Community Outreach

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

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.

Contact:

Jennifer Vega, Coordinator 203.630.5295

Latino Program Case Management Services

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.

Contact:

Juan Medina, Manager 203.630.5293

Friendship Club

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.

Contact:

Lynnette Sparkman-McLaurin, M.S.
Housing/Homeless Outreach/Social Rehab Coordinator
Hartford HealthCare
Rushford Center Inc.
Community Support Program
883 Paddock Ave. Meriden, CT 06450
P: 203.634.7032
F: 203.634.7013
E: Lynnette.Sparkman@hhchealth.org

Kuhn Employment Services

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.

Contact:

Megan Jackson, Program Manager 203.630.5246

Shelter Plus Care and Pilots Case Management

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.

Contact:

Homeless Outreach

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.

Contact:

SAGA Case Management

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.

Contact:

Community Based Initiative (CBI)

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.

Contact:

Mary Botti, CBI Coordinator 203.639.0189

Sharon Mattice, CBI Coordinator 203.634.3166

Camp Street Transitional Living Program (TLP)

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.

Contact:

Jim Owens, Program Coordinator 203.379.0097

Jail Diversion

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.

Contact:

Manager 203.630.5305

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