Bridging Gaps: A Lifeline for Community Health Support
In the heart of Windham County, Vermont, a groundbreaking collaborative effort is transforming mental health care delivery. The Healthworks Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team represents an innovative model of integrated support that is quite literally saving lives by breaking down traditional barriers to mental health, medical, peer support, and case management services.
A Unique Collaborative Approach
What makes this program extraordinary is its holistic, multi-organizational approach. By bringing together specialized teams from Groundworks Collaborative, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and Brattleboro Retreat, and Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), the program creates a comprehensive support network that no single organization can provide alone.
Each partner brings a critical piece to the puzzle:
- Groundworks handles crucial case management
- Brattleboro Memorial Hospital provides medical expertise
- Brattleboro Retreat offers psychiatric support
- HCRS contributes exceptional peer support programs
The result is an “embedded team” that operates seamlessly, ensuring that no individual falls through the cracks of traditional service models.
Breaking Down Barriers
The ACT team goes beyond conventional treatment approaches. They:
- Provide support directly in emergency departments
- Accompany clients to appointments
- Build relationships with individuals who have historically been underserved
One team member, Matthew Allen, powerfully noted that he shows up because “I wish I had a team when I was growing up, especially in small towns where there are no services. And if you want to go to treatment, you better hang in and white-knuckle it out for a couple of weeks ’cause there’s nothing. I feel like half of my job is advocacy – I don’t like watching our clients get walked over and dismissed, the broken and the forgotten, pushed over. I feel like some of these folks, well for a lot of these folks, we might be the only positive influence in their life. So, it’s good to see some positivity, even in little waves, like you’ve been sober for three days – that’s a huge accomplishment.”
Critical Funding and Future Sustainability
Currently through an HRSA grant, including support from the Thompson Trust, the program’s funding is partially funded through 2026. However, continued financial support remains crucial to maintaining this lifeline for community members.
Why This Matters
The team’s passion is evident. They’re not just providing a service; they’re offering hope. As one team member described, they celebrate “little victories” such as attending a provider appointment or retaining a year of housing stability – that others might take for granted.
In a time of increasing community challenges, this program stands as a beacon of compassionate, comprehensive care. Focusing on participant goals vs provider goals, it’s more than a treatment program; it’s a testament to what’s possible when organizations unite with genuine commitment to human dignity.
Scott Robinson, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, highlights how the Healthworks ACT team takes a holistic, supportive approach to mental health, focusing on providing psychiatric care alongside addressing other critical needs like substance use and housing. Rather than aiming for a “cure,” the team works to offer consistent psychiatric support until clients can access the full range of services they desire. If you think about our client’s childhood trauma, it’s off the charts. So, providing psychiatric support in the setting of working on those other things, understanding that that’s just what it is – is my piece of the support team. It’s really cool.”
Support the Mission
To ensure that critical programming continues to support our valued community members, ongoing funding and community awareness are essential. Every contribution helps maintain this innovative approach.