Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative (CHCI)

                                                  Wheeler Clinic 

The Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative (CHCI) is a program of Wheeler Clinic's Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness and Recovery and is funded via DMHAS's State Opioid Response (SOR) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

All Connecticut college campuses are eligible for membership, though not all campuses receive funding. There are free, virtual, monthly trainings that campus representatives can attend on topics such as mental health, substance use, recovery, prevention, healthy coping and more.

CHCI is a catalyst for creating and sustaining healthy college campus environments. 20 campuses across the state receive annual mini grant funding to implement on-campus activities such as:

  • Information dissemination or training on medication safe storage and safe medication disposal
  • Training for faculty, staff, coaches, and students on opioid overdose and naloxone administration
  • Public awareness activities through tabling, workshops, student center digital messaging and health fairs
  • Opioid misuse prevention education workshops
  • Survey administration to assess the opioid use-related issues on campus
  • Healthy stress management and mental health resources

Awarded campuses (funded through 2027):

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)

 CT College

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU)

Fairfield University (Main Campus)

 Fairfield University (Bellarmine Campus)

Goodwin University
Mitchell College CT State at Northwestern Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)
University of Hartford University of New Haven

University of Connecticut (UConn)
Wesleyan University Western Connecticut State University Yale University

  

For more information about this important initiative, please contact:

Kelley Edwards, MS, CPS, Behavioral Health Program Manager, Prevention & Health Promotion Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, (959)599-7543 or Kelley.Edwards@ct.gov

Heather Clinger, MPH, CPS, Associate Director, Prevention, Wellness & Recovery, Wheeler Clinic, 334 Farmington Ave, Plainville, CT 06062; 860-793-9791 or HClinger@Wheelerclinic.org