News from Wheeler

Very often, knowing what a child needs to thrive in school or the community is obvious, but sometimes this “knowing” is harder to discern. One thing is certain: Understanding a child’s development and learning style is crucial to providing a strong foundation for tools, interventions, and support.

Wheeler is a national 2025 Top Workplaces health care industry winner for the second year in a row.

Here’s a brief message from Allison Casinghino, Wheeler’s senior foster care recruiter, about how individuals and families can help a child or youth through foster care.

Wheeler Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Accreditation in numerous programs by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.

Wheeler’s commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed care is on full display in two vital programs for women navigating substance use recovery: REACH (Recovery, Engagement, Access, Coaching, and Healing) and PROUD (Parents Recovering from Opioid Use Disorder). While distinct in structure and scope, both programs offer voluntary, compassionate support tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

The road to substance use recovery can be challenging, especially for parents. But according to Susan Schneider, LCSW, director, Wheeler Community-Based Family Services, SAFE-Family Recovery (SAFE-FR) provides a place where individuals have a voice in their path to recovery.

Citing the sometimes-difficult financial balance for parents in frontline health care and teaching careers, for the second year in a row and with a larger gift, an anonymous donor is again supporting childcare and summer camp costs for Wheeler Health employees.

Intensive Family Preservation supports families involved with DCF due to concerns of abuse and neglect. The program is designed to maintain children safely in the home by helping parents develop skills to manage their lives, improve their parenting and connect to needed community resources.

Supportive Housing for Families provides families with support services, and access to safe, quality, affordable housing. The mission of SHF is to help DCF families thrive by finding homes in safe neighborhoods, learning skills to manage their housing independently, in order to provide their children with a stable home environment.

Care Coordination is an in-home, community-based program that collaborates with families of children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional challenges by identifying family strengths and arranging appropriate supports and services to maintain children or adolescents in the community.

A Community Baby Shower for expectant families and new parents living in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stamford, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, and surrounding areas will take place on May 30 from 3 to 6 pm at the Triangle Community Center (CT Pride Center), 650 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

Wheeler’s Emily Kahnke, LMFT, associate director, was a guest yesterday on Connoisseur Media’s “For the People” radio program, where she highlighted our Mobile Crisis Intervention Services (MCIS) program and how we’re serving youth and families experiencing a crisis.

A Community Baby Shower for expectant families and new parents living in Hamden, New Haven, Middletown, Meriden, Old Saybrook, and surrounding areas will take place on May 15 from 3 to 6 pm at the Town of Hamden Keefe Community Center, 11 Pine Street, Hamden, Connecticut (parking available at 18 George Street).

In May, members of Wheeler's senior leadership team will enjoy cold buckets of water over their head to support mental health awareness, and raise funds for Wheeler.

Wheeler Health and the City of Bristol invite all students in Bristol to celebrate this amazing community by creating and sharing original artwork featuring their favorite places in Bristol! Submission deadline is May 30, 2025.