With heartfelt respect and deep appreciation for our shared mission, I write to inform you of a difficult but carefully considered decision. After extensive exploration and reflection, Morrison Center will be discontinuing its adult residential congregate care program. This change will take effect with the issuance of formal 30-day notice today, July 21, 2025, and an anticipated transition date of August 20, 2025.
As you may know, Morrison Center was founded in 1951 by social worker Betty Morrison and has grown into a statewide nonprofit supporting more than 1,000 children and adults with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities. For more than 70 years, we have remained
deeply committed to compassion, dignity, and excellence in service.
Our adult residential care program began in recent years, not as an expansion of our own long-term strategic plan, but as a charitable intervention to support another nonprofit – Good Neighbors – that was struggling to maintain these essential services. As a longstanding leader in IDD services, Morrison Center stepped in as a supportive partner to ensure stability for the individuals served by
Good Neighbors, as well as for their dedicated staff. In response to the ongoing need for residential services in Maine, we subsequently opened additional homes with the intention of supporting as many individuals as possible.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have played a role in sustaining 24-hour care during a time of great uncertainty. However, in the years since, the compounded impact of the pandemic, staffing shortages, and growing financial constraints have made it increasingly difficult to sustain this model. While we remain proud of what’s been accomplished, continuing this residential program would now place our other long-established and vital service lines – ones that thousands of individuals and families rely on – at risk.
Since joining Morrison Center as Executive Director in September 2023, I have undertaken a comprehensive review of our programs with an eye toward long-term sustainability and quality. Despite the tireless efforts of our leadership team and collaboration with DHHS, it has become clear that preserving our ability to serve the greater community across multiple programs means making the difficult decision to step away from this particular service.
This decision was not made lightly and was unanimously approved by our Board of Directors. Above all, we remain committed to ensuring a compassionate, thoughtful transition for the 18 individuals currently supported through this program and to honoring the contributions of our dedicated staff.
Much like our previous decision to step into residential services to support a nonprofit in need, Morrison Center has now thoughtfully selected a partner to continue these services at a time when we must realign our focus. This partnership allows Morrison Center to stay true to our mission – while ensuring that specialized residential care remains available through a provider with the resources and expertise to sustain it long-term.
To support this transition, Morrison Center has chosen to partner with Granite Bay Care (GBC), a trusted and experienced provider of adult residential services with more than 90 active homes across Maine. We are working closely with GBC to prioritize continuity for individuals and to offer employment opportunities to our valued staff. With the consent of the individuals we support and their guardians, GBC will assume service delivery at each of our current residential sites.
Importantly, client choice will guide this transition. All individuals and their guardians will receive this formal 30-day written notice of the program transition on July 21, 2025. Case managers will be supported in initiating vendor calls for those who wish to explore alternative provider options. For any individual who has not finalized a new provider by the transition date, Granite Bay Care (GBC) has agreed to provide short-term coverage to ensure there is no disruption in services. We are committed to honoring each person’s preferences through the person-centered planning (PCP) process and will work closely with OADS, guardians, and care teams to ensure every individual is supported in selecting the setting that best meets their needs.
We want to emphasize that the well-being of Morrison Center staff has been a core focus in planning this transition. GBC has committed to welcoming all interested Morrison employees with offers of employment that include the same or better pay, the preservation of their tenure as it relates to paid time off, and uninterrupted access to their current medical benefits. We are working closely with both organizations’ HR teams to make this transition as seamless and supportive as possible for every staff member impacted.
We understand that the success of this transition depends on thoughtful coordination and clear communication. We are deeply aware of the importance of this program to the individuals it serves, and to the system of care in Maine, and we respectfully ask for your support and partnership as we move forward. I would be honored to meet with you to discuss any questions, concerns, or recommendations you may have. Your collaboration is essential, and we sincerely appreciate moving ahead with your full support.
Today, July 21, 2025, we begin formally communicating this change to individuals, families, guardians, case managers, and staff. Morrison Center will discontinue services and support a safe transition. We are committed to ensuring each member’s right to freely choose their providers and settings, including non-disability-specific options. We will host family meetings and offer ongoing opportunities for dialogue, transparency, and support. Our leadership team will be available every step of the way to ensure a smooth and respectful transition. We also recognize that this decision reflects a broader context. Across Maine, residential services are undergoing significant shifts due to evolving regulations, financial pressures, and workforce limitations. Even as we wind down this program, Morrison Center remains steadfast in our broader mission and commitment to quality care across multiple service lines for over seven decades. We will continue to offer a wide range of thriving, innovative, community-based services that support individuals in achieving their fullest potential.
Please know how grateful we are for your continued partnership and shared commitment to the individuals we are so honored to support. If you have any questions or would like to speak further, I welcome you to reach out to me directly.
My Sincerest Appreciation,
Danielle Loring, LCSW
Chief Executive Officer
Morrison Center
