About Us
McCarthy-Brown
Founder, Chair
I Was Born And Raised In Annapolis, Md At The Naval Academy Where My Father Was A Professor. I Have A Ba Degree In Interior Design With Graduate Certification In Geriatric Interior Design. My Speciality Is Dementia. I Was President And Head Designer For My Design Company For 40 Years. I Was Married To Jack Mccarthy For 30 Years, Having 5 Children Between Us 9 (1deceased), 10 Grandchildren. Together We Ran The Mccarthy Associate Group For 28 Years. I Presided As President And Cfo.
Together We Were Co-Founders Of Dismas Home Of Nh (Dhnh) In 2014. We Were Both Passionate About Reducing The Rate Of Recidivism And Helping The Incarcerated Population. Both Of Us Having Worked Behind The Walls Of The State Prison For Over 10 Years As Volunteers, Realizing How People Have Been Marginalized With Very Little Resources For Help.
We Started Dismas Home Nh With $2000 And Gathered A Group Of Like-Minded Individuals. We All Realized It Was A Giant Leap Of Faith Into The Unknown But With Our Strength In God And Lots Of Prayers We Also Knew We Could Make It Happen. We Have Been Blessed With Incredible Talent, Hard Work, And Spirit From Our All-Volunteer Board.
We Realized We Had A Dream And We Knew We Could Make It Work. Never Thinking We Would Be Working 60-70 Hours A Week Again! Even I Became Cfo For 2 Years. It Was A Huge Hurdle!
Jack Was With Us Long Enough To See The Doors Open. With Jack’s Passing The Board Members Of Dhnh All Stepped Forward To Keep Us Moving. We Could Already See The Success Of The Women Transitioning Through The Home. What A Blessisng!!!
Our Future Plans Include A 2nd Home To Help Our Women In Furthering Their Successful Transition Into The Community As Loving, Caring, And Wanting To Give Back To Their Community To Help Others. Our Dreams Also Include The Expansion Of Our Services Within The Community.
Vice Chair
Born and raised in Teaneck, NJ. and graduated from Bucknell University with a BS Degree in Commerce and Finance. I have worked for Addressograph-Multigraph in various sales and management positions.
Treasurer
Secretary
Advisory Committee
Jodi has been on the Board of Directors since 2016, and has a long career in administration
and management in a variety of organizations. She began her career working in
administrative roles in the NH non-profit sector. This experience includes 12 years with the
Community Alliance of Human Services, an entity comprised of several non-profits that
provided a wide array of health and human services, where she rose to the position of
Director of Administrative Services, then Deputy Director. The last half of her career has
been in the for-profit financial services realm, where she has served in senior level HR
positions. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in human services administration, with a
concentration in personal management, and has attained a SHRM-SCP, the highest
professional certification in the Human Resources field. She continues to be actively
involved in several groups and non-profits serving the NH and VT communities. Jodi was a
selected member of Leadership NH's class of 2016, through which she became aware of
and passionate about the many complex challenges facing NH’s “forgotten” women.
Director
Chris has served on the Board of Directors since 2018 after being initially recruited by the home’s founder Jack McCarthy. He has over 15 years experience in encouraging the incarcerated thru volunteering with Kairos Prison Ministry. He has also been the “boots on the ground” for the Newport Community Trust. In that role, he has distributed over $250,000 to those in the community needing help with rent, heat, car repair, and prescriptions to name a few of the ways that the Trust helps people. He is the proud grandfather of a 2-year-old. Chris is retired after a career in the food service equipment field. He currently helps out as needed at a family restaurant – The Old Courthouse in Newport.
Director
Director
His leadership extends across the SkyTerra organization as principal systems engineer. Adept at implementing the creative ideas that he and his partner develop, Darren works to simplify the IT challenges businesses face. He works closely to gain a deep understanding of
each of SkyTerra’s client’s needs and communicates solutions that get to the heart of the problem at hand.
Before founding SkyTerra in 2015, Darren gained extensive systems engineering experience in IT infrastructure, software, and financial services. He has served in various roles such as IT Director, IT Manager, and IT Team Lead providing technical direction for companies including WhippleHill Communications, Wellington Management Company, and Breakaway Solutions. In influential positions at these companies, he was exposed to the foundational ideas that would sow the seeds of future cloud solutions, and developed engineering and communication methods that would ultimately lead him to his partnership at SkyTerra.
Director
Madeline is an attorney who practices at the intersection of law and mental health care, as well as a psychotherapist. At the law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA she works with
nonprofits and with health care entities that provide psychotherapeutic services, as well as in
estate planning. She also holds her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and
provides holistic, trauma-informed care to individuals overcoming mental health challenges.
Through this multidisciplinary background, Madeline developed insights into the clinical,
practical, legal, and policy issues affecting treatment and reentry for women who are formerly
incarcerated.
Work with Dismas Home allows Madeline better to answer a longstanding call to serve
individuals combatting the lasting burdens of incarceration and substance use disorders. Her academic background includes research into the barriers and gateways to effective reentry after incarceration, and the importance of a mental health-informed approach to reentry planning.
Madeline is inspired by the courage and perseverance of the women of Dismas Home, and she is grateful to unite with them in their paths to sustained recovery and successful reentry.
Director
Ms. Thibedeau is a lifelong educator who has focused on children with disabilities and mental health issues. Ms. Thibedeau has been a classroom teacher, principal and school and state administrator . She was the Administrator for the Bureau of Student Support Services at the New Hampshire Department of Education for over 15 years. During her tenure at the New Hampshire Department of Education she was able to secure SAMHSA grants to provide school districts with trauma informed and social/emotional learning education. Santina was a board member on the NASDSE board and the president of the Board during the 2017-2018. In 2019, she was awarded NASDSE’s Dr. Melody Musgrove Heritage Award. Ms. Thibedeau is currently a board member on the New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. Ms. Thibedeau serves as the Executive Director of Student Support Services in a local school district overseeing students with disabilities, English language learners, behavioral and school health and a multi-tiered system of support for behavior.
Past Chair
Paul began his career as a U.S. Senate Aide and has been a strategic advisor in numerous presidential and congressional campaigns. He is the founder of Novus Public Affairs, a NH based public relations company, and Hynes Communications, a leading national online communications company. He has been active in numerous non-profit organizations and ministries. Paul also serves as the Chairman of the Resource Development Executive Committee of Dismas Home of New Hampshire.
Staff
Executive Director
Cheryll has more than 25 years experience creating meaningful relationships and helping businesses grow. Many of those years were spent working as a corporate media marketing consultant, and in the non-profit sector in development, managing committees and raising funds for important missions such as women’s heart health. Today, Cheryll has focused her experience and skills to bring the future vision of Dismas Home to life. Some personal details to share are: Cheryll is on the board of the New Hampshire Master Chorale, with whom she has been a singer for 18 years. She lives in New Durham with her husband.
Operations Director
Colleen Gordon has years of experience working alongside executive teams in the non-profit sector. Colleen has a proven track record of senior-level executive support, management, event planning and training. She has a strong ability to streamline processes, maximize efficiency and foster professional relationships within organizations. Colleen’s philosophy centers around what role she can play in helping others find solutions. She is committed to excellence in service.
Clinician
Michele has been in the helping professional field for more than seven years. She has held positions
ranging from Certified Recovery Support Worker to Operations Supervisor, to being the Executive
Director of a Recovery Community Organization. She has a degree in Addiction Services and is a
practicing Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Her passion is in helping people find the best self they
can be and never giving up on anyone. Michele has three grown children and lives at home with her
husband, two rescue dogs, and she enjoys traveling.
Finance Director
After earning her BS in Accounting from SNHU, Sharon began her accounting career in the legal field. After eighteen years, she made the move to the nonprofit sector, where she has worked for the last twelve years. She enjoys outdoor activities, and lives with her husband and four cats in Seacoast NH.
The Dismas Home Strategic Plan
Reasonable Accommodations POLICY:
It is the policy of Dismas Home that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disability regarding access to services or employment within the agency. It is further the policy of Dismas Home to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the service delivery process and employment. For purposes of this policy, the term “disability” is used with the understanding that it has the same meaning as “handicap” in state and federal law. (See Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and 45 CFR 85.3; Americans with Disabilities Act and 29 CFR 1630).
Providing Accommodations
- Each request for accommodation shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The employee or resident will be involved in the process of determining potential reasonable accommodations.
- The decision to approve or disapprove an accommodation request must be made by the Executive Director in writing and provided to the resident or employee within 20 working days after the filing of a request.
- Where there is more than one effective accommodation, the final decision as to which accommodation will be provided shall be made by Executive Director after consideration of the wishes of the individual, the documentation provided, and advice from other appropriate personnel.
Employment
Job title
Part Time CRSW (Certified Recovery Support Worker)
Company
Dismas Home of New Hampshire
Location
Manchester, NH 03102
Street address
102 4th Street, Manchester, NH, USA
Salary and Benefits
$18-$20 (commensurate with experience)
Job opening
15-20 hours per week (overnights and weekends)
Primary Responsibilities:
Provide support with daily living tasks helping to facilitate residents living ordinary lives
Provide assistance with mental health and physical concerns
Help to identify early signs of relapse and support treatment and recovery of residents
Complete personal property checks/room checks
Administer random drug tests
Monitor and document Self-administration of Medication for residents – will train
Assist with volunteer activities on the premises of Dismas Home
Attend weekly staff supervision meeting
Skills and Abilities:
Ability to complete documentation/shift notes, and tasks related to Dismas Home policies
Ability to assist and support residents with goals related to recovery, sobriety and personal life
Ability to work collaboratively with other Dismas Home team members/staff
Provide leadership and foster community growth among staff and residents
Ability to consistently exercise sound judgement in a crisis situation
Strong communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Qualifications:
A minimum of an Associates Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Human Services or related counseling field, or Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW) preferred. If the minimum qualifications are not met, hiring will be dependent upon skills and experience with working in a supervised residential care.
First Aid for adults as well as AED trained preferred, but will train
Apply
Please submit a resume to Cheryll Andrews, Executive Director [email protected]
“I cannot tell you how much having the opportunity to go back to school to fulfill my dreams means to me. I have had a passion for animals and animal care since I was very young. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be able to fulfill those dreams. I am truly grateful for the simple fact that a complete stranger believes in me enough to financially help me follow my dreams. This single gesture has given me faith and confidence in myself, and a belief that I won’t fail. I’ve spent my entire life thinking I wasn’t good enough to live a sober, happy, and fulfilling life. Today, I know in my heart that I am finally on my way to where I’m supposed to be.”
What We Do
Providing Re-entry into the community
Recovery
Our home offers residential, rehabilitation services and is conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire. Our location is ½ mile from downtown Manchester, close to employment opportunities, community services, and self-help, recovery support groups.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) acknowledges that Substance Use Disorder is directly linked to trauma and underlying every addiction is pain, collateral damage from a lifetime of complex traumas. It takes time to recover, and recovery requires clinical therapy and individual case support in a safe and loving environment.
To meet the needs of our residents, Dismas Home of New Hampshire is a state licensed, 90-Day, Low Intensity, Residential Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation and Reentry Program. Our two-phase 90-Day program meets and exceeds the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria of 3.1.
Our home offers Clinically Managed Low Intensity residential, rehabilitation services and is conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood on the West Side of Manchester. Our location is ½ mile from downtown Manchester, close to employment opportunities, community services, and self-help, recovery support groups.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) acknowledges that Substance Use Disorder is directly linked to trauma and underlying every addiction is pain, collateral damage from a lifetime of complex traumas. It takes time to recover, and recovery requires a step-down, phase, structured programming to encourage and support successful recovery and transition/reentry. Dismas Home of New Hampshire partners with our residents to rebuild, transform, reorganize and adjust their lives around recovery and sobriety so they may discover the joy of truly living a healthy and empowered life.
This phase is described as an acclimation period that allows the resident to adjust to the program demands and expectations. Clients joining the program are in what is termed “survival” mode. This means they have to adjust psychologically and emotionally to the Dismas Home of New Hampshire program after being in the justice system environment. Personal well being, including health and safety is the top priority. Dismas Home of New Hampshire is a secure, clean Environment.
Once the initial transition to a new environment is complete, our residents enter a period of stabilization to move them one step closer to successful reentry into the community. Milestones of the stabilization period include:
- Residents are connected to services -Physical, mental health, wellness, and prescriptions are managed and attended -Goals are being accomplished and evaluated in identified life domains (such as career, family, self-esteem, etc.)
- Case management is taking place on a weekly basis and as needed
- Resident makes progress and adheres to policies and expectations as a member of Dismas Home of New Hampshire community
- Sobriety and recovery are sustained
- Resident develops healthy relationships with themselves, families, and others
Residents connect to the community outside of Dismas Home of New Hampshire (DHNH) in healthy and supportive ways DHNH operates on the premise that addiction is a disease. We underpin our support for our residents by educating them as to their co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders so they no longer feel “defined” by their disease. This new freedom allows our residents to be empowered to reorganize their lives around recovery and sobriety and make the healthy, informed choices about their lives. This education process includes learning about:
- Living With an Addicted Brain
- Biological Factors of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
- Understanding the Nature of Addiction
- Understanding Habits, Routines and Boredom Related to Addiction
- Co-dependency
- Seeking Safety
- A mindful focused psychoeducational curriculum to help achieve safety from trauma/PTSD and Substance Use Disorder
- Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Relapse Prevention includes coping skills to manage triggers and cravings.
Upon completion of this education and stabilization, residents continue to receive the support they need for successful re-entry back into the community as self-sufficient and productive citizens.
Supportive, Nurturing Environment
Dismas Home offers a supportive, non-discriminatory, nurturing, family-like environment in which residents are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. The program’s holistic approach to services reflects the Dismas Home mission to do whatever is necessary to help residents heal and transform their lives, beginning a life-long journey of recovery and sobriety as a contributing member of society. Comprehensive support services are available to residents during their entire stay.
Dismas Home of New Hampshire offers a supportive, non-discriminatory, nurturing, family-like environment in which residents are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Our holistic approach to services reflects our mission to do whatever is necessary to help our residents transform their lives, heal and begin a life-long journey of recovery and sobriety as a contributing member of society. Comprehensive support services are available to our residents during all four phases of the Dismas Home of New Hampshire Program: Transition; Stabilization; Independence; and Reentry.
Residents of Dismas Home of New Hampshire participate in daily group therapies and receive individual psychotherapy, case management, and 24/7 support offered by a professional, compassionate staff utilizing evidence-based practices. Residents interact and support other women residents who have experienced trauma, incarceration, and mental illness in a structured, supportive environment. Dismas Home of New Hampshire partners with our residents on their transformational journey of change, helping them to evolve toward a healthier, more productive life lived in sustained recovery and sobriety absent of criminal involvement and addiction.
Diverse and supported psychoeducational group therapy by professional staff experienced in substance use disorder treatment with topics related to but not limited to:
- Mindful-based Stress Reduction
- Women’s Spirituality/Women’s Issues
- Healthy Boundaries Lead to Healthy Relationships with Self, Family, and Others
- Resiliency Training
- Conflict Resolution Relapse Prevention Re-organizing for Recovery and Sobriety
- Recovery Support Group
- Self-Compassion/Self-Care
- Overcoming the Barriers that Lead to Addiction
- Effective Communication
- Problem Solving to Overcome Barriers
- Living Independently Alumni Group
- Individual Psychotherapy provided by a clinically, trauma-informed therapist
- Reframing using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Mindful Behavior Therapy (CMBT)
- Education/coping strategies for managing diverse psychiatric issues/medications
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Wrap-around services provided for 6 months after leaving Dismas Home of New Hampshire in embarking on independent living upon completion
- Trauma-informed psycho-therapy
- Trauma-informed equine-assisted therapy (Spring through late Fall)
- In-the-moment counseling by professional staff
- Intensive Case management with skilled, professional staff
- Long and short term goal setting
- Connecting with physical and mental health care providers
- Connecting to/applying for community support
- Connecting to community resources
- Managing legal concerns
- Financial Literacy
- Life Skill Improvement
- Transition and Reentry plans
- Employment Assistance
- Resume Writing
- Job search application and interview process -Career Exploration and job coaching
- Development of soft job skills to maintain and sustain employment and economic stability
- Family reunification/family counseling
- Individualized treatment and transitional planning
- Medication supervision
- 24/7 monitored, supportive, nurturing, and family-like, environment
- Relational and community-based strategies to support a community of women
- Step-down phase programming consisting of 4 phases, Transition, Stabilization, Independence, and Re-entry to support a continuum of healing of the physical body, mind, and spirit
Transitional Living
Residents are actively involved in planning and initiating transition back to the community at large.
The transitional program is designed to support residents through education, training, therapy, and recovery services. In addition, The Dismas Home program staff assist residents in the search for housing, employment and offer the opportunity to learn life skills in preparation for their reentry into the community.
Once a resident has made the transition back into the community, Dismas Home offers wrap-around services to continue the support needed to re-establish strong positive connections that will empower long-term success.
Residents are actively involved in planning and initiating transition from Dismas Home of New Hampshire back to the community of their choice. During this phase residents are progressing toward entering the Dismas Home of New Hampshire Transitional Living Program, and progressing toward becoming independent, self-determined, and productive women.
The mission of Dismas Home of New Hampshire is to assist our residents to complete the program with a successful transition back to New Hampshire communities. Through education, training, therapy, and recovery services, Dismas Home of New Hampshire prepares our residents to be able to deal with all aspects of life upon reentry into the community. We assist and prepare our residents to become fully invested in transforming their lives and reentering the community as productive, physically and mentally healthier people, thus breaking the ‘revolving door’ cycle of returning to prison.
During the Independence phase, Dismas Home of New Hampshire (DHNH) residents meet these milestones and accomplishments:
- Receive on-going and continuing substance use disorder support for relapse prevention and sustaining recovery and sobriety
- On-going clinical and case management support services
- Accomplish established short and long term goals
- Continue to develop healthy relationships with themselves, families, and others
- Maintain a financial budget and meet their financial responsibilities
- Sustain and maintain employment
- Take care of their physical and mental health needs
- Complete a transition plan to reenter the community
- Receive assistance to search for safe, affordable and stable housing
- Volunteer on a regular basis in the local community
- Once these accomplishments have been achieved, residents are ready to transition and re-enter the community
Once a resident has completed all of Program Phases 1- 3, they are ready to leave the home and renter the community. DHNH’s Transitional Living Program offers monitoring, assistance, and evaluation of our residents as they enter into their new lives. Wrap around services are available to them to assist with problem solving and recovery services. DHNH continues to evaluate based on the following criteria:
- Continuing to set and accomplish short/long term goals
- Actively engaging in transition back to the community, having secured safe, affordable and stable housing
- Sustaining sobriety and recovery
- Reunification with family and children
- Connecting to integrated health services to manage physical, mental health, and recovery
- Maintaining and sustaining employment to improve economic situation
- Recognizing the red flags for unhealthy, toxic relationships
- Continuing to actively participate in trauma-informed therapy outside of DHNH
- Participating in local Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault groups
- Actively participating in a self-help group
- Attaining a greater sense of self-confidence, value and self-worth DHNH residents are encouraged to return to DHNH once a month to participate in an alumni group that provides them a support network and inspires current residents by offering them positive role models.
Recent Posts
- How to see Difficult Tasks Differently July 20, 2023
- Looking Around, Look Within’ May 18, 2023
- Recovery and Relapse- Two sides of the same coin March 18, 2023
- Being Strong and Letting Go! February 23, 2023
- We Bid You Adieu January 12, 2023
- The Art of Gratitude December 14, 2022
- Make your Mental Health your Number One Priority! November 18, 2022
- Self Care October 7, 2022
- Earth, Wind, Fire | Personal Self-Care September 8, 2022
- Drug Control Proposal August 15, 2022
- Prison Ministry – Dismas Home Helps To Reduce the Recidivism Rate for Women in New Hampshire July 13, 2022
- Helping Nonprofits in Time of Need June 20, 2022
- Home Sweet Home May 18, 2022
- There is a Season for Everything April 6, 2022
The preparation of this (report, document, etc.) was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and/or such other funding sources as were available or required, e.g. the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Mission is to join communities and families in providing opportunities for citizens to achieve health and independence.
