LAUREL HOUSE INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
With proper care, 70 – 90% of people with serious mental illness experience significant reduction in symptoms and improved quality of life. But there are barriers to individuals seeking help for themselves or loved ones: access to and cost of treatment; stigma, discouraging individuals from identifying mental health conditions and seeking appropriate treatment; confusing treatment options; and how/where to choose providers. Laurel House provides evidence-based programs for people living with mental illness, or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, to lead fulfilling and productive lives in their local communities. The Resources to Recover family of services provides program participants with the skills and strategies needed to meet the challenges of living well in the community, while staying connected with a main source of ongoing support.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Supported Employment
Supported Employment is an evidence-based program that uses the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model (created by Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center) to help individuals with serious mental illness obtain and keep competitive jobs (not set aside for individuals with disabilities).
Supported Education
Supported Education is an evidence-based program that assists participants in obtaining post-secondary education or vocational certification through each step of the application, enrollment, and course/degree process. Supported Education counselors intervene as early as possible and work with area high schools to ensure a smooth transition to post-secondary education, with a goal of early intervention, minimizing the most debilitating effects of mental illness.
Supportive Housing and Community Support Services
Supportive Housing and Community Support Services provide safe, stable and affordable housing combined with critical support services for independent living. These services are delivered in 14 Laurel House owned apartments and at scattered site apartments in the community where Laurel House is not the landlord. In addition, Laurel House’s Community Support Services received the highest level of fidelity performance rating from the State of Connecticut. Laurel House’s apartments receives no subsidies (e.g., project based vouchers). Payment is received from DMHAS for Community Support Services.
Thinking Well (Cognitive Remediation)
Thinking Well is a therapeutic evidence-based Cognitive Remediation program that addresses long-term cognitive impairment associated with serious mental illness. It improves underlying cognitive skills linked to better functioning in the workplace, school and community. Thinking Well is a privately funded program and 1 of only 3 Cognitive Remediation providers in the state certified in the therapeutic model.
www.rtor.org
www.rtor.org, a free online service of Laurel House, helps individuals and families connect to expert help. This online service helps families and individuals connect with “Family-Endorsed” treatment and services. Resource Specialists - a Clinical Services Director and a Young Adult Resource Manager - answer, by phone or email, requests for personalized service. It also is an entirely privately funded program, available to all in need, not just DMHAS clients.
Social Rehabilitation Skill Building Workshops
Social Rehabilitation skill building workshops, provide clients the skills and strategies needed to live fulfilling lives in the community.
Where we work
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?
Laurel House helps individuals and families helps individuals and families achieve and sustain mental health and lead fulfilling lives in the community. Resources to Recover, Laurel House’s family of services, provides participants with the skills and strategies needed to address the challenges of living independently in the community. Laurel House remains committed to its core purpose of early intervention, social inclusion and recovery for those living with mental health and substance use disorders. To that end we continue to support our three primary goals to: 1) Increase access to service; 2) expand the reach of programs to local communities; and 3) enhance services for young adults.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Laurel House directs its resources to addressing and mitigating the adverse outcomes that are associated with mental illness and substance use disorders: the inability to hold a job, or return/succeed in post-secondary education; social isolation; and homelessness. There are often long delays between the first onset of symptoms and when people seek and receive treatment. Early intervention is critical, half of all cases of mental health disorders begin by age 14, 75% by age 24, and suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 15-24 (90% of whom suffer from mental illness). Nearly 100% of clients served are financially disadvantaged and 44% are people of color.
Laurel House has helped program participants: attain college and graduate degrees or vocational certifications; get and keep competitive employment; live more independently in safe, affordable supportive housing; improve thinking skills, and increase social engagement. No other organization in southwestern Connecticut provides as comprehensive an array of rehabilitative mental health programs and services. As effective as these results are, there are far more, particularly – young adults – who require help.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Laurel House is the vital link among treatment, specialized services, medical providers and the local community its integrated programs, referred to as Resources to Recover, serves. It has cultivated expert specialized resource and clinical depth, required to sustain the organization and allowed them to provide evidence-based and therapeutic programs. Laurel House works with providers who have complementary services (GED training, substance use disorder treatment and prevention) in addition to medical and mental health providers. Laurel House works with specialized organizations to supplement specific client needs that cannot be met by Laurel House services and programs. The organization also works closely with referring agencies and clinicians to coordinate rehabilitative services with clinical treatment plans.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
No other organization in southwestern CT provides as comprehensive an array of rehabilitative mental health programs and services as Laurel House. Laurel House is: a Supported Employment provider (1 of 20 organizations in the State); a Supported Education provider (1 of only 5 organizations in the State and the only location in Fairfield County); and a Cognitive Remediation (Thinking Well) certified provider (1 of only 3 agencies in the State, the only location in Fairfield County, and the only offering in a non-hospital setting). Laurel House has been able to increase the capacity in programs, broadening community outreach efforts. Laurel House employees go outbound into the local towns to provide services where clients live, work and go to school, including providing on campus service for our Supported Education program, removing barriers to access to service. Outbound service has been enhanced with the use of laptops and tablets to maintain client connections during COVID -19. Laurel House provides equipment and trains clients on its use. Laurel House also created, develops and operates www.rtor.org and provides personalized phone and email support to visitors to the site requesting personalized service when they struggle to find effective mental health care.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our 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.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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.
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.
LAUREL HOUSE INC
Board of directorsas of 03/09/2023
Mr. Kenneth DellaRocco
Linda M. Autore
Laurel House, Inc.
Michael R. Parker
Patricia R. Swasey
Diana N. Samponaro
Larry M. Rosenberg
John V. Raleigh
Julie R. Andersen
Susan J. Marks
Peter M. McGowan
Kenneth A. DellaRocco