News from Wheeler

John and Brian Pica-Sneeden started their foster care journey nearly 30 years ago. Since then, they have adopted six of their foster children – one as recently as last month!

Fiber is an underappreciated super food. Not only does fiber aid in digestion and gastrointestinal health, it is also linked with reducing the risk of developing chronic disease, assist in weight loss, and help lower blood sugar.

Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center psychiatric services are growing through additional treatment techniques offered, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), nasal spray Spravato (Esketamine) therapy for depression, and the addition of a new and highly experienced psychiatrist, Scott Berman, MD.

Wheeler’s Tiffany Hubrins, LCSW, was part of a WTNH-TV Channel 8 three-part series about suicide and resources for #Connecticut residents. Tiffany discussed our Mobile Crisis Intervention Services program and how it serves youth experiencing a mental health crisis.

Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center at 855 Lakewood Road in Waterbury offers Intensive Outpatient Services (IOP): small therapy groups for children and adolescents that meet frequently each week to address mental health issues and help participants acquire coping and communication skills.

A new Wheeler program serving youth and families in nine cities and towns in Greater Waterbury is actively and urgently recruiting foster families who can provide stable, safe, caring environments for youth for shorter durations. Funded by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the program serves children and youth ages 6 to 17 right in their own communities.

Yesterday, Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), Representative Robert Sanchez (D-25) and Wheeler leaders attended a public open house at Wheeler’s New Britain community health center at 40 Hart Street to learn more about the expansion of services and renovation of unfinished space on the third floor, made possible through $2.1 million in support from the State of Connecticut.

The Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center at 40 Hart Street, New Britain set the stage for a gathering of more than 40 people yesterday, including federal and state leaders, funders and staff, who discussed the broadening of pediatric mental health care services through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed in June of this year.

As the temperature and humidity drops, viruses may spread more easily. Having a strong immune system can keep you feeling good all winter. Learn several lifestyle factors that can help to keep your immune system strong.

Wheeler’s Allison Casinghino, foster care specialist, was a guest recently on the CT Paid Leave podcast, where she discussed our Foster Care program and how individuals and families can get involved in fostering a child or youth in need. Allison also highlighted Wheeler’s TIPS-MAPP program, which prepares prospective parents for the role of fostering.

About 100 state and local leaders, board members, donors, employees, and friends gathered at a groundbreaking ceremony for Wheeler’s planned 46,000-square foot community health center and administrative headquarters at One Hope Street in downtown Bristol on Thursday, September 29th.

Wheeler’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA, was a guest on the award-winning “For the People” radio show, where she highlighted new intensive behavioral health outpatient services for youth in Waterbury.

State Representative Liz Linehan (D-Cheshire, Southington, Wallingford), State Representative Geraldo Reyes Jr. (D-Waterbury) and others, highlight enhanced mental health outpatient services for children and adolescents in Waterbury.

Moving ahead to help anchor the downtown Bristol Centre Square development with professional jobs and accessible health care for the entire community, Wheeler Health has chosen a construction management firm for its planned 46,000-square foot community health center and administrative headquarters on Hope Street. It also has reached 80 percent of its $500,000 fundraising goal for the project, six months after its public launch, thanks to the support of dozens of community- and Wheeler-connected donors. Philanthropic investments in the project now provide for a comprehensive teaching kitchen, allowing Wheeler to expand its nutrition program into Bristol.

Wheeler provides Foster Care services to youth and their families in Waterbury and eight surrounding towns. Funded by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Wheeler’s program matches children and youth with loving foster homes and provides training, support, a stipend for families, and more.