A Chance to Shine 2022: BHcare Unified 

We are thrilled to announce that we’re hosting one, unified event to benefit all BHcare programs, which include The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, the Hope Family Justice Center, the Parent Child Resource Center, Alliance for Prevention and Wellness, and BHcare’s mental health, and substance use resources. A Chance to Shine will raise funds and awareness for our life-saving programs and celebrate the amazing communities we serve from the Shoreline to the Valley.

Join us on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Quarry Walk in Oxford, CT, where we'll kick off with a morning walk dedicated to victims and survivors of domestic violence followed by a family fun celebration. Bring your own blankets and snacks or grab a bite at one of the several eateries on site. We'll have live music, kids' activities, food trucks, Touch-a-Truck and some special surprises. All funds raised will support the thousands of Connecticut residents we serve in 85 towns. 

Along with raising funds, we will shine a light on not only the services our friends, families and neighbors need but, on the survivors, and thrivers who continue to persist and better their lives.

BHcare provides a comprehensive and integrated system of care with wrap-around services for adults, children and families struggling with mental health, substance use, domestic violence and other health-risk behaviors. The BHcare family of programs includes: BHcare Valley and Shoreline Clinics, The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services (UCDVS), Parent Child Resource Center (PCRC), Hope Family Justice Center, and Alliance for Prevention and Wellness (APW).

The pandemic created the perfect storm.

Isolation and shutdowns created an obstacle for those looking to escape from an abusive partner. The level of severity in injuries and emergencies related to domestic violence increased significantly. The basic needs of many who fled violent homes continue to be compromised. Your participation and sponsorship help us continue to provide these much-needed domestic violence services.

Mental health struggles and substance use are on the rise. 

The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed. Since the start of the pandemic, the rate of indivuduals screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety has continued to increase throughout 2020 and remains higher than rates prior to COVID-19, according to the The 2021 State of Mental Health Report.

From September 29 to October 11, 2021, 28.7% of adults in Connecticut reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, compared to 31.6% of adults in the U.S.

In Connecticut, there were 1,214 oversdose deaths in 2021. Overdose deaths increased at an annual rate of 8.38% over the last 3 years in out state. Nationally, overdose deaths have increased 30% year-over-year.

The need for children's mental health services is greater than ever. 

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted our clients significantly. Children and families had to quickly adapt with the sudden changes in our world due to the health crisis. The Parent Child Resource Center is seeing a lot more children with severe anxiety, isolation and depression.  From March 2020 through December 2020, our clinicians provided nearly 11,000 telehealth appointments. The solution is to have more access to mental health resources. 

According to the 2020 Children's Mental Health Report and parent survey by the Child Mind Institute, more than two thirds of parents who sought help since the start of the pandemic said they had witnessed a decline in their child’s emotional well-being (72%), behavior (68%), and physical health due to decreased activities/exercise (68%).

Findings from the survey also showed that anxiety and depression are the most common mental health challenges leading parents to seek telehealth services for their child.