Wings lands at new site
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Wings for Children and Families moved from Caribou to 93 State Street in January, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce.
NEW LOCATION — Wings for Children and Families moved to a new location in January. To mark the occasion, the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility’s new site at 93 State St. Pictured from left are: CACC members Sherry Sullivan, Sarah Brooks, Bonnie Pack, Jim McKenney and Marianne Dyer; Wings’ staff members Julia Masek, Executive Director Trish Niedorowski, Christa Waugh, Nicole Mills, Michelle Eagles, Jill Griffith, Chris McLaughlin, Ashby Dyer and Melissa Perry; CACC President Stacy Shaw; Wings’ staff member John Hayes; and Theresa Fowler, CACC executive director.
“Wings provides community case management services to youth aged birth through their 20th year. We work closely with youth, family members and community providers to ensure that the needs of the youth and family are met in a holistic manner,” said Executive Director Trish Niedorowski.
She said staff uses a “strengths-based approach in our work with all of our youth and families, with case managers connecting with clients in the community.”
Wings currently provides case management in three key areas: youth with emotional and/or behavioral mental health needs, youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities and youth with chronic medical needs.
“A child must have MaineCare and a need for case management services,” Niedorowski said.
Wings will soon be delivering this service to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities too, according to Niedorowski.
Wings’ central office is located in Bangor, with local offices in Presque Isle, Machias, Medway and Saco.
“Each office covers a large geographic area to ensure that we are able to support as many families in the counties we serve. We were created in 1995 as a federal grant to bring a practice called ‘Wraparound’ to Maine,” she said.
The Presque Isle location officially opened in November 2012. Wings opened its first office in Aroostook County in Caribou in 1999. The recent move to Presque Isle was made to accommodate clients’ growing needs.
“There were a variety of reasons that led to our moving the Caribou office — we no longer have a physical office there but continue to provide our services to many families in Caribou — to Presque Isle. Space was certainly one factor. We have seen the need for us to expand our services in Aroostook County. The building we had in Caribou limited our ability to grow our staff,” Niedorowski said.
“Additionally, we really listened to our clients and staff and discovered that Presque Isle really was more of a ‘hub’ where our clients would go to receive other services and supports. While we have an excellent relationship with providers across Aroostook County, we felt that it was essential to be where our families need us to be and centralize an office in Presque Isle,” said Niedorowksi.
She said while the office has moved, the phone number remains the same.
“Since our office was originally based in Caribou, we were fortunate enough to be able to keep this phone number — 493-4671 — that is known to families and providers alike during our move to Presque Isle,” said Niedorowski.
Case managers do the bulk of their work in the field.
“We go to families’ homes and in the communities where our youth go to school or participate in services/supports. Any referrals for case management through Wings should be directed to 800-823-2988,” said Niedorowski, noting, “we’re proud to practice same-day assignment.”
“If a family calls and is eligible for the service, we will assign a case manager that day, no waiting. Parents and providers can make referrals on our website, on the home page where it says ‘instant referral.’ We will get that information and call that day to set up a referral call,” she said.
Case managers cover all of Aroostook County from the Presque Isle office, while southern Aroostook can be served out of the Medway or Presque Isle offices.
“Case managers are advocates for getting the supports and services families need to care for their child safely at home and in their home community. We become the navigators for the family, helping them identify strengths, needs and resources to meet those needs,” she said.
“We believe in helping to promote the family voice and choice in the care of their child in receiving services. Wings does not provide any other service, which helps us be true to promoting ultimate choice for families in services they may seek out,” said Niedorowski.
Wings is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 493-4671, visit online at www.wingsinc.org or look for Wings for Children & Families on Facebook. The number to make a referral or ask questions about the services provided is 800-823-2988.
