The Healing Connection, Inc.

11/28/2023

Today is ROC the Day and we need you!
https://roctheday.org/Causes-to-Support/The-Healing-Connection

07/29/2023

So many amazing raffle items and silent auction goodies! Come see us!

04/27/2023

A huge thank you to students at Caledonia-Mumford High School, who raised $800 for our residential treatment facility! A young person in recovery helped organize the fundraiser. We are so grateful for these students’ efforts! 👏

To learn more about our residential facility, click here: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/residential-program

10/19/2022

Local eating disorder patients — like Ana, featured in the video below — have to travel 5+ hours away if they need live-in, residential treatment.

Right now, we are fundraising for a new residential facility for adolescents with EDs — the first of its kind in our region. Listen to Ana talk about how important this service will be and donate to this effort here: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/filling-the-gap

08/10/2022

We are looking for a registered dietitian to join our team! This position is fundamental in the effective treatment for patients and their families​. Please learn more and apply at: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/The-Healing-Connection/jobs?jk=3f2eb1d08d43b3f4&start=0&clearPrefilter=1

08/06/2022

Our fundraiser for our adolescent residential program is Saturday! Join us from 2 to 5 p.m. at Kettle Ridge Farm to help raise funds for this facility.

The event is family friendly and includes food trucks, local beer, a bounce house, lawn games, and a silent auction and raffle, including some fun items like a boat tour of Keuka Lake, box seats to a Red Wings game, signed autograph photos, many gift certificates, and more.

If you can't make it to the event, consider learning more about this effort and making a donation: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/donate

08/04/2022

Laura and her mom, Heather, were on Fox Rochester WUHF today to spread the word about how necessary our new adolescent residential treatment facility is for young people with eating disorders.

They shared their story ahead of our fundraisier for the facility: this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Kettle Ridge Farm in Victor. Watch the story below and join us on Saturday!

WUHF Fox Rochester provides local news, sports, weather forecasts, traffic updates, and entertainment programming for Rochester, New York and nearby towns and communities including Greece, Victor, Pittsford, Penfield, Henrietta, Webster, Irondequoit, Fairport, Chili, Gates, Rush, Wheatland, Canandai...

07/28/2022

Join us for a fun day at Kettle Ridge Farm to raise funds for The Healing Connection's new adolescent eating disorder residential treatment facility — the first of its kind in the region.

Right now, adolescents who need residential treatment have to travel 5+ hours away from their homes and support systems to receive treatment. This facility will close the gap for these patients, allowing them to stay in the Rochester area for their care.

The event on Aug. 6 is family friendly and will include live music, food trucks, a bounce house, and lawn games. Admission to the event is free. See you there!

If you can't make it and would like to contribute, donate here by selecting the "Filling the Gap" campaign: https://secure.squarespace.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5c23aadd70a6ad8f13be1b85&ss_cvr=b4218832-caf7-4b82-a038-254a14154b72%7C1659574863538%7C1659574863538%7C1659719856406%7C2&ss_cvt=1659719856406&websiteId=5b0358349772ae0c5a7c07d0

06/13/2022

We are currently in the midst of fundraising for a new residential treatment facility for adolescents with eating disorders — the only one of its kind in the region. Please consider making a donation to this effort: check out what your donation can do in the image above.

Young patients who need this level of care in our area currently have to travel 5+ hours away for treatment. This facility will close the gap for these patients, allowing them to stay close to their support system while providing them with the resources they need. More information about this initiative is here: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/residential-program

06/03/2022

Today is . Here are three ways you can take action:

1) Talk about eating disorders: These illnesses are often hidden and thrive on secrecy. We can bring light to them by talking about them and bringing awareness. If you suspect someone may be suffering from an eating disorder, talk to them.

2) Take a step toward recovery: If you are struggling with an eating disorder, consider taking a step toward recovery and healing. Talk to someone or reach out for help at the link in our bio.

3) Make a difference locally: Our partners at The Healing Connection are fundraising for their new residential treatment facility — the only one if its kind in the region for adolescents. This new facility is vital and every dollar makes a difference. The link to donate is in our bio.

06/02/2022

This is Alyssa. Alyssa was diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was 12, and soon after, she required treatment at a residential facility — a level of care that isn’t currently available locally. To receive treatment, she had to travel five hours away from her family to New York City.

“It was excruciating. I was being pulled from my family, my main support system, and also the team of professionals I had worked with for months,” Alyssa, who required six separate stays at residential facilities, said, “Building rapport with a team is a crucial part of a successful recovery and the trust I had built with my team back home was disrupted each time I had to go away for treatment. Being away from my family also created a disconnect in the ways they were able to support me.”

Right now, we are working to open the area’s first residential treatment facility for adolescents with eating disorders — so that young people who need this level of care don’t have to leave like Alyssa did. But, we need your help to make this happen as quickly as possible. In honor of World Eating Disorders Action Day, consider making a donation to this effort and helping young people who are suffering: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/filling-the-gap

“Having a local residential treatment center is crucial to supporting the adolescents in our community who are struggling. This is not a need we can do without,” Alyssa said. “I know it would have made a difference for me and I would even go as far as to say that it would have immensely decreased the amount of time I spent in treatment.”

06/01/2022

Work is underway on The Healing Connection’s new eating disorder residential treatment facility in Pittsford. This facility will be the only one of its kind available for adolescents in the region, and will allow young people who are suffering to get all their care right here in our community.

Please consider making a donation to this effort TODAY! Every dollar makes a difference speeds up program opening. Learn more and give here (choose the residential program when donating): https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/filling-the-gap

05/04/2022

Locally, patients with eating disorders have access to every level of care they need — except one. Individuals who need residential treatment, which provides 24/7 care as a step-down from hospitalization, have to travel five hours or more away from their homes and support systems and sometimes have to pay out-of-pocket for the treatment.

Our partners at The Healing Connection are working to change that by opening the region’s first and only residential treatment facility for adolescents in Pittsford. But we need your help! To open the facility, we need to raise ⅔ of our fundraising goal. Please consider making a donation to this initiative at the link in our bio.

The facility will provide:

-24/7-hour structure and intensive support
-Support at the highest risk and most difficult times (evenings, weekends, mealtimes)
-Opportunities for support, education, ad skill-building to foster recovery at home
-Connection and a sense of community with other patients/families who understand the recovery process

04/20/2022

Right now, we are working to open the region's ONLY adolescent residential treatment facility for eating disorders. But in order to do so, we need to raise 2/3 of our fundraising goal — and we need your help!

Individuals who need this level of care currently need to travel at least five hours away from the area to receive treatment. This facility would allow those with eating disorders to stay in their home environment, close to their families, and receive care 24/7— regardless of their financial status.

Please consider making a donation to this initiative at the link below.

You can make a difference by donating today to The Healing C… The Healing Connection Residential Treatment Inc needs your support for Help Fill the Gap – Teen Residential Treatment

04/11/2022

Right now, there is not a residential treatment program for children and adolescents with eating disorders in the Rochester region. Patients like Ana — who suffered from an eating disorder at the age of 14 — who need this level of care have to travel outside of the area, at least five hours away from their family, for treatment.

We are working to change that by opening a residential treatment facility right in Pittsford. This facility will provide 24/7 hour care and support at the most stressful times — including meal times, and it will allow those in WNY who need this level of care to stay right in — or much closer to — their home community.

But in order to make this happen, we need your help! We still need to raise additional money to open the facility. Please consider making a donation or helping us spread the word. Every dollar makes a difference! Learn more and make a gift by clicking here: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/filling-the-gap

04/06/2022

As many of you know, we are opening our adolescent residential program. Please take a moment to read about our status and consider sharing in your own networks. Thank you!

You can make a difference by donating today to The Healing C… The Healing Connection Residential Treatment Inc needs your support for Help Fill the Gap – Teen Residential Treatment

04/01/2022

This is Santo and his brother, Tristan.

Santo was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when he was 15 — but remembers struggling when he was as young as 12.

“At first, the eating disorder presented as a coping mechanism and gave me a sense of control amidst the chaos in my life at the time,” he said.

Teachers at Santo’s school noticed something was wrong, and encouraged him to seek help. A few weeks later, he was diagnosed and admitted to Golisano Children’s Hospital for 17 days. After he was discharged, he took part in the partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs through both and The Healing Connection.

Santo said the loved ones in his life, including his twin brother, as well as the goals he set for himself played a large part in his recovery.

“I always had a constant reminder of how much I was loved and that drove me down the path of recovery,” he said. “My brother and my loved ones were always good at listening and hearing what I needed.”

Now, four years later, Santo is doing well. He is a nursing student at — he hopes to someday work with patients like himself — and he also works at Highland Hospital and Wegmans. Santo also is involved in eating disorder awareness and advocacy through the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders.

When asked what Santo would say to a young person who’s struggling, he shared a powerful sentiment that has helped him:

“Our bodies will do everything they can to protect and heal us, and all they ask is that we love them in return” he said. ❤️

Thank you, Santo, for sharing your story!

02/28/2022

Today we are sharing Alyssa’s story in honor of .

Alyssa was only 12 when she began struggling with an eating disorder. Like many young people with eating disorders, Alyssa had been struggling with anxiety. She had recently switched schools, and as a competitive runner on her school's cross country team, she felt pressure to be better and better.

"I had a type-A personality, and I was in a competitive environment," said Alyssa. "I was at a new school, with new people, with a coach who was pushing me constantly. I wasn't sure how to cope, and the overwhelm manifested itself in restriction."

Her parents first noticed changes in her behavior — she was less chatty and seemed withdrawn. Alyssa's parents brought her to her pediatrician, who said he believed Alyssa was suffering from anorexia. At first, Alyssa couldn't believe it — it just didn't sound like her. But eventually, Alyssa lost 23 percent of her body weight and had to be admitted to Golisano Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Alyssa's recovery wasn't like flipping a switch. She had to be hospitalized several more times, spend time in many residential facilities, and be treated in partial hospital and outpatient settings. It wasn't until college that the concept of recovery really "clicked."

"I was suffering a relapse, and I realized I would have to drop out of college," said Alyssa. "It was the first time it hit me that my eating disorder was having real consequences."

With the motivation to recover and a set of tools at her disposal — including yoga, and The Healing Connection, Alyssa started to find her groove. Now, five years later, she's a nurse, yoga instructor and studying to become a Yoga Therapist. She's shared her story many times, first as a Miracle Kid for as a teen, and now through a book, she wrote, as well as through local news stories.

Now, when asked what she would want to share with people who are struggling, she says: Despite the presence of the illness in your life, you are still you. Underneath its weight you have the strength to begin again; and as Glennon Doyle would say, you can create a truer, more beautiful life for yourself.

02/22/2022

It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 💫 This week is dedicated to sharing information about eating disorders, dispelling myths, and providing hope to those who are suffering.

This week, and every week, we are committed to sharing information about eating disorders to help prevent EDs and spread awareness. Sadly, EDs have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. We hope that by educating more people — and by providing a positive space on social media for young people — we will be able to prevent more eating disorders and detect them in individuals sooner, rather than later.

This year’s theme is See the Change, Be the Change. Help us get the word out this week! Stay tuned for more posts, patient stories, and what you should know about EDs.

02/15/2022

We are excited to be opening a new residential program this spring! This program is several years in the making and will allow young people who need this level of care to stay in the area right here in Rochester. We hope you will join us on Feb. 23 to hear more about the program and mark National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

The Zoom link for the event is in our bio.

02/09/2022

It’s a challenging time for many children and teens right now as we deal with school closures, virtual learning, and cancelled events. Dealing with these changes can be difficult, even for adults.

We know rigidity is a risk factor for the development of eating disorders, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Helping children through this ever-changing time can be one way to introduce and model flexibility for your child, and talk about how we deal with change. Here are some ideas on what you can do:

1. Model: This time may be stressful for you, as well, but modeling flexibility for your child can be powerful. Talk out loud about how you are controlling what you can control and how you will deal with the changes — even if they will be difficult.

2. Celebrate your past accomplishments: Talk to your children about the ways in which they have already been flexible — either throughout the pandemic or in their daily life — and have them reflect on the ways they dealt with change and succeeded. Reflecting on the ways you have already been flexible in the past is a good way to think about how you will deal with the current challenges and recognize their accomplishments.

3. Talk to them about being OK with the unknown: Spend time with your child, no matter what their age, and talk about what’s changing in their life. Talk about the things you can control, and the things you can’t — and avoid being too reassuring about the unknowns or what the future may hold. Instead, help your child be OK with the fact that there are some things out of control and the value of staying in the present.

4. Acknowledge your own feelings: It’s OK to talk about how you are feeling with your kids — maybe you are sad because their birthday party got canceled, or maybe you are missing seeing family. You might be tempted to hide your feelings, but talking about it in a calm manner only helps children name their own feelings and find ways to manage it. “I’m feeling stressed out today, so I am going to go on a walk for a half hour, and then I will feel better,” for example.

10/10/2021

The Healing Connection has partnered with Wickham Farms in Penfield NY to do a Fall Fest Day on Monday, October 25th to raise funds for their new adolescent eating disorder residential treatment facility. We are planning on opening the program in May 2022 and are continuing to raise additional funds for renovations and start up.

Go to this address: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/fall-fest and sign up to participate. We need your name and number of guests. Admission is $12/person ages 3 and older. Admission is free for those under age 3. If you are unable to attend and want to donate, there is an option to also do that.

Only admissions collected BEFORE THE EVENT will be part of the proceeds for the residential program. Tickets purchased at the door on Oct 25th will NOT be part of the proceeds. The rain date will be Tues Oct 26th. Hopefully we won’t need that! We hope to see many of you on October 25th. You can come to the farm any time between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Your name and number of guests in your party will be on a list at the door.

Thanks so much for your support. Please pass this info to others. The adolescent residential eating disorder facility will close the gap in the care continuum for adolescents and their families in upstate NY who are served through the partnership of The Healing Connection, Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Western NY Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders.

Come have some FALL FUN and help raise funds to open The Healing Connection’s not-for-profit adolescent eating disorder residential treatment facility.

08/24/2021

There is a huge need for eating disorder services in Western New York — and although Rochester is able to provide many levels of care to children and adolescents, our area does not currently have a residential treatment facility.

Residential treatment facilities are a step-up from intensive outpatient services and a step-down from hospitalization. These facilities provide 24/7 care, offering support at the most stressful times — during weekends, evenings, and at mealtimes. But, currently, adolescents who need this type of care have to travel out of the area, putting stress on them and their families.

We hope to fill that gap. Right now, we are raising funds to open a not-for-profit adolescent residential treatment center right in Pittsford. The facility will be a live-in home, providing care around the clock. As a result of this effort, patients and their families will be able to stay in their home community, no matter what level of care they need.

But in order to make this happen, we need your help! To learn more and consider making a donation to this effort, visit the link: https://www.thehealingconnectioninc.org/filling-the-gap

05/27/2021

Come to a 6/12/21 Fundraising Event for The Healing Connection’s new adolescent eating disorder residential facility.

The Healing Connection is getting a much-needed home in Morrell Builder’s Alpine Ridge Community
In 2018 Morrell Builders bought a large parcel of land in Pittsford with an existing home. The property has been developed into the Alpine Ridge Townhomes and Community Garden House.

The existing home is going to become the new residence for The Healing Connection, which provides services to young women with eating disorders. The home will serve up to 10 women at a time, ages 12-18, providing 24-hour supportive care. This home will be the first of its kind in the Rochester area. Until now, the closest residential treatment program required a five-hour drive. This can cause a significant problem for families who want and need to stay involved in supporting their loved ones.

The Morrells have a long relationship with The Healing Connection. When they learned the organization was looking for a residential home, they felt they had a perfect fit with a home that would suit their specific needs and offer a central location in a peaceful setting. As a way of bringing the Alpine Ridge community together with The Healing Connection, the Morrell’s constructed a Community Garden House with raised planting beds, immediately adjacent to the property. One of the beds is reserved for the Healing Connection for planting fruits and vegetables.

Pittsford is known for its caring community and they believe connecting the Alpine Ridge Residents to The Healing Connection will have a very positive outcome for both parties. Scott Morrell of Morrell Builders stated, “As a long time Pittsford resident, I know the giving nature of this community. For years I have seen my community donate their talent and treasure to support many people in need. This project is a natural fit for our Alpine Ridge neighborhood in Pittsford. A quick walk leads The Healing Connection residents to a community garden focused on the fun of growing healthy food. Our Alpine Ridge residents, many of which are empty nesters, will have the option to share their time with an organization dedicated to healing young women.”
The Healing Connection’s Capital Campaign is underway. Please consider a gift to bring this much needed service to Rochester. www.TheHealingConnectionInc.org/filling-the-gap

A grand opening celebration at the Alpine Ridge Garden House (40 Skylight Trail, Pittsford, NY 14534) is planned for June 12 from 12-3:00. The Rochester community is invited to stop by, tour the Community Garden Home decorated by Amie Freling of Meme Hill Studio and plant seeds in a sunflower garden. This event is FREE and open to the public with social distancing. Pine saplings will be available when a donation is made to The Healing Connection.
For more information about The Alpine Ridge Community please visit: www.morrellbuilders.com/neighborhoods/alpine-ridge/

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