Doing more . . . together
The needs of children and families under stress, in crisis, or at risk are diverse, so CHD offers many programs to meet them, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, CASA of Hampden County, Early Intervention, Family Outreach of Amherst, Foster Care, PACE School, Family Support and Stabilization. Our clients turn to us for advocacy, shelter, therapy, treatment . . . in a word—support.
CHD offers a set of services that can be readily accessed by the public without a referral from a professional or state agency. These include the Not Bread Alone community meals program, the HIV/AIDS Law Consortium, Occupational Therapy, and Disability Resources, which help people with physical disabilities or visual impairments build their self-confidence, interactive skills, and physical abilities with organized activities, support groups and self-advocacy.
Hawthorn Elder Care is the result of CHD's merger with Hawthorn Services on July 1, 2010. Hawthorn, previously based in Chicopee, had been providing high quality services to the elderly in Western Massachusetts since 1979. Now, the agency's more than 100 employees will continue to do the same good work as part of CHD. CHD's elder care services include group homes for those who require advanced care, outreach services to elders living independently, suicide prevention training, a respite program, homemaker program, substance abuse program and bereavement support. Our Adult Day Health Centers in Chicopee, Springfield, and West Springfield offer a variety of daily activities for elders as well as a full range of counseling, physical therapy and psychological services.
CHD not only shelters and supports homeless families but also strives to prevent homelessness. The Single Room Occupancy program reaches out to rooming house tenants in Northampton and Easthampton. CHD’s Diversion, Shelter & Housing programs provide case management services, housing placement, and stabilization assistance. Through Jessie’s House, CHD provides temporary shelter to homeless families and provides the services they need to obtain permanent housing.
People with intellectual disabilities often need highly individualized help, and CHD gives it to them. Our 20 group homes—the Meadows Homes—house more than 60 people, and our outreach program helps scores of others to live independently.
CHD helps prepare youths who have been incarcerated return to the community and remake their lives. Intensive residential treatment includes individual and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, life skills and anger management groups, educational and pre-vocational testing, pre-employment training and more.
Residential programs, supported housing, ongoing treatment, counseling, vocational training, nursing, crisis intervention, medication monitoring . . . these are just some of the mental health and addiction services CHD provides. Our behavioral health clinics in Springfield, Holyoke, West Springfield, Worcester, Orange, Greenfield, Easthampton, and Connecticut serve nearly 4,000 adults and children annually.
People with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or histories of trauma, abuse, and addictions often cannot work in traditional settings. CHD’s entrepreneurial programs— Riverbend Furniture in Springfield, A New Leaf Flower Shop and Advance Office Cleaning in Holyoke—offer them real jobs. These clients/employees not only earn an income and acquire new skills but also come out of isolation and find self-respect as productive members of their communities.