The Board of Directors of Mobius are pleased to announce that the agency has been selected by the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) to receive two grants to demonstrate best practices in supported employment and development of mental health services (dual diagnoses) to address the special needs of Maine citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The two grants were awarded from two requests for proposals issued by the Council in the service specialty areas. The MDDC is a federally-funded partnership of people with disabilities, their families, and public and governmental agencies which promotes and advocates for equal opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to participate in every aspect of community life.

The supported employment grant was issued directly to Mobius and the mental health services grant was issued to Port Resources, a Portland-based agency that specializes in mental health services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who will mentor Mobius to develop similar services in the mid-coast area. Bill Floyd, President of the Mobius Board of Directors, points out that the cognitive issues that persons with intellectual disabilities may present can challenge mental health service providers to both appropriately diagnose and treat a mental health need.

David Lawlor, Executive Director, reports that this has become such a specialized field that a national credentialing organization has been developed that published a diagnostic manual developed in collaboration with the American Psychiatric Association specific to the population. Port Resources has become a leading in Maine for developing effective services in this specialty. Jennifer Oliver, a Mobius staffer who recently completed graduate education that leads to a credential as a licensed mental health professional, will coordinate development of the services at the agency.

The supported employment grant will target young adults who are aging out of the education system and seeking employment in the Midcoast area. Lawlor reports that almost 45 percent of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are employed in community jobs and earning minimum wage or better with appropriate agency support. That percent is over twice the statewide average reported for the population by the Maine Department of Health and Human services. Michaela York and Bethany Goding, managers of the Career Opportunities program , will be in charge of implementing this grant which seeks to engage family members as resources throughout the work exploration and job placement process.

Both staffers have recognized the positive partnerships between Mobius and Midcoast area schools, as well as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Adult and Disability Services, two Maine state agencies who collaborate to provide the financial support necessary to support individuals with disabilities in employment. Says Floyd, Board President, Mobius is delighted with its partnership with over 20 Midcoast area employers who see the benefits of employing individuals within their workforces.

Not only does work necessary and important to each business get done, but the experience of co-workers seeing individuals performing real work with unrelenting positive attitudes adds value to the work setting for everyone. He emphasizes that employment is the ultimate outcome for service recipients and epitomizes the agency philosophy and vision for “Valued Roles in the Community.”

The Career Opportunities program supports employment for a range of individuals well beyond just persons with intellectual disabilities. The program has become recognized for its success is supporting employment for persons with mental health and physical challenges, which has allowed the program to offer employment opportunities to a diversity of job seekers. In addition to State funding, the program receives funding from the United Way of Mid Coast Maine which has been critical to its continued operation.