Testimonials
View AllIt gives me a chance to open up and talk to other people that have the same “problem/issues” as myself, without feeling like I am being judged.
About Us
Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS) began serving the community in the fall of 1967. The Windham and Windsor Regional Planning and Development Committee had been charged with the task of taking a census of Windham-Windsor county citizens suffering from developmental disabilities. With the task completed, members of the committee realized that the identified citizens had many other needs as well – health issues, medical disabilities, rehabilitation needs – and the group incorporated with the sole purpose of addressing these needs.
The new entity, Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont,identified its mission not as a service provider, but as a visionary agent and fundraiser for smaller agencies which were created to address identified behavioral, medical, and rehabilitative health needs in the two counties. The Prouty Center for Child Development and the Valley Health Council were two agencies created by HCRS in the early seventies to address identified needs.
Also in the early years, HCRS agreed to take over and run two financially struggling outpatient mental health agencies, one in Windham County (Family & Child Guidance) and the other in Windsor County (Windsor County Mental Health). The Agency helped find funding for the two outpatient agencies through the federal government’s Community Mental Health Centers Act, took the administration of them under its wing, and Mental Health Services of Southeastern Vermont was born. Herein lies the phenomenon of HCRS’ two, often confused, names.
At this same time, the State began the process of de-institutionalizing the State Mental Health Hospital and Medicaid funding was channeled through the Department of Mental Health office. HCRS as a funding source no longer made sense, therefore the agency began to develop other services – alcohol and drug treatment, services for citizens with severe and persistent mental illness, emergency services, developmental services, and extended services for families and children.
Since the early 1990’s, HCRS has been a major community mental health agency, providing comprehensive services to Vermonters across Windsor and Windham counties. Serving over 4500 individuals each year through its five major service programs, our highly trained staff and dedicated Board of Directors continually strive to improve the organization’s outstanding services and ensure they meet the needs of local community members.
HCRS recognizes that individual lives and needs are frequently complex, and that no single organization or agency can address all of them. To assist in the provision of coordinated and comprehensive care, HCRS works collaboratively with over 60 area service providers, health care agencies, and community organizations in meeting the needs of those who live in our communities.
