The Key Role of Addiction Treatment Services in the Justice System
Despite widespread understanding of the disease model of addiction, substance use is still perceived as a criminal act. Every year, 1.16 million Americans are arrested for the sale, manufacture, or possession of illicit substances. Incarceration is a common punishment for drug-related crimes, with the National Institutes of Health estimating that 65% of the U.S. prison ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2023
2023 was a year of remarkable progress and achievements at Spectrum Health Systems. We took numerous strides toward our goal of making treatment more accessible for the most vulnerable populations while continuing to look for ways to retain and recruit staff that make it all possible. One of Spectrum’s proudest achievements came in February when ...
Twelve-Step and Non-Twelve-Step Meetings: Which is Right for You?
Twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are some of the most popular formats of addiction recovery meetings. These programs are based on a broad concept of spirituality and encourage members to work through a series of steps to solidify their recovery. While many people have found long-term recovery through twelve-step programs, ...
Spectrum’s Annual Meeting Highlights Ongoing Efforts to Address Opioid Crisis
More than 100 people gathered on October 19th for Spectrum Health Systems’ Annual Meeting held at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, Massachusetts. The evening underscored Spectrum’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis.
Spectrum Health Systems Announces New Vice President of Clinical Services
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a longtime not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts, announces today the appointment of Vice President of Clinical Services Lisa Blanchard.
Spectrum’s 16th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Raises Record Amount
Spectrum Health Systems, the largest private, non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment provider in New England, hosted its 16th Annual Charity Golf Classic on Monday, October 16th at the beautiful Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Mass. This historic course is known for hosting the first Ryder Cup in 1927, and was also the site of the 1925 U.S. Open. It was Spectrum’s first tournament at the Worcester Country Club where it plans to return next year.
Spectrum Health Systems Partners with Worcester Police and Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to Focus on Treatment, Rather Than Prosecution
A new program spearheaded by the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) will now give those struggling with addiction who get caught buying narcotics a choice: seek help for addiction or face prosecution.
The Key Role of Addiction Treatment Services in the Justice System
Despite widespread understanding of the disease model of addiction, substance use is still perceived as a criminal act. Every year, 1.16 million Americans are arrested for the sale, manufacture, or possession of illicit substances. Incarceration is a common punishment for drug-related crimes, with the National Institutes of Health estimating that 65% of the U.S. prison ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2023
2023 was a year of remarkable progress and achievements at Spectrum Health Systems. We took numerous strides toward our goal of making treatment more accessible for the most vulnerable populations while continuing to look for ways to retain and recruit staff that make it all possible. One of Spectrum’s proudest achievements came in February when ...
Twelve-Step and Non-Twelve-Step Meetings: Which is Right for You?
Twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are some of the most popular formats of addiction recovery meetings. These programs are based on a broad concept of spirituality and encourage members to work through a series of steps to solidify their recovery. While many people have found long-term recovery through twelve-step programs, ...
Spectrum’s 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic Raises Nearly $70,000 for Addiction Treatment
Worcester, MA – November 10, 2016 – Spectrum Health Systems, the largest private non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment provider in New England, hosted its 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic on Monday, October 3 at the Framingham Country Club. Nearly 125 golfers participated in the event, raising $68,593 in support of Spectrum’s continuum of addiction treatment services.
Lisa Blanchard of Spectrum Health Systems Receives Emerging Leader Award
WORCESTER, Mass. – November 8, 2016 – Lisa Blanchard, MA, LMHC, executive director of outpatient operations for Worcester’s Spectrum Health Systems, the largest private non-profit substance abuse and mental health treatment provider in New England and resident of Paxton, Mass., was honored for her outstanding contributions in behavioral healthcare with the Association of Behavioral Healthcare’s (ABH) Elizabeth Funk Emerging Leader Award. The award recognizes members under the age of 40 who show evidence of commitment to behavioral health through his/her ability as an emerging leader within the field. Recipients of the award display the ability to motivate staff and communicate effectively in their role as a developing leader. Blanchard received her award on October 21, during the ABA’s Salute to Excellence at the Waltham Hotel, an event dedicated to recognizing leaders in community-based behavioral healthcare.
Changing Prisons in Virginia
Spectrum has joined with the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) in an important experiment with the potential of impacting prison systems throughout the country by reframing the mission and function of prisons. A powerful combination of circumstance has aligned in Virginia where Spectrum Health Systems operates a 1,080 bed Therapeutic Community treatment program at Indian ...
Prisons as a Launch Pad
At this point in history when there is a growing consensus for prison reform, we have an opportunity for making systemic change that can impact great numbers of inmates by re-envisioning prisons as “launch pads” for success. We believe this is feasible through a well-designed integration of the self-help therapeutic community (TC) model and a ...
Spectrum Health Systems Names Kurt Isaacson as New President and CEO
Spectrum Health Systems announced today that current Chief Operating Officer Kurt A. Isaacson has been named its new president and chief executive officer effective July 1, 2016. Isaacson will succeed retiring Spectrum President and CEO Charles “Chuck” J. Faris, who joined Spectrum in 1971 and led the organization through a period of significant evolution. Faris will move to a senior advisor role to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.
Spectrum’s Recovery Support Navigator Program Changes Lives
On Tuesday, March 30th, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined Spectrum Health Systems, along with other elected officials, corrections and addiction treatment professionals at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts to celebrate the successes of the innovative Recovery Support Navigator (RSN) program.
