Jen Ouellette has spent more than 30 years in addiction treatment and housing in York County. She helped develop the Layman Way Recovery Center while at York County Shelter Programs and led services across development, operations, and direct care.
Today, Ouellette serves as Deputy Director of the Sanford Housing Authority and as a member of the York County Behavioral Health Committee. Her work focuses on aligning housing with a full continuum of care, enabling people to transition from crisis to stability without losing momentum.
Nonprofit experience shaped her perspective.
“You just make do as a nonprofit,” she says. “Grant dollars are restrictive.”
Facilities were often whatever space was available, even when programs delivered exceptional care. She also faced persistent access barriers. Detox beds were frequently located outside the county. Behavioral health services could be two towns away. Transportation was unreliable for people without a vehicle or depending on Medicaid rides.
A central challenge stood out. “In York County, there are no beds for an intoxicated person,” Ouellette says.
Returning someone to an abstinence-based setting after use was unsafe for them and others, yet the nearest alternative could be a long drive with uncertain availability.
These gaps informed a countywide model. The new approach unites assessment, detox, medical and behavioral health care, case management, transportation supports, and step-down options in one location. People can start with an assessment, then proceed to residential or intensive outpatient care, and later transition into outpatient, peer recovery, and alumni supports while remaining connected to familiar staff.
Housing is integrated into that continuum. Through the Sanford Housing Authority and partner agencies, referrals and stability planning will be part of treatment from the beginning. The goal is fewer handoffs and a consistent team across levels of care.
Readiness varies, and the model reflects it. If someone is not ready for a six-month program, the team maintains connection through outpatient services and community recovery groups. As readiness increases, a transition to higher intensity can proceed without having to start over.
The approach also addresses a long-standing gap between detox and the next step. In the past, people could complete detox and wait days or weeks for an opening elsewhere, losing momentum. Coordinated “bed-to-bed” movement is a priority whenever possible.
Ouellette’s path began with volunteer work on a 24-hour domestic violence crisis line. She joined York County Shelter Programs on the night shift, moved into administration, and then into a grants role that included resident services. Exposure to alcohol and drug counseling led her to advanced clinical credentials and leadership positions.
“I have done it all,” she says, “except detox.”
Five years ago, she joined the Sanford Housing Authority, a transition that followed a difficult family loss and a period when the pace of crisis response at the shelter had become hard to sustain. She stayed closely connected to colleagues in treatment while focusing on durable systems that residents can access locally.
Family support is a core element of the new Recovery Center. Ouellette designed a rotating 12-week curriculum that offers education about addiction, practical strategies for self-care and boundaries, and peer connection for parents, grandparents, siblings, and partners. She avoids labels that feel like blame. “It is out of love,” she says of most families’ efforts to help.
The Recovery Center will also function as a community hub. Plans include 12-step and self-help meetings, alumni gatherings, volunteer opportunities, and therapeutic activities such as pet therapy and skills workshops that help people rediscover interests and routines.
FCF provides the philanthropic partnership for this countywide effort, while York County will operate the facility. Ouellette brings frontline insight to planning and fundraising so investments translate into accessible services across the county.
“It is amazing to have that level of investment and support for citizens of York County,” she says. “People are going to feel a lot more comfortable and confident.”
About First County Foundation
Founded in 2023, FCF is charged with a mission “to support and strengthen safe and healthy communities by resourcing transformational solutions to the emergent needs of York County.”
Contact Us
If you have any questions about FCF, please get in touch with Rachel Stansfield at 207.459.7055 or restansfield@yorkcountymaine.gov.