Maine Center merging with Elk Grove-based Kenneth Young Center

The Maine Center in Park Ridge will be merging with Elk Grove Village-based Kenneth Young Center April 1 to continue providing mental health treatment services in Maine Township, officials announced Tuesday.

Faced with financial issues, Maine Center officials sought out Kenneth Young in order to continue serving their 1,800 clients. Discussions on the merger began about a month ago.

Some of the financial problems cited in an announcement on the Maine Center website include lagging state payments, the withdrawal of United Way funds, for-profit organizations managing Medicaid mental health systems, and a township funding reduction.

The Maine Center location, 819 Busse Highway, will be known as Kenneth Young Center, Maine Township. Kenneth Young opened locations in Schaumburg in 2012 and Mount Prospect this year.