A Message from CEO Keith Hochadel | | |
Welcome to the spring edition of the CHC Newsletter. As we wrapped up the month of May, the agency celebrated Mental Health Month with recognition of the struggles many face with mental health signs and symptoms. Far too often, individuals may not seek help, may delay getting help, or are impacted by the stigma that still exists around mental health. Help is available here at CHC through walk-in assessments, medical staff including a Psychiatrist and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for in-person evaluation, and treatment services. We also took time to recognize our tremendous staff and their efforts to treat patients. Their personal mental, physical, and spiritual health is important to us, and our Blue Ribbon Committee offered supportive gestures including small plants, goody bags, and popsicles as a reminder of how much they are appreciated.
In late April, we welcomed a new team member. Randy the Robot joined our medication-assisted recovery dosing team. Through a grant from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, CHC was able to acquire the Zing Robot dispensing unit. This addition to our team allows us to more quickly and efficiently fill methadone take-home bottles, freeing up time for our outstanding nurses to spend more time with patients, reducing wait times for patients picking up doses, and contributing to our ongoing quality improvement efforts. The time saved was evident on day one, as we were able to complete what had been four hours of manual dose pouring in approximately 45 minutes.
The 91st Annual Founders Day will take place June 12 through 14, 2026, on and around the campus of the University of Akron. This celebration of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous draws thousands of people to Akron each year, the city where Alcoholics Anonymous was founded. For more information, visit www.Foundersday.org. This is a life-changing event for those in recovery and has encouraged many to seek help by witnessing the courage of others.
While we celebrate that our overdose deaths have decreased for the third straight year, it is important not to lose sight of the impact that opiate and stimulant use continue to have. Equally important, we must not lose sight of the fact that alcohol is still wreaking havoc on public health and we cannot look the other way. It sometimes appears that our focus on opiates and stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine has minimized the reality that alcohol use continues to destroy lives, tear families apart, and cause death. The treatment of alcohol use disorder is just as important today as it has ever been. CHC has services available for all substance use disorders. We recognize that alcohol is being undertreated today due to the focus on opiates. It takes courage to ask for help, but help and hope are just a phone call or a walk-in away from recovery.
Thank you for your continued support of CHC! As we move into summer, there are exciting things ahead. We continue to move toward integrating primary healthcare into our continuum of services, we will have a new Development Director to announce in July, we are making plans for recovery events in September, and we will continue to share exciting programming announcements. Recovery works for emotional, physical, and substance use challenges and CHC is here to meet those needs!
With Blessed Gratitude,
Keith Hochadel
CEO, Community Health Center (CHC) Summit County
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The Mind-Nature Connection
Nature's Positive Impact on Mental Health by Dr. Dorian Gray
Spring is a season that often has many great attributes. There are high school and college graduations, weddings, sporting events, and (sometimes for Ohioans), even better weather! Spending time exercising outdoors offers a powerful combination of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Daily movement, paired with nature exposure, can help restore balance in a fast-paced, overstimulating world. The longstanding Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” emphasizes intentionally immersing oneself in nature through mindful walks among trees, fresh air, and natural sounds. Research suggests this practice can calm the nervous system and promote overall well-being.
- Regular exercise helps reduce stress levels by lowering tension in the body and improving the brain’s ability to cope with anxiety and daily pressures.
- Physical activity encourages the release of endorphins and serotonin, chemicals associated with improved mood, emotional stability, and feelings of happiness.
- Spending time outdoors in green spaces may help reduce cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone, which can become elevated during chronic stress.
- Exposure to natural sunlight helps regulate circadian rhythms, supporting deeper, more restorative sleep and improved daytime energy.
- Forest bathing and nature walks promote mindfulness by encouraging people to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the present moment.
- Outdoor exercise can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and joints, and increase overall physical endurance.
- Nature exposure has also been linked to improved concentration, reduced mental fatigue, and greater creativity.
- Activities such as hiking, walking, cycling, or simply sitting quietly outdoors can create a sense of calm, perspective, and emotional renewal.
Together, exercise and time in nature support both physical health and mental resilience in a deeply interconnected way.
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Registration Now Open: Break the Cycle 2026 Luncheon
Join us on September 10th, 2026, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Fairlawn DoubleTree Ballroom for the 2026 Break the Cycle Luncheon.
Each year, this celebration honors the recovery journey and the people who make it possible. We'll hear from community leaders, recognize staff members whose dedication transforms lives, and listen to powerful stories of recovery shared by CHC patients.
This event is also an opportunity to deepen the impact we make in our community. Your contributions go directly toward strengthening programs, building new spaces for recovery, and serving more individuals and families across Akron, Summit County, and beyond. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to celebrating with you.
For event details and sponsorship levels, click here.
To register for the event, click the link below:
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Mental Health Awareness
by Melissa Gannon, Chief Clinical Officer
Mental Health Awareness Month serves as an important reminder that mental health and substance use challenges affect individuals, families, and communities every day. At CHC, we see firsthand that recovery is possible when people have access to compassionate care, support, and connection.
I am deeply grateful for our clinical providers and the entirety of our staff whose dedication, professionalism, and compassion make this work possible. Across every department, our mission-driven teams continue to meet individuals where they are, often during some of the most difficult days in their lives.
Recently, I’ve connected with several past and current clients who shared what CHC has meant to them — support, safety, hope, and an open door to recovery when they needed it most. It is an honor for CHC to be trusted with their care and to be part of their recovery journey.
Through counseling, peer support, case management, residential treatment, medication-assisted treatment, housing, and outreach services, CHC remains committed to providing person-centered care and supporting recovery in all its forms. This work also reminds us that seeking help is a sign of strength and that hope, healing, and recovery are possible for everyone.
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| Check out the first episode of our podcast series, CHC Connections, highlighting our Adolescent Services Program. Sarah Dhinojwala, Director of Adolescent Services, details the substance use and mental health challenges youth face today and CHC's role in meeting them. | | You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify here. Stay tuned as new episodes are released. | |
MOMS Program
No one should navigate pregnancy and early parenthood alone, and for women in recovery, having the right support in place can change everything.
The MOMS Program at CHC provides compassionate, judgment-free care for pregnant and postpartum women managing opioid or other substance use disorders. In partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, CHC brings together counseling, medical care, case management, specialized support groups, and on-site childcare—all in one place.
Women in MOMS don't just receive services; they join a community of mothers who understand the journey firsthand, building skills and connections that last well beyond the program.
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