Howard Center Explained

Howard Center
Type:Nonprofit organization
Foundation:1865 (Chittenden County, Vermont, U.S.)
Location:Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Area Served:Vermont counties of Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Rutland
Key People:Sandra McGuire, CEO
Industry:Community mental health, substance abuse, educational, and developmental services
Homepage:Official website

Howard Center is a Burlington, Vermont-based nonprofit organization that offers professional crisis and counseling services to children and adults; supportive services to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities who need help with education, employment, and life maintenance skills; counseling and medical services for those struggling with substance use disorders; and interventions and supports for adults with serious and persistent mental health challenges in Chittenden County, Vermont's most populous county. Howard Center collaborates with many community partners and is a United Way of Northwest Vermont-funded agency.

Services and supports are community-based and provided in more than 60 locations, including area schools, hospitals, emergency rooms, and client homes, in addition to Howard Center offices and residential homes. In 2018, Howard Center's professional staff of 1,500 helped more than 16,000 people, primarily in Chittenden County but also in the other Vermont counties of Franklin, Grand Isle, and Rutland.[1]

History

Tracing its roots to the 1865 founding of the Home for Destitute Children, Howard Center is the largest of Vermont's designated agencies representing Vermont's mental health care system.

In 1966, the Howard Center for Human Services received its designation as the community mental health center for Chittenden County under the federal Community Mental Health Act of 1963.

In 1994, the Howard Center for Human Services merged with Champlain Drug and Alcohol Services and the Baird Center for Children and Families (a successor of the Home for Destitute Children) into one organization, forming today's Howard Center.

Crisis services

The organization maintains First Call for Chittenden County, a 24/7 crisis hotline for Chittenden County residents experiencing a non-medical crisis.

Specialized programs

The organization operates four therapeutic schools:[2]

When the Chittenden Clinic was established in 2002, it was the first medication assisted treatment clinic for opioid addiction in Vermont.[8] From July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, the clinic provided treatment and support to 1,342 individuals.

Safe Recovery serves people who are currently using cocaine, heroin, or who are in early recovery from opioid dependence. Services include syringe exchange, low-barrier distribution to buprenorphine, fentanyl test strips, drug treatment options counseling, HIV and hepatitis C testing and referrals, hepatitis A and B vaccination, distribution of Naloxone overdose rescue kits, corrections outreach, basic needs assistance, advocacy, and other recovery support services. From July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, 1,236 individuals visited Safe Recovery.In December 2013, Safe Recovery began distributing Naloxone kits to reverse overdoses from opioids. Since then, 1,357 overdose reversals have been reported from the kits the program distributed.[8]

Although the goal of all Howard Center programs is to help individuals and families live healthy lives as independently as possible, several programs provide specific support for individuals with intellectual disabilities including autism.

Clients served and community impact

Howard Center serves a yearly average of over 10,000 clients[10] in Chittenden County. Some of the programs and services for these clients include:

In addition, Howard Center annually provides support to thousands of individuals in the community who receive services (particularly through 24/7 crisis services) without officially enrolling as a client.

Several Howard Center programs offer treatment and support services that reduce the request for services from other city organizations and departments. For example, Howard Center's Street Outreach and Community Outreach Programs reduce reliance on the police to respond to calls in the downtown area that are primarily the result of social service needs.

Awards

The center has been recognized by the following organizations:

Accreditation

Howard Center's Chittenden Clinic, which provide medication assisted treatment for individuals with opioid dependence, received a three-year accreditation in 2015 from CARF International (formerly known as the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). The clinic is affiliated with the University of Vermont Medical Center.[12]

Affiliations and partnerships

In addition to the programs and services offered by Howard Center, the agency collaborates with numerous community partners to expand the support it offers to individuals and communities. Key examples include:

Organization

The organization has a budget of $129 million.[17] Over 90% of services are state-funded.

In 2014, Vermont Business Magazine ranked Howard Center as the 11th largest employer in the state of Vermont by employee roster.[1]

The president of Howard Center was Kelly Deforge as of 2024.[18]

Sandra McGuire, MBA, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Howard Center, effective June 1, 2024.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Howard Center Development and Communications Office
  2. Web site: Howard Center :: Children and Families. howardcenter.org. 2018-03-13. September 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150919022251/http://www.howardcenter.org/Children-and-Families/CF-Specialized-Independent-Schools. dead.
  3. Web site: Howard Center :: Baird School Home Page. howardcenter.org. 2018-03-13.
  4. Web site: Howard Center :: Jean Garvin School. howardcenter.org. 2018-03-13. September 16, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150916004019/http://www.howardcenter.org/Jean-Garvin-School. live.
  5. Web site: Teen offenders contribute at school . June 9, 2010 . Vermont Today . Peters . Stephanie . August 11, 2016 . August 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160827234529/http://www.vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BT/20100609/NEWS02/6090301 . live .
  6. Web site: My Site. www.centerpointschool.org. en. 2018-03-13. October 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151015013819/http://www.centerpointschool.org/. live.
  7. Web site: School Services Program . Students First Project . August 11, 2016 . August 16, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816145921/http://studentsfirstproject.org/supports-services/local-mental-health-resources/comprehensive-school-services/school-services-program/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Howard Center :: Substance Abuse. howardcenter.org. 2018-03-13. September 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150907223148/http://www.howardcenter.org/Substance-Abuse/Outpatient-Services. dead.
  9. Web site: Howard Center :: SUCCEED Program for adults with educational disabilities. howardcenter.org. 2018-03-13. October 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151007002027/http://howardcenter.org/SUCCEED. live.
  10. Web site: FY22 OUTCOMES REPORT . 9 July 2024.
  11. Web site: Greater Burlington YMCA Honors Howard Center . My Champlain Valley . May 29, 2015 . August 11, 2016 . October 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161012184339/http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/vermont/greater-burlington-ymca-honors-howard-center . live .
  12. Web site: The University of Vermont Medical Center . The Community . The University of Vermont . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211457/https://www.uvmhealth.org/medcenter/about-uvm-medical-center/the-community . live .
  13. Web site: Police Department City of Burlington, Vermont. www.burlingtonvt.gov. en. 2018-03-13. October 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151007013851/https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Police. live.
  14. Web site: University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM) - Burlington, VT. University of Vermont Medical Center. en-us. 2018-03-13. October 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151011213701/https://www.uvmhealth.org/medcenter/Pages/default.aspx. live.
  15. Web site: Second Spring Vermont Mental Health Treatment Residential Recovery Residence. www.secondspring.org. 2018-03-13. October 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151026144854/http://www.secondspring.org/. dead.
  16. Web site: Home. www.unitedwaycc.org. en. 2018-03-13. October 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151006235448/http://www.unitedwaycc.org/. dead.
  17. Web site: FY23 Annual Impact and Outcomes Report . 5 July 2024 . March 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240302003452/https://howardcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Howard-Center-Annual-Report-2023-web-with-hyperlinks.pdf . live .
  18. Web site: Leadership & Board. Howard Center. March 4, 2024. March 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240304160908/https://howardcenter.org/about-us/leadership-board/. live.
  19. Web site: Howard Center board names Sandra McGuire, MBA, as next CEO. Paul. Detzer. February 8, 2024. Howard Center. March 4, 2024. March 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240304155923/https://howardcenter.org/news-archive/sandra-mcguire-ceo-announcement/. live.