2017 Annual Meeting
Spectrum’s Annual Meeting was held on October 19, 2017 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, Massachusetts. Spectrum staff and board members were joined by former clients, colleagues, advocates and public officials in celebrating the organization's achievements and future plans. Keynote speaker, Jennifer Queally, undersecretary for law enforcement, spoke of Spectrum’s innovative partnership with the City of Worcester, Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) to provide treatment to eligible individuals arrested for purchasing heroin and other opioids.
Massachusetts Attorney General Commends Spectrum Health’s Mission
Worcester, MA – November 15, 2016 – The Commonwealth’s top lawyer, Attorney General Maura Healey, praised Spectrum Health Systems during its recent annual meeting held on Oct. 13 at The Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. Nearly 100 Spectrum leaders, employees, former clients, and local and state government officials gathered for the meeting which highlighted Spectrum’s innovative work in helping people overcome addiction, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the profound impact the nonprofit organization has had on communities not only in Massachusetts, but across the country.
Spectrum’s Peer Mentoring Program Recognized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the New England Reentry Conference
Worcester, MA – November 14, 2016 – On November 1st, Spectrum’s State Director of MA Correctional Services Earl Warren presented at the New England Reentry Conference, a first-of-its-kind gathering of federal reentry professionals from across the region, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The conference was organized by the six New England United States Attorneys to highlight regional initiatives that are improving outcomes for returning citizens. Spectrum was asked to participate in a plenary discussion of federal reentry grant programs by U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen Ortiz.
Spectrum’s 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic Raises Nearly $70,000 for Addiction Treatment
Worcester, MA – November 10, 2016 – Spectrum Health Systems, the largest private non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment provider in New England, hosted its 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic on Monday, October 3 at the Framingham Country Club. Nearly 125 golfers participated in the event, raising $68,593 in support of Spectrum’s continuum of addiction treatment services.
The Impact Addiction has on our Veterans
Dr. John Renner, a Spectrum Health Systems' board member and associate chief of psychiatry for the VA Boston Healthcare System, sits down for a Q&A Veterans returning home from combat are at an increased risk for substance abuse. Many turn to substance misuse (drinking, drugs, or smoking) as a way ...
Lisa Blanchard of Spectrum Health Systems Receives Emerging Leader Award
WORCESTER, Mass. – November 8, 2016 – Lisa Blanchard, MA, LMHC, executive director of outpatient operations for Worcester’s Spectrum Health Systems, the largest private non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment provider in New England and resident of Paxton, Mass., was honored for her outstanding contributions in behavioral healthcare with the Association of Behavioral Healthcare’s (ABH) Elizabeth Funk Emerging Leader Award. The award recognizes members under the age of 40 who show evidence of commitment to behavioral health through his/her ability as an emerging leader within the field. Recipients of the award display the ability to motivate staff and communicate effectively in their role as a developing leader. Blanchard received her award on October 21, during the ABA’s Salute to Excellence at the Waltham Hotel, an event dedicated to recognizing leaders in community-based behavioral healthcare.
Locations
Through the operation of our multi-state programs, Spectrum has demonstrated its effectiveness in developing strong partnerships with public and private purchasers. Recognizing the unique management approach needed to support out-of-state operations, Spectrum has built an infrastructure capable of meeting these demands. All programs benefit from Spectrum’s corporate resources which provide ...
The Power of Treatment, As Told by an Anonymous “Thank You” Letter
One rewarding aspect of the work we do at Spectrum Health Systems is being able to see the positive impact that treatment can have on an individual’s life. We recently received an anonymous letter from a former client who sought help for a heroin addiction through our Residential Program (RP) ...
Airing Addiction: The Important Link Between Fitness and Recovery
Over the past few weeks, our vice president of business development – Donna Pellegrino – has shone a light on a powerful tool on the road to recovery: fitness. Working out and pursuing fitness goals creates a new outlet for stress relief and allows individuals in recovery to put their ...
Demystifying Series: Understanding Relapse as a Part of Recovery
Those who have escaped personal experience with active addiction may associate the word relapse with weakness, failure or giving up. This could not be further from the truth. Many also mistakenly believe that once an individual has completed treatment, the journey ends there. While a universally hopeful scenario, the truth ...
