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Staff Spotlight: Kirk Dennison, School-Based Clinician
Kirk Dennison, School-Based Clinician at United Counseling Service (UCS), provides mental health counseling for students at The Dorset School, a Kindergarten through eighth grade school serving 170 students in Dorset, VT. His path to becoming a clinician began after a 20-year military career and a period of uncertainty, and he now feels that he is exactly where he is meant to be—supporting students, staff and the wider Dorset community.
Read full article.
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Project Aware: Collaborating to build a healthier future for our students
United Counseling Service (UCS) is proud to partner with the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU) on Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education). Project AWARE is a national initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with a goal of increasing awareness of mental health challenges among school-aged youth, train staff and community members to identify early signs of concern and connect families with support and resources before problems become crises.
Pictured: Stephanie Lonergan, UCS Mental Health Consultant, Project AWARE
Read full article
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Measuring Impact
We regularly survey our clients to ensure we're truly making a difference in their lives. Their feedback helps guide our work and keeps us accountable to the people we serve. We believe deeply in what we do - supporting individuals, strengthening connections, and helping build a healthier, more resilient community for everyone.
94% of clients surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that they received the services needed.*
"Thank you for affording me the opportunity to achieve my goals and support throughout my daily struggles." *
*UCS Client Survey July - December 2025
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Thanking Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alya Reeve for 11 years serving UCS
We honored former Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alya Reeve with a southwestern themed gathering as she prepared to depart UCS for retirement after 11 years with our agency. Thank you, Dr. Reeve, for your tireless commitment to quality and for supporting staff every day to ensure our clients receive the care they need. You will be missed greatly and we wish you the very best in your retirement!
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Celebrating Vic's 25th
We recently celebrated Victor Martini, who reached his 25-year milestone as a clinician at United Counseling Service! Staff presented Victor with a few tokens of gratitude for his dedication to clients and colleagues throughout the years, including stories of how he has touched many lives in countless positive ways. As Victor says, “ We need to do something every day that makes a difference.” He is a true example of that statement and we are incredibly grateful that he is part of our team at UCS. Happy 25th, Victor!
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UCS featured in VT Digger:
UCS Integrated Crisis Stabilization Services (ICSS) supports individuals experiencing substance use and mental health crises
A three-bed Integrated Crisis Stabilization Services (ICSS) Program aims to meet essential community needs in Bennington County. ICSS is offered by UCS, a nonprofit community-based agency, and part of the Vermont Care Partners (VCP) network, and is based at the Battelle House in Bennington, VT. ICSS reduces barriers to treatment by combining a Public Inebriate Program (PIP) with mental health crisis stabilization providing short-term support for adults experiencing mental health and/or substance use crises.
Pictured: Members of the UCS Crisis Service team - (left to right) Chief Medical Officer Rachel Burnham, Crisis Intervention Specialist Rob Condolora, Staff Nurse Vikki Potter
Read full article.
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Green Mountain Self-Advocates visits UCS U See Us Self-Advocates
Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA) attended UCS Developmental Services' U See Us Self-Advocates group meeting on March 11 at the Atwood Center. U See US Self-Advocates is a client self-advocacy group that meets twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesday from 4-5pm at the Atwood Center.
GMSA is a disability rights organization with over 20 local self-advocacy groups across Vermont that provides tools and opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to learn how to advocate for themselves and fulfill their life goals.
Many UCS clients look forward to attending GMSA's annual Voices and Choices conference in Burlington, VT on May 11-12, 2026.
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UCS attends Disability Advocacy Day in Montpelier
UCS CEO Lorna Mattern, Director of Developmental Services Bonnie Jamieson, Senior Manager of Community Supports and Employment Support Veronica Loya-Gomez, and two clients of Developmental Services had a great time in snowy Montpelier while participating in Disability Advocacy Day. This annual event is hosted by the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights. They explored the statehouse, met with a few legislators, including Representative Michael Nigro, as well as individuals and families from other agencies, and attended a press conference.
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Upcoming Head Start/Early Head Start open enrollment events in Bennington and North Bennington
Don't wait - enroll today. Spaces in Head Start, Early Head Start, childcare and pre-k fill quickly. Head Start provides high-quality early education for children ages six weeks to five years and is open to all families.
Join us at one of our upcoming enrollment events on April 22 or May 7. To determine eligibility, please bring one of the following: a 3Squares/VT SNAP card, recent paystubs or a tax return.
For more information or to start enrollment process, contact April Dunham at adunham@ucsvt.org.
Find upcoming open enrollment events at ucsvt.org/events.
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Upcoming Mental Health First Aid trainings
Learn how to support your friends, family, and neighbors with Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). MHFA teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them with appropriate support.
Upcoming training dates:
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May 6 (9am-4pm, Spring Center, Bennington)
Find all events at ucsvt.org/events.
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NAMI Family Voices - hosted by UCS
Join UCS on May 6 and May 19 for stories told in-person by representatives from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) VT about supporting family members living with mental health conditions.
May 6, 3:30-5pm, 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT
May 19, 1:30-3pm, Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT
RSVP here to attend.
From NAMI VT: Family Voices is an interactive presentation that challenges stereotypes and builds empathy by considering the impact mental health conditions have not just on the individual living with the illness, but also on their loved ones.
Two trained presenters with lived experience as family members of individuals living with a mental health condition talk openly about their experiences. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions to learn more about how the presenters and their loved ones have coped with the conditions affecting their families and how to live well in spite of them.
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UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash registration opens May 1!
Join us for our 9th annual UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash on Saturday, November 7, 2026! This year’s UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash benefits Chickens for Change (C4C), a program of UCS that provides an opportunity for elementary through high school-age youth to raise, care for, and sell chickens and eggs in order to promote business, social, and life skills.
Please visit our event page for more details and online registration.
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We're hiring! Visit ucsvt.org/careers for our full list of openings.
Featured jobs:
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We need your help to serve our community.
With our staff of nearly 350 across 17 locations in Bennington County, UCS provides services including early childhood and family support programs, outpatient mental health and crisis services, developmental services, and more.
Read about our impact here and support our efforts if you feel inclined by visiting ucsvt.org/give.
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Stay connected - Follow us on social media!
Join our community on social media on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to see photos and updates from our events and programs.
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Find free care products locally on the Care Map:
View the Take Care Project's Care Map to find UCS and other participating organizations in the Bennington area. To learn more about the Take Care Project and upcoming packing parties, please visit actbennington.org.
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