Fellowship Place awarded $180,000 Responsive Grant from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (CFGNH) has awarded Fellowship Place a three-year $180,000 grant through The Foundation’s largest annual competitive grants process. The awarded funds will provide general operating support for Fellowship Place’s core programs.

“Fellowship Place is very grateful for The Community Foundation’s continued support.” says Executive Director, Mary A. Guerrera, “We are honored to be chosen as a 2019 award recipient. The Responsive Grant will help the agency bridge the gap between government contracts and the true cost of providing services. Over the last year, Fellowship Place has expanded its employment services for individuals with mental illness and a criminal record and for the homeless. These projects may have been eliminated without the Foundation’s backing”.

For sixty years, Fellowship Place has provided a supportive community fostering mental health for some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of the community. The agency’s campus, located in New Haven’s Dwight neighborhood, is open every day of the year, including holidays, and offers counseling, day programs, employment and education services, as well as forty five units of permanent supported housing. More than 800 individuals are served annually, with the majority coping with serious mental illness, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and social isolation. Fellowship Place is committed to helping the mentally ill, their families, and the public understand and appreciate that with proper treatment and support, people with a mental illness can be successful and contribute to the vibrancy of the community.

Fellowship Place Holds Annual Health Fair on November 13th

Fellowship Place clients participated in valuable health screenings, received free flu shots, and got important health & wellness information at the agency’s annual health fair. Special thanks to the following community agencies who participated: Yale New Haven Hospital, Smilow Cancer Center, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, Assurance Wireless, University of New Haven Dental students, New Haven Dept. of Health, Stop & Shop, Tai Chi Center, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, Community Action Agency, Husky Health, Southern CT State University Nursing students, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill CT Chapter, and the Dental Partnership.

Thank You to the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation, for Underwriting a Weekly Dance Class

Many of the participants in Fellowship Place’s Dance Class came dressed in costume last week to celebrate Halloween. A special thank you to the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation for underwriting the weekly class, which promotes “fun with a purpose”. The dance class helps participants practice social skills as well as improve coordination, focus, and memory.

Fellowship Place Annual Halloween Social Club Dance

Fellowship Place hosted social rehab programs from across Connecticut today for the annual Halloween extravaganza.  There was music, dancing, a potluck lunch, face painting, and lots of great costumes. Fellowship Place is grateful for the opportunity to share good times with our peers. Party Hearty!!!!

Fellowship Place Presents at the CT Psychological Association Annual Conference

Fellowship Place Board member, Dr. William Sherman, and Executive Director Mary Guerrera presented at the CT Psychological Association annual conference on October 25. The focus of their presentation was developing a low cost therapeutic day program for individuals living with serious mental illness. Fellowship Place also had an information table at the conference. Pictured is Charlotte Sabovic, Director of Psycho-social Rehab Services, who staffed the table and had the opportunity to network with private providers and other potential referral sources.

Fellowship Place Receives Organizational Leadership Award from the Consultation Center

Fellowship Place is this year’s recipient of the Organizational Leadership Award given annually by The Consultation Center, a collaboration of the Yale School of Medicine Dept. of Psychiatry and the CT Mental Health Center. The award recognizes a nonprofit agency that makes outstanding contributions to the promotion of health & wellness, the prevention of mental health and substance abuse problems, and the enhancement of equity and social justice. Congratulations to the staff and Board of Directors of Fellowship Place for the vision, dedication, and hard work that has helped the agency grow to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals who suffer from serious mental illness.  State Representative Toni Walker of New Haven was also honored for legislative advocacy.

Pictured from left to right: Derrick Gordon, Joy Kaufman (from The Consultation Center), Mary Guerrera of Fellowship Place, Representative Toni Walker, and Dr. Jacob Tebes, Executive Director The Consultation Center.