Community Runs Deep

The 3Rivers Quarterly

Spring 2026

Moving Forward Together: A New Chapter at 3Rivers



As 3Rivers continues to grow and evolve following the merger, we are entering an important new chapter, one focused on strengthening leadership, clarifying roles, and supporting the long-term health of the agency.

As part of this next phase, Heidi Mansir and Catherine Thibedeau will be stepping back from day‑to‑day operations and merger-specific work. Going forward, Heidi and Catherine will support 3Rivers in clearly defined, project‑based roles. Their work will focus on specific, time‑limited initiatives tied to merger priorities and other major efforts. This transition is intentional and aligns with best practices following a merger. It allows the 3Rivers leadership team to fully step into their roles, build strong teams, and establish clear decision‑making structures with shared understanding and accountability.

Clear roles and accountability are especially essential in the times we are in now, and by placing decision‑making closer to the work, 3Rivers supports leadership growth, strengthens internal systems, and ensures long-term sustainability.

This milestone comes at a time of significant change across the field, as organizations navigate Medicaid funding pressures, increased regulatory oversight, and new licensing requirements for providers. While these shifts can feel overwhelming, the core of our work remains unchanged. There has been no better time to merge, as it has allowed us to establish a strong foundation for continued improvement, shared learning, and future innovation, positioning 3Rivers to respond more effectively to funding, regulatory, and workforce challenges.

Every day, 3Rivers staff support people with disabilities to live safe, meaningful lives. That commitment, showing up, adapting, and caring continues to guide us.

Thank you to our staff, partners, people supported, and community stakeholders for your continued trust and collaboration. Together, we are building a strong, integrated future for 3Rivers.

Sincerely,

At 3Rivers, we are proud to be a trusted provider in the state of Maine, delivering high-quality residential (group home) services that combine safe housing with personalized support. 3Rivers operates 26 residential group homes across multiple regions of Maine, including the Portland, Gardiner, and Island Falls/Patten areas. We are committed to promoting independence and self-determination, ensuring health and safety, supporting community integration, and enhancing overall quality of life for the people we serve. 

Our programs are designed to meet a wide range of needs and typically consist of small homes with two to five residents, where staff are available around the clock to provide assistance such as personal care (such as bathing and dressing), medication management, meal preparation and nutrition, transportation to appointments or employment, behavioral and therapeutic supports, and skill-building in areas like daily living and job readiness.

At the core of this work are our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). They provide consistent, hands-on support working closely with individuals, building trust, and gaining a deep understanding of their needs. They bring service plans to life by translating goals into meaningful actions, helping individuals build independence, dignity, and community connections. DSPs also serve as a critical link between individuals, families, and the broader care team, representing 3Rivers’ values in every interaction. They are experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to each person’s well-being within the residential setting.

Our group homes are designed to meet each person's unique needs, whether they require constant hands-on support or just a structured environment to pursue their goals. From helping someone attend medical appointments, enjoying live music at a local coffee house, or getting ready for work each morning, we empower those we support to build independence, strengthen community ties, and live with dignity in a place that truly feels like home. 

At 3Rivers, we are constantly exploring new ways to support people, unlocking possibilities when people, technology, and choice work together. By blending enabling technology, remote supports, telehealth, and in‑person services together, people can be supported in flexible ways to live independently while remaining safe in their own homes.

Technology is not here to replace the human touch. Instead, it empowers people with tools that help build skills, strengthen independence, and provide support at just the right moment, in ways that feel respectful and personalized. As part of this work, 3Rivers has partnered with SimplyHome, a national leader in assistive technology and remote supports, to help design and deliver technology‑supported options that are reliable, secure, and truly person‑centered. Together, we are exploring how technology can enhance, rather than complicate, everyday life.

Staying true to our commitment to person‑centered planning, 3Rivers continues to expand technology‑supported services aligned with the upcoming Lifespan Waiver and shaped by what individuals and families tell us they want most: greater autonomy, more privacy, and real influence over how supports are delivered. Later this spring/early summer, this vision will begin to take shape through the repurposing of unused housing to roll out a pilot of this service model—an important step forward in supporting independence across the lifespan.

For more information on upcoming events, email info@3-rivers.org.

Wish List

To support our programs and the people we serve, we are asking our community to consider donating any of the following items:

• Raised Garden Beds
• Ready-to-use garden beds
• Materials for building garden beds (e.g. wooden boards, screws, etc.)

For more information on how to donate, call Janelle Tinkham at (207) 292-0404.

www.3-rivers.org