Liberation Programs, Inc.

05/22/2026

Parenting young adults 18-25 years of age? Attend this FREE community event Tuesday, June 23rd at the Greenwich YMCA from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Food provided.

05/14/2026

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Maggie Young, DSW, LADC, our Chief Recovery Officer, as she receives the City of Stamford, Citizen of the Year 2026. This year's event will be on June 2. Tickets are available here: https://stamfordcoty.org/

This well-deserved honor recognizes Maggie’s more than three decades of leadership, compassion, and service to individuals and families impacted by substance use and mental health challenges throughout Stamford and across Connecticut.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate Maggie and her extraordinary contributions to our community. We hope to see you there!

05/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors for helping make the 2026 Spirit of Hope Gala such a meaningful and successful evening.

Your partnership and commitment to Liberation Programs help make life-saving treatment, recovery, prevention, outreach, and mental health services possible for individuals and families across our community.

Thank you for standing with us, believing in this work, and helping people not just survive, but thrive.

05/07/2026

Yesterday, the City of Stamford unveiled Dr. Maggie Young’s Citizen of the Year plaque, which will proudly hang in the City’s Government Center in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and service to our community.

It was a meaningful moment celebrating Maggie’s tireless work, compassion, and leadership. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful for the impact she continues to make in the lives of so many.

The ceremony also recognized this year’s honored veterans and scholarship recipients whose accomplishments, service, and promise were truly inspiring. Stamford is fortunate to have such an exceptional group of individuals helping to shape the future of our community.

Congratulations, Dr. Maggie Young, on this well-deserved honor!

05/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible 2026 Spirit of Hope Gala!

It was an evening filled with hope and a shared commitment to helping individuals and families thrive. We were honored to celebrate Brian Mann and Mayor Caroline Simmons, reflect on the history and future of Liberation House, and come together as a community in support of recovery and mental health.

Be sure to check out our new video sharing the history and future vision of Liberation House, where this work first began more than 50 years ago and where the next chapter is just beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMFYWZMC0u0

We are deeply grateful for your generosity, partnership, and belief in this work. There is still time to join us and support our work, https://SOH2026.givesmart.com

Stay tuned for our photos and moments from the evening, coming soon!

This year's Spirit of Hope video

04/19/2026

Hey… what are you doing on Sunday, May 3?

Nothing? Perfect. We’ve got something for you.

How about joining us and riding through New York City with the streets completely closed to traffic, crossing iconic bridges, moving through all five boroughs, and finishing with thousands of riders who just did the same incredible thing.

It’s fun. It’s energizing. And when you ride with us, it also means something. Every mile supports work that helps individuals and families access care and build stronger, healthier futures.

We have just a few spots left on our team, and have a VIP day- we start in the first wave, our charity bib gets you into the VIP tent at the end! Last day to sign up is Tuesday April 21!

If you’re even a little curious, that’s usually a good sign. Reach out to tracy.cramer@liberationprograms.org to grab one of the final spots.

You got this! Let's do it together!

04/18/2026

Here's your sneak peek! A little behind-the-scenes from a special day filming in preparation for Spirit of Hope! And a big shoutout to the incredible team at for capturing all of it!

Thank you ! You consistently demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting Stamford’s residents, and we are grateful for the care and attention you bring to this community every day.

There is still time to join us on May 5. We can't wait to see you there.

Get your tickets or tables: https://liberationprograms.org/2026-spirit-of-hope-gala/

04/17/2026

We are so proud to share this powerful conversation with Dr. Maggie Young, recently featured on the Hey Stamford! Hey Stamford podcast as Stamford’s 2026 Citizen of the Year.

With more than four decades of leadership in recovery and mental health, Maggie’s impact on individuals and families across our community is profound. In this interview, she reflects on her personal journey, the evolution of addiction treatment, and the importance of building systems of care that support long-term healing and connection.

Her work, including the development of family-centered programs that allow parents to receive care while staying with their children, continues to shape a more compassionate and effective approach to recovery.

This recognition is not just a celebration of one individual, but of a lifetime spent strengthening our community and expanding what recovery can look like.

Take a few minutes to watch and hear directly from Maggie. Her perspective is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply inspiring.

To learn more about the Citizen of the Year events, student scholarships, and veteran recognition:
https://stamfordcoty.org/citizens-of-the-year/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCA8rUxaRPA&t=3s

Dr. Maggie Young, Stamford’s 2026 Citizen of the Year, joins the podcast to share her 40+ years of impact in recovery and mental health across Stamford, CT.A...

04/15/2026

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to reflect on something many of us don’t often pause to examine, our relationship with alcohol.

Today, our CEO, John Hamilton, joined News 12 Connecticut to talk about how to better understand our own patterns, recognize when alcohol use may be becoming a problem, and the importance of having honest conversations, especially with young people.

Alcohol use doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s occasional. For others, it can quietly become something more, impacting health, relationships, and overall well-being.

That’s why awareness matters.

There are simple tools that can help guide reflection and conversation:

CAGE – a brief self-check:
Have you ever felt the need to cut down?
Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Have you felt guilty about drinking?
Have you ever needed an eye-opener?

CRAFFT - a screening tool:
C (Car): Have you ridden in a car with someone (including yourself) who was impaired?
R (Relax): Do you use alcohol to relax, pregame, or build courage?
A (Alone): Do you ever drink alone?
F (Family/Friends): Are your family or friends concerned about your drinking?
F (Forget): Have you ever forgotten what happened while drinking?
T (Trouble): Have you ever gotten into trouble because of alcohol?

It starts with asking simple but important questions:
• How does alcohol show up in my life?
• Is it helping, or hurting?
• What message are we sending to the next generation?

At Liberation Programs, we are committed to prevention, education, and ensuring that individuals and families have access to care w

If you are looking for help for yourself or someone you love, please contact 855.LIB.PROG (855-542-7764) or info@liberationprograms.org or admissions@liberationprograms.org

Because understanding yourself is often the first step toward change.

John Hamilton, President & CEO of Liberation Programs discusses how to determine if you have a problem.

03/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for “Fostering Teen Success,” hosted by the Ram Council Foundation at the New Canaan Library.

The conversation brought together parents and teens for an honest and practical discussion about what it takes to support young people in today’s environment. The panel included John Hamilton,William Egan, Attorney Maddox, and Stephan Genovese. They shared meaningful insights on how to help teens stay substance free, access mental health support, and build strong foundations for long term well-being.

Throughout the evening, participants explored actionable ways to create safe, supportive environments at home. The importance of having a trusted adult, encouraging open communication, and ensuring teens feel heard and understood were central themes.

The panel also included perspectives from individuals with lived experience and long term recovery, offering real-world insight into the impact of early decisions and the importance of support systems.

In addition, the discussion addressed the legal realities and risks associated with underage drinking, including the consequences of parents providing alcohol to teens. These moments reinforced the critical role families and communities play in prevention.

We are grateful to everyone who took part in this important conversation. Together, we continue to strengthen the support systems that help teens thrive.

03/25/2026

Reminder! Panel is tomorrow Night!
Parents and teens are invited to join an important community conversation about supporting young people.
The Ram Council Foundation will host “Fostering Teen Success,” a panel discussion focused on best practices for supporting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of teens. The program will bring together experts in education, mental health, and law to share insights and practical guidance for families navigating the challenges facing adolescents today.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.newcanaanlibrary.org/event/ram-council-03262026
The panel will be moderated by John Hamilton and will include panelists William Egan, Attorney Maddox, and Stephan Genovese.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 7:00–8:00 pm at the Jim and Dede Bartlett Auditorium at the New Canaan Library. The presentation is open to parents and students in grades 8 through 12.

Community partners include Liberation Programs, Causeway Collaborative, Silver Hill Hospital, Fusion Academy, Bankwell, and New Canaan CARES. Registration is available through the New Canaan Library.