Community Matters
June 2022
|
|
Join the Peer Recovery Movement |
No one can understand what it’s like to have a mental illness, to be hospitalized, to experience the stigma in the community as well as a person who has lived that same experience – a peer with a mental illness. United Counseling Service has recognized the value of peer support and is now hiring people who have that “lived experience” to work within the Agency to provide support to their peers. We envision the day when a Peer Recovery Movement will develop into a full Peer Recovery Program.
At the same time, the Agency is expanding the Advisory Board to include people who represent the Adult Outpatient and Substance Use Services programs. This will provide the Advisory Board a broader picture of what is needed by UCS clients. Serving on this Board is a voluntary option and requires attendance for one meeting per month.
Anyone who has lived the experience of mental illness or substance use is welcome to apply to be a Peer Support Specialist or a member of the Advisory Board.
|
|
Increasing access to better
serve the community.
|
With an extraordinary increase in the number of people reaching out for help, United Counseling Service (UCS) had to strategize and develop a process that would allow people to access our services when they need it, despite the demand. Find Access to Service and Treatment (FAST) is designed to help assess, triage, and respond efficiently and effectively to those who call or walk in. FAST uses a team approach to assist individuals and families to get what they need, when they need it.
Any person seeking assistance may call or come in and get connected to a Universal Access Coordinator who will complete initial paperwork. (Virtual options are available.) The individual will then participate in a screening and support process with the FAST team that could include a Case Manager and Same Day Access Clinician. The team will use Collaborative Network Approach methods, a best practice model, to create a culture of psychological safety and to determine the best approach in supporting the individual. FAST is currently available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. To learn more or to access services call (802) 442-5491.
|
|
Mentoring transitions at UCS |
After serving the Bennington County community for nearly four decades, United Counseling Service is no longer able to provide its in-house mentoring program, Mentoring at UCS, effective May 1. The tough decision was made primarily due to the inability to hold its primary fundraiser, the Bowl-a-thon, for the last 3 years due to the pandemic, “We simply could not continue to maintain the program through very little to no funding”, said Lorna Mattern, Executive Director. UCS is transitioning current matches and referring new inquiries to a pair of Vermont organizations that focus solely on mentoring.
Mentoring changes the lives of youth, and in many cases, the lives of mentors. Most importantly, it can change the future of the communities we serve. “We have had a longstanding partnership with both MENTOR Vermont and Mentor Connector and both organizations are supporting our current matches and will continue to work with those seeking mentoring in Southern Vermont.” says Ms. Mattern, “This will be a change for families, but we are confident that high-quality mentoring in the community will continue and even expand.” ..Read More.
|
|
2 Park Street | North Bennington, VT 05257 | 802-442-3686
Bennington | North Bennington | Manchester | Pownal
|
|
Now accepting applications for fall. |
|
United Children’s Services is currently accepting applications for infants, toddlers and preschoolers of all income levels. Our centers include North Bennington, Spring Center in Bennington, UCS Infant-Toddler Center and Pownal, in addition to partnerships at Oak Hill Children’s Center in Pownal and Forever Friends in Bennington. United Children’s Services offers 5 STARS, high-quality early childhood education, family and health services. Our preschool classrooms are public pre-k partners and we accept child care subsidy.
contact April Dunham, Admissions Specialist at (802)442-3686 ext. 451 or [email protected].
|
|
Registration now open for the
5th annual UCS Superhero 5K!
Saturday, November 5, 2022
|
|
Mental health urgent care for youth: It's our pandemic. Read article on what UCS is doing for our kids in this Bennington Banner article.
Vermont's Ideology Prevents Humane Mental Health Care: Read VT Digger Commentary by Mark Redmond of Spectrum Youth & Family Services in Burlington.
Opioid Dependency Require Compassion. That was the message of a virtual event held Thursday evening, hosted by Bennington College’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action, titled “Understanding the Opioid Crisis Through the Lens of Compassion. Read article.
|
|
Our employees are creative, thoughtful, energetic, forward-thinking and empowered. If you or someone you know wants to make a difference and help those who need it most, consider joining UCS. Visit ucsvt.org/careers to learn more.
|
|
We are here for you,
will you be here for us?
|
We have a deep commitment to building a stronger community. Our staff are driven by a common purpose to do the right thing for our clients, our community, and each other. In the past year, calls for our services grew by 134%. The demand for our services is ever-increasing while our funding is not.
Your support is crucial. Our goal is to raise $100,000. Please consider contributing any amount today. Together we can continue to build a stronger community.
Donations can be mailed to:
United Counseling Service
PO Box 588
Bennington, VT 05201
|
|
We are all in this together. We continue to follow guidance from public health officials and government agencies regarding COVID-19, so we can continue to support our community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
