Currently, there are more than 150 New Hampshire businesses designated or working towards becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace.ĚýRiverbend is one of the many Designated Recovery Friendly Workplaces in the State.Ěý Others include:Ěý AutoFair, Bonfire Recovery Services, The Chameleon Group, Granite United Way, Grappone Automotive Group, Hypertherm, The Lawson Group, New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, State of New Hampshire, Substance Free Workplace, Turbocam, Walmart, Woodstock Inn Brewery, W.S. Badger Company, Inc. and more.

The program is free for businesses of all sizes. A representative from the program will meet with any organization to determine what is best for them. To learn more about becoming a Recovery Friendly workplace, go to

The full article can be found in the January 202o edition of Currents, a publication of 51°µÍř Mental Health.

Monitor staff

Published: 5/31/2019 3:28:25 PM

51°µÍř Mental Health is looking to expand its substance abuse services in downtown Concord.

The organization purchased the 17,000-square-foot Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance building at 42 Pleasant St., this month for $1.2 million. CEO Peter Evers said the goal is to house Riverbend’s drug court and jail outreach services in one building.

Riverbend provides all the clinical services for Merrimack County’s drug court and works with people once they’ve left jail to ensure they still have access to clinical services.

The organization has two other buildings in downtown Concord, and has outgrown them both, Evers said. The new space will allow them to expand the mobile crisis unit as well as Riverbend’s crisis treatment services, he said.

Riverbend is one of nine hubs in the state’s “hub and spoke” addiction treatment system, a model that is meant to provide easy access for people seeking substance use or mental health treatment.

It’s also the provider for the state’s first 24-hour mental health treatment center through a $4.4 million contract with the state.

That facility opened in May at Riverbend’s 40 Pleasant St., location, Evers said. It’s open to those 18 and older facing a mental health crisis, offering stabilization and de-escalation services at all hours of the day. The center will be available to those walking in or those diverted from law enforcement, mobile response units and hospitals, and will also cater to those with substance use disorder.

Evers said the building will need to undergo renovations and the office space will have to be rearranged.

Evers said the new space will be operational in the fall.

(Caitlin Andrews can be reached at 369-3309, candrews@cmonitor.com or on Twitter at @ActualCAndrews.)

Business NH Magazine also announced today its prestigious Business of the Year award winners, which are featured in the May issue. The following companies were chosen for their outstanding civic contributions and exceptional performance within their industry sector:

• Business Assistance Organization – Vested for Growth in Concord
• Business Services – Eversource in Manchester
• Construction/Engineering – Warrenstreet Architects in Concord
• Nonprofit – 51°µÍř Mental Health in Concord
• Financial Services/Insurance – Clark Insurance in Manchester
• Health Care – Cornerstone VNA in Rochester
• Hospitality/Tourism – The Red Arrow in Manchester
• Manufacturing/Technology – S Badger Company in Gilsum
• Retail/Wholesale – CCA Global Partners in Manchester
• Education – Nashua Adult Learning Center in Nashua

The competition and event are a partnership between Business NH Magazine and the NH Association of Chamber of Commerce executives. All businesses must be nominated by a chamber of commerce executive. Executives from a number of Ěýchambers winnowed the field of candidates to three semi-finalists in each category. From there, a Panel of Excellence, consisting of leaders from the 2018 Businesses of the Year award, selected this year’s recipients after careful consideration and great debate.

Awards will be presented at a special luncheon on Thursday, May 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Hotel in Manchester. Sponsors include: ĚýLeadership Sponsor Citizens Bank; Platinum and Nonprofit Sponsor NH Charitable Foundation; and Platinum Sponsor Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Video sponsors are Anagnost Investments, AutoFair and Peoples United Bank. The Table Sponsor is Catholic Medical Center and the Centerpiece Sponsor is Sheehan

My job at is helping me overcome my fears and be more outgoing. I’m meeting new people and doing things that wouldn’t have been possible before.

– Lynne Tower,ĚýMaintenance

My commercial office cleaning job with Ěý is a good one because I can work mostly on my own but still be around a few people, too. I get to work early each morning and can get almost everything done before the employees arrive for the day. I have learned to speak up when I need to and ask for small accommodations from my employer — and that’s a big step for me. My manager has always been helpful when I speak up.

I tell other Riverbend clients that they can accomplish their goals, too. It’s hard sometimes but it’s a good feeling to work every day.

– Daniel Morse,ĚýCommercial Cleaning

My support team at Riverbend has helped me learn new things by taking art classes and exploring different mediums of artistic expression. They’ve helped me create a website where people can find my art. They’ve even helped me organize exhibitions.

My paintings can be seen at , , andin downtown Concord. Jordyn [at Employment Services] is currently helping me enter art contests so I can get more art supplies and maybe some extra spending money.

I work hard every day to stay healthy, keep a positive attitude, and see the best in people. I really enjoy talking to people about my art and what it represents for me.

And I have deep gratitude for all the help I’ve received from Riverbend to be an artist in the world. Nobody can do it all on their own. My support team is fantastic!

Ěý– Michael W. Lemire,ĚýArtist

Then Kayla [at Employment Services] helped me put together a resume and get a new job at that I really love!

My coworkers are great, and I feel respected and appreciated by my boss. My boss has told me that I have a great work ethic, and I’ve surprised him more than once with how much I can get done in one shift. I’ve felt so much better since I got this new job. There are a lot of good things happening for me now, and my new job is definitely a part of what’s good!Ěý ĚýI know I made my kids so proud. I have a better relationship with them now because I’m happier with myself!

— Amy Albright, Back Room Coordinator and Customer Service Associate