About Clara Martin Center
Clara Martin Center (formerly known as Orange County Mental Health Services, Inc., with a name change in 1993) was founded as one of ten mental health agencies organized by Vermont Statue developed in 1966. Our roots stem from local clergy and social service professionals who saw a need for supportive counseling services in the community as an alternative to placement of persons at the Vermont State Hospital.
Our Mission
Clara Martin Center is a community based, non-profit organization that provides acute and long-term behavioral health care services. We strive to be consumer-sensitive, cost-effective, and outcome based.
Our Goals
- To provide behavioral health care that responds to consumer needs, treats individuals with dignity, and is recognized as effective by consumers and purchasers.
- To maintain ongoing fiscal viability of the agency through careful financial management and planning.
- To integrate a commitment to ongoing quality improvement throughout the organization.
- To strategically position the agency for the future behavioral and physical health care environment.
- To provide leadership in the efforts to reform the health care system so that the needs of Clara Martin Center consumers are adequately addressed.
Our Service Area
The core area which Clara Martin Center serves is comprised of 34 small towns separated by hills and valleys and the challenges of back roads. Each town is a tight knit community with its own governance focused on how to thrive and enjoy their family and friends. As a service provider, we are faced with topo-graphic challenges to bring services to those who need our help. The area has limited resources and the resources that are available have miles of back roads and must stretch to meet the needs of the communities.
Clara Martin Center focuses on the many opportunities available to help us meet our mission by networking and making connections to bring the services to the local level and to the people who seek our help. We work with many municipalities, schools and school districts, multiple local health centers and independent primary care providers, the local sheriff department as well as Town and State Police, and other local service providers like the Veteran’s Administration, Safeline and Community Action just to name a few.
Our Services
Clara Martin Center’s programs serve children and families, and individuals coping with behavioral challenges, emotional stress, mental illness, alcohol and other drug problems. Services are confidential and include, (but are not limited to), counseling, psychiatric services, consultations, short term crisis intervention, education for families related to emotional and behavioral challenges, evaluations, respite care, housing, assistance in obtaining disability benefits, help with finding and keeping employment, outreach and home-based services, alcohol and drug treatment, a walk-in clinic and a 24 hour emergency service system.
The Clara Martin Center provides community mental health services focused on community integration, coping, enhanced functioning and improved quality of life. Our agency is committed to providing quality services and extending its services to nearby communities to ensure a continuum of care.
Our Partnerships
The Clara Martin Center is regional in its efforts to be able to bring broader resources to the area in which we serve. We are in partnership with HowardCenter and WCMHS on two initiatives including the oversight and management of Second Spring North and South through Collaborative Solutions Corporation. These three agencies also partner together to operate Central Vermont Substance Abuse Services in Berlin Vermont.