Past Projects

Please read on for brief descriptions about Past Projects and feel free to contact us for more detailed information.

• Recovery Is… (2015) new project of short video stories on recovery featuring CMHC clients, staff, faculty and community supporters.
• Culture of Compassion (2014-2015) partnership with Community Mediation to enhance the inpatient environment of care through innovative and empathic communication and conflict resolution techniques.
• CMHC Community Building Contest (2014-2015) using democratic principles to engage the entire CMHC community to solicit and vote on new ideas to improve CMHC.
• Hill Farmers’ Market at CMHC (2010-2015) partnership with CitySeed which offered a weekly market at CMHC to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Over $20,000 in financial assistance market coupons for CMHC clients were given in 2014.
• Innovations in Public Psychiatry (2013) research mini-grants for professional trainees at CMHC to advance new ideas and practices that improve the lives of people in recove
• Centerpiece of Health/Food Transformation (2012) to improve all dimensions of CMHC food service operations to provide wholesome meals, one-on-one nutrition counseling and support; and to help reduce food insecurity; includes on-site “kitchen garden” with fresh vegetables and edible flowers.
• Animal Assisted Therapy (2012) partnership with Red Skye farm and stables to provide off-site equine assisted team building experiences and on-site animal assisted therapy with clients.
• Recovery Speaks (2012) persons in recovery sharing their stories with high school, college, and professional student audiences as well as clinical staff and policy-makers to promote greater understanding of the lived experience of recovery
• Yoga partnership with 108 Monkeys provided training to select CMHC staff on basic yoga techniques to enhance clinical practice.
• Harvest Haven partnership with CitySeed to provide fresh produce shares for meal and food programs at Columbus House and Fellowship Place.
• The Parachute Factory partnered with the Arts Council of Greater New Haven to launch innovative projects and arts internships in creative and performing arts, based in the offices of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health in New Haven’s Erector Square complex.
• Foot-Care Clinic partnership with Columbus House and New Haven’s inter-agency Outreach & Engagement Team to provide foot care, podiatry screening, socks, and foot-care supplies to homeless men and women.
• Smoking Cessation CMHC project to educate and support clients and staff to reduce or quit smoking and to promote CMHC as a smoke-free campus.
• Focus In New Haven A CMHC client photo group funded by the CMHC Foundation.
• Welcome Basket  A pioneering project utilizing peer staff to support client transition from inpatient hospitalization to independent community living. The project became funded by SAMHSA and is now part of CMHC’s rehabilitation services.