Annual Appeal & Fall Newsletter

Serving your community since 1980

December 5, 2011

Your Dona ons Support: Group therapy

Learning from others who have been where I am is a huge help. Its nice to know Im not alone. ~ Billy

Dear friends, Each year your dona ons are helping your Shoreline neighbors live healthy, independent and successful lives. Over the last year your gi helped more than 1550 people work toward recovery from mental illness and addic on. Clients are ge ng be er, successfully returning to work and school, building strong rela onships with family and friends, and living independently. More than 50 million adults one out of every four of the U.S. adult popula on experience some form of mental illness on an annual basis. 23.2 million Americans are struggling with addic on. Chances are you know someone who has experienced mental illness and/or addic on- it aects me, you, and those we know and love. Thankfully mes have changed and those struggling with mental illness and addic on are no longer locked away. Every day, with the right supports and treatment, people are recovering, living produc ve lives, and contribu ng to society. Thanks to your generous support each year, Harbor Health is able to help more and more people reach their true poten al. Your gi transforms lives and communi es, and for that we are truly grateful. Please consider making a gi to Harbor Health today. Your dona on is cri cal to the recovery of the people we serve. We thank you for your con nued support. Sincerely,

Individual therapy
I know my counselor is available when ever I need her. ~ Mark

Substance abuse treatment

Ive been sober for almost a year, I have Harbor Health to thank for that. ~ George

Employment services
Harbor Health helped me nd a career that I love. Ive been working in retail for more than a year and Im striving to be the best sales associate I can be. ~Betty Ann

Social rehabilitation
Since I came here, my daughter says that OPTIONS gave me a life. Everyone there is like a member of my family. ~ Sue

Residential services
Thanks to Harbor Health, I nally have a place to call my own. I nally have a place to call home. ~ Tina

Margaret Livingston Roberta J. Cook Chair, Board of Directors President/CEO 14 Sycamore Way, Branford, CT 06405 (203) 483-2630 www.harborhealthservices.org AA/EOE

Ways to Give
Annual Fund An Annual Fund gi is the perfect choice for donors who wish to support a priority need, and current programs and services. Gi s and contribu ons to the HHSI Annual Fund help pay for mental health and substance abuse treatment for those without insurance or other nancial resources. Denis Olsen Lifeline Fund We established the Denis Olsen Lifeline Fund (DOLF) in 2005 in memory of the agencys rst execu ve director. Lifeline funds are used to help clients who are in emergency situa ons. The DOLF provides emergency shelter, clothing, food, and other essen als for HHSI clients who are homeless, facing evic on or u lity shut o, or who are in other crisis situa ons. Planned Giving Gi plans create opportuni es for both our donors and HHSI. Determining what gi is right for you is just as important as making the gi . There are many op ons from which you can choose. The correct plan for you balances what you wish to accomplish for yourself, your family, and your charitable interests in your overall estate and nancial plans. You may choose to do what literally millions of people have done: make a charitable bequest in your will. Gi s we receive through wills help ensure that we will stay strong and move forward in the future. Another simple way to ensure our future is to include us as a beneciary of your re rement plan or life insurance policy. If you would like to learn more about planned giving and how you can leave a legacy and ensure our future, please contact Emily Gangi (203) 483-2630 x227 or talk to your nancial and legal advisors. Matching Gifts, Double Your Dollars! Many companies oer matching gi programs to encourage employees or re rees to contribute to charitable organiza ons. Some provide matching funds to support employee volunteer hours. Most of these programs match contribu ons dollar for dollar, and some will even double or triple the amount of your gi ! Speak with the HR professional in your oce to see if your dona on is eligible for a match. Donate Easily & Safely Online! Visit www.harborhealthservices.org and click on the Donate Now bu on to give safely online using PayPal. You do not have to have a PayPal account to do so.

Why Give?
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. - Maria Robinson

Your dona ons are helping more than 1600 of your Shoreline friends and neighbors on their road to recovery from mental illness and addic on. Your generosity provides counseling, support, housing, employment services, social rehabilita on, crisis interven on, medica on management and so much more. Your gi gives each individual the opportunity to live a healthy, independent, full and produc ve life. Thank you for your support.

Message from the President/CEO

Our board of directors and the Birmingham Group Health Services board of directors have voted to proac vely merge the two locally based and scally healthy companies into a single and stronger organiza on. The vote came a er many months of careful review and planning; the new organiza on will be known as BHcare. The merger to form BHcare will be eec ve January 1, 2012, bringing together two strong organiza ons with essen al and complementary programs, including mental health, addic on and preven on services, and domes c violence services. The two private, non-prot corpora ons will be gradually transi oned over to a single organiza on during 2012, in order to maintain con nuity in client service delivery and minimize disrup on in opera ons. BHcare will con nue to operate from the two primary loca ons that have been occupied by Birmingham Group Health Services in Ansonia and by us in Branford. Marilyn Cormack (President/CEO of BGHS) and I will con nue to lead BHcare and the transi on team forming the new, comprehensive behavioral health and domes c violence services organiza on. Strategic outcomes of the merger include providing enhanced and expanded care programs, greater opera ng eciency and economy of scale, and be er professional growth opportuni es. The leadership team and board of directors of BHcare are commi ed to providing the best local programs and services for clients, communi es and sta members. We have a longstanding history of successful collabora ons, and this merger provides us with a fantas c opportunity to expand the reach and impact of our programs and services while increasing access and improving outcomes for our clients. As one, we will provide cri cal mental health, substance abuse, domes c violence and substance abuse preven on services for more than 13,000 individuals and families spanning a 40 town service area.

Introducing BHcare
BHcare is a regional community behavioral health and domes c violence services provider, created to be er meet community needs. BHcare was formed through a merger that united the resources of Birmingham Group Health Services and Harbor Health Services; BH stands for Birmingham and Harbor in recogni on of our proud legacy and history; BH stands for Behavioral Health in recogni on of our comprehensive and innova ve approach to providing a con nuum of essen al care, including mental health, addic on & preven on, and domes c violence services; Hope Health Recovery and the triad symbol represent our brand promise and program outcomes.

Please Join our Family Support Group

The HHSI Family Support Group is open to all family members and friends of Harbor Health clients and its aliates. Join us to learn about various mental health disorders, substance abuse issues and the resources available to you and your family. Come to share your experiences and hear from other families. Do you want to learn more about mental illness? Do you have ques ons about substance abuse? Do you wonder how you can help your loved ones? Do you want to talk to other families?

2nd Tuesday of Each Month 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Harbor Health Services, Inc. 14 Sycamore Way, Branford

Please contact Sara Ferraiuolo, LCSW at 203-483-2630 x237 if you have any ques ons. We hope to see you there!

November Celebrations & Events

HHSI sta and supporters hosted VA Family Night at the Errara Community Center in West Haven on November 1. Dave Goclowski regaled guests with live music, while HHSI sta and volunteers prepared food for more than 40 veterans and their families. More than 40 people gathered at OPTIONS to celebrate Veterans Day in November. Guests par cipated in a ag dedica on ceremony performed by the 2nd Company Governors Foot Guard. The Foot Guard prepared our old ag which was presented to Peter Cimino in recogni on of his service in the Army in Vietnam, and presented our new ag which ew over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. in honor of the veterans and service men and women in the HHSI family. A er the ag ceremony, State Representa ve David Yaccarino (87th District) and Commander Daniel Riccio, Jr., American Legion #76, presented George Schul and Emil Nauroth with war me service medals recognizing their service in the Korean and Vietnam wars. On November 16 more than 200 people came to Race Brook Country Club for our joint Annual Mee ng & Celebra on with Birmingham Group Health Services. The evening commenced with the announcement of our approved merger, and featured success stories from HHSIs own Sue Searles, and Robert Natusch from BGHS. OPTIONS celebrated Thanksgiving in a grand fashion on November 17, with more than 200 clients and their families in a endance at the First Congrega onal Church in Branford. Guests enjoyed turkey, dressing and all the trimmings thanks to the hard work and culinary skills of many dedicated volunteers.

Bowl

The Umbrella Program Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven

Benefit

OPTIONS is Tobacco-Free
On November 28, 2011, in recogni on of The Great American Smoke Out, our OPTIONS building, 13 Sycamore Way in Branford, went tobacco-free. Tobacco counselors were on site all day to help clients and sta be er understand the reasoning behind promo ng a tobacco-free environment. Par cipants enjoyed fresh fruit, giveaways (hard candies, puzzles, water bo les, mugs, and shirts), and par cipated in a rae for Subway and Stop and Shop gi cards. Clients also had a screening of the lm I Cant Breathe, a movie about a 31-year-old mother of two young girls who died from emphysema.

&

Every 9 seconds, a woman is ba ered in the United States. Last year The Umbrella and Domes c Violence Services of Greater New Haven provided emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis, counseling, advocacy and other support services to over 10,000 adults and children eeing abusive homes. Each year the demand for services con nues to increase drama cally while state and federal funding con nues to decrease. The Bowl-2-Benet is crucial to helping us maintain and expand cri cal services that assist vic ms of domes c violence and their children to escape their abusers and rebuild safe lives.

24th Annual Bowl-2-Benet Quick Facts:

Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012 Location: AMF Lanes Milford, CT Time: 5 Bowling Sessions: 9 am, 11:30 am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm.
(registration 1/2 hour prior to each session)

Calendar of Events
Bowl 2 Benet Please join us on March 10, 2012 for the 24th Annual Bowl-2-Benet domes c violence programs and services. This years event will take place at AMF lanes in Milford and strives to raise more than $90k! Were seeking teams and sponsors. Learn more at www.bghealth.org. Support Groups Meeting at HHSI HHSI Parents & Family Support Group: Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Group Room B from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. NAMI Shoreline: Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month in the Large Conference Room from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. DBSA Support Group: Meets every Monday & Tuesday in the Large Conference Room from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Contact info for support groups is available on our website: www.harborhealthservices.org

Bowler registration deadline: February 24, 2012 Teams are forming now!
For more info/to register call Debbie Soulsby at (203) 736-2601, ext. 321, or visit: bghealth.org.

The mission of Harbor Health Services, Inc, is to improve the quality of life of the people we serve by providing comprehensive, effective and efcient mental health and addiction services.
HHSI is supported by the CT Department of Mental Health and Addic on Services, the Guilford Community Fund, the Guilford Human Services Council, the Community Founda on for Greater New Haven and the Town of Branford. HHSI is accredited by the Commission on Accredita on of Rehabilita on Facili es and is licensed by the Department of Public Health. HHSI is a partner agency of CommuniCare, Inc. An Arma ve Ac on/Equal Opportunity Employer. Board of Directors Margaret Livingston, Chair Janet Poss, Vice Chair Sean Thomas, Treasurer Charlo e Ma ei, Secretary Richard Bell, Esq. David Crompton D. Cyril DSouza, MD Brock Dubin, Esq. Natalie Feingold Catriona MacAuslan John Monico

**Return Service Requested** 14 Sycamore Way Branford, CT 06405

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