Evergreen Recovery Services Expands into Bennington County

Scan to watch a video interview with Reach Up clinician, Maryah Thomas.

Maryah Thomas serves as Evergreen's Bennington-based clinician and case manager.

For participants in Vermont’s Reach Up program, mental health, addiction and substance abuse can be significant obstacles in the path to financial independence. In Rutland County, Evergreen Recovery Services has established a strong and successful partnership with Reach Up, providing screenings, referrals, and support for program participants who are struggling to reach their goals. Now, thanks to an expanded contract and a state-funded grant, Reach Up participants in Bennington County can access Evergreen’s broad network of support for substance use disorders.

“This was a real compliment to our agency,” explains Clay Gilbert, Director of Evergreen Recovery Center. “The State was happy with how we were doing in Rutland, and they asked us if we wanted the contract.”

Maryah Thomas was hired just over a year ago to serve as Evergreen’s Bennington-based clinician/case manager. “It’s a bit different down there,” explains Clay. “Maryah is a licensed clinician. She does case management as well as most of the counseling. So in addition to providing assessments and making referrals, she can actually provide the treatment. She is very committed, and the staff in Bennington are very pleased.”

“This position is kind of like a best-kept secret,” says Maryah. “When I get a phone call from a case manager at Reach Up, I do the intake immediately. I do the assessment, I do the screening, I do everything right from start -- usually within a day or two. I think that’s key, because when people are ready for help, they can’t wait two or three months.”

Depending on the individual’s needs and circumstances, Maryah will sometimes make referrals to United Counseling Services, to their Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), or to other resources in Bennington County. But she can also refer clients to Rutland Mental Health Services. “For a long time we were restricted to our own service area,” explains Clay Gilbert. “The use of technology and telehealth has changed all that. It gives people in the rest of the state access to more services. And that’s a good new normal.”

“Maryah is really doing a fabulous job,” says Shari Fenn, Maryah’s counterpart in Rutland County. “She is the perfect person. She’s done a great job of really connecting with that office, and the case managers, and getting all kinds of referrals and being very successful.”

Shari has been embedded as a case manager with the Reach Up program for nearly half of her 25 years with Evergreen/RMHS. “I have watched Reach Up do a really great job over the last 10 to 15 years – they’ve really evolved. It has always been about benefits for families, but now it’s more work-focused. Over time, we’ve seen that when people are properly supported, and get help working through their struggles, they are better able to meet their employment or educational goals.”

Maryah keeps an eye on her caseload as an indicator of how she is doing. “I have to look at the overall picture. There were 3 people enrolled in the program when I was hired and now there are 27. There are some I’ve discharged and there are 4 waiting to get in. Clearly I can look at the numbers and say that people are reaching out, they’re getting help.

“There are always two or three people who are really hitting all of their recovery goals and their life goals, and are doing well, they’ve graduated from Reach Up, they’re getting jobs, and that’s always really inspiring. You get sort of a vicarious boost when you see people knocking it out of the park.”