UConnectCare Blog

Winter days in Atwater can feel extra quiet. The sun disappears early, and the cold keeps many of us inside more than we’d like. For people working to stay healthy in recovery, that silence can be loud. It’s not just the snow or short days. It’s the extra space in our...

When One Person’s Drinking Becomes Everyone’s Problem When alcohol use shifts into alcoholism, the whole home starts to feel it. Routines change, moods change, and the energy in the house changes. What began as a drink to unwind can slowly grow into something that...

Trying to balance work and recovery during a cold Western New York winter isn’t easy. Shorter days, freezing mornings, and ongoing responsibilities can wear down even the most committed person. For those focused on staying sober or managing their mental health,...

Winter in Batavia, NY, can feel long, cold, and quiet. For someone working through addiction or facing personal struggles, those short days and icy sidewalks often make a tough situation feel even harder. That’s why a residential program can offer something that’s...

Living in a small town has its perks. People know your name, and there's a real sense of community. But places like Orleans County aren't free from challenges. Rural areas can face issues like underage drinking, drug use, and other risky behaviors, especially when...

When you’re trying to stay on track during recovery, it makes a big difference to connect with someone who truly understands what you're going through. Peer advocates in Batavia and Albion, NY, know what that feels like. They’ve walked the same road and now spend...

When it's cold and gray outside, it’s easy to feel disconnected from others, especially if you're working on staying sober. In January, when snow lines the sidewalks around Atwater and daylight fades early, it can be hard to stay on track without structure or support....

When someone comes home from prison or jail, the whole family feels it. It’s one of those changes that touches everyone in the house, even if it’s not talked about much. In places like Genesee County, where winter brings snow-covered roads and fewer daylight hours,...

After finishing the detox process, a lot of people in small towns like Batavia wonder what comes next. The detox center in Batavia, NY, is where many begin their recovery, but that is just the starting point. Winter in rural areas can make recovery feel lonelier and...

Winter in rural New York can feel long and heavy. Roads ice over, snow piles up fast, and the sun seems to set way too early. For people in recovery, small winter challenges can feel bigger, especially when trying to keep up with substance use disorder counseling in...

The holidays can feel different for everyone. For people working on recovery, this season can bring up extra stress, old habits, or pressure to act a certain way around family and friends. In colder towns like Batavia, New York, where the days are short and evenings...

By Mike Pettinella In celebrating 50 years of service to the community, UConnectCare Chief Executive Officer Kathy Hodgins credited past and present employees for striving to “treat people with kindness and dignity.” The nonprofit substance use treatment, prevention,...

Press release: From humble beginnings as a provider of information, referral and employee assistance services, UConnectCare has grown exponentially since its inception in 1975. The nonprofit agency, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance...

By Tom Rivers, The Orleans Hub ALBION – UConnectCare welcomed the community on Wednesday for tours of a new residence on Butts Road that will serve women in treatment for substance use disorder. The site will also offer behavioral health care. The top photo shows...

UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite the community to an Open House at its Women & Children’s Residence on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. The event will be held at 3597 Butts Road, Albion, NY 14411. This special event...

By Mike Pettinella “A Haircut Always Helps!” Cassandra Hirsch, Jamie Torrence and co-workers at UConnectCare on Saturday afternoon enlisted the support of three barbers from My Cut in Batavia to provide free haircuts to men and boys. Hirsch, a data evaluator who also...

By Mike Pettinella The first quarterly meeting of the GOW CARES Alliance, formerly known as the GOW Opioid Task Force, on Tuesday afternoon illustrated the value of community partnerships in improving people’s health and well-being. About 90 people, representing...

By Mike Pettinella UConnectCare has promoted Kathy Hodgins of Medina, a 23-year-employee of the nonprofit substance use prevention, treatment and recovery agency, to chief executive officer. Hodgins succeeds John Bennett, who resigned to become director of network...