Portland, ME: Cornerstones of Maine is thrilled to announce that Melissa Westerman has joined their team as Marketing & Outreach Director. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She has worked in the psychiatric/behavioral healthcare field since 1996. She began her career with The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (NH), spending ten years serving in various capacities, including vocational counseling. She continued counseling as a care manager at WestBridge, a highly regarded non-profit organization providing evidence-based integrated treatment for mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.

Melissa eventually transitioned to the WestBridge leadership team as Customer Relations Coordinator, managing the Admissions and Marketing team. Most recently, she worked with the Boston-based psychosocial community integration program Ellenhorn, as the Director of Community Relations. She has had several years of volunteer experience chairing fundraising walks, was a NAMI-NH committee member and Walk Day Co-Chair for the NAMI Walk, “For the Mind of America”. 

Melissa is thrilled to bring her diversified background and purpose-driven energy to the dynamic Cornerstones team. In tandem with her experience and enthusiasm, Melissa carries with her the steadfast goal of helping professionals and families navigate the behavioral health landscape and access care that reduces shame and stigma by redefining treatment and identity without labels and barriers. 

“We are very excited that Melissa has joined the Cornerstones team and brings with her extensive experience in forming relationships with other programs and professionals in the mental health field,” says Jacob Gelles, Co-Founder and Administrative Director of Cornerstones of Maine.

If you need to find her, she is either listening to music/going to live shows, at the beach, spoiling her rescue Great Pyrenees, Hoyt, or at Fenway Park. Melissa was born and raised in New Hampshire and currently resides on the seacoast.

About Cornerstones of Maine

Cornerstones of Maine is a clinically-driven transitional living program designed to assist men, women, and gender-nonconforming young adults (ages 18 to 28) in their journey to becoming independent. Through transformative therapeutic work and individual and group support, our residents work towards independent living. Our individualized program includes professional development, academic re-engagement, and character-building experiences that teach a myriad of skills and create pathways for successful life habits. These experiences, along with enrichment opportunities, promote emotional growth, personal value, and life purpose.