News and Events

In May, we said good-bye, and wished good luck, to our most recent group of interns. We held a ceremony where some of the interns were celebrated with a certificate, and enjoyed candid discussions over breakfast with Root Center President & CEO, Steven Zuckerman, as well as other Directors and Executive Leadership Team members, on what they learned and gained from this experience.

Here at Root, we aim not only to provide the best care to our patients, but also the best learning environment for our staff, and that includes interns. Just last year we had 29 total interns from 22 different universities. Some as far as New Mexico!

Root Center is committed to growth and opportunities, and many current Root employees were once interns themselves. If you are a student with an interest in helping others reach their goals of optimal behavioral health, we encourage you to apply for an internship. 

If you are interested in applying for an internship, please submit your resume and cover letter to hr@rootcenter.org.

You may recall from our last newsletter that on February 29th, we LEAPT into Middlesex County with our Grand Opening of our newest healthcare clinic at 392 Washington Street in Middletown.

Root Center is now the FIRST and ONLY mental health and addiction treatment clinic to offer methadone in Middlesex County, and in April, we were so excited to officially begin treating patients.

As we have mentioned on many occasions before, this new clinic will help change the face of recovery for residents in Middlesex County, giving them the option of seeking treatment in their own community, rather than having to travel, often lengthy distances, on public transit or rideshare services, 6 days a week, as they begin treatment. Our goal at the Root Center is to be able to offer mental health and addiction treatment services across Connecticut, especially to those often most marginalized in our communities. We are striving to make treatment more inclusive and accessible for those in need, as we know one of the greatest predictors of treatment success is services close to home to facilitate sustained participation. 



Check out this patient story below to see just how big of a difference this new clinic will make for some folks. Doug, for instance, is a Middletown resident, who, at one point, had to travel for more than three hours roundtrip to Hartford on public transit to receive treatment. He couldn't receive treatment in Middletown because there previously had been an explicit prohibition on methadone clinics within city limits. Root Center fought this discriminatory law, and ultimately, won. Now, we are able to help those seeking treatment in Middlesex County get access to life saving medications closer to home.

Advanced Recovery Institute

As a reminder, our Advanced Recovery Institute (ARI) is an entity of the Root Center for Advanced Recovery that is committed to research and training to elevate clinical care. ARI is responsible for events like our Community Forums, our research endeavors, and our monthly Clinical Grand Rounds. 

Clinical Grand Rounds



Our 2023-2024 Clinical Grand Rounds schedule is coming to a close this week with our final presentation today at 12pm on "Commitment Statutes in Connecticut". Our 2024-2025 Clinical Grand Rounds schedule will then begin on Thursday, July 25, with a presentation on “Mental health and performance in athletes: The role of sport psychology". 

We are very excited for our upcoming year of exciting speakers that we have set for the months to come. Each month, we host leading speakers from across the country to deliver presentations on important topics regarding mental health and addiction.

These presentations are virtual, free, and open to the public. You can receive Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for $10, and CEUs are FREE for Root staff members. Learn more about our lineup and register for any of our presentations, including the one later today, here. 

Community Forum - Harm Reduction: Navigating Public and Political Perceptions

Root Center for Advanced Recovery's Advanced Recovery Institute hosted its first Community Forum of the year. This Community Forum was on: "Harm Reduction: Navigating Public and Political Perceptions."

Twice a year, our Advanced Recovery Institute hosts a Community Forums to spark thought provoking discussions on relevant mental health and addiction topics. These forums are held in-person at our Manchester Clinic, as well as on Zoom. They are free and open to all. Be sure to follow us on social media so you don't miss the next one coming later this fall!

A big thank you to our Panelists pictured above (left to right):

Sue Clark-Levin - Harm Reduction Health Educator, CT Center for Harm Reduction

Benjamin Bazin, M.D. - Resident, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Surita Rao, M.D. - Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Steven Zuckerman - Root Center President & CEO

Mayor Ben Florsheim - Mayor of Middletown

Cameron Breen, RCP - Harm Reduction Coordinator, McCall Behavioral Health Network 

Liz Evans - Senior Director of Harm Reduction, Liberation Programs

Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD. - Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Author, Podcast Host, and Documentary Producer

Margaux Farrell - Root Center Chief of Staff

If you missed the discussion, don't worry! You can watch the full program here.

Clinical Updates

It's worth noting again for our new subscribers this quarter that this year, not only have we expanded our partnerships and facilities, we are also expanding our services! Root Center is proud to now offer Problem Gambling Treatment, details above. 

Team Updates and Openings

At Root Center, we believe that we are stronger together! Pictured above, Perceptions Program and Root leadership bringing their synergies together to support community based healthcare initiatives. We value partnerships with organizations employing likeminded individuals looking to make a difference in mental health and addiction treatment. 

Pictured above (left to right):
Margaux Farrell - Root Chief of Staff

Jennifer L. Succi, MPH - Root CFO

Jeffrey DiGirolamo - Perceptions Program Chief Executive Officer

Charles Bittner - Perceptions Program Chief Of Staff

Steven Zuckerman - Root President & CEO

Stephen Feathers - Perceptions Program Director of Compliance & Training

Root Celebrates Nurse of the Year

In May, in honor of National Nurses Month, Root announced its 'Nurse of the Year' for 2024. This year's honor went to our New London Clinic Nursing Supervisor, Julie Handleman, R.N., B.S.N..

Julie has been with Root Center for six years, and she is currently the Nursing Supervisor at our New London Clinic.

"Julie embodies what it means to be a trusted healthcare professional," said Root Center President and CEO, Steven Zuckerman. "She represents Root in a way that exudes dedication and compassion, and we are honored to have her on our team. Thank you, Julie, for your dedication to our patients, and our organization, allowing us to continue providing hope to those in need."

Root Center Annual Years of Service Awards Ceremony

In June, we were honored to host our Annual Years of Service Awards ceremony. This event is a celebration of our employees who have been with the agency for 5, 10, 15, 20, and some, even 25 years!

"As a non-profit organization currently serving more than 5,500 patients every single day across our state, we strive to be a center of excellence for those who are interested in making a difference in mental health and addiction treatment," said Root Center Chief of Staff, Margaux Farrell. "We want Root to be a place for our employees to plant and grow their ROOTS with us."

We have a podcast, Recovery with Root! We are diving deeper into mental health and addiction topics with leading professionals, researchers, patients, counselors, and so much more! It is hosted by Margaux Farrell, a former Journalist and News Anchor, who is now the current Root Center Chief of Staff. New episodes drop on the first Monday of every month.  Listen and subscribe for free on all major streaming platforms!