News, Events & Press

Writing Our Own Story: Resilience, Recovery, and Community at CMHA

At CMHA's 2021 Annual Meeting, joined by community partners and supporters of the agency, President & CEO Raymond J. Gorman remarked, "Back when the pandemic began and so much was uncertain, I sent an all staff email in which I said that in the coming months, we will learn a lot about ourselves as an organization and as individuals. Looking back now, 18 months later, I’ll tell you what we learned: that we are resilient, dynamic, determined, and, simply put, really good at what we do."

Over the past year and a half, we've seen so many staff shine as true heroes. What others might call 'going above and beyond' is just the way things are done at CMHA, which makes naming the Chairman's Award recipient such a difficult task. That is why CMHA started a new tradition this year and presented three awards: one for a programmatic team, one for a direct care individual, and another for an administrative services individual.

In its inaugural year, the 2021 Chairman's Team Award went to: The Multidimensional Family Therapy Teams which include Amanda Ferrari, Diana Roman, Renny Lora-Acosta, Joel Garcia, Autumn McClendon, Ariel Perkins, Kirsten Burdick, Edielynn Cardona, Mirtalis Rubert, Marta Ortiz, Nichole Pagan, Jazmine Nava, Roseydy Martinez, and Patricia Spiegel. Congratulations all!

The 2021 Chairman's Direct Care Award went to Christopher Marino, Clinical Director, and the Administrative Services Award went to Lisa Daley, MIS Systems Manager. Congratulations to you both on a well-deserved recognition!

The achievements of this past year were only made possible because of the compassionate people that choose to be a part of CMHA's mission every day. It is difficult to truly capture the culture and dedication that makes CMHA's services unique. That is why CMHA produced this video, "Writing Our Own Story", to let our staff and clients tell you, in their own words, what makes our agency so special.

While we're ready to close the book on this past year, CMHA is excited to already be writing our next chapter with the addition of three new Board members. Sworn in at the Annual Meeting, CMHA welcomes: Joe Aresimowicz, former two-term House Speaker and eight-term State House member; Veronica T. DeLandro, founder of VTD Consulting Group, current Board Member of both the New Britain YWCA and the New Britain branch of the NAACP, and newly appointed Clerk of Committees by the Common Council of New Britain; and Anthony D'Amato, lifelong resident of Bristol, part of the 3rd generation of family leadership at D'Amato Construction, and current Director of the Bristol Education Foundation. CMHA welcomes the combined knowledge, experience, and expertise of our newest Board members and cannot wait to see what the future holds for us!

Community Mental Health Affiliates receives $2.625 million grant to help reduce opioid use among homeless, those at-risk

CMHA has received a $2.625 million, five-year grant to expand access to treatment and reduce opioid use among homeless, at-risk populations in #Bristol and #NewBritain! The funds will support CMHA's IMPACT (Intensive MAT Person Approach Community Treatment) initiative, which will provide services through three local shelters: The Friendship Service Center and Salvation Army in New Britain as well as St. Vincent DePaul Mission shelter in Bristol.

'“As the rate of overdose in our area continues to climb, particularly at our local shelters, and more individuals struggle with job loss and homelessness following the pandemic, this funding is needed now more than ever,” said Grace Cavallo, CMHA chief program officer. “This collaborative program will most certainly save lives.”'

Read More in The New Britain Herald: http://ow.ly/fZGi50Gflpf

According to CMHA, in Central Connecticut the overdose rate has increased 61% over the past five years, and the number of homeless individuals has nearly doubled in the past year alone. IMPACT will address both issues with a coordinated community approach.

“I believe outreach is a vital piece to ending homelessness. Relationship brings trust and trust evokes change, especially those who are homeless and suffering from opioid addiction,” said Christine Thebarge, executive director, St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol. “We are thrilled that CMHA received this grant and we have the ability to partner with this organization.”