Since its incorporation in March 1979, OHI has provided supports and services to people with disabilities in various community settings. This community nonprofit agency was incorporated to assist the state of Maine to implement elements of the 1978 Pineland Consent Decree.

Bonnie-Jean Brooks, the agency’s current executive director, was originally hired to open two group homes for 12 people who were members of that class action suit. These individuals had the dual diagnoses of mental retardation, mental illness and/or autism. The original consumers, and some who came later, had been institutionalized for many years and possessed behaviors typical of living in severely restrictive environments.

Over the years, OHI has continued to grow and offer expanded services, including residential, day, work, and consultation services. It currently provides supports in three Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation located in Bangor, Orrington, and Hermon; four Adult Foster Homes located in Bangor, Brewer, and Hampden; four Children’s Foster Homes located in Bangor, Burlington, West Enfield, and Edinburgh; 13 Supported Living Arrangements located in Bangor, Levant, Orrington, Old Town, and Howland; two Day/Work programs located in Brewer; and more than 30 Independent Living Homes located in Orono, Brewer, and Bangor.

Throughout its life, OHI has successfully implemented its mission by emphasizing and practicing its philosphy that “everything is possible.” This community agency and its Board of Directors have always been willing to take risks and accept the challenges necessary to support people with life-threatening behaviors in Maine communities.

This has paid big dividends, as OHI has been able to assist more than 200 people to leave state institutions permanently, and live more fulfilling, less expensive, higher quality lives in small homes. “We found that no one deserved the severe reputation label that often followed these individuals from the institution,” Brooks said. “Such labels were often reflective of a one-time occurrence.”

OHI’s advocacy for people with disabilities has influenced local, state, and federal public policy. Agency staff maintain professional associations at all governmental levels to ensure that its consumers have a voice.

Brooks has championed the agency’s commitment to recognizing people’s strengths and fostering their community integration. “I believe we have a role in being proactive in advocating for community services,” she said.

“We have an excellent partnership with our sister agencies, local municipalities, area medical and other clinical services and professions, state government, and area businesses,” Brooks said. “The Greater Bangor area is distinguished in the state for the sense of community that has been created and fostered by all of these stakeholders.”

According to Brooks, funding for local service providers helps consumers become less dependent on state and federal tax dollars. “Our mark of success is to steadily decrease costs by providing environments that lead to stable lifestyles for our consumers. Our well-trained staff help people to be integrated into the community.”

Brooks said that to ensure their long-term survival, nonprofit agencies must consider themselves to be and act like businesses. “We can’t make decisions based on anything else.” She said that it is necessary for agencies like OHI to change from speaking with “warm and fuzzy talk, to demonstrating the measurable economic benefits of community services to people with disabilities.

“The taxpayer is pushed to the limit. We want to feel good,” she said, “but we want to believe that tax dollars are going to a place that ultimately creates jobs and reduces the burden on the already overburdened taxpayer.”

To ensure the agency’s national presence, Brooks has testified frequently in Washington, D.C. before congressional subcommittees and has worked on study committees for federal agencies.

Recognizing her experience and commitment to people with mental retardation, Brooks was recently appointed to serve three months on the President’s Committee in Washington, D.C. “They needed a person in the field who knows the challenges of community support for people with mental retardation,” she said.

Brooks said that nonprofits must take the lead in educating community business leaders about integrating people with disabilities. “The community must take back their own,” said Brooks. “and provide natural supports for its people.”

The articles appearing in this special section were provided by Melissa MacCrae, NEWS advertising staff writer.