SASH Beat: January 2026

Leadership Letter

What an incredible milestone. Over the past 15 years, your dedication has touched countless lives across Vermont and Rhode Island. Every story you share reminds us how deeply this program matters—and how much good we’ve accomplished together.

As we step into 2026, we have an exciting opportunity to shape the future. The state is moving toward the AHEAD model, and SASH is part of that vision. This year is about showing what we already know: SASH works, and it changes lives.

Here are three priorities for 2026:

Take care of yourselves. Your well-being matters as much as the work you do.
Support your participants. Continue using a person-first approach and lean on your partners—we’re strongest together.
Document what you do. Every note, referral, and group activity helps tell the story of SASH’s impact.

Let's Track Our Progress

To support our goal of using data to better capture the amazing work SASH is doing, we will be using this space to track our progress on some key metrics over the next year. Here is some baseline data showing how SASH is doing over the last two months:

507 ED follow-up visits
618 group programs offered; 1,507 unique participants attended
67% of participants with a 1-on-1 visit

Many of you are doing a great job documenting your work. To show our work in the best way we can, we need all of your help. If you ever need help with FAMCare – whether you are having problems, or just want to learn to use the system better – or if you aren’t sure if a program or interaction should be documented (hint: it probably should), the SASH Help Desk (sashhelpdesk@cathedralsquare.org) is always here for you!

SASH FLASH

Flu Season

Encourage everyone to stay up to date on vaccines.
Cover coughs and sneezes; wear masks if you have a cough.
Wash hands often with soap and water; use alcohol-based hand rub where sinks aren’t available.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Stay home if you are sick until 24 hours after fever resolves without fever-reducing medication.
Encourage early testing and treatment with antiviral medications.
VDH Outbreak Information for Group Living Settings
US Flu Activity Takes Big Jump

February:

American Heart Month

Addressing Social Isolation

Valentine's Day Word Search

March:

St. Patrick's Day Frittata Recipe

Colon Cancer Awareness Month

STAR Updates

Links to the VCCI Action Plans for Chronic Conditions are now posted on STAR for easy access to use with participants. These resources support chronic condition management and can also be viewed directly on the DVHA website.

Wellness Nurse Corner

Check out the Wellness Nurse Newsletter that features the following:

February is American Heart Month! ???
Involving Patients and their Partners to improve cardiac outcomes
Undiagnosed HTN QI project achieved 25% reduction

Read the full newsletter here

Software Systems Update

Exciting News! Around early March, FAMCare will receive a fresh new interface designed to make your work easier and more intuitive. This update focuses on improving navigation and streamlining common tasks, so everything you need will be simpler to find and use.

While things may look a little different, all the features you rely on are still there—just organized in a way that saves time and reduces clicks. We’ll provide helpful tips and resources to guide you through the changes, so you can feel confident and comfortable from day one! Stay tuned for more information as we get closer.

SEWC Embedded Mental Health Program Breaks Down Barriers

The SEWC Embedded Mental Health Program has achieved outstanding results, surpassing its initial engagement goal with 39% of SASH participants (429 individuals) utilizing services. Remarkably, 31% of male participants accessed the program—nearly double the 17% national average for men receiving mental health support—demonstrating significant success in reducing barriers for an traditionally underserved population.

Between 2024 - 2025, the program facilitated 3,266 visits, including 2,080 individual sessions and 1,186 group visits. The program's responsiveness was excellent, with 91% of participants contacted within 3 business days.

Survey results reveal transformative shifts in community culture around mental health.

Agreement that residents "do not feel stigma or shame when asking for emotional support" jumped from 45% to 79% in one year
Perceptions that the SASH building is "accepting and supportive of emotional health and wellness needs" rose from 55% to 85%
Agreement that "staff are available to access for emotional support" increased from 58% to 85%

Restore Your Capacity to Care

Join us for monthly R & R (Resilience and Restoration) Circles designed to combat compassion fatigue and support your well-being. These voluntary circles offer a safe space to explore new tools, share resources, and engage in group-led supportive discussions. Come when you can—we're here to support you on your schedule. See below on when to join.

What to Expect:

Two circles each month: one for staff and one for leadership
Practical tools and resources for building resilience
Group-led supportive discussions in a confidential setting
Voluntary attendance—come when you need support

Monthly Webinars

January

1/14 at 9:00am – Joint Webinar: 3SquaresVT and Other Food Resources – Presented by Emily Cohen, Vermont Foodbank
1/14 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Staff Edition) Resilience & Replenishment for Those Working with Older Adults – Presented by Hannah Rose
1/20 at 9:00 – Software Systems Webinar
1/28 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Supervisor Edition) Resilience & Replenishment for Those Leading Care Teams – Presented by Hannah Rose

February

2/11 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Staff Edition) – Presented by Hannah Rose
2/12 at 9:00am – Joint Webinar: The 4M's and What Matters Most – Presented by Casey Doerner
2/17 at 9:00am – Software Systems Webinar
2/25 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Supervisor Edition) – Presented by Hannah Rose

March

3/11 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Staff Edition) – Presented by Hannah Rose
3/17 at 9:00am – Software Systems Webinar
3/25 at 12:00pm – R & R CIRCLES: (Supervisor Edition) – Presented by Hannah Rose

Upcoming Classes/Conferences/Events

There are still scholarship funds available through the Vermont Direct Care Initiative! Up to $5000 scholarships for classes, course work, certification programs and many staff have already received funding. Easy application process here: https://careerincaringvt.com/Scholarship/

2/18 and 2/20 - FREE Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification training