Dear friends;

Folks in despair often utter this phrase; “well, I did it to myself.” Rather than this being a motivating statement where the person finds a way toward reconciliation and healing, they remain stuck in a painful spiral of shame and self-condemnation. They reproach themselves for being unable to climb out of a deep pit of despair. Bouts of anger, justification, and externalizing blame can be part of this cycle as well. Research shows that what may feel counterintuitive is in fact the true remedy and the way up and out of those dark places.

I had the honor of being part of a national panel of providers who briefed members of Congress about an innovative initiative Connecticut (where here it is called CLEAR; Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery) and several other states have implemented. The program links behavioral health professionals with law enforcement to connect with folks who have survived an overdose or are at risk of one. Convened by our healthcare data partners at Cordata, our group was charged with presenting the outcomes of our respective states’ initiatives. Data from Ohio, where the Quick Response Teams (the term used in Ohio for a similar model) have been in place for ten years, demonstrates some remarkable results. With each interaction, people improve. By that I mean that they are healthier, visit the emergency department fewer times, rates of crime reduce, and they are safer and less likely to die of an overdose. There is a quantifiable, significant cost savings to communities as well. Emergency services, arrests, incarceration and emergency room visits are all expensive interactions. With this program, there are savings of more than $40,000 per individual—costs usually borne by taxpayers, now saved while lives are improved and communities restored.

There is a notable set of data points in this research; for each sequential interaction, the identified person does better.  We can see that with each visit, the benefits accumulate. On average, a person in crisis who interacts with a compassionate, skilled outreach worker four or more times builds a level of trust and is more likely to engage in the services offered. In other words, compassionate, human interaction is the most effective pathway out of that dark place of despair—to health, wellness, safety, and recovery.

This is surprising to most of us. We’ve been taught to believe that through shame and punishment, we will learn the tough lessons needed to make a change in our behavior. We’ve been conditioned to believe that compassion is the opposite of accountability.

What accountability looks like is important for us to get right…the cost of getting it wrong over and over is causing great harm—both on a large scale and within ourselves.

There is recently passed federal legislation that doubles down on the punitive practices we’ve seen fail time and time again. The United States has spent well over a trillion dollars on the “War on Drugs,” which has resulted in filling prisons, destroying lives and families without reducing the availability of illicit drugs or the power of criminal organizations. Johann Hari in his book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs notes; “punishment—shaming a person, caging them, making them unemployable—traps them in addiction. Taking that money and spending it instead on helping them to get jobs and homes and decent lives makes it possible for many of them to stop.”

The policies that work in our communities can also work in our own internal processes. Believing that we are worthy of a love song, some grace, and self-compassion is a journey. It is one we know is made easier through human connection. We are seeing the outstanding results of those compassionate practices—walking one another out of the darkness and into the light.

With love and hope,

Maria

Did you miss the interview?

Don't worry, we've got you covered! Visit our pressroom to hear McCall Medical Director Natalie March, M.D., speak in greater depth about our Whole Health Center in Waterbury. Click below to listen to the full FM 97.3 WZBG interview.

Kelly Scherker, BA, Supervisor of Supported Employment and Integrative Therapies here at McCall, is happy to announce that Service Coordinator Danielle Verderame (pictured on the left)  is offering weekly Art Therapy classes at Carnes Weeks Center and Hanson House.

Here’s some background on Danielle in her own words: “My life has led me in many directions throughout the years. A lot of ups, a few downs, and a few things in between.

Sunshine and Structure.

Supporting your child’s mental health this summer.

Summer can be a time of sunshine and fun—as well as hidden stress for kids. McCall’s Director of Prevention Services shares simple, meaningful ways to support your child’s mental health during the less structured summer months. Read the full article here.

Progress in the Fight Against Overdose Deaths Is at Risk.

After three years of declining overdose-related deaths in Connecticut, advocates—including McCall’s President and CEO Maria Coutant Skinner, LCSW—are sounding the alarm. Proposed federal Medicaid cuts could unravel hard-won progress and threaten access to life-saving care for millions.

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities Are Now Open!

25th Annual BLN Charity Golf Tournament

🗓️  Monday, September 8, 2025

📍 Torrington Country Club

This milestone event is not only a day of great golf and community fun—it’s a powerful way to give back. A portion of the proceeds will support local nonprofit organizations, including ours, helping us continue to provide vital services to those who need them most.

The McCall Funding Committee is excited to announce recent financial support extended to our organization. We’re extremely grateful for the generous gifts that will help further our mission.

Thank you to: Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

(DHMAS)

Award amount: $183,619.00 (annually for two years)

Funding will be used for: A high-impact Contingency Management program for individuals with stimulant use disorder, providing evidence-based incentives, drug screening, and supportive services to engage these individuals who are at a high risk for overdose and improve their treatment retention.

Thank you to: Connecticut Community Foundation Women’s Giving Circle

Award amount: $5,000

Funding will be used for: An outpatient support group in Waterbury for adolescent girls ages 13–17, providing a safe, healing-centered space to build self-esteem, resilience, and healthy coping skills through the evidence-based Girls Circle model.

Thank you to: Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation

Award amount: $5,000

Funding will be used for: The training and implementation of TriCircle’s “Hope After Loss” Grief Support Groups, a specialized program designed to help individuals and families navigate the devastating effects of loss.

Thank you to: Faith Church in Waterbury

On Saturday July 26, Pastor Curtis Watson and friends from Faith Church in Waterbury held an annual barbecue with the folks at McCall’s Dempsey Center. As they do every year, they brought their grills, food, coolers full of drinks, and great company. They cooked up a BBQ feast on this beautiful afternoon that included chicken, sausages, hot dogs, burgers, shrimp, corn on the cob, baked beans, salads, sweet treats, and watermelon. Clients and McCall staff members enjoyed their thoughtful visit, which was filled with wonderful conversations and delicious food! Pictured below are members of the Faith Church in Waterbury.

Thank you to: Eagle Scout Elijah Moskowitz

On July 12, Future Eagle Scout Elijah Moskowitz announced that the Hope and Healing Garden Beds at Carnes Weeks Center are finally finished. Says Eli, “Thank you to everyone who helped me on this journey, and I hope that this will help heal people for years to come!”

Thanks to the thoughtful coordination of Jamie Calvano, LADC, ADS, Senior Director of Quality & Compliance, McCall once again welcomed local high school students for our Summer Internship Program. Students from the Torrington and Waterbury area spent a week rotating through various McCall programs, getting a firsthand look at the many paths within behavioral healthcare. Whether they were already interested in the field or still exploring their options, the experience offered meaningful connections, real-world insight, and a warm introduction to the work we do every day.

Taking McCall to Capitol Hill.

This past month, McCall’s President and CEO Maria Coutant Skinner, LCSW, traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in a national panel convened by Cordata Healthcare Solutions to brief members of Congress on the lifesaving impact of pairing behavioral health services with law enforcement. As the sole representative from Connecticut, Maria shared insights from McCall’s work—including the CLEAR program—highlighting how these collaborative efforts, funded largely through federal grants, are saving lives, strengthening communities, and providing a strong return on investment across several states.

McCall is Honored to Be a 2025 USB Foundation Award Recipient.

On July 9 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, members of McCall’s leadership team accepted an award for $6,500 from the Union Savings Band (USB) Foundation to help fund our Hope After Loss Grief Support Group Training. As part of their mission to give back, the USB Foundation distributed $560,000 to 61 local organizations that deliver meaningful contributions to the well-being of communities across Connecticut—and we’re honored to be among them.

McCall Staff Members are Leaders of Tomorrow.

Prevention Program Supervisor Darian Graells, B.A, CPS, and Harm Reduction Coordinator Kyle Fitzmaurice graduated from the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. The program is designed to develop resourceful, motivated business leaders who are committed to making Northwest Connecticut a better place to live and work. Darian and Kyle worked together to create a McCall-sponsored pet food supply bank in Torrington.

Showing Love for Art and Community.

Community Engagement Specialists Ximena Varas and Maeve Kavle—both members of the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) team—were finishing up with an outreach visit in Torrington and noticed some children around 7 to 10 years-old holding an Art Sale. Ximena and Maeve just couldn’t resist supporting these young budding artists and entrepreneurs. The kids pulled out an entire art portfolio and made art on demand!

58 High St. Torrington, CT 06790

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