Who We Are
From its origins in 1940 with the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to its work across Maine today, Saint Andre Home has remained grounded in a simple belief: everyone deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to rebuild.
Our Staff
Carey Nason, LCSW, LADC, CCS Executive Director, Saint Andre Home
Gretchen Boynton, Program Assistant, Saint Andre Home
Dayle Iverson, MHRT-C, Case Manager, CourageLIVES
Maria Taylor, LMSW-CC, Clinician, CourageLIVES
Sarah Fitzgerald, Program Staff, CourageLIVES
Olivia Searfass, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, CourageLIVES
Ashley Grondin, Program Staff, CourageLIVES
Julie Marquis, Program Staff, CourageLIVES
Michelle Markie, Program Staff, CourageLIVES
Theresa Dumond, Program Staff, Esther Residence and Services
Anna Casey, Adoption Records Manager
Our Board of Directors
Mary Colombo, EED – Chair
Anna Youngmann – Vice Chair
Marc Lamontagne – Financial Chair
Sr. Claire Lambert – Secretary
Kim Christoforo – Member
Heather Huntley – Member
Join Our Team
Employment
Join our professional team and be part of a mission-driven organization supporting survivors across Maine.
Current Openings:
Internships
We occasionally offer internships for individuals interested in gaining experience in nonprofit services.
Current Openings:
None at this time
Volunteering
We offer a limited number of volunteer opportunities based on current needs. These may include join our board of directors, event support or specialized roles.
Contact us with your interest!
Our History
For more than 80 years, Saint Andre Home has been a place of safety, dignity, and new beginnings.
What began as a small, faith-rooted mission has grown into a statewide network of support for individuals rebuilding after trafficking, trauma, and incarceration. This timeline reflects key people, milestones, and moments that continue to shape our work today.
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1849
Sister Mary Fitzbach-Roy founded the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (SCIM) in Quebec, beginning a ministry rooted in compassion, dignity, and support for women facing hardship. This mission would later extend into Maine and shape the founding of Saint Andre Home.
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1937
The SCIM Sisters purchase farmland in Biddeford, Maine, establishing a foundation for a residential program to serve women in need of care and support.
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1940
Saint Andre Home is officially dedicated on Easter Sunday when the first resident is welcomed, marking the beginning of a mission centered on safety, dignity, and compassionate care.
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1954
Saint Andre Home becomes a licensed adoption agency, expanding services to support unwed mothers and their children during a time of significant social and economic challenges.
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1974
Group homes open in Biddeford, Bangor, and Lewiston, broadening services to include emergency shelter, parenting support, and care for young women in crisis.
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2006
Sister Simonne Janelle, Sister Lucille Gardner, and Sister Joanne Roy establish Esther Residence in Saco to provide transitional housing and support for women reentering the community after incarceration, addressing a critical gap in services in Southern Maine.
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2015
Under the leadership of executive director Carey Nason, Saint Andre Home identifies human trafficking as a growing and largely unaddressed issue in Maine after attending a regional conference, sparking the vision for a specialized response. Saint Andre Home launches its first program dedicated to survivors of human trafficking, CourageLIVES (originally Hope Rising), providing safe housing and long-term, trauma-informed support.
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2023
CourageLIVES transitions from offering residential services to a comprehensive, community-based suite of services including case management, counseling, and wraparound support for survivors of trafficking, trauma, and exploitation. This statewide work is based out of their Bangor Community Center.
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2024
CourageLIVES was the recipient of the 2024 National Premier Cares Award, that included a $100,000 cash prize to support work with trafficking survivors.
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2025
Esther Residence joins Saint Andre Home after 19 years of dedicated service to women in transition, ensuring the long-term sustainability and expansion of its mission. Founded and nurtured by the Good Shepherd Sisters, the program has provided stable housing and wraparound support for women leaving incarceration and other vulnerable situations. As Sisters Joanne Roy, Lucille Gardner, and Simonne Janelle retire from daily operations, they entrust Saint Andre Home with the continued care and stewardship of Esther Residence in Saco, Maine.
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2026
Residential services at Esther Residence are expected to relaunch following program evaluation and facility improvements, strengthening support for women rebuilding after incarceration.