CHR’s journey to become a more just and inclusive agency moved into its third year, focusing on the implementation of an innovative DE&I Roadmap, created by CHR’s Action for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AFEDI) Council, with support from our partners, Leading Culture Solutions (LCS). The roadmap establishes four priority areas and sets the stage for ongoing work: enhancing staff development; creating a just and inclusive culture; improving communication; and becoming a more diverse community. 



In the year ahead, the journey will continue with a range of interactive trainings for all staff and expanded roles for Employee Resource Groups, designed to provide allyship and inclusion among diverse groups. 

A new, three-year strategic plan for CHR prioritizes implementing the DE&I roadmap; supporting CHR’s workforce; enhancing organizational excellence and innovation; growing CHR’s services, especially to reach populations who experience health disparities; and building unrestricted revenue. The new plan reflects months of thoughtful input from CHR’s senior leaders and managers, as well as the Board of Directors. 



“The new strategic plan reflects our values and a realistic appreciation of CHR’s role in the post-pandemic world. Importantly, it sets inspiring yet measurable goals for our organization,” said Heather Gates, CHR’s President and CEO, noting that goals and objectives for the entire work-force will stem from the strategic plan.

A recent Pulse survey among CHR employees showed progress in comparison to the 2021 survey, administered at the beginning of the DE&I journey. For example, the new survey shows nearly 90% of CHR employees reported a sense of belonging at CHR, an increase from 84% in 2021. In addition, we saw significant growth (more than 10%) in the number of staff who reported:

• I feel empowered to affect change in my organization.



• I see diversity used to create innovation in this organization.

CHR was named one of the Top Workplaces in Connecticut among large employers for the 10th year in a row! We also continue to be the highest-ranking human services provider in our employer category, and Heather Gates, CHR’s President and CEO, won Top Leader among large employers for the 3rd time! The Top Workplaces distinction is meaningful because it is based on objective data collected through anonymous surveys in workplaces across the state.

CHR continued its long tradition of advocating for individuals and families with the most serious mental health, substance use, and housing needs in 2023. Led by Heather Gates, CHR’s President and CEO, who was elected to the 2nd Vice Chair of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Vice Chair of the CT Nonprofit Alliance, CHR participated in dozens of advocacy events designed to increase support for behavioral health services. k

CHR is collaborating with the State Department of Children and Families to open a 24/7 Subacute Crisis Stabilization Center in eastern CT to help address children’s mental health crises and expand timely access to care, particularly in light of ongoing overcrowding in CT hospital emergency departments. The new Subacute Crisis Stabilization Center is expected to open in the fall of 2024.

CHR earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) for its Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program for incarcerated men and women in six CT prisons and jails.



“We began this work to help reduce the staggering number of overdose deaths among men and women who are recently released from prison,” said CHR’s President and CEO Heather Gates, noting that this was CHR’s first NCCHC accreditation process.

CHR’s behavioral health services for people of all ages also once again received accreditation in 2023 from The Joint Commission, the gold standard for all healthcare practices, along with accreditation for CHR’s two Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs and the Behavioral Health Home.

CHR completed a series of renovations on its Putnam campus, including an expanded footprint for the Pathways MOUD Program, as well as renovations to the dining hall for the women’s residential substance programs.

CHR is part of an innovative pilot program designed to reduce opioid deaths, reduce repeated overdoses, decrease hospital readmissions, and connect individuals with long-term care through CHR. The Prehospital Suboxone program is a collaboration with Somers Fire Department Paramedics, CHR, and Trinity Health New England and is a model of care to provide the addiction suboxone at the scene of an overdose, immediately after an individual is revived by Narcan. This approach is designed to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and prevent another overdose before individuals are linked to ongoing care.

Turkessa Antrum, CHR’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief DE&I Officer, was recognized in August as the Hartford Yard Goats & Liberty Bank Community Kind-ness Hero of the Game for her work in Diversity, Equity & inclusion at CHR. Each season, the Hartford Yard Goats, in partnership with Liberty Bank, honor Community Kindness Heroes, who are individuals making a difference in the space of DE&I.