Northwestern Counseling & Support Services

03/22/2026

In honor of March being Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are giving you a peek into our PAEA program. Megan Martinson joined our team just six short months ago and has transformed this full-time art program that currently serves more than 30 clients, most participating in hour-long sessions.

Megan brings over 20 years of experience and a Master's Degree in Art Education, which allows her to design sessions that are fully tailored to each individual client's interests, strengths, and needs.

Each session provides a safe, supportive, and creative environment where clients can explore art at their own pace. The program is designed to help reduce stress and anxiety, support emotional regulation, and build self-esteem regardless of artistic skill level. Art sessions also offer a valuable non-verbal outlet, giving clients the opportunity to express thoughts and emotions visually in ways that may be difficult to communicate with words.

In the words of Georgia O'Keefe, "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for."

03/21/2026

March 21 (3/21) marks World Down Syndrome Day 💙💛

This date was chosen to represent the three copies of the 21st chromosome, known as Trisomy 21, that make individuals with Down syndrome wonderfully unique.

Today is about raising awareness, advocating for inclusion and equal rights, and celebrating the amazing individuals in our communities who have Down syndrome. Let’s continue to spread kindness, understanding, and acceptance, today and every day. 💛

03/20/2026

🌸 Welcoming Spring & Celebrating 1-Year of The Able House! 🌸

Today marks one-year since the ribbon cutting for The Able House, one of our newest residential care homes, made possible in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL).

Able House is a six-bed residence that provides 24-hour person-centered care for individuals aged 45+ with I/DD, including autism, who require enhanced medical support. 🏡💙 Since opening, staff have assisted clients to participate in events with their peers and grow in independence and well-being every day. Thank you to our dedicated NCSS staff for their ongoing commitment to creating spaces where clients feel at home and supported in living fulfilling, self-directed lives.

This much-needed home in Franklin County offers:
✅ Nursing oversight & medication management
✅ Psychiatric services & personal care
✅ Community-based support to ensure health & safety

We'd like to extend our thanks, once again, to our partners Connor Contracting, Cross Consulting Engineering, DAIL, and many more for making this vision a reality! 👏

Click Here to read the Vermont Digger article published last year:
https://vtdigger.org/2025/01/23/the-able-house-northwestern-counseling-support-services/

Click Here to watch our Able House Here for You episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub4nHgHF5wQ&t=2s

Looking to join the NCSS team? Click Below for open job positions:
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/3D92DE23C00B53E1C7AB625C39F06F30/career-page

03/17/2026

We’re hiring!

Join our dynamic nursing team at Northwestern Counseling & Support Services as a Medical Assistant. An office-based role with flexible, predictable hours (no nights, weekends, or holidays).

Make a difference while supporting patient care in a collaborative, compassionate environment with great benefits to match.

Apply today and join a 2025 Best Places to Work in Vermont!

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/3D92DE23C00B53E1C7AB625C39F06F30/jobs/156787

03/17/2026

Acts of service aren’t just about doing things for others.
It’s about showing up with purpose.

And somehow, in giving, you get something back too. 🤍

On April 16th, join us at the Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center for the 2nd Annual Franklin County Volunteer Fair.

This month, Joe Halko sits down with Erin Creley with Vermont Department of Health and Zoey Quigley with to talk about why volunteering matters and how you can get involved.

Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e-jp6BaClc&t=961s

If you’ve been looking for a sign, this is it.

03/15/2026

Interested in bringing Mental Health First Aid to your team or organization?

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges, respond to someone who may be struggling, and connect them with appropriate support and resources. Just like traditional first aid helps you assist someone with a physical injury, Mental Health First Aid prepares you to provide initial support during a mental health or substance use crisis.

This training is valuable for workplaces, community groups, faith organizations, schools, and even groups of friends who want to learn how to better support one another. Participants leave with practical tools, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to reduce stigma and promote well-being in their communities.

Interested in hosting a session for your team, organization, or group?
Reach out to us at communityrelations@ncssinc.org to start the conversation and learn more about scheduling a training.

Together, we can build stronger, more supportive communities.

03/14/2026

At NCSS, we believe that building strong connections at work is just as important as the work we do in our community. Recently, our amazing Community Mental Health Service team hosted the fantastic Annual NCSS Ice Cream Social, and it is a staff favorite!

Moments like these help strengthen our team so we can continue showing up for the people and communities we serve every day.

Looking for a career where you can make a difference and enjoy meaningful moments with your coworkers? Join our team and be part of a workplace that values community, connection, and care.

paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/3D92DE23C00B53E1C7AB625C39F06F30/career-page

03/14/2026

March is Social Worker Month, and we’re taking a moment to celebrate the many ways social work shows up at Northwestern Counseling & Support Services.

At NCSS, the role of a social worker takes many forms. You’ll find social workers providing therapy, supporting families, coordinating care, advocating in schools and communities, and helping people navigate life’s toughest moments with compassion and dignity. Their work often happens quietly behind the scenes, but its impact is felt every single day across our community.

We’re grateful to Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont, for recognizing the importance of social workers and the vital role they play in strengthening our communities.

To all the social workers at NCSS and beyond: thank you for your dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment to helping others. Your work truly changes lives.

“Every day, Vermont’s Social Workers do important work that has an impact on the well being of thousands of Vermonters. Their efforts to connect our neighbors with supports and services often go unnoticed but play a critical role in the lives of those who may need a helping hand. They are on the front lines supporting individuals struggling with substance use disorder, living with mental health challenges or disabilities, parenting or aging in Vermont – all to strengthen families and communities.

March is Social Workers’ Month and I know I join many Vermonters in saying, thank you.”

03/12/2026

Check out our Parent Child Center staff attending Early Childhood Day at the Legislature!
Our team had a great day learning, connecting with legislators, and advocating for the important early childhood programs that support children and families in our communities. We’re proud to be part of the work to ensure families have the resources they need to thrive!

03/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming our newest team member to NCSS!

It may be a small but mighty group of one this time around, but we’re excited to have them join our Billing Team, supporting some of the operational functions that keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

We’re so glad you’re here and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make. Welcome to the team!

Interested in joining a team that makes a difference every day? Check out our open positions and come grow with us! https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/3D92DE23C00B53E1C7AB625C39F06F30/career-page

03/10/2026

Quitting to***co or va**ng isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone🧡

Through our partnership with 802Quits, families across Vermont can access 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀.

Whether you're ready to quit now or just starting to think about it, help is here.

🌱 Visit www.802quits.org

🌱 Or connect with your local Parent Child Center to get started:
https://vtparentchildcenternetwork.org/centers/

Small steps today can lead to healthier tomorrows for your family.

03/09/2026

Thank you to Georgia Market VTfor creating a space where community can come together, give back in meaningful ways, and support so many local organizations. “I can’t, but WE can!”

We truly appreciate the time, care, and dedication of volunteers who help make a difference. 💙

GEORGIA — In less than one year, Georgia Market has raised more than $30,000 through its Sunday lunches and service almost every other Sunday to benefit local organizations, including Northwestern