“No one should be ashamed to get help”
“In every story there’s strength” is this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dawn Blackburn, who receives services
Outpatient Treatment a Valuable Tool
For Stacey Snape, Mental Health Awareness month is an opportunity to spread the word that seeking treatment is an important and proactive step for people
Forming a Therapeutic Alliance
Katelyn Picard, LCSW (left), an outpatient and school-based clinician for CHD’s Pine Street Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Springfield, is with fellow clinician and Nicole
Proof of the Impact of Social Work
Laurie Brown, program supervisor for CHD Adult Mental Health-Springfield’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic on State Street, chose the field of social work because she had
Every Voice Counts
What prompted Debra Call, clinical supervisor at CHD’s Park Street Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in West Springfield, to pursue a career in social work? She
“It’s an amazing career”
“I can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Jasmine Jones about the field of social work. Jones, a clinician at our Pine Street Outpatient Behavioral
Making a Lifetime of Difference for a Child
“It’s an opportunity to change a life,” said KC Lovett about volunteering for CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hampden County. The program works
A Nontraditional Support Network
Shaun Sloat is a caseworker at The Retreat at Hampshire Woods, CHD’s respite program in South Hadley, which provides a nontraditional, innovative, and individualized support
Leo’s Odyssey
Abandoned by his family as a teenager, Leo became socially isolated and severely withdrawn. Then CHD’s Adult Mental Health-Connecticut staff began working with him—patiently and
From West Africa to Western Massachusetts
Mariame Kounta forged a non-traditional and impactful path to CHD, where she is a vital part of our agency’s new Primary Care program—a cutting-edge initiative
“This place was perfect”
Omar is a former resident of The Retreat at Hampshire Woods, CHD’s respite program in South Hadley, which provides a nontraditional, innovative, and individualized support network
From Hopeless to Hopeful
On September 20, Steve Wright marked one year of sobriety. “My birthday was on September 23, and I wanted to be clean and sober for
“Here, you’re not alone”
Sam’s face broke into a broad smile when he was asked what Aster House, CHD’s residential recovery home in South Hadley, has done for him.
Challenging Old Ways of Thinking
Jennifer Ewig, a family caseworker at CHD’s Two Rivers Recovery Center for Women in Greenfield, has been a CHD employee for more than 20 years
“If nothing changes, nothing changes”
Krissi, from Westfield, MA, is a resident of CHD’s Two Rivers Recovery Center for Women in Greenfield, which has been providing clinical and supportive services
Treating Stimulant Use Disorder
D’Arcy Gebert, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and lead prescriber at CHD’s Stimulant Treatment and Recovery Team (START) at our Pine Street Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic
A Second Chance
Briana credits her eight-month stay at CHD’s Grace House with turning her life around. “What has Grace House done for me?” she said. “Where do
A Voice for Children Who Need It Most
For three years Anne Landry has been a volunteer for CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program of Hampden County, which works with Springfield and
Developing New, Helpful Thought Patterns
Patricia Connors, program director for CHD’s Two Rivers Recovery Center for Women in Greenfield, has a favorite saying: “If you give what you gave, you’ll
“I love my team”
When asked for her biggest “win” in her career, Mary Loomis, Program Director of CHD’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic in Easthampton, said a recent victory
“Don’t be ashamed of your story”
Sang Pham, a clinical social worker at CHD’s Pine Street Behavioral Health Clinic, pointed to a sign in her office that sums up what Mental
Gaining Confidence and Knowledge
Emily Bloch is a clinical social work intern at CHD’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Greenfield. In her final semester in Westfield State University’s Master
“I'm very proud to be a part of this program”
“I wanted to give back what was given to me,” said Kimberly Froebel about her motivation to become a recovery specialist at CHD. Indeed, she
Internships a Pathway to Success
When asked how valuable internships are for students interested in the field of behavioral health, LICSW Dominique Wells doesn’t hesitate to affirm their importance. She
From CHD Intern to Clinician to Clinical Supervisor
Stephanie Delano is an LICSW clinical supervisor at CHD’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Easthampton, where she is responsible for day-to-day management of clinic staff
Building Therapeutic Relationships
Shayna Cole, an LICSW clinician at CHD’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Easthampton, said she went into social work to help people who are struggling
Delivering a Proven Treatment Model
The clinical treatment model used by the Iris Home, CHD’s newest intensive residential rehabilitation home for men in New Hartford, CT, is called Trauma Informed Positive
A Powerhouse for Families Needing Housing Support
Laura Reichsman, program director of Family Outreach of Amherst (FOA), has two words to describe Program Manager Francine Rodriguez, who has worked with FOA since
Advocates for Children’s Best Interest
Abigail Sweeney and Victoria Gonzalez are volunteers for CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program of Hampden County, which works with Springfield and Holyoke Juvenile
A Partnership Model for Released Prisoners
William Dearstyne is a community support navigator in CHD’s Behavioral Health for Justice Involved Individuals (BH-JI), a program funded by MassHealth and the UMass Chan
Facilitating Recovery and Personal Growth
In many cultures, the iris flower is associated with the idea of resilience and strength. According to Iris Home Program Director Daniella Ramos, the iris
Helping Struggling Families Toward a Better Life
Laura Reichsman, program director for CHD’s Family Outreach of Amherst (FOA), doesn’t hesitate when asked what her motivating factor was in becoming a caseworker at
Teamwork and Collaboration in Nursing
As Emily Hebert recently discussed her new role as CHD’s new director of nursing services, she recalled what drew her into nursing in the first
Seeking More Mentors for Children and Youth
Why do today’s kids—especially the children served by CHD’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hampshire County (BBBS)—need mentors now more than ever? “One in
A Proud CHD Foster Family Grows
Jeremiah, a seven-year old boy served in CHD’s TLC Medical Foster Care Program, was adopted in late August by his foster parents Carmen McKenzie and
Reaching New Heights
At times, it was a bit of a struggle, but when 17-year-old Cenk climbed to the top of the 42-foot-high wall, his happiness and pride
A Model Among Her Peers in Recovery
Jada can’t pinpoint any particular incident that made her decide to stop drinking for good. “I was just tired,” she said. She had lost her
Adjusting to Life Outside Prison—with CHD’s Help
When Jose was released from prison after 42 years, he found it difficult to cope with freedom. He was one of the thousands of prisoners
A Clinician's Nonverbal Approach to Therapy
Clinician Rachel Gustafson, who runs art therapy groups in CHD’s STAR Psychiatric Day Treatment Program in Springfield, said she loves this activity because it helps
Breaking the Recidivism Cycle
Amanda Cove-Foster is program director of CHD’s Behavioral Health for Justice Involved Individuals (BH-JI), a program funded by MassHealth and the UMass Chan Medical School
An Inclusive and Empowering Program
David Whiteley, pictured on the left, and Jacob Allen (right) are regulars at Veteran Climbing Nights, which are run by CHD’s All In: Barrier-Free Recreation
De-escalation is Her Specialty
Heather Messer, a Crisis Services Clinician at our Gateway Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) in Chicopee, is part of a co-response partnership, which provides a
An Empathetic and Determined Leader
Tayna Howard, program manager for CHD’s Lotus Home in Hartford, recalled her recent team meeting’s icebreaker question to encourage participation from everyone in the group.
Helping Youths Develop Life Skills
Brendan Rios, who has been a therapeutic mentor at CHD for four years, likes working with kids—especially teenagers. While some people might think that teens
Boosting His Physical and Mental Health
Why does Air Force veteran David Lithgow love the sport of rock climbing so much? One reason: life’s stresses seem to melt away when he
A Wraparound Approach to Children’s Mental Health
Kaitlin Perkins is a master’s-level clinician intern in CHD’s In-Home Therapy program. Our agency’s In-Home Therapy and Therapeutic Mentoring services are part of the Massachusetts
From Homeless to College Student
Bronwyn (who uses the pronouns they/them) grew up in the Las Vegas area in dysfunctional home in which they experienced years of abuse and neglect. When
“I was doing various things to ruin my life”
Havier doesn’t mince words when he describes how his mental health took a downturn after his adoptive father died nearly five years ago. “I was
Advocating for Foster Children in Court
Stefany Schaefer is a three-year volunteer for CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program of Hampden County, which works with Springfield and Holyoke Juvenile Courts—through
An Action Plan for Recovery
For Ada Landry, being a recovery coach is being “an advocate, cheerleader, and resource finder. Working with us, an individual can get around barriers in
Support for Those Who Need a Helping Hand
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month—an opportune time to recognize the value of inclusion for this population, along the important work that direct care
Therapy That Doesn’t Seem Like Therapy
Studies have shown that art therapy can be valuable in helping those dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and addictions—and even some phobias. And art therapy
Making a Difference as an ICP Registered Nurse
Kristie Lopez had wanted to be a nurse since she was five years old. Always drawn to helping people, she began working for CHD a
A Growing—and Gratifying—Profession
What, exactly, is the role of a recovery coach? “It depends on who you ask,” said Matthew Johnson with a smile. Johnson, the recovery coach
Some Help Can Go a Long Way
Paul, who uses our agency’s Adult Mental Health-Springfield services, is grateful for having CHD in his life for the past six years. He had lived
Getting Back Her Family—and Her Future
When Courtney looks at the root of her substance use disorder, she recalls making bad choices in her teenage years, when she first started using
Improving Mental Health Through Art
Barbara Thresher-Morrison, a participant in art therapy groups offered by CHD’s Psychiatric Day Treatment program in Springfield, said that the artistic activities she has been
Inspired, Motivated, and Dedicated
Jovani said that before his treatment at CHD’s Aster House, he was letting let his temper and impulsiveness run his life—into the ground. “For me,
“I Wanted Something Better”
Danielle has been a resident of CHD’s Aster House in South Hadley for only two months, and she is already impressed with her progress in
Treating Addiction—and Trauma
Crystal lives at CHD’s Grace House in Northampton with her 13-year-old son, Kayden. In a therapeutic setting, Grace House provides up to 14 families with
Helping Mothers in Recovery—and Their Children
Jennifer Kent, program director of CHD’s Grace House, one of the few residential treatment programs designed for mothers in western Massachusetts, says the favorite part
A Family's Fresh Start
Elizabeth, a recent graduate of CHD’s Grace House in Northampton, is grateful for the team at one of the few residential recovery treatment programs designed
Steps in the Right Direction
Sandy Severin-Pansecchi is the administrative manager at FIRST Steps Together in Pittsfield, which provides peer coaching and parenting support for parents that are pregnant or postpartum,
An Advocate for Vulnerable Children
Emily Sheridan, one of the seven new volunteers in CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program of Hampden County, is used to working with children—and
Dedicated to the Youth We Serve
James Samuel has always enjoyed working with kids and teens. Although he has a financial services background—at present he is a quality assurance consultant for
Helping Recovering Parents Thrive
For Jennifer Hinton, a family recovery support specialist at CHD’s FIRST Steps Together in Pittsfield, helping moms become better parents is her way of making
All the Right (Dance) Moves
Cammie, a 17-year-old athlete in CHD’s All In: Barrier Free Recreation’s adaptive dance program, likes to dance to country music in her wheelchair—but she also
Volunteer Extraordinaire
Deb Napier, a volunteer for CHD’s Not Bread Alone (NBA) community meal program at the First Congregational Church of Amherst, is a weekly fixture in
Fighting Food Insecurity
Brenna Jorgensen, a junior at UMass Amherst majoring in Education and Social Change, is a volunteer at CHD’s Not Bread Alone community meal program in
Racing Toward His Goals
To call Troy Cronin “driven” and “tenacious” would be understating his willpower. He simply refuses to let anything stop him from reaching his goals—even though
A True Champion for a Trauma Victim
Nilsa Fernandez, who has been with CHD’s Adult Mental Health (AMH) team in Springfield for eight years, was recently recognized by the Springfield Police Department
Recovery as a Saving Grace
In the summer of 2020, Casey knew she had to drastically change her life when she overdosed twice. This happened after her children, who were
Giving kids a loving place to call home
When Sabrina first became a foster parent, she was inspired by the opportunity to provide kids in the community a safe and loving home, while
Commitment to the community and kids in need
For John Dowd, becoming a volunteer with CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hampden County was the sum of many experiences, all of which
A mom’s recovery journey
When she first referred herself for CHD’s FIRST Steps Together program in Pittsfield, MA, Ivy was only the second participant to join the new, evidence-based
Progress and proven results
When Laura’s son Raymond was seven years old, he began exhibiting signs of intense anger when his parents divorced. After being connected to an outpatient
The impact and joys of fostering
Josefina has been a foster parent for nearly 20 years. She took her first case—twin girls—when a mother she’d known for years had a case
Taking strides toward stability and self-sufficiency
For over two years, Jonatan was a resident of CHD’s Crossover program in Hartford, CT, one of CHD’s Residential Rehabilitation Services (RRS) serving individuals with
Working to reverse the cycle
Mary Andrewes has been a volunteer for CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hampden County for over six years, and she’s been a dedicated advocate for children in need for even longer. A retired educator
Helping kids hone their problem-solving skills
Deveron McCummings has been a Therapeutic Mentor (TM) with CHD’s Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) services for over three years, working with a range of
A journey 15 years in the making
When Corey Smith was about 15, she ran into some behavioral trouble that led her through a series of residential treatment programs in her journey
Compassion from someone who understands
After Jan lost both her husband and mother to cancer, she wanted to do something to help others through this difficult diagnosis. She chose to
Meet Aaron Morrison
Aaron has been a volunteer for CHD All In: Barrier-Free Recreation Sled Hockey program for nine years. With the program, Aaron has helped coach the
A legacy of change-making
The Barnharts have been with CHD from the beginning. Their work to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has set the
Filling the gap with love
Founder and CEO of Pride Stores Bob Bolduc and his wife Roberta support the community in a variety of ways, their main focus being children,
A survivor gives back
As lead help desk technician at CHD, the very nature of Joe’s role is to lend a helping hand. During business hours, Joe solves IT
After tragedy, a heartfelt donation
In 2015, Johnathan and Jillian were struggling to make ends meet. They had full-time jobs and aspirations of making it in the music business. They
Making progress against the odds
Shannon has loved horses since she was little, even working on horse farms as an adult. “I want to work with animals again,” she says.
A full-circle success story
In 2017, Julio’s home in Puerto Rico was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. His family lived on an outdoor basketball court for nearly a week before
The power of nature to heal
It’s a sunny day in late November. Skies are blue, but the wind whipping off Quabbin Reservoir is unforgiving. Bob is in his element. Years
"We've walked in their shoes."
Jerome was living a satisfying young life. He had a supportive family and friends, earned good grades, loved music, and had a well-paying job. That
Born to Find Solutions
For Francine, problem solving has always come naturally. Since adolescence, friends and family have been seeking her advice. “I’ve always loved to brainstorm and figure