AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to enact LD 540, sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, which would direct the Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Behavioral Health to develop a request for proposal for two adult peer respite centers.
Peer respite centers offer voluntary, short-term, overnight support complete with community-based, non-clinical crisis services to help people with mental health challenges. These programs operate 24 hours per day in a homelike environment. While they do not replace traditional clinical services, they provide an alternative choice for those who are interested in seeking help from peer support specialists with similar lived experiences.
"Peer respite centers are known to provide support before and during crises in a way that more traditional, restrictive and costly options like emergency departments cannot," said Rana. "Programs like these reduce visits to our emergency rooms and crisis stabilization units while allowing Mainers in crisis to stay in their community, which is crucial."
The bill faces additional votes in the coming weeks.
Rana is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents House District 21, which is home to many of Bangor's service providers, tent cities, homeless shelters and warming shelters. She serves on the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Taxation and the Joint Select Committee on Housing.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Rana], 305-965-2744