Objective 6.2.1 Strategies and Benchmarks
6.2.1 The University will support affiliated programs that have a strong community focus, such as: Women, Work and Communities; the Maine Institute for Public Safety Innovation; the Dept. of Health and Human Services' Community Mental Health Project; and the recent Spurwink Institute's Cooperative Agreement with UMA to conduct research, improve the quality of professional practice and advance the education and skills for persons working in human services, behavioral health, and criminal justice fields.
Over the years, UMA has developed an excellent reputation for working collaboratively with state government agencies as well as other public and private organizations within Maine. Women, Work and Communities will continue to report to the UMA Dean of
Students. Since this organization depends on several funding streams, the project director writes formative and summative reports on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis depending on the contractual arrangements with the various funding agents. Women,
Work and Communities has experienced continuous funding to carry out their work plans since 1978. It is expected that this viable and much needed enterprise will continue for many years to come.
The Maine Institute for Public Safety Innovation has depended on both state and federal funding to fulfill their mission. Since many communities in Maine do not have their own police departments, they have looked to the Maine Institute for Public Safety Innovation to provide training to citizens and members of individual town governments. The Institute will continue to be housed at the University of Maine at Augusta as long as funding is provided by the state and federal grants. Annual and semi-annual reports are
written to provide formative and summative information to the funding sources and to UMA. The Institute's Director reports to the Chief Academic Officer of UMA.
It is expected that the Maine Community Mental Health Project will continue for a long time. Funding streams come from the State Department of Health and Human Services directly to the Muskie Institute's Public Sector Innovation Department of the University of Southern Maine. Funding is then provided to the University of Maine at Augusta through the Muskie Institute after a yearly work plan is written by UMA's Project Director and then sent to the Muskie Institute's Finance Department. The contract is then approved by both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Muskie Institute. The UMA Project Director writes an annual summative report due June 30th of every year. The Mental Health Project has received continuous state funding since 1980 to provide education and training for people working in the mental health field. The UMA Project Director reports to UMA's Chief Financial Officer (with a sign-off by the Chief Academic Officer of UMA) and to the Director of the Muskie Institute's Public Sector Innovation Department.
This year the University of Maine at Augusta has prepared a contractual agreement with the Spurwink Institute to provide work force development, education, grant writing and summer institute activities related to child and youth services. The Mental Health and
Human Services Program faculty and the administration of UMA will carry out the contractual obligations of the agreement. Program faculty will report to the Dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences, who in turn will report to UMA's Chief Financial Officer and to the Chief Academic Officer of UMA. Annual reports will be expected at the end of the fiscal year.