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Riverbend Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary of Annual Awards Ceremony, Honoring Outstanding Mental Health Advocates and Leaders

51°µĶų Mental Health named Dr. Jeffrey C. Fetter of and as its 2026 Champion for Mental Health. Dr. Fetter is a psychiatrist and physician leader committed to improving care for people with serious mental illness and strengthening New Hampshireā€™s overall mental health system. Fetter will be honored at Riverbendā€™s 20th annual Champions for Mental Health Awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.

51°µĶų Mental Health provides comprehensive mental health care services to residents of 30 central New Hampshire communities. For 20 years, Riverbendā€™s Champions for Mental Health Awards has recognized individuals and organizations that advocate for greater access to mental health services, contribute extraordinary time, talent or resources to improving the lives of people with mental illness, or give voice to those with mental illness while helping to eliminate stigma and stereotypes.

ā€œDr. Jeffrey Fetter is a highly respected public servant who has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people with serious mental illness and strengthening the systems that serve them,ā€ said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°µĶų Mental Health. ā€œHis work reflects an extraordinary combination of clinical expertise, leadership, advocacy, and compassion. Dr. Fetterā€™s continuing commitment to strengthening systems, increasing access for people who need help, and for providing a voice for individuals and families navigating the mental health system has helped foster positive systems change with healthcare providers, local authorities, our State Legislature, affiliated organizations, and the general public. We applaud his impactful contributions and know our system of care in New Hampshire will continue to see long-term improvement and benefit from his advocacy, actions and expertise.ā€

Fetter is a board-certified psychiatrist and internist. He has spent decades working at the intersection of medical and psychiatric care, public health and mental health policy, with a focus on improving outcomes for people with serious mental illness who often face complex medical, social, and systemic challenges. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of New Hampshire Hospital, the stateā€™s only inpatient adult psychiatric facility, where he provides clinical and quality oversight and leads efforts to advance evidence-based care, education and program development. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the at Dartmouth.

Fetterā€™s work has also included leadership at 51°µĶų Mental Health, serving as Chief Medical Officer and overseeing psychiatric care across community-based, residential and integrated care settings, plus providing direct patient care on Riverbendā€™s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. He led the organizationā€™s clinical response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Fetter combines clinical leadership with advocacy and systems improvement, through developing innovative approaches to care, advancing evidence-based practices, educating and mentoring behavioral health professionals, and sharing clinical expertise to policymakers on issues affecting New Hampshireā€™s mental health system. Since 2006, he has provided expert testimony and data clinical expertise to legislative, regulatory and judicial matters, helping shape policies and practices that support better care for people with mental illness throughout New Hampshire.

ā€œThis recognition is such an honor, especially coming from Riverbend, an agency Iā€™ve worked alongside for so much of my career and so is uniquely familiar with my work over the years, both where Iā€™ve been helpful and where I may have fallen short,ā€ said Dr. Fetter. ā€œA critical part of our community and our regionā€™s healthcare system, Riverbend is a great example of a community mental health center with a strong client-centered culture that keeps it resilient and on-mission, even in times of great change.Ģż Iā€™m proud to support Riverbend and its staff, and to highlight to the great work they do.ā€

Recognized nationally and throughout New Hampshire, Fetter received an Exemplary Psychiatrist Award in 2023 from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of only four psychiatrists nationally to receive the honor that year. Fetter grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is a talented multi-instrument musician who plays with local bands.

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EVENT DETAILS:

The Champions for Mental Health Awards are part of Riverbendā€™s ongoing effort to recognize those who help advance mental health awareness, advocacy, and access to care across New Hampshire. The 2026 event marks the 20th anniversary of the annual celebration.

Where: BNH Stage
16 S. Main Street

Concord, NHĢż 03301

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

5:30 ā€“ 6:15 p.m. ā€“ Reception

6:15 ā€“ 7:15 p.m. ā€“ Ceremony & Awards Presentation

Tickets & Registration

Sponsorship Information:

To support Riverbend or be part of the event, contact Riverbendā€™s Community Affairs Office at: development@riverbendcmhc.org.

Ģż

Celebrating more than 60 years of hope and healing, 51°µĶų Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Close to 5,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

– Riverbendā€™s 19^th Annual Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Leaders in Clinical Practice and Community Education –Ģż

From health clinics to the State House, Dr. Dominic Geffken and Susan Paschell are being honored for their significant efforts to support the mental health system in New Hampshire. The two will formally receive their awards at the upcoming Champions for Mental Health gala event October 7 in Concord, New Hampshire.

51°µĶų Mental Health provides comprehensive mental health care services to residents of 30 central New Hampshire communities. Through its annual awards ceremony, Riverbend recognizes individuals or organizations that advocate for greater access to mental health services; contribute extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improve the lives of people with mental illness; or publicly give voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that can surround the disease.

ā€œAs our industry and overall system of care continue to face rapid evolution and external challenges, our annual Champions event reminds the community each year of the value our services and staff provide in changing lives and improving our overall community health,ā€ said Lisa K. Madden, President & CEO of 51°µĶų Mental Health.

ā€œThis yearā€™s champions come from different worlds ā€“ clinical practice and public affairs ā€“ but each represent the types of essential skills and expertise we value as community partners and that our entire health system values in support of mental health education and advocacy,ā€ Madden explained. ā€œThe work Dr. Dominic Geffken performs in service to the homeless population and to patients with opioid use disorders reinforces the importance of reaching out and helping people where they are, with what they need. In Susan Paschell, we have a champion who has educated not only our partners in community mental health, but other organizations as well as to how to best approach the legislative process, engage with lawmakers effectively and bring more voices into the public policy arena. It will be a distinct pleasure to honor both Dominic and Susan at our event and share our gratitude for their efforts.ā€

DOMINIC GEFFKEN, MD, MPH

Dominic Geffken is the Program Director of the NH Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency (NHDFMR), a community-based program at Concord Hospital that trains and educates future family physicians to provide primary care to patients in outpatient and inpatient settings. While teaching important skills, the program also seeks to provide health care to underserved populations needing essential primary care at the Concord Hospital Family Health Center (CHFHC).

More than a decade ago, Dr. Geffken partnered with the Concord Coalition to End 51°µĶųlessness to start a program that delivers primary care services specifically to the unhoused population in Concord, which includes clients with mental illness.

Called the ā€˜Downtown Clinicā€™, this program allows family medicine faculty and resident physicians, behavioral health clinicians, nurses and medical assistants to deliver physical and mental health care to clients at the 51°µĶųless Resource Center in Concord. Approximately 120 patients per year are seen at this outreach clinic and NHDFMR needs assessment data suggests that the majority of people struggling with chronic homelessness in Concord are patients of the Concord Hospital Family Health Center.

In addition, beginning in 2015, Dr. Geffken was the first family medicine clinician at the Concord Hospital Family Health Center to provide medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The model he created, in collaboration with a team of behavioral health clinicians and nurses, grew throughout the residency program and now, future family physicians and behavioral health clinicians learn this interdisciplinary model of care as part of their training. Beyond his workplace, Dr. Geffken, a Concord resident, shares his medical expertise with the community through volunteering his personal time at local shelters and vaccine clinics.

ā€œAs a family physician, my goal is to provide whole person care, delivering health care that treats both the body and the mind,ā€ said Geffken. ā€œI also believe that primary health care delivery should not be confined to the walls of a traditional clinic. Meeting and treating people physically and emotionally allows us, as healthcare workers, to manage medical issues in their initial stages and prevent them from escalating into a devastating and costly crisis. I am honored to accept this award, and I accept it on behalf of all members of the NH Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, Concord Hospital Family Health Center and Concord Hospital who have supported this work over the years.ā€

SUSAN PASCHELL

For more than 40 years, Susan Paschellā€™s work in the public policy arena has helped individuals and groups navigate the legislative system and advance community-focused causes and missions. Spanning both New Hampshire and Maine, Susan has worked in partnership with numerous business and non-profit clients to help them share their stories, advocate effectively with legislators, and illuminate issues of importance.

Paschellā€™s career includes work as a lobbyist and legislative specialist with the government affairs division of a multi-disciplinary law firm, and ā€“ since 2007 – as a senior associate for the Concord, New Hampshire-based Dupont Group. Through the latter, Susan collaborates with the ten community mental health centers in New Hampshire to highlight issues of importance for mental health clients, the mental health workforce and system sustainability. Educating lawmakers on issues relating to protecting Medicaid, the importance of residential housing for the mentally ill, and preserving access to services are some recent efforts. Susanā€™s work involves everything from prepping ordinary citizens on how to prepare for State House testimony, to crafting speeches, opinion pieces and other written communications to share data and real-life stories around key issues before the State Legislature. In concert with her colleagues, Susan works with everyone from top executives to citizens who have never approached a lawmaker, to educate people on how state government works and how to best advocate for their own or community interests.

A Bow resident with a masterā€™s degree from Harvard Universityā€™s Graduate School of Education, Susan began her career as a public-school teacher, coordinating special education services and teaching children with disabilities in the Henniker school system. She also spent nearly a decade as a senior researcher in the non-partisan Committee Research Office of the NH House of Representatives, where she prepared analyses of legislation and drafted amendments, testimony and reports for key House committees.

ā€œIn a democratic society, understanding how state government works and how to support our citizens is a passion and responsibility I take seriously,ā€ said Paschell. “Whether in Concord or in Augusta, to help people navigate the rules and customs of state government and get their voices heard has propelled me every day of my working life for decades. I am honored to accept this award, an award I share with my wonderful colleagues from The Dupont Group who I collaborate with every day on topics and issues important to our state.ā€

Riverbend will honor Geffken and Paschell at its upcoming Champions for Mental Health event on Tuesday, October 7 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord. The annual ceremony shines a light on the importance of mental health and broadens community engagement around supporting Riverbend and the entire community mental health system in New Hampshire.

EVENT DETAILS:

CHAMPIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Where: Bank of NH Stage
16 S. Main Street

Concord, NHĢż 03301

When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

5:30 ā€“ 6 p.m. ā€“ Reception

6 ā€“ 7 p.m. ā€“ Ceremony & Awards Presentation

Tickets & Registration

Sponsorship Information:

To support Riverbend or be part of the event, contact Riverbendā€™s Community Affairs Office at: development@riverbendcmhc.org.

Ģż

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Celebrating 60 years of hope and healing, 51°µĶų Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Close to 6,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Champions have expanded training opportunities, provided essential clinical services, worked with legislative or community partners to change policy, and shared stories that grew recognition of the importance of mental health.

For Riverbend, a Champion for Mental HealthĢżis an individual who:
ā€¢ Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
ā€¢ Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
ā€¢ Publicly gives voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that surround the disease.

Honor those making a difference in the mental health of our local communities ā€“ alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, or helping those with addictions or mental illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbendā€™s Champions for Mental Health awards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, October 7 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.Ģż

Previous winners include:

ā€¢ John Barthelmes, former Colonel, New Hampshire State Police
ā€¢ The Hon. John Broderick, Jr., former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
ā€¢ John and David Constant, Constantly Pizza (Concord)
ā€¢ Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, training consultant and clinician
ā€¢ Lucy C. Hodder, Professor of Law
ā€¢ Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster
ā€¢ Brielle Paquette, advocate for childrenā€™s mental health
ā€¢ Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety

And many more!

Make your nomination today.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 6, 2025.Ģż
(NOTE: Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award. Champions must live or have spent significant time working on the issue of mental health in Merrimack County or in Riverbendā€™s 30-community catchment area).

Questions? Contact: development@riverbendcmhc.org

18^th Annual Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Leaders in Mental Health

51°µĶų Mental Health is honoring Elaine de Mello, LICSW, and Dr. Cassie Yackley for decades of service to New Hampshireā€™s system of mental health care, by naming them each as a 2024 Champion for Mental Health. In addition to significant clinical work, both women have built systems, established trainings and curriculums, forged partnerships, and generously shared their knowledge and passion with current practitioners and future leaders in the mental health field.

51°µĶų Mental Health provides comprehensive mental health care services to residents of 30 central New Hampshire communities. Each year, through its Champions for Mental Health event, the organization recognizes individuals or organizations that advocate for greater access to mental health services; contribute extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improve the lives of people with mental illness; or publicly give voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that can surround the disease.

ā€œElaine de Mello and Cassie Yackley embody the finest examples of leadership and committed care that those of us working in New Hampshireā€™s mental health system understand is essential to helping the many people who come through our doors,ā€ said Lisa K. Madden, President & CEO of 51°µĶų Mental Health.

ā€œBeyond their important clinical care ā€“ care that has changed many individualsā€™ lives ā€“ their work growing the knowledge base and reinforcing best practices in our field by sharing that knowledge with others is exemplary. Through their individual professional pathways, these outstanding women have worked alongside corrections systems, schools and higher education institutions, community clinics, law enforcement, and the military, among other entities. Their contributions toward creating systems, providing specialized training, and finding better ways to integrate services has led to more sustainable programs and inspired other leaders, managers, and staff ā€“ benefiting our statewide system of care.ā€

Elaine de Mello, a Sanbornton resident, is the Director of Suicide Prevention Services at NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness). A licensed clinical social worker, she has served as a clinical program manager in inpatient, emergency services, and community settings since 1978, including 18 years at Lakes Region Mental Health Center. Throughout a 25-year career at NAMI NH, Elaine played a lead role in the development of the Connect Suicide Prevention and Postvention Program, a nationally recognized best practice program. For the last 20 years, de Mello has been providing training and consultation in mental health and suicide prevention to state and tribal entities, community coalitions, schools and campuses, health and behavioral health care facilities and military and paramilitary organizations throughout the US, Pacific Islands and Canada. Nationally she has assisted with Zero Suicide Academies and served as a Psychological Autopsy Investigator. She serves as a master trainer for Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) and assisted in the development of CALM Conversations. In New Hampshire, she serves as a trainer for the NH Police Standards and Training Council; spent 18 years on the faculty of Plymouth State University; and serves on the NH Suicide Fatality Review Committee and the NH Suicide Prevention Council. She has co-chaired the NH Youth Suicide Prevention Assembly since 2003. She continues to provide training and consultation around the country.

ā€œThis work is much more than a job; itā€™s a mission,ā€ said de Mello. ā€œI am grateful for the wisdom and support I have received from others on this profound journey, and I am continually inspired by people who persevere against all odds. You are all a gift!ā€

Dr. Cassie Yackley (she, her) is a leader in building trauma-responsive communities of care in northern New England. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Cassie has worked across multiple systems (Community Mental Health, Law Enforcement, Child Protection & Juvenile Justice, Education, Corrections, and Residential Treatment) to address the impact of traumatic exposure on children, families, and systems and to implement integrated, trauma-responsive systems of care. Cassie is a licensed psychologist, master trainer, and directs the Center for Trauma-Responsive Practice Changeā€”a New Hampshire nonprofit dedicated to promoting a trauma-responsive system of care for children and families throughout New England. Dr. Yackley also directs the NH Child-Parent Psychotherapy Provider Network, which is, with the help of its partners, creating and increasing access to Child-Parent Psychotherapy, the only evidence-based mental health treatment for children 0-6 and their families who have been exposed to trauma available at scale in NH. Through her work with the CPP Provider Network, she has worked with early childhood state-leaders to develop an infrastructure to sustain this network of providers across a three-state area: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

ā€œI am grateful for this recognition of my work as a mental health provider and advocate in New Hampshire over the past twenty years,ā€ said Yackley, a resident of Bradford. ā€œI share the honor of receiving Riverbendā€™s Champions for Mental Health Award with so many of my colleagues and community that have partnered alongside me to make systematic changes to improve New Hampshireā€™s mental health system. Receiving the Champions for Mental Health Award is a major honor in and of itself for any mental health advocate. For me, it is especially meaningful. I began my career as a psychologist at Riverbendā€™s Childrenā€™s program and directed its doctoral internship program for several years. For my career to have come full circle and receive the Champions for Mental Health Award from Riverbend is an incredible honor,ā€ she added.

Riverbend will be honoring de Mello and Yackley at its upcoming Champions for Mental Health event on Tuesday, October 22 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord. The annual ceremony shines a light on the importance of mental health and broadens community engagement around supporting Riverbend and the entire community mental health system in New Hampshire.

EVENT DETAILS

CHAMPIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Where: Bank of NH Stage
16 S. Main Street

Concord, NHĢż 03301

When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024

5:30 ā€“ 6 p.m. ā€“ Reception

6 ā€“ 7 p.m. ā€“ Ceremony & Awards Presentation

Tickets & Registration

Sponsorship Information: To support Riverbend or be part of the event, contact Riverbendā€™s Community Affairs Office at: development@riverbendcmhc.org.

Ģż

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Celebrating 60 years of hope and healing, 51°µĶų Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Close to 6,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; and community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

18th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards

51°µĶų Mental Health

A Champion for Mental Health is an individual who:

• Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
• Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
• Publicly gives voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that surround the disease.

Previous winners include:

• The Hon. John Broderick, Jr., former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
• Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety
• Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster
• Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, training consultant and clinician
• John Barthelmes, former colonel, New Hampshire State Police
• And many more!

Honor those making a difference in the mental health of our local communities – alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, helping those with addictions or mentalĢż illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbend’s Champions for Mental Health awards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration.

Questions? Contact: development@riverbendcmhc.org

Make your nomination today!

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 12, 2024.

(Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award. Champions must live or have spent significant time working on the issue of mental health in Merrimack County or Riverbend’s catchment area).

17th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards.

A Champion for Mental Health is an individual who:

• Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
• Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
• Publicly gives voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that surround the disease.

Make your nomination today!

The deadline for nominations is July 14, 2023.

(Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award)

Tuesday, October 25th –Ģż5:30pm

Bank of NH Stage – Concord, NH

Purchase Tickets or become a Sponsor here.

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Lucy Hodder has devoted her career to improving access to healthcare. Lucy is fueled by a strong belief in integrated health, a system of care that joins physical health, mental health and substance use disorders. Her vision for an inclusive, equitable, and affordable healthcare system in the Granite State is unparalleled and is exemplified through her work in healthcare law and policy, her leadership at numerous non-profits, and in educating the next generation of attorneys.

Lucy Hodder is a Professor of Law and the Director of Health Law and Policy Programs at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law and the Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP). ĢżThe UNH Health Law and Policy Programs are a collaboration between the Franklin Pierce School of Law, IHPP and the UNH College of Health and Human Services.

At UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Lucy directs and supervises the J.D. Certificate in Health Law and Policy and teaches a variety of courses on health law and bioinnovation. ĢżLucy focuses her legal research on healthcare system reform to improve access and affordability. Lucy leads multi-disciplinary teams collaborating with public and private sector stakeholders to support health law and policy change, including, but not limited to, strategies to improve sustainability of the health and mental health care system, a caring framework to implement federal requirements around plans of supportive care for infants born exposed to substances, education for providers around compliance with substance use disorder privacy rules in supportive care environments, strategy for implementing alternative payment model goals in the Medicaid program, guides to help families navigate health insurance coverage, coalition planning for the implementation of the 988 crisis response system in New Hampshire and tracking community needs in areas impacted by hospital system affiliations.

Lucy is an experienced health care and regulatory attorney of over 30 years. From 2013 through 2015, Lucy served as Legal Counsel to New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan and her Senior Health Care Policy Adviser, working with the Governor on initiatives to expand access to health, mental health and substance use disorder coverage and services, including the development of New Hampshireā€™s Health Protection Program (the original Medicaid expansion plan).

Previously a shareholder in the firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C, and Chair of the firmā€™s Healthcare Practice Group, Lucy advised providers and businesses on strategic affiliations to navigate the changing health care regulatory environment.

Prior to private practice, Lucy served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Bureau of the New Hampshire Department of Justice, litigating cases involving the State of New Hampshire and advising state agencies.ĢżLucy began her career as an associate at Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison in San Francisco, and clerked for the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

Thank You to our Sponsors

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