Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc. Supports Wheeler’s Walk With Me Program
Wheeler received a $16,765 grant from the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc., a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, to support its Walk With Me program in New Britain. The grant will be used to support the work of a peer support specialist and enhance and expand parent/caregiver services for LGBTQIA+ families.
From left, from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, David Obedzinski, president and chief executive officer, and Candice Tabone, program officer, Scholarships & Sponsorships; Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA, president and chief executive officer, Wheeler; Jill Larmett, board member, Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin; Heather Arduini, LMFT, director, Health & Wellness, Behavioral Health, Wheeler; and Marilyn Ramos, board member, Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin.
The grant will expand Walk With Me program services to:
- Provide parents and caregivers with guidance and strategies to navigate their child’s and family’s journey
- Identify and inform youth, parents, and caregivers of existing online and other community resources
- Connect parents and caregivers with Wheeler treatment and available community resources and opportunities, including linkages to needed health services when identified
- Encourage intra-and inter-family support networks
- Broaden community outreach and education
Walk With Me is a specialized outpatient treatment track for LGBTQIA+-identifying people of all ages who are seeking therapeutic and/or peer support to address their specific needs. The Walk With Me track is designed to create a safe and inclusive array of services for LGBTQIA+ people and their loved ones where they can be validated, explore their identities, reduce feelings of isolation, strengthen their support system, and develop skills to cope with stress and stigma. With an emphasis on treating the whole person, this track includes a dedicated team of behavioral health, medical, and peer support staff to provide robust wrap-around services that are tailored to meet the needs of each unique patient, wherever they are on their journey.
For information about Wheeler’s Walk With Me program, call 888.793.3500 or 860.793.3500, or visit WheelerHealth.org/WalkWithMe.
About the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc.
Since 1919, the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin has played a vital role in meeting local health and human service needs. A local and independent Board of Directors identifies and invests resources twice yearly in programs and initiatives benefitting the New Britain and Berlin communities. For more information, visit www.ccnbb.org.
About the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, responsibly manage permanent charitable assets, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership. For more information, visit www.cfgnb.org.
