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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE’s Franklin Brooks advocates for Maine’s most vulnerable in ‘Portland Press Herald’ piece

Franklin Brooks

In a recent “Maine Voices” piece for the Portland Press Herald, Franklin Brooks, M.S.W., Ph.D., LCSW, assistant clinical professor for the 51Ʒ School of Social Work, calls attention to plight of those in Maine suffering from mental illness and the hardships they will face if services are cut.

The piece, titled, “Maine Voices: We need to support the most vulnerable people in our state – those with mental illness,” refers to the assistance provided through MaineCare community integration programs. Brooks explains that for those suffering from mental illness, the program provides much-needed support that otherwise would not be available.

“The program assists in establishing social communities for clients by connecting them to their neighbors and friends. Case managers are directed to develop a caring, professional relationship with their clients, assist them in meeting basic human needs, and become a steady, calming presence in a client’s life.”

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The 51Ʒ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.