LEWISTON — In a joint announcement with Community Concepts, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Mid-Maine has announced plans to expand into Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties by assuming responsibility for the BBBS program of Community Concepts.

Alex Gaeth, chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, and Shawn Yardley, chief executive officer of Community Concepts, stressed their commitment to make this a seamless transition.

In 2010 Community Concepts was approached by the Child Health Center to take over their BBBS program that was in crisis. Community Concepts understood the importance of the program to area youth and agreed to take it over for an indefinite period of time. At the time, the BBBS program served around 100 kids in Oxford and Androscoggin counties.

“Community Concepts is proud of its accomplishments stewarding the BBBS program over the past five years, expanding it to serve Franklin County and 202 youth from as far away as Rangeley,” said Yardley. “Through dedicated staff, large volunteer base and solid infrastructure, the program is now stable.”

In an effort to increase efficiencies, programs across Maine and the country have been consolidating services and separating from fiscal agents or sponsor agencies. Moving Big Brothers Big Sisters of Community Concepts to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid Maine is consistent with that trend and is supported by BBBS of America.

BBBS of Mid- Maine is a natural new home for the BBBS of Community Concepts, as it has multiple successful programs with the infrastructure and experience to foster future growth. BBBS of Mid-Maine has offices in Camden, Bangor and Augusta and serves Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo counties.

“School-based matches will continue through the end of the academic year,” said Gaeth. “Together with Community Concepts we will support the current 35 community matches through the summer of 2016 while BBBS of Mid-Maine transitions into the three counties. There is a committed volunteer base across the three counties as well as a demonstrated need. We will work diligently to nurture the relationships that have been developed.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs children ages 7 to 14 with mentors ages 14 to 80+ in either a school-based or community-based setting.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine will formally take over the program on July 1, and will expand its board of directors to include community leaders from Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.

FMI: www.community-concepts.org, 207-795-4065, 1-800-866-5588.