As many of you are aware, on July first the operation of the state-wide warm line will move from Amistad to Sweetser.  The agencies have been working closely together to ensure that this is a smooth and transparent process for callers and staff.  The toll-free number (1-866-771-9276) will remain the same!  70% of the Peer Support Specialists answering calls will be a familiar voice!  The management of the warm line, Scott Metzger and Simonne Maline, are from the original team that started the state-wide service five years ago.  Detailed below are the answers to many questions I have been recently asked. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions not covered below and thank you for your continued support of this valuable service to peers.

The key elements of the Intentional Warm Line service are: 

• Access:                       24 Hours a day - 365 days a year (see time schedule below)
• Staffing:                      Two trained Peer Support Specialist at all times
• Locations:                   Portland and Brunswick
• Belief:                         In the hope and potential of Recovery
• Commitment:              To practice and model Intentional Peer Support
• Encourage:                 Community Integration 
• The Warm Line name will change July 1^st from the Maine Warm Line to the Intentional Warm Line.
• The 1-866-771-9276 state-wide toll-free phone number will remain the same.
• The Greater Portland Area Phone Number (772-9276) phone will be unavailable.  Use 1-866-771-9276.

Operational Hours:  Current:    5:00 pm to 8:00 am the following day

       July 1^st:     4:00 pm to 9:00 am the following day           

       Currently we are not advertising a date for 24/7 access but are working towards August 1.                               

Outreach:  We do not plan to create outreach materials for, or promote, 24/7 hours until we are fully confident that we will have the infrastructure to deliver that service smoothly.  We are sharing our plans with you, and will update you as the service progresses, but we ask that you do not tell potential callers the service is available 24/7 until you receive word from us.  What would be helpful is to let clients know about the extra hours of 4:00-5:00 pm and 8:00am – 9:00am as that will serve to smooth out the current demand. 

We will be distributing new materials at a later date, but remember that you current materials are still accurate and usable, with the exception of the local Portland phone number, and Amistad has agreed to put up a phone message directing callers to the toll-free number.