Community Support Services
Community Support Services at Rushford are designed to assist adults with mental illness and/or addiction disorders to achieve independence and improve their ability to live in the community. The decision to receive community support services is voluntary, goal-driven and participantdirected. Some services listed require eligibility through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) per the following guidelines:
- Must be eighteen years or older
- Must be a resident of Meriden or Wallingford
- Must meet the DMHAS definition of severe and prolonged mental illness
Community Support Program (CSP) Case Management Services
Jennifer Vega, Coordinator 203.630.5295
- Promotes successful rehabilitation and recovery of clients.
- Links clients to community resources to support productive, independent living.
- Assists clients with activities of daily living, finances, symptom management, etc.
Latino Program Case Management Services
Juan Medina, Manager 203.630.5293
- Educating Latino clients about available resources in the community to meet their mental health and healthcare needs.
- Assisting clients with gaining access to resources in a safe and culturally friendly environment.
- Working collaboratively with family members and other social support.
- Program services are consistent with Community Support Program (CSP).
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Friendship Club
Lorraine Rovero, Manager 203.238.6821
- Social club that provides a safe environment to develop relationships.
- Enhances social skills through peer interactions and groups for men and women.
- Activities both on campus (dances, games, yoga) and off campus (Rock Cats games, museums, beach).
- Clients are referred by clinical providers or case managers.
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Kuhn Employment Services
Megan Jackson, Program Manager 203.630.5246
- The goal of the program is to place individuals in competitive jobs that meet their interests and needs within their own community.
- Program participants receive individualized services that may include, but are not limited to: job matching and vocational planning, job-seeking skills training, job development, job counseling, time-limited job coaching and placement follow up support.
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Shelter Plus Care and Pilots Case Management
Paula Smith, Housing Coordinator 203.630.5369
- A HUD-funded rental assistance program providing housing and supportive services to individuals who are homeless and disabled.
- To be eligible, individuals must have one year or longer of homelessness or 3 incidents of homelessness lasting 14 days or longer, as well as have a chronic mental illness, drug addiction, or HIV positive status.
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Homeless Outreach
Deanna Bencivengo, Coordinator 203.630.5219
- Provides a variety of support services, such as assessing for appropriate permanent stable housing, referrals for treatment, benefit and entitlement applications, obtaining ID, connecting/reconnecting with natural support.
- Case Managers assist clients to find stable housing and other appropriate resources in the community.
- Assists individuals through the transition from homelessness to permanent stable housing.
- Referrals are submitted by inpatient/outpatient clinical providers, through local homeless shelters, and other community agencies.
SAGA Case Management
Deanna Bencivengo, Coordinator 203.630.5219
- Provides case management services to residents of Meriden/Wallingford area.
- Assists with obtaining and maintaining benefits and entitlements with the Department of Social Services (DSS).
- Clients must not be actively receiving other case management services.
- SAGA case manager available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8AM - 3PM.
Community Based Initiative (CBI)
Mary Botti, CBI Coordinator 203.639.0189
Sharon Mattice, CBI Coordinator 203.634.3166
- Supportive housing program that provides 24-hour on-site staffing.
- Each reisdent must be responsible to hold their own apartment lease.
- Case Managers assist clients with budgeting, activities of daily living, monitoring of medications and improvement of social skills.
- Links clients to appropriate community support services.
- Referrals are submitted by community providers.
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Camp Street Transitional Living Program (TLP)
Jim Owens, Program Coordinator 203.379.0097
- Six-bed facility in Meriden for adult males.
- Facilitates the transition from Connecticut Valley Hospital back into the community.
- Assists residents in learning life skills necessary to be successful and independent.
- Structured program helping to break the cycle of high utilization of services such as incarcerations and hospitalizations.
- Average length of stay is 6 - 9 months.
- Must meet DMHAS guidelines.
Jail Diversion
Manager 203.630.5305
- Court-based services to persons with psychiatric and co-occurring (mental illness and substance) disorders who are arrested on minor offense.
- Provides access to appropriate treatment services through on-site assessment, referrals, and linkage to community mental health services.
- Assists in the maintenance of individuals in community treatment services.
- Informs court personnel of treatment compliance.
- Facilitates access to mental health services through contacts within the Department of Correction when an individual is incarcerated.
For any additional information or to submit referrals please contact:
Kerry Carli, LCSW
Intake Coordinator/Liaison
883 Paddock Avenue
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: 203.630.5264
Fax: 203.634.7013