Jolymn Paulsen, our Manager of Community Support Services

Jolymn Paulsen, our Manager of Community Support Services


Jolymn Paulsen, our Manager of Community Support Services shares, “One of the most satisfying aspects of my position is to see the team’s kindness and willingness to make a difference in other people’s lives. We have wonderful people on staff with amazing experience that they share with each other for the benefit of our clients.”
We are deeply appreciative for Jolymn and her team as well as for all our wonderful community supporters. Your “kindness and willingness to make a difference in other people’s lives” with your generous donations supports our staff’s transformative work, Thank you for caring about the children and adults with serious mental health challenges who turn to MFS for help.

Jessica, MFS Incorporator and Client (Annual Meeting 2023)

Jessica, MFS Incorporator and Client (Annual Meeting 2023)

“I thought I would be living in the hospital for the rest of my life, and now I am living a life I love on my own. I have accomplished so much in my 8 years out of the hospital:
-I got my first job bagging groceries at Hannaford (I have now been there 7 years)
-I graduated after approximately 2 years in DBT
-I got my first apartment
-I got my fur baby, Millie
-I became my own guardian and payee
-I got my high school diploma

And now, I am an MFS Incorporator. MFS asking me to be an Incorporator feels like they are giving me a voice. I never thought I would be brave enough to share my story. I appreciate MFS for believing in me. I am proud to share my story, and I hope to spread information about mental health stigma in the hope of educating more people.”

Check out these incredible remarks by MFS Incorporator and client Jess at our 2023 Annual Meeting. Thank you for sharing your story, Jess! Click for Video

Tim’s Story

Some of you may recall when we shared Tim’s story last year. Now serving as an MFS incorporator, Tim recently had his letter to the editor published in the Keene Sentinel. In his letter, Tim discusses the importance of finding things to motivate and inspire himself when navigating difficult periods in his mental health journey.

We’re so proud of Tim’s commitment to inspire others.

Read More…

Antioch University and Monadnock Family Services Seek Larger Facilities to Accommodate Growth

Antioch University and Monadnock Family Services Seek Larger Facilities to Accommodate Growth

AU and MFS Seek Larger Facilities to Accommodate Growth

KEENE, NH—OCT. 21, 2021— Monadnock Family Services (MFS) has entered into an Option to Purchase Agreement with Antioch University for its building located at 40 Avon St. in Keene, NH. Antioch would stay in place and lease back a significant portion of the building from MFS for up to 48 months after the sale while it works to finalize the plans for its new campus location in Keene.

“Consolidating our services in Keene to one location has been a part of our strategic plan for some time,” MFS CEO Phil Wyzik shared. “It is important to us that our offices are a purposeful and welcoming environment for those we serve. We’re excited to provide our mental health services in a space that reflects our quality of care.”

As the student body of Antioch has grown, so has the need for additional space where students can learn, innovate in their chosen discipline, and work toward a more socially just world.

“We have seen significant increased student enrollment and growth over the past several years,” says Antioch University Chancellor William R. Groves, JD. “After almost 30 years at our Avon Street location, we are excited to be planning the development of a new, state-of-the-art campus in Keene to better meet the needs of our growing learning community.”

Antioch acquired the former Sprague & Carleton Furniture factory in 1993 and embarked on an extensive renovation and expansion of the facility costing more than $5 million to create the Antioch campus.

“MFS is thrilled at the prospect of moving to this facility. It will provide for a collaborative synergy with Antioch,” said MFS Board Chair Brian Donovan. “Most importantly, it will be a helpful new environment for the clients we serve as well as our hard-working employees. It will bring operating efficiencies as currently MFS is housed in different locations. It is truly a ‘win-win’ situation for all concerned.”

In addition to MFS’s in-person mental health services, the building will allow the organization to house new opportunities for non-talk therapies to complement traditional clinical services, provide dedicated space for telehealth services, and position the organization to grow in the future.                                                                                

“We are excited about the possibilities for collaboration between Antioch and MFS to provide mental health services to the community,” said Antioch University New England CEO Dr. Shawn Fitzgerald. “Staying in our current location during the transition not only offers us that opportunity, but it also provides us the time to find a new location that we can redesign or build to optimize the student experience.”

At its Keene campus, Antioch University offers master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, certificates, as well as professional and continuing education in academic departments including Applied Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Education, and Environmental Studies.

Monadnock Family Services (MFS) is a nonprofit Community Mental Health Center that has serviced Cheshire County and surrounding areas for more than 100 years. Their mission is to be a source of health and hope for people and the communities in which they live. As the Monadnock region’s state designated mental health center, MFS fosters mental and emotional wellness for individuals of all ages. They create services that heal, education that transforms, and advocacy that brings a just society. For more information visit mfs.org.

Antioch University was founded in 1852 by its first President, Horace Mann, the father of public education in the United States.  Antioch’s mission is to provide learner-centered education to empower students with the knowledge and skills to lead meaningful lives and to advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.  Antioch University is a national university that operates campuses in Keene; Los Angeles; Santa Barbara; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, as well as online and low residency programs, such as its acclaimed PhD program in the Graduate School of Leadership and Change and its very successful Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in Keene. A bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education, Antioch University is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 institution that has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1927. antioch.edu.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kathy Waters, Director of Development. Monadnock Family Services  at Kwaters@mfs.org or (603) 338-0052

Karen Hamilton, Director of Marketing, Content and Communications, Antioch University at khamilton1@antioch.edu or (310) 804-3795

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2020 MFS Community Partner Award

2020 MFS Community Partner Award

At our Annual Meeting last week, MFS honored
Chris Polich, APRN,
with a new award we’re calling the
 
Community Partner of the Year Award
 
This was given to Chris in recognition of all he does to provide thoughtful and compassionate medical care to the clients at our 93rd Street office in Keene.
 
Chris works closely with our team, ensuring both the mental health and physical needs of our clients are being met.
Thank you Chris, for the difference you are making
in so many lives every day!
  
2020 MFS Annual Meeting Recap

2020 MFS Annual Meeting Recap

What a wonderful “Unique and Safely Distanced” Annual Meeting we had on Sept 30th!

 

Thanks to Alex Trombly (AMT Productions) and our friends at Monadnock Covenant Church,

 

We had everything we needed for our guests to remain safely in their cars as we broadcast our meeting over an FM radio frequency.

 

“A Monadnock Home Companion” included skits, beautiful live music, staff awards, milestone staff anniversaries, and messages from Sharon Price Stout, MFS Board Chair and CEO Phil Wyzik.

 

We want to thank the following friends who helped make this such a memorable evening:

 

Radio Show Participants
Mayor George Hansel
Liz LaRose, President of Monadnock United Way,
Rev. Elsa Worth from St. James Episcopal Church,
Lindsay Bartlett and Jim Duffy (MFS staff), and friend, Bruno Kosheleff

 

Live Music Performers
Laura Andrews, Anne Bilodeau and our
Mainstreet Broadway friends
JoAnne Mead, Scott Clarke, Sheila Heffernon, and Walt Sayer

 

Pre-recorded music by
Junction 1-3-5 Barbershop Quartet:
Melville Andrews, Casper Bemis, Andrew Cooke and Allan Treadwell

 

Refreshments by
The Bread Shed
CC&D’s Kitchen Market
Raffle Gift Baskets donated by
Cheshire Garden and Hannah Grimes Marketplace

 

We hope everyone who was able to attend enjoyed the evening as much as we did.

 

The photos below capture some of the evenings highlights.

 

Thank you all!!! 
Board Chair, Sharon Price Stout, opens the meeting
Mainstreet Broadway performs “I’ve Got Rhythm” (I’ve got music, I’ve got my mask…)
Laura Andrews and Anne Bilodeau perform “Shenandoah”
(L-R) Lindsay Bartlett, Liz LaRose, Elsa Worth, George Hansel and Bruno Kosheleff star in “Guy Noir: Private Eye” with narration by Phil Wyzik (at podium).
Phil Wyzik (at podium) narrates “The Lives of the Cowboys”, and is joined by (L-R) Jim Duffy, Lindsay Bartlett, and Bruno Kosheleff
George Piers, Director of Counseling Services (R), offers congratulations to Dave Tenney, who retired this year after serving MFS and our community for over 40 years, most recently as the Director of Acute Care Services.
George also had the pleasure of recognizing Kevin Holfelner on his retirement after serving as a Clinician on our Substance Abuse Services Team
for 20 years.
Recognition was also paid to recent retiree Michael Turino for his 20 years of service as
a Clinician on our Children’s Services Team.
We are grateful for all that Dave, Kevin, and Michael brought to MFS and the individuals and families they served throughout the years and we wish them all the best in their retirement.
Board of Directors and Volunteer Recognition
Three members of our Board completed their (2) three-year terms and were thanked
by Sharon for their dedication and valued service to MFS during the past 6+ years:
Diane Croteau, Ann Heffernon, and Winston Sims
We are grateful for all you brought to MFS and we look forward to staying connected
with you through future volunteer opportunities!
Nominating Committee Chair, Ann Heffernon, read the names of the three proposed
Board Members, who were then voted in for their first three-year term:
Reba Clough, Shaun Filiault, and Joe Schapiro
Welcome to the MFS Board! We look forward to working with you in the years ahead!
Incorporator Awards
Two volunteers were recognized for their contributions to MFS during the past year with the “Incorporator(s) of the Year” Award. Mary Delisle made the presentations to:
Laura Gingras
For her outstanding support and commitment to MFS through her
creativity, generosity, and enthusiastic spirit!
Eileen Sarson
For her outstanding support of the staff at MFS through her ever-present
thoughtful and generous spirit!
We also welcomed 14 new Incorporators by way of a unanimous vote. We are grateful you have joined our Incorporator team and look forward to all you’ll bring to MFS!
We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our Board, our Incorporators, and the many other friends of MFS who are there for us all year long – thank you all!
2020 MFS Staff Awards
Each year we present the following five awards to staff members
for their outstanding service and dedication to MFS. Here are this year’s winners:
The Hoffman Award to Eileen Fernandes, Chief Program Officer,
for her dedication to serving those in need in the community and her core value of
teamwork in mental health.
The Dr. James Meath Award to Dr. Jinsook Song, Eastern Region Office Program Coordinator, for her compassion, skill, dedication, and effectiveness in delivering
direct service to MFS clients and their families.
The Ruth Ewing Award to “All MFS Support and Administrative Staff”
for their exceptional resourcefulness, effectiveness, and innovation
in the provision of services at MFS.
The Tom Dwane Service / Leadership Award to Susan Boll-Pitts, Community Support Specialist III, for her exemplary service and leadership with both MFS and the local community.
The Aldington / Lovejoy Award to Jackie Donovan, Executive Assistant,
for her exemplary dedication and passion for the MFS Mission, and her contribution
to the overall success of the agency.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s award winners!
2020 Staff Anniversary Milestones
 
25 Years
Cindy Henault
 
20 Years
Joyce Aguiar, Danielle Jacobs, Christine Selmer, Peter Skalaban
 
15 Years
Sonya Bartley, Judy LeClair, Lorna Poland
 

10 years

Lindsay Bartlett, George Chartier, Jr., Allan Cummings, Jeremy Mitchell,
George Piers, Brenda Slongwhite
 

5 Years

Robert Bailey, Sarah Baker, Bobbi Campbell, Theresa Chamberlain, Stephen Dille II, Jennifer Greenstone, Martha Huckins, Barbara Hutchinson, Annette Keis,
Dona LaFortune, Catherine Neary, Bridgit Noone, Jill Nye, Ralphine Profitt
Thank you all for your years of dedicated service and commitment to MFS!
Remember
to get your
flu shot at ConvenientMD in Keene, where MFS will receive $1.00 for every flu shot given at that location through November 16th!
 
Stop by for yours today!
Thank you for all you do to support
Monadnock Family Services!

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