the project, and noted that community support will remain vital for Orono Learning Center to fulfill its mission. “As we at KidsPeace celebrate this new chapter, we’re also inviting our Maine community members to continue being part of the journey. There are still many ways to get involved — from donating to spreading awareness and advocating for children’s mental health and education,” he said.
For information about the Orono program and KidsPeace programs in Maine, visit www.kidspeace.org/me-educational-services. To learn more about how you can support Orono Learning Center, contact Ashley Calle, vice president of development and communications, at [email protected].
Since 1882, KidsPeace has been building on its expertise to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them. Through its comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; unique psychiatric hospital and foster care and community-based programs, KidsPeace is dedicated to helping people connect, transform and overcome their challenges to ensure a stable future, transition to adulthood and gain independence. Since its doors opened, more than 300,000 children have participated in one of the multitude of programs KidsPeace offers.
For additional resources or more information on how to get involved, become a foster parent or make a donation, please visit www.kidspeace.org. Follow us at www.facebook.com/kidspeace.org or on Twitter @KidsPeace.
