Oxford County Mental Health Services -- Maine

Oxford County Mental Health Services (OCMHS) was incorporated in January 2001. However, the predecessor of the current agency began in 1991. It was organized by people in the local area who were seeking both support and services for their family members afflicted by mental illness. This group took the name GRAMI, which stood for the

. This group of people had a close relationship with the Maine office of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NAMI-ME, without whose support the development of the agency would not have been possible.

The initial service offered by this group was the FACES family support group for family members. Beacon House, a social club and drop in center for people with mental illness, also developed at about the same time. Beacon House remains a key program of this agency. Eventually GRAMI became a licensed provider of mental health services in 1996 and since then, the variety of services provided by the agency has grown.

On May 1, 2001, the name was changed to Oxford County Mental Health Services (OCMHS), to more accurately describe the variety and location of client centered services. In 2004, OCMHS opened an office in Norway to better serve the people of the Norway, South Paris and Oxford Hills area.

On May 10, 2006, Governor John Baldacci and Brenda Harvey, Commissioner of DHHS opened the new 4 bed Jane deFrees Health Center, an Assessment and Stabilization Unit located at 150 Congress St. in Rumford. The agency’s licenses grew from 6 to 18 and on July 1, 2006, the agency became the sole provider of Emergency Mental Health care on a 24/7 basis in Oxford County. Beacon House moved to 41 Bridge St. in Rumford in 2006. The agency completed a $250,000 capital improvement, restoring the brick front of the building to help in the re-vitalization of downtown Rumford.

In 2007, the agency purchased a facility at 17 Gary St. in South Paris. Also in 2007, Andy’s Place, a community residence for people with chronic mental illness opened at 150 Congress St. in Rumford. Out Patient Therapy, Case Management and Psychiatry Services started in 2008 and 2009. By April 2010, the staff complement grew to 49 very dedicated people. The agency is well on its way to providing Total Local Care to the people of Oxford County.