Mission: The mission statement of Community Mental Health Affiliates is ''Partners in Recovery'', and we work intensively with our clients to achieve their individual goals for recovery.
Target demographics: those struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.
Direct beneficiaries per year: 6000 adults, children and families
Programs: Services for adults, children, and families. CMHA is dedicated to promoting and supporting the capacity of persons of all ages who experience mental health problems to live, learn, work in the community, to enjoy a stable and safe living environment, to develop and realize self potential, and to maintain a satisfactory state of mental well being. The organization provides mental health services for children, adolescents and their families at 11 locations in 3 towns throughout central and northwestern Connecticut.
Before I was a patient at CMHA New Britain program I had been to 43 long term drug rehabs, 8 psychiatric hospitals and prison. When I got hooked on Crack Cocaine I lost my $75,000 a year marketing job in Manhattan. I burnt my $260,000 home in Massapequa Long Island to the ground when I threw my crack ashtray away. I went to cop more drugs in Brooklyn and while I was away my house was burning. I spent $100,000 in one year on crack. I was homeless and broke. I was arrested and inprisoned for armed robberypossession of narcotics and stealing boats. I was sent to Niantic Ct women's prison. When I finally was released in 1996 I was sent to CMHA Transitional living center. I had relapses while in first couple years of program. The support and extremely caring therapist (Victor Incerti) visited me in hospital and told me he didn't want me to die. My parents were drunks so not much support there. From that day forward I have been clean and sober. I have a successful dog grooming, training and boarding business. I still have a very debilatating depression issue. Dr. Chaplin has been saving my life for 19 years. She is always available to me when I get suicidal. My Yorkie was killed by a car and Victor, Linda Fillipetti, and Dr Chaplin kept me from spiraling down the black hole of depression. My parents both died in 2015 and I am so depressed, lost and lonely now. I probably would be dead or gone to Crystal Meth to drown my sorrow. Dr. Chaplin helps me cope with my desperation . CMHA is a divine intervention for me. I have been in program since 1996 and I never miss an appointment because I love the staff.
CMHA is an organization that makes you feel like YOU are making a difference to them, so that THEY can make a difference in their clients' lives. Isn't that what volunteering is all about?
