Our Story
Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) is designated by Vermont Statute to provide a wide variety of support and treatment opportunities for children, adolescents, families, and adults living with the challenges of mental illness, emotional and behavioral issues, developmental disabilities and substance use. These services are both office and community-based through outreach. The range of services offered includes prevention and wellness, assessment and stabilization, and 24-hours a day, seven-days a week emergency response. WCMHS is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center.
The agency was established under this name in 1967 and proudly celebrated our 50th year of serving our community.
We take a flexible approach to person-centered care for citizens within Washington County and the adjacent towns of Orange, Washington and Williamstown. Guidelines for acceptance, inclusion and participation in our programs are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, or religion. Our dedicated staff works to assist each individual to reach his or her goals.
Within the last year, approximately 5,000 individuals (eight percent of the population of Washington County) benefited from the services offered by WCMHS. Five percent of these individuals participated in multiple programs offered across the agency’s divisions. The remaining three percent were served through educational sessions, community forums, extended family and other services.
Our Mission: Washington County Mental Health Services advocates the inclusion of all persons into our communities and actively encourages Self-Determination and Recovery. We serve all individuals and families coping with the challenges of developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental health and substance use by providing trauma informed* services to support them as they achieve their highest potential and best possible quality of life.
*Trauma informed services are not designed to treat symptoms or syndromes related to abuse or trauma. Instead, the primary purpose is to deliver mental health, treatment for addictions, housing supports, vocational or employment counseling services, etc., in a manner that acknowledges the role that trauma plays in the lives of most consumers of mental health and substance misuse services. This understanding is used to design service systems that accommodate the vulnerabilities of trauma survivors and allow services to be delivered in a way that will facilitate consumer participation that is appropriate and helpful to the special needs of trauma survivors.
