In April, For All Seasons’ Sexual Assault Awareness focused on educating the community on the topic of drug-facilitated sexual assault. Its “Sip Safe” Campaign raised awareness about the risks associated with drug- and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault while promoting proactive behaviors that enhance personal and community safety.

For All Seasons staff brought the community into the conversation by collaborating with local organizations, businesses, and colleges to ensure that the issue of drug and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault is widely recognized and actively addressed. This initiative includes distributing free informational resources and drink-spiking prevention scrunchies to local college students and bartenders. Among the tips are how to identify risky situations when enjoying a night out and how to recognize if a drink has been spiked or tampered with (https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/sipsafe/)

For All Seasons also fostered community involvement by partnering with The Ivy Café in Easton to create awareness and show support for sexual assault survivors through its Denim Community Art Project. Community members wrote encouraging messages on patches of denim to show their support for sexual assault survivors. These patches will be displayed at The Ivy Café before becoming a permanent installation in the For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center.

For further information, visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

More than one in four people on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are part of the military community – either active military, guard reservists, veterans, or family members of the military. To help serve the needs of this significant population, For All Seasons has gotten a second matching grant from the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program to address the high instances of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and sexual assault-related trauma among local service members, veterans, and their families.

“We are thrilled to be involved with this partnership with the Veteran and Military Support Alliance (VAMSA) at the Center for the Military and Veteran Family in Stevensville. We are working together to get veterans and their families the support they need. Our Open Access™ program eliminates a waitlist and allows individuals and families to begin mental health services in a timely way. Individuals can select a time window and a location, complete their intake, and meet with a therapist on the same day. It’s the first mental health delivery model of its kind on the Eastern Shore, and is helping area veterans in their time of need,” comments Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons.

The grant will help address insufficient immediate access to mental health services and cultural competency barriers that currently exist. Those being served include active-duty service members from any branch of service, veterans from any branch of service, military spouses (both active duty and veterans from any branch of service), and military children and stepchildren (both active duty and veterans from any branch of service.

The agency’s Open Access™ program and financial assistance fund have been enabling veterans to get same-day appointments and to pay nothing out of pocket for the services they receive. Eric Johnson, Executive Director, of Veteran and Military Support Alliance (VAMSA) at the Center for the Military and Veteran Family in Stevensville, has been working with For All Seasons and shares that there have been noticeable changes since the program was implemented a year ago.

“Many people on the Eastern Shore, not just veterans, but from any walk of life, feel like it is a resource desert here when compared with the western shore. So anything we do is going to help this, this community, and the broader community,” Johnson comments.

He points out that the work between VAMSA and For All Seasons has been focused on building credibility for veterans who need to utilize the services, which has been crucial in removing barriers to them seeking treatment. He shares the slogan, “You must know me to treat me,” as an example of the importance of clinicians understanding military culture.

“For All Seasons sought input from the very community that they sought to reach. I don’t think you can put a price tag on that. They allowed us to help shape the messaging to veterans in a way that drew the veteran community to participate. That says a lot about For All Seasons’ genuine commitment to helping this population,” he adds.

For All Seasons also draws on its Trauma Certified Therapists to deliver services to veterans. Last year, For All Seasons Center for Learning, trained 100% of its team in cultural competency around service members, veterans, and their families. The “Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP)” training curriculum covered topics such as healthcare providers, helping children of veterans, and crisis response and suicide among military members and veterans.

One of the most significant statistics Johnson shares is the number of suicide preventions since the program started one year ago. To date, there have been 28 veteran suicide saves of veterans who self-identify or are identified as suicidal by VAMSA staff.

Regarding the current needs for veterans on the Shore, Johnson shares, “I think the enduring challenges are the urgent ones. These involve veterans who have survivor guilt which affects their ability to seek and accept care. It’s not something that can easily be fixed, but it starts with an agency’s outward commitment like what For All Seasons has done with its messaging to veterans.”

“The emerging dynamics would be that many folks are losing their jobs right now as often veterans go into civil service or work with a government contractor. Those areas are vulnerable right now to job loss and the stress that comes with that can be a trigger. This is a population who is already struggling, potentially with PTSD, stress, anxiety, or depression, as well as physical issues, so this could create a greater need for treatment,” he adds.

Lei Ellingson, Deputy Director, of the Veterans and Military Support Alliance (VAMSA), shares that many of these veterans have families, and depending on when they served in the military may affect how they approach getting mental health services.

According to Johnson, there can also be waiting periods and interruptions with some other mental health providers. He adds, “We don’t see that at all with For All Seasons. They are our go-to provider for mental health emergencies, particularly helping to serve our suicidal veterans.”

VAMSA sees anywhere between 45 and 60 veterans per month either in person or by phone in Stevensville. Through the new Hixon grant, VAMSA and For All Seasons hope to launch partner-embedded mental health consultations at VAMSA to provide rapid triage and “hot” handoffs for service members, veterans, and their families to For All Seasons’ Open Access™ services. For All Seasons is also working in the coming months to launch intensive alternative therapy retreats for veterans in partnership with Patriot Point in Dorchester County.

For further information, visit www.ForAllSeasonsInc.org/SMVF.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

With sexual assaults on the rise on the Mid-Shore, For All Seasons is working during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April to educate the community on the risks, including being a victim of a drug-facilitated sexual assault. For All Seasons’ first “Sip Safe” Campaign launches on April 1. The campaign’s mission is to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug- and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault while promoting proactive behaviors that enhance personal and community safety.

For All Seasons’ staff is collaborating with local organizations, businesses, and colleges to ensure that the issue of drug and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault is widely recognized and actively addressed. Part of this initiative includes distributing free informational resources, drink-spiking prevention scrunchies, and drink cover stickers to local college students and bartenders. Among the tips are how to identify risky situations when enjoying a night out and how to recognize if a drink has been spiked or tampered with (https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/sipsafe/)

Bringing community into the conversation.  Outreach will be done in the public schools, colleges, and local businesses around this year’s national theme, “Together We Act, United We Change,” highlighting the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

According to Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons, “With sexual violence continuing to harm our Mid-Shore children and adults, as a behavioral health agency and rape crisis center, our agency cares about education and prevention. We know that helping youth and adults to understand what sexual assault encompasses is important. Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any unwanted sexual contact. Forms of sexual violence include rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual abuse. It also includes a range of behaviors such as unwanted sexual contact or words, online exploitation, exposing oneself to others without consent, and nonconsensual image sharing. We are hoping throughout this month ahead to educate youth and adults about risk and how to avoid situations which may lead to sexual assault.”

In recognition of Denim Day (April 23), For All Seasons is partnering with The Ivy Café in Easton to create awareness and show support for sexual assault survivors through its Denim Day Community Art Project. On April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members can come to The Ivy Café on Dover Street in Easton and write supportive messages on patches of denim to show their support for sexual assault survivors. These patches will later be displayed on a large canvas at The Ivy Café and at For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center.

Denim Day is an international day created after an Italian court overruled a 1999 rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, implying consent. The next day, women in Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity.  Local citizens are encouraged to wear denim with a purpose on April 23 to show their support for ending sexual violence and victim blaming. Participants can send their photos of Denim Day to [email protected] or tag their Denim Day photos to #DenimDayFAS2025.

Between April 7 and 11, the For All Seasons Rape Crisis Staff will be partnering with the Kent County Public Schools for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. On April 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For All Seasons will present in the Kent County High School cafeteria on “Protecting Teens in a Digital World: Internet Safety & Healthy Relationships.” The presentation is open to high school and middle school parents, guardians, and concerned community members interested in keeping teens safe online, and a light dinner will be served. On April 8, For All Seasons staff will help teachers at Kent County High School facilitate a lesson about Denim Day, and students will participate in the Denim Day patch art project.

For All Seasons will also present Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamations in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot, and Queen Anne’s counties during April.

For further information about how you or your business or organization can participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month, visit https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/sipsafe/ or email [email protected].

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons recently held an open house for its new location at 315 High Street, Suite 202 in Chestertown. Staff provided information on expanded services and tours of the new downtown space. The new location ties into the agency’s ‘Bringing Mental Health to Main Street’ initiative, bringing services to main streets across the Mid-Shore and making services walkable for people living in the Shore’s towns and cities. Beginning March 24, the agency also began offering its Open Access™ program – a walk-in mental health service with same-day access to appointments – something new in Kent County. The hours in Chestertown for Open Access are Mondays from 2 to 3 p.m.

“We have been serving Kent County for 25 years and Kent County Public Schools with school-based programs for the past 16 years. Tonight, we stand in this new “home” for our Kent County services, but make no mistake… we have been here, walking alongside this community for decades. And, the really exciting thing is, with this new space, we will be able to do even more,” stated Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons.

“For too long, mental health care has been tucked away, hidden behind closed doors, as if it were something separate from daily life. At For All Seasons, we believe the opposite. Mental health is not a side issue — it’s as essential as the schools that educate our children, the hospitals that heal our bodies, and the businesses that keep our communities thriving. That’s why we don’t just set up offices. We plant ourselves in the heart of the communities we serve,” she added.

“It is an honor to welcome For All Seasons to its new Chestertown office. Mental health is a vital part of a thriving community, and the services For All Seasons provides are truly life-changing. Their commitment to accessible, compassionate care ensures that no one has to face their challenges alone. We are grateful for their expanded presence in Kent County and look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make,” commented Sarah King, Executive Director, Kent County Chamber of Commerce.

Dignitaries who attended the event included the mayors of Chestertown and Rock Hall. David Foster, Mayor of Chestertown, added, “It’s so beneficial to have For All Seasons in such a visible and convenient location downtown and not in a corner somewhere. I can’t imagine the situation of being told to come back in three weeks when needing a mental health appointment, so also having For All Seasons Open Access available now with same-day appointments will prevent that.”

“This has been a focus and a big lift for the whole team, bringing this to Chestertown, which is a good central location for the county. Very few places offer anything like this, so to have this available is just phenomenal. I’ve been a huge supporter for years,” shared Mike Cook, Mayor of Rock Hall.

For All Seasons Mental Health on Main Street initiative is supported by the Rural Maryland Prosperity Improvement Fund (RMPIF) from the Rural Maryland Council. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds administered by the Town of Chestertown have also funded For All Seasons’ ability to move and expand its Kent County office to bring in-person Open Access™ to its Chestertown office and to serve more Kent County residents. The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission has funded For All Seasons’ ability to expand its school-based and community-based care, early intervention, and prevention strategies for Kent County youth.

“Where you stand tonight is not just a new office. It’s a statement: Mental health belongs in the center of our community, where everyone can see it, access it, and know that help is always within reach. These four walls are more than just an office. They represent hope,” shared Dorman.

For further information, visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons’ Center for Learning is partnering with Santé Eastern Shore to offer LivingWorks ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) on April 7 and 8, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Anchor Church in Easton.

This two-day in-person workshop includes interactive learning, hands-on practice, and real-world application exercises to learn the skills to provide a suicide first-aid intervention for someone who has thoughts of suicide. The workshop is designed for all caregivers (anyone over age 15 in a position of trust), including mental health professionals, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, teachers, counselors, youth workers, police and correctional staff, school support staff, clergy, and community volunteers.

Participants will learn how to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide and take steps to support them; to develop a safety plan to keep someone safe for now and connect them with further help; talk openly about personal and community attitudes and suicide; build confidence and capacity in providing suicide first-aid; understand how attitudes about suicide influence intervention approaches; and gain insights into community resources and support networks to sustain long-term suicide prevention efforts.

The training will include breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day, as well as all the necessary materials. Participating clinicians will receive 12 Category I CEUs issued by For All Seasons, Inc., an approved continuing education provider for Maryland Social Workers and Professional Counselors.

The registration fee of $350 is due at the time of enrollment. All registrations are due no later than March 31, 2025, at https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/asist-training-2025/. For questions, contact Kelsey Trumbull-Meyers at [email protected]. Because this training is grant-funded, For All Seasons is required to report program outcomes. Participants will be asked to complete multiple-choice surveys before the training begins and after the training’s completion.

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For All Seasons Partners with Santé Eastern Shore to Offer Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons is excited to announce that its office in Chestertown has moved to a new location at 315 High Street, Suite 202. The agency is hosting an open house on March 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for the public to meet the office staff and learn more about its expanded services. Tours of the new space and refreshments will be offered. For All Seasons will be able to increase its capacity with a new, larger office in downtown Chestertown. In addition, beginning March 24 the agency will be able to offer its Open Access™ program – a walk-in mental health service with same-day access to appointments – something new in Kent County. The hours in Chestertown for Open Access are Mondays from 2 to 3 p.m.

“This exciting initiative ties into our new ‘Mental Health on Main Street’ initiative where we bring our services to main streets across the Mid-Shore, making our services walkable for people living in our towns and cities. We have already implemented this initiative with our offices in Denton and Easton and hope to offer a new office location soon in Cambridge as well,” states Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons.

“Delivering mental health services to rural areas can be challenging with transportation barriers. We are particularly appreciative of our funding from the Rural Maryland Prosperity Improvement Fund (RMPIF) from the Rural Maryland Council which is enabling us to expand our offices in Kent and Dorchester counties to create larger service hubs that bring mental health and victim support services to remote, outlying areas that are mental healthcare deserts,” she adds.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds administered by the Town of Chestertown have also funded For All Seasons’ ability to move and expand its Kent County office to bring in-person Open Access™ to its Chestertown office and to serve more Kent County residents. The Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission has funded For All Seasons’ ability to expand its school-based and community-based care, early intervention, and prevention strategies for Kent County youth.

For further information and to register to attend the Open House, visit https://ChestertownOpenHouse.eventbrite.com.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons is partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Maryland to offer Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator training on March 12 and 13, 2025 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Anchor Church, located at 620 Goldsborough Street in Easton.

This training, which offers CEUs, is for mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who want to start a support group and current group facilitators who want to strengthen their skills, stay up to date on the latest practices, and explore issues they have encountered while facilitating. It is recommended for participation that survivors of suicide loss have waited at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss and non-clinicians have at least one year of experience participating in a support group.

By the end of this training, participants will understand: the unique needs of suicide loss survivors; develop skills to facilitate a safe and supportive group environment; apply effective communication and active listening techniques; recognize and respond to crisis situations within a support group setting; and utilize AFSP resources and best practices for group facilitation.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Center for Learning at For All Seasons to help create a community-based support network around suicide bereavement. We have seen this issue impact our community in significant ways over the last several years. This is an effort to help address those needs,” comments Lauren Weber, Vice President of Strategy & Development at For All Seasons.

The training will be led by two professional trainers.  Dr. Pamela Gabbay is part of the training corps of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and travels throughout the country conducting training on their behalf. She is on the Advisory Board for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Wendy M. Resnick, R.N., M.S., C.S., works as a Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse in inpatient psychiatry and chemical dependency centers. She co-founded The Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association (DRADA), a non-profit organization in collaboration with The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She developed a network of mutual-help support groups across the Mid-Atlantic area and a one-to-one peer support program serving individuals nationwide.

This two-day training includes lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing, and participating clinicians will receive 14 Category I CEUs, issued by For All Seasons, Inc., an approved continuing education provider for Maryland Social Workers and Professional Counselors. The cost for the two-day training is $175 and includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all needed materials for both days. For more information or to register, visit the training website at bit.ly/SupportGroupFacilitatorTraining.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons has recently promoted two staff members to new positions in the agency. Erica Batson of Federalsburg has been promoted to Director of Administration and Grants Management and Carmeshia Williams, MSHRM, MBA, of Easton has been appointed to Associate Director of Human Resources.

Batson, who previously served as Director of Administration and IT at For All Seasons, has worked at the agency since 2017 as an Executive Assistant and IT Specialist. Before this position, she worked as the facilitator for the Healthy Talbot program and as a Communications Specialist at Mid Shore Behavioral Health. She completed an associate’s degree in business management technology from Chesapeake College and is a graduate of Easton High School. She received the Service with Distinction Award from Maryland Nonprofits and the Extraordinary Contributor Award from MENTOR Maryland.

“I’m thrilled to step into this new role, where I can bring my passion for the organization and my leadership skills to managing the agency’s grants process. Grants empower nonprofits to turn vision into action and fuel transformative work in our communities.  I’m excited to contribute to this critical process,” Batson states.

Williams, who previously served as Executive Clinical Assistant at For All Seasons, formerly worked as Finance and Attendance Secretary at St. Michaels Elementary School and Deputy Director of the Neighborhood Service Center, Inc. She completed her Master of Business Administration – MBA, Human Resources Management and Services from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Strayer University.

“As the Associate Director of Human Resources, I am committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes employee growth and organizational success. I hope my support will empower our employees and continue strengthening our agency’s culture,” Williams shares.

According to Beth Anne Dorman, President and CEO of For All Seasons, “We are so proud of the investment of these women in our agency and the fine work they have done to advance our mission and values. We are thrilled with the new roles they will fill and look forward to the contributions they will make to the agency’s future.”

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. For All Seasons wants to share tips for parents and caregivers to share with teenagers in their homes about developing happy, healthy relationships.

“Adolescence is a key time for learning to form safe and healthy relationships. Unfortunately, many teens may lack the skills to develop and maintain healthy relationships or to break up appropriately when relationships become unhealthy. It is essential that parents and caregivers talk to teens. Even if you don’t know what to say, you can check in and keep lines of communication open. Your involvement in a teen’s life can make a huge difference and can help them recognize healthy vs. unhealthy relationships,” states Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons.

According to the website teensforcourage.org, there are several elements of a healthy relationship. It is built on mutual trust, honesty, and respect; includes good communication, compromise, and consent; encourages individuality and self-confidence; and involves staying calm during conflicts and supporting one another. Unhealthy relationships, on the other hand, can involve a power imbalance where trust, honesty, and compromise are lacking; feature poor communication and uncontrolled anger; may become physically, emotionally, or sexually violent; and often include manipulation, possessiveness, control, dependence, or disrespect.

Teens struggling with whether to stay in an unhealthy relationship or leave should seek the help of a trusted adult or professional. Having someone to support them when relationships are unhealthy is essential to helping them care for themselves and create a framework for a better understanding of what is happening.

For All Seasons offers services through virtual and in-person “walk-in” appointments during select hours if a teen or adult needs support. Further information is available on its website ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.