Counseling Service of Addison County
Helping people live emotionally healthy and satisfying lives.
Since 1959, the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) has been committed to meet the needs of individuals living with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and those confronting substance abuse issues. CSAC strives to improve the quality of life for all community members. Additionally, CSAC collaborates with other community agencies to help individuals and families achieve maximum wellness.
Services Offered
Individual and group counseling, emergency services, crisis intervention, medical assisted therapy, psychiatric services, clinical services, TBI services, elder/adult family home services, residential and housing services, family support, community support, employment support, school-based services and support, prevention and consultation, educational opportunities, social and recreational opportunities, recovery groups and activities, case management.
Main Office and Mental Health Services
Administration, Developmental Services, and Employment Services
Youth and Family Services
Contact
Main Office and Mental Health Services: 89 Main St., Middlebury, VT 05753 |
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Administration, Developmental Services, and Employment Services: 109 Catamount Park, Middlebury, VT 05753 |
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Youth and Family Services: 67 Catamount Park, Middlebury, VT 05753 |
Directions to the main office at 89 Main Street:
From the north: Take Route 7 south to Middlebury. Turn right onto Main Street/VT30/VT125 (the Congregational Church is on the right). Go ¼ mile to the roundabout. Move with traffic toward the Cross Street Bridge, making a sharp right immediately before getting on the bridge. 89 Main is the two story-Federal style building on the right.
From the south: Take Route 7 north/Court Street to Middlebury. At the fifth set of lights, turn left onto Cross Street. As you come up to the roundabout, you will see 89 Main Street on your left. Two choices: continue and use the roundabout to reverse your direction, back toward the Cross Street Bridge. Make a sharp right just before getting back onto the bridge –OR– before entering the roundabout, make a right into the municipal parking lot just off the Cross Street Bridge. Use the pedestrian crosswalk on Cross Street to arrive at 89 Main.
Outcomes and/or Innovations:
The Resiliency Project: In October 2018, the Addison County Integrated Family Services Council is launching “The Resiliency Project.” This is a public health campaign focused on parenting to increase resilience in children/ youth. There will be a series of parenting groups offered as well as an information and media campaign to increase knowledge and awareness.
Open Dialogue: Open Dialogue is a treatment method that has shown promising results in response to emerging psychosis. Open Dialogue involves working with families and personal networks, listening carefully to everyone’s perspective and looking for new meanings and understandings to help open new possibilities, including in times of crisis. CSAC is one of only a few programs in the US to implement this model and is currently exploring Open Dialogue’s effectiveness in other venues and situations. In 2018 CSAC staff members traveled to Finland, where Open Dialogue originated.
Client Satisfaction: From the 2018 CSAC Client Satisfaction Survey:
- 89% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they received the services they needed.
- 96% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that staff treated them with respect.
One of the “Best Places to Work”: In 2016 CSAC was named one of the “Best Places to Work” in Vermont by Vermont Business Magazine. Demonstrated by a yearly staff retention rate that exceeds the state average among designated agencies, CSAC continues to strive to be an exemplary employer. In 2019 the Counseling Service of Addison County will celebrate its 60th year of serving the community.
Community Partnerships:
United Way of Addison County (UWAC): With a mission similar in spirit to CSAC’s, United Way of Addison County strives to give county residents opportunities to live independent, productive and healthy lives. CSAC’s Employment Services recently utilized a UWAC Financial Stability Award to assist people recovering from addiction find meaningful and gainful employment.
Employment Services: In 2017, CSAC’s Employment Services helped 209 people find and/or keep jobs. Currently, there are 125 active employers working with Employment Services; some employers (such as Middlebury College) have multiple sites, reflecting a total of about 150 distinct employer-opportunities.
Community Health Action Team (CHAT)/IFS Council and All Boards: CHAT is comprised of Addison County health and human service agency representatives embodying the entire continuum of services available to people in Addison County. In May 2018 CSAC helped coordinate an extension of CHAT/IFS Council’s initiative with an “All-Boards” gathering. Board representatives and program administrators discussed ways to meet the community’s needs and create a vision of collaboration to improve population health.