Mental Health Connecticut, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
For more than 100 years, MHC has worked to improve mental health services, promote recovery for people with mental health conditions, educate the community about the importance of mental wellness, and combat discrimination resulting from a mental health diagnosis.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) offers Mental Health First Aid to Connecticut’s Litchfield County through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) “Now is the Time” Project AWARE Community Grant (NITT-AWARE-C) and statewide when possible. Mental Health Connecticut is offering Mental Health First Aid to Litchfield County at no cost. Fees to hosts or attendees may be incurred for classes held outside of Litchfield County. Mental Health First Aid is included on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Write On!
Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) is helping emerging writers find their voice and write their truth as mental health advocates. In the spring of 2017, MHC taught young adult writers ages 18-28 who are diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder and who want to become powerful storytellers and self-advocates. Write On! instructor Janet Reynolds is a seasoned publisher and English teacher who is currently writing a memoir about her family’s journey with schizophrenia. Visit www.mhconn.org/writeon for up to date information.
Mental Health Waiver
Through the waiver program, the
State of Connecticut offers an array
of home and community-based
services. These services assist
Medicaid eligible adults with serious
mental health conditions with living
successfully in the community and
avoiding institutional care.
Mental Health Concierge
Mental Health Connecticut
(MHC) recognizes the limitations
that people with private health
insurance may face when trying
to access timely and appropriate
mental health services. To this end,
MHC has created Mental Health
Concierge. This unique service offers
in-home, one-on-one, communitybased
rehabilitative services that
support and promote recovery and
complement services covered by
private insurance.
Offered throughout Connecticut,
Mental Health Concierge provides
a breadth of services and supports
for individuals with mental health
conditions.
Residential Services
Understanding that having a place to call home is vital to seeking and maintaining behavioral health treatment, MHC offers adults with mental health conditions a place to call home in the community through scattered-site supported housing, transitional housing and supervised apartments throughout Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury and West Hartford. In addition to serving adults with mental health conditions, MHC offers population-specific residential services for young adults in Torrington and supervised apartments for people with mental health conditions who are deaf in West Hartford.
Supported Education Program
Mental Health Connecticut (MHC)
understands the value of education
as it relates to fulfilling personal
goals, gaining future competitive
employment, and engaging in
meaningful activities that promote life
purpose. To this end, MHC offers
supported education services through
its Lifelong Learning Supported
Education (LLSE) program, which are
designed to provide the supports that
people with mental health conditions
may need to earn their high school
diplomas, GEDs, certificates of
learning, and college degrees.
Supported Employment program
Mental Health Connecticut (MHC)
understands that employment gives
people purpose. Through supported
employment, MHC connects
employers and people with mental
health conditions to engage them
in opportunities to gain competitive
employment, work alongside people
with and without disabilities, and
experience the social, financial, and
intellectual benefits of employment.
Community Engagement Services
MHC’s Independence Center (IC) promotes value, respect and meaningful relationships, which are integral to engaging in the community. The IC offers an environment for individuals with mental health conditions to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve their goals and realize recovery. Health and wellness play an integral role in all aspects of the IC, and daily workshops provide members with supports that can positively impact their recovery journey, showcase individual purpose.
Deaf Rec
MHC also offers Deaf Rec, a social club that brings people who are deaf from all walks of life together to engage in community-based, recreational activities, including visiting local museums, going bowling, eating at restaurants, and attending local fairs and festivals. Deaf Rec is designed to engage the Deaf community in mainstream activities that promote health, wellness and connection to their communities.
Where we work
Awards
Innovation in Programming Award 2021
Mental Health America
Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health - Platinum Level 2021
Mental Health America
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Through advocacy, education, and service, MHC empowers people to promote mental wellness, instigate meaningful systems change, and engage in mental health recovery.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Advocacy
MHC strives to expand the breadth of and access to community-based services at the federal and state levels enabling people with mental health conditions to engage with the types of services they need when they need them. MHC also advocates on behalf of people with mental health conditions to ensure they are provided the same rights as people without mental health conditions and that they are not discriminated against as a result of their mental health diagnosis.
Education
MHC is committed to educating people about mental health and wellness through community forums, workshops, materials and events. MHC believes our communities will attain whole health through information, tools and skill-building that promote understanding, acceptance, and hope.
Service
MHC serves nearly 1,000 people each day through residential services, case management, supported and transitional employment, supported education, psychosocial rehabilitation, and peer support services. Furthermore, MHC offers services and supports for adults who are deaf and have a mental condition as well as transition-age youth. MHC offers programs and services in Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, and West Hartford.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
MHC’s 200+ employees serve approximately 1,000 individuals each day. We provide residential and support services in Stamford, Bridgeport, Danbury, Waterbury, Torrington, and West Hartford while our in-home support and community education programs are statewide. MHC leads homeless outreach, diversion, and rapid rehousing efforts in Waterbury and the Northwest corner, and we operate one of the only housing programs in the U.S. for individuals who are deaf and have a mental health condition.
Our advocacy efforts include working with federal, state, and local governments to protect civil rights and increase access to community-based care.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
MHC is the result of the vision of Clifford W. Beers. In the early 1900s, Beers was experiencing symptoms of what today may be diagnosed as Bipolar Disorder. After attempting to commit suicide, Beers was subjected to ineffective treatments and cruel conditions in Connecticut’s mental health institutions during three years of hospitalizations. Upon achieving recovery, Beers vowed to make a difference in the mental health system and set out on the task of reform. His autobiography, "A Mind That Found Itself," chronicled the harsh and unscientific treatments he had endured and his journey back to health.
On page one, Beers writes: “I am not telling the story of my life just to write a book. I tell it because it seems my plain duty to do so. A narrow escape from death and a seemingly miraculous return to health after an apparently fatal illness are enough to make a man ask himself: for what purpose was my life spared? That question I have asked myself, and this book is, in part, an answer.” At his death in 1943, his book had been reprinted 25 times and was read around the world.
In conjunction with the first publication of his book in 1908, Beers launched the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene from his home in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization is now Mental Health Connecticut and is based in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Following in the footsteps of our founder, Clifford W. Beers, we continue to move toward a future where individuals with mental health conditions are treated fairly and have the opportunity to lead a rewarding life on their terms. With a person-centered approach to care, MHC partners with individuals, their families, and the surrounding communities to create environments that support long-term health and wellness.
We are committed to delivering the highest quality services to our program participants while partnering with other agencies, local business, advocates, legislators, and other thought leaders across the state for the betterment of our communities and a shared wellbeing for all.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Mental Health Connecticut, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 07/11/2022
Mr. Scott Brabant
Edward Peltier
Lawrence Haber
Hartford Hospital, Institute of Living
Ursula Sowinski
American Red Cross
Robert Michalik
CT Dept. of Economic Community Development
Scott Boulton
Melanie Kucko
Jassette Henry
Laurie Molinari
Sean Smedley
Claude Campbell
Mary Laucks
Graziela Reis
Marlene Thomas
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/09/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.