Mobius Celebrates a Good Year

The social-services agency Mobius Inc. celebrated “a good year” during the annual meeting at its Damariscotta headquarters Monday, Nov. 10. The 36-year-old private nonprofit

provides services to people with disabilities.

Cod Cove Inn proprietor Jill Hugger accepts the Employer of the Year Award from Mobius Inc. President William Floyd during the Mobius annual meeting in Damariscotta Monday, Nov. 10. The Edgecomb inn employs two Mobius Inc. consumers. (J.W. Oliver photo)

Mobius Inc. President William Floyd congratulates Employee Recognition Award recipient Nicole Brown at the agency’s annual meeting in Damariscotta Monday, Nov. 10. (J.W. Oliver photo)

“We had a balanced budget, which is always a good thing, and thanks to the support of a board of directors that’s always there to help when it’s needed and a

hardworking staff and management, we had a good year,” Executive Director David Lawlor said.

The agency helps many of its consumers establish independence with jobs in the community and their own apartments or houses.

The agency “has seen, over the years, many people who had been receiving 24/7 support in a residential program move on to their own apartment with 25-30 hours of

support per week,” Lawlor said.

The Mobius career opportunities program is thriving. Nearly half of the adults the agency supports have jobs in the community and the agency also operates a

successful summer youth employment program, Lawlor said.

Mobius recently obtained a mental-health license, which will allow it to provide outpatient counseling services.

“This is a new step … in recognition of the particular challenges individuals with cognitive challenges face in receiving appropriate mental-health services,” Lawlor

said.

“In addition to the services it brings to people, it also brings the clinical perspective to our own service delivery, and that can only enhance what we do,” Lawlor

said.

Despite its record of success, “Mobius has far to go,” Lawlor said. “Probably the thing I’m most proud about is that we realize we’ve just scraped the tip of the

iceberg.

“I think we’re doing amazing work, but we know there’s always a lot to learn … new ideas and new ways of delivering services, and we’re going to be challenged to do

better in that.”

Mobius consumer Jessica Garren presented her personal success story.

Mobius’ Learning Enrichment Achievement Discovery, or LEAD, program and Mobius’ career opportunities program helped Garren move into her own cottage two years ago.

“I am so proud of the accomplishments I have made and the success I have had since I joined the Mobius programs,” Garren said.

Lawlor and Mobius Inc. President William Floyd presented a number of awards, including the Employer of the Year Award to Cod Cove Inn for its support of the career

opportunities program.

The Edgecomb inn recently changed hands. “The former owner, when he sold the inn, made it an expectation of the sale that an individual we supported would continue

working there,” Lawlor said.

The inn has since hired a second Mobius consumer. “You just picked up the torch and ran with it, so we appreciate it,” Lawlor said.

Floyd and Lawlor also presented the Employee Recognition Award to four recipients and recognized employees for five, 10, 15, and 20 years of service.