Liberation Programs, Inc.

02/22/2026

Please note the following service changes due to the storm:

SUNDAY, February 22 Bridgeport Clinic (399 Mill Hill Avenue) from 3 pm to 7 pm for medication assistance only.

MONDAY, February 23, Bridgeport Clinic (399 Mill Hill Avenue) and Stamford Clinic (15 Commerce Rd) locations will open at 6 AM for medication assistance only.

Regular outpatient and IOP will be closed due to the storm.

02/20/2026

Always happy to support Catalyst CT! They do great work ❤️

02/06/2026

In recovery, people often introduce themselves by how many years they have been sober. Each year represents commitment, resilience, and strength. Today, 34 years is a remarkable accomplishment.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Maggie Young on her 34th Recovery Anniversary. Dr. Young began her recovery journey at Liberation House when it was a co-ed program, and for more than three decades, she has embodied what is possible through advocacy, compassion, and the power of community.

Dr. Young openly shares her story of hope and resilience, inspiring both the people we serve and those who work alongside her. When asked what she credits for her longevity in recovery, she shared:

“Someone helped me, and I appreciate that I get to help others. It is about kindness, compassion, honesty, and integrity. A bit of genuine love goes a long way.”

We are deeply grateful for the leadership, heart, and inspiration Dr. Young brings to our community every day. Please join us in congratulating her on this extraordinary milestone.

And PS-- Maggie is also this year's Stamford Citizen of the Year! To learn more https://stamfordcoty.org/citizens-of-the-year/

02/03/2026

We are saddened by the heartbreaking death of a person experiencing homelessness in Bridgeport this weekend/ This is a stark reminder of how dangerous extreme cold can be for our neighbors without shelter. Thank you to Frank Recchia and News 12 Connecticut for covering this important story and helping bring attention to a critical community issue.

Frank contacted Cameron Breen on our Homeless Outreach team about the very real risks people face when temperatures drop. When someone is living outside or in unstable housing, winter conditions are not just uncomfortable. They are life-threatening.

This tragic loss underscores the critical need for outreach, accessible warming centers, and cold-weather safety efforts across our communities. No one should have to face freezing temperatures without a safe place to go.

For those in need, check us there at Liberation Programs and your local officials. The City of Bridgeport publishes a list of warming centers on its social pages and website , with locations and hours available to the public. If you or someone you know needs help staying warm, please check in with us or the city’s website.

If you would like to organize a drive for warm clothing -- coats, blankets, hats gloves, mittens, etc, please contact tracy.cramer@liberationprograms.org

While the man's identity and cause of death have not yet been released, members of Bridgeport's homeless population spoke out about his passing Monday.

02/02/2026

Mark your calendar for Feb 7, a special Flag Raising Ceremony, honoring the history, resilience, and impact of Black leaders and communities.

Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony

Stamford will hold a flag raising ceremony to commemorate Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 7. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stamford Government Center located at 888 Washington Blvd. This community gathering will celebrate local heritage and honor the significance of the month. Click on the link for more information: https://bit.ly/45WvejB

01/24/2026

Weather Update
Due to the forecasted snow, Liberation Programs Outpatient Programs including group, MAT, MH and outreach services will be closed on Monday, January 26 to ensure the safety of our clients and staff.

We will reopen and resume normal operations on Tuesday, January 27.

Please stay safe and warm, and we look forward to seeing you then.

01/17/2026

We are proud to share that Dr. Maggie Young has been named Stamford’s 2026 Citizen of the Year. After overcoming her own struggles with addiction, Maggie has dedicated more than three decades to supporting individuals and families through recovery, prevention, education, and community advocacy. Her leadership at Liberation Programs and service across the Stamford community reflect her unwavering commitment to compassion, resilience, and the public good. Read more about this well-deserved honor here!

"You keep some type of support for yourself is by helping someone else," Maggie Young said.

01/08/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Maggie Young, DSW, LADC, Chief Recovery Officer at Liberation Programs, who has been named Stamford Citizen of the Year 2026.

This honor reflects more than three decades of extraordinary service to Stamford and communities across Connecticut. Throughout her career, Maggie has been a trusted leader in behavioral health, working with individuals and families impacted by substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders across prevention, inpatient, and outpatient settings and in the recovery community.

Guided by her own personal journey, Maggie has dedicated her life to helping others navigate the often difficult first steps of recovery with dignity, compassion, and hope. Her work has strengthened families, improved systems of care, and made Stamford a healthier, more resilient community.

At Liberation Programs, Maggie provides oversight of the Families in Recovery Program, an inpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting women with their children, which she originally founded when it was housed at Franklin Common (now part of Inspirica). Her leadership has transformed outcomes for families by strengthening collaboration between child welfare systems, hospitals, treatment providers, and community supports, while ensuring that families remain connected and supported throughout recovery.

Maggie also leads Liberation’s Prevention and Education services, supporting middle and high school students and their families, and facilitates critical trainings throughout Fairfield County, including QPR su***de prevention, SBIRT screening and intervention, and Naloxone/Narcan overdose response. Her expertise has reached well beyond Connecticut, including trainings for child welfare professionals, Tribal leaders, and court support services in Alaska.

Her commitment to service extends far beyond her professional role. Maggie serves on numerous boards and committees at the local and state level, including the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), and was appointed by the Governor to the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, helping guide the responsible use of settlement funds statewide. She was instrumental in launching Stamford HER Time, a program supporting women reentering the community after incarceration, and volunteers weekly with Stamford Health’s mental health program, in addition to co-teaching community anti-violence classes with Domus & SPD and facilitating youth prevention workshops in Stamford schools and throughout the community. She is a proud member of the recovery community for more than three decades and Great 8’er through the CT Hall of Change.

Beyond her professional leadership, Maggie is also a proud mom and grandmother, roles that reflect the deep commitment to family and connection that guide her work every day.

Being named Stamford Citizen of the Year is a fitting recognition of Maggie’s leadership, service, and unwavering belief in the power of connection and recovery. We are honored to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for all that she continues to do.

Congratulations, Maggie. We are so proud of you!

Details for the annual Citizen of the Year Award celebration will be announced soon. We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks and hope you will join us for this special event.

Stamford Government Mayor Caroline Simmons Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR)
Stuart Lane Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services /Westchester, Inc. New LifeStyles Fairfield County's Community Foundation Greenwich Together Stamford Prevention Council

12/31/2025

If you are considering a year-end gift, now is the moment to act.

Because of your support, Liberation Programs expanded access to care when and where it was needed most. We brought substance use and mental health services together at Pollak Place to increase capacity, met thousands of people in moments of crisis with compassion instead of consequences, and invested in prevention to help young people stay healthy and safe.

You also helped make it possible to share the stories of people like Luis, Gail, and Nichole, individuals who found care and connection during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

None of this would have been possible without your support.

There is still time to make a year-end gift and help ensure care, connection, and hope remain available to our community. Make your gift here www.liberationprograms.org/donate

Thank you for being there with us!

12/28/2025

Earlier this month, you learned about Luis and how Liberation Programs helped him find stability and a place to call home. Today, we invite you to meet Gail.

When you meet Gail, you notice her warmth first and then her wisdom. At 65, Gail has lived through loss that would break most people. Three years ago, her son died of a fentanyl overdose at just 27. That moment changed everything.

Gail knew she could not keep going the way she was. She came to Liberation Programs for help. That same day, she was struck by a car, leaving her with a broken leg and months in a wheelchair. Instead of giving up, Gail began healing physically and emotionally through outpatient treatment, counseling, and community support.

Today, life is still hard. Gail lives on a limited income, relies on public transportation, and continues recovery one day at a time. What keeps her going is her faith, her grandchildren, and the care she receives at Liberation Programs.

“It is still a struggle. I am doing the work. I am not going back.”

Gail’s story is one of thousands in our community.

As we close out the year, your annual appeal gift ensures that when someone is ready to ask for help, Liberation Programs is there to listen, care, and walk alongside them.

You can make your year-end gift now! www.liberationprograms.org/donate

Healing begins with you! Thank you!

12/23/2025

The holiday season is all about connection, tradition, and time together—and that spirit was on full display at our Families in Recovery Program.

This year, families decorated gingerbread houses, decked the halls with festive decorations, baked cookies, and shared hot chocolate while spending time together and cherishing the moments the holidays bring. These simple traditions create space for joy, laughter, and healing—and remind us how powerful togetherness can be.

From all of us at Liberation Programs, we wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season.

12/17/2025

Today is always an amazing day! We came together as a full Liberation Programs community to celebrate one another at our staff holiday party.

With more than 200 colleagues across programs and locations, these gatherings are rare and meaningful. They give us the chance to pause, connect, and recognize the people who make this work possible every single day.

We were proud to honor our 2025 Staff Award recipients:
• Rookie of the Year: Crystal Gomez
• Professional Advancement: Daniella Arias
• Most Dedicated: Kaitlyn McCarthy
• Unsung Hero: Courtney Dollar
• Employee of the Year: Maureen Ahrens

We also celebrated colleagues marking service anniversaries ranging from 5 to 15 years. The depth of experience, commitment, and care represented in that group is extraordinary, and we are so grateful to each person who has chosen to grow their career with Liberation Programs.

The dedication, compassion, and commitment of this team is what makes recovery possible for our clients and our community.

We are deeply grateful for the work you do, day in and day out. Thank you to our amazing Liberation Team!