Sweetser's mission is to provide quality treatment, support and hope to children, adults and families through a network of mental health, behavioral health and educational services. Sweetser evolved from the joining of four local orphanages. By the early 1970s, Sweetser Children's Home, as it was known, focused on providing residential services to children with severe emotional or behavioral problems or learning disabilities. At the close of the 20th century, Sweetser merged with two of Maine's most respected mental health agencies: The Family Institute of Maine and Shoreline Community Mental Health Services. In 2006, PROTEA Behavioral Health Services, a prominent provider of outpatient therapy and medication management, became a division of Sweetser. Today, Sweetser is Maine's most comprehensive behavioral and mental healthcare organization dedicated to serving children, adults and families.