Providing Hope. Delivering Care.
We made measurable progress in our 55th year by delivering equitable, accessible care and enhancing services across corners of Connecticut.
Among the most notable corners is Bristol, where we are actively preparing to open a new, 46,000-square-foot community health center and administrative headquarters. This site will consolidate the delivery of services and bring hundreds of jobs to the downtown area. Your generosity and support have helped to make our vision an exciting reality.
This past year, we also focused on meeting the mental health needs of children and teens. We launched intensive outpatient services for youth and a new foster care program in Waterbury. We extended mobile crisis intervention services to respond to the needs of youth and families 24/7. We opened a new school-based health center in New Britain, and we served students in every public school in Bristol.
In other areas, we also made strides. We launched innovative treatment for adults with serious depression, and with support from local community foundations, enhanced our delivery of inclusive, integrated primary and behavioral health care services for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their families.
Our commitment to care shows in every aspect of our work. Patient growth has increased by more than 12 percent, and more than $12 millon in federal, state, and private foundation grants are supporting our efforts to launch, continue, or expand services across every part of our continuum.
All of this would not be possible without your support. Because of you, we're tackling challenges. Because of you, we’re offering hope. Because of you, we’re changing lives and futures.
Thank you for all you do for Wheeler and for our communities.
With gratitude,
Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mary C. Rodier, CPA
Chair, Board of Trustees, FY23
Charles J. Herbert, CFP
Interim Chair, Board of Trustees, FY23
MISSION AND VISION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHAMPIONS OF PROGRESS
YEAR IN REVIEW
IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY
OUTCOMES
Champions of Progress
Donor support is essential to our ability to meet the dynamic needs of individuals, families, and communities. We are so grateful to the many donors who helped us meet challenges and deliver care this past year.
443 Technologies
Lois Aaron
Access Health CT Small Business
Marian Acker
Allaire Elder Law
Thomas Barnes, including through the Main Street Community Foundation
Barnes Group Foundation
Melissa Barton and Alexander Hoerman
Christopher Beausoleil
Steven and Meredith Biscoglio
Bradley, Foster & Sargent Inc.
Lori Ann and David Brantner Fund
Brown & Brown Insurance
Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy
Child Abuse Prevention Foundation of Farmington
Connecticut Chapter, CPCU
Connecticut Community Foundation
Mary R. Connolly and Stephen Allaire
Estate of Lorraine Corsini
Elaine and Richard Couture
Downes Construction Company
Patricia Duclos-Miller
Rebecca Eleck-Bruce, MD
Elite Mechanical Contractors
Eversource Energy Foundation
Figure Eight Properties
Genoa Healthcare
GetzBalich
Gibbs
Gnazzo Food Center
GO Agency
Gawdys Grullon
Charles and Karen Herbert
Daniel Herens
Mary and Peter Hess
Lee Hoffman, MD
Holcomb Farm
Thomas Hook
Kaoud Rugs
Dennis and Mary Keenan, including through the Main Street Community Foundation
Karl Krapek, Sr.
Steven and Patti LeFebvre
Joanne Leon, PhD, LCSW
Liberty Bank
Linde
Tina Loarte-Rodriguez
M&T Bank
M&T Charitable Foundation
Main Street Community Foundation, for their ongoing support of Wheeler's mission, as well as the Walk With Me service track and the Southington Health Outreach Project, including through the Bradley H. and Leila U. Barnes Memorial Trust.
Manafort Family Foundation
W.B. Mason
McPhee Electric
Middlesex United Way
Mitchell Auto Group
Jacqueline and David Mott
Mott Corporation
Jim and Janet Moylan
Mutual of America
Kimberly Nelson, LCSW
Richard Neville
Brian O’Donnell
OneDigital Health and Benefits
OutFront Media
Prime Buchholz, LLC
Quest Diagnostics
Todd Raymond
Raytheon Technologies
Pierre and Karen Richard
Mary and Louis Rodier
RYAN Business Systems, Inc.
Nicolangelo Scibelli, LCSW
Sky Bight Foundation
John Sponauer
Myron and Desiree Stewart
Judith A. Stonger
Athena Szczesniak
Tabacco & Son Builders
TD Banknorth
Tecton Architects, P.C.
Jane and Dick Tedder
Ann E. Thomas and Michael B. Bonzagni
Thomaston Savings Bank
Tollman Spring Company, Inc.
William and Laurie Torres
Rachel and Richard Tressy
Triem Industries Stillwater Fasteners
Sabrina Trocchi, Ph.D., MPA
Michael Twist, MD
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
United Way of West Central Connecticut
Julie and Larry Vigil
Francis and Erin Vincent
Voya Financial and its employees
Susan and Kenneth Walkama
Whittlesey
Dennis and Tamara Williams
Hyekyung Yang, PhD
Yarde Metals
Year In Review
A five-year, $2-million federal grant to Wheeler will help individuals with behavioral health and substance use disorders returning to their communities in central Connecticut after incarceration. The program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Wheeler is the only award recipient in New England.
A steel beam signing ceremony with Downes Construction Company, Wheeler trustees past and present, Bristol Family Health & Wellness Center and Wheeler leadership, donors, and more, set the stage for our new community health center at One Hope Street.
A two-year, $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) will help Wheeler improve developmental outcomes for children ages birth through five through increased screenings and follow-up care. Services are offered through our five community health centers in Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, and Waterbury.
Expanding Services, Meeting Need
Over the past year, Wheeler broadened services to meet the needs of individuals and communities across Connecticut. The organization:
Fully operationalized and delivered an adolescent/child intensive outpatient (IOP) behavioral health program in Waterbury with funding from comprehensive child mental health legislation through which Wheeler received $650,000.
Established two new school-based behavioral health programs, in Bristol and New Britain. Wheeler is now in 14 public schools in Bristol and at DiLoreto Elementary and Middle School in New Britain.
Created new strategies for improving patient access through dynamic real-time scheduling.
Utilized a new Mobile Family Health & Wellness Center to provide community outreach and offer mobile primary care services in New Britain.
Launched Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Spravato® treatment for patients with serious, treatment-resistant depression.
Launched new group therapy at Wheeler’s Hartford Family Health & Wellness to help females ages 16-22 with body dysmorphia and other self-image issues.
Securing Support, Enhancing Care
During FY 23, Wheeler:
Expanded adolescent/child mobile crisis intervention services (MCIS) to include 24/7 mobile community response, with support from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Fully transitioned to a new Foster Care model with support from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Received $980,000 in federal funding for construction of Wheeler’s new health center and administrative headquarters in Centre Square, Bristol.
Enhanced our Walk With Me program with grants from local community foundations. Funding supports the work of a peer support specialist and enhancement of parent/caregiver services for LGBTQIA+ families:
- The Main Street Community Foundation provides support in Plainville through the Bristol Brass Foundation General Grant Fund, as well as the Bristol Savings Bank Fund and Calvanese Foundation Green and White Fund for Behavioral Health.
- The Connecticut Community Foundation’s Pride in the Hills Fund awarded a grant in Waterbury.
- The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain supports the program in New Britain.
Renovated unfinished space in New Britain with $2.1 million in funding from the State of Connecticut.
Awarded over $12 million in federal, state, and private foundation grants to continue and/or further expand services in the areas of foster care, community justice, behavioral health, prevention/early intervention, and more.
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Impact of Philanthropy
Wheeler has exceeded its original four-year fundraising campaign goal for its new Bristol health center and administrative headquarters two years ahead of schedule and extended its goal to celebrate and honor its 55th anniversary. At the time of publication, the organization is currently at 99 percent of its $555,000 fundraising goal.
Thanks to increased support, Wheeler's 38th Annual Golf Classic, presented by Mutual of America Financial Group, netted approximately $78,000, a record-breaking amount, to support our new Bristol community health center at One Hope Street.
Four organizations and several individuals were recognized by Wheeler in December 2022 [Read about the December 2023 event here], for outstanding support of its mission at the organization’s 12th Annual Hands & Hearts event, including:
- Access Health CT
- Barnes Group Foundation
- Connecticut State Management Advisory Council
- ESPN
- Jim and Janet Moylan
- Wheeler's Campaign for Bristol donors - group recognition, including:
- Tom Barnes and the Barnes Group Foundation
- The Estate of Cap Adams, a longtime friend of Wheeler, designated $50,000 for the campaign.
- The Brantner and Corsini Families
- The Wheeler Board of Trustees
- Wheeler’s Senior and Executive Leadership Teams
- All past trustees
- Voya staff
Through the support of private donors and our community partners, Wheeler provided 325 Thanksgiving meals for patients in need at our Family Health & Wellness Centers in Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, and Waterbury in November 2022 and 2023. Gnazzo's Food Center in Plainville delivered dry grocery items for the patient holiday bags, which were supplemented by a gift card to a local grocery store to buy perishable items of their choosing, such as a turkey.
Outcomes
62,917
total number of patients with whom Wheeler interacted or provided direct care.
The data point reflects the following:
31,542
total number of patients with whom Wheeler interacted through direct care, telephone, and outreach activities.
31,375
inquiries to Wheeler’s Access Line pertaining to statewide substance use, treatment, and support resources.
133,117
Individuals impacted by Connecticut Clearinghouse services, including dissemination of prevention, wellness, mental health promotions, substance use treatment and recovery materials, trainings, conferences, and forums; statewide prevention and awareness campaigns and more.
89%
Parents in Wheeler’s Intensive Family Preservation program, Region 4 (Hartford and Manchester) reported positive stability or improvement of family functioning and resiliency.
3,622
Wheeler is the largest provider of Mobile Crisis Intervention Services in the state, serving youth in crisis and providing 3,622 episodes of care. Service availability expanded to 24/7 service on January 1, 2023.
641
Individuals served by Wheeler’s Community Support for Families programs in CFS Region 6 (New Britain and Meriden) and Region 4 (Hartford and Manchester).
1,029
Referrals to Wheeler’s Alternative in the Community (AIC) services across four locations.
63%
Wheeler AIC program clients referred for employment assistance obtained a job or enrolled in school/vocational program, surpassing the new statewide benchmark of 62%.
3,654
The number of referrals managed by the Family Violence Education Program, which provides clients with the opportunity to build positive family relational skills and reduce their involvement in the criminal justice system.
1,259
Explore program referrals, an increase of 9 percent over FY22. Explore helps participants develop healthier, more constructive and positive familial and interpersonal skills.
819
Nutrition visits, follow ups, instructional sessions, and patient interactions that happened through Wheeler’s Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, and Waterbury community health centers.
29,726
Substance abuse, prevention, and mental health materials were distributed through Change the Script, a statewide opioid prevention campaign managed by Wheeler’s Connecticut Clearinghouse and funded by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
52,000
Pounds of healthy produce provided to Wheeler through an innovative partnership with Holcomb Farm. This produce is distributed for free on a seasonal basis to Family Health & Wellness Center patients through the Family to Family program.
69%
Increase in children/adolescents served through Wheeler’s behavioral health services at the Waterbury Family Health & Wellness Center between FY 2022 and FY 2023.
Figures unaudited.