UConnectCare Blog

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,...

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...

By Mike Pettinella Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded through the annual UConnectCare Foundation Scholarship program in 2025. The program, initiated several years ago, provides financial support to individuals pursuing their education at an institution of higher...

By Mike Pettinella UConnectCare recognized 18 employees with longevity awards at its annual holiday luncheon on Tuesday at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia. Among those honored was President/Chief Executive Officer John Bennett, who joined the nonprofit agency in...

By Mike Pettinella UConnectCare is looking to make the holiday season – starting with two “Friendsgiving” activities in Batavia next week – a special one for the recovery community in Genesee and Orleans counties. The Recovery Station at 5256 Clinton St. Rd. and the...

By Mike Pettinella UConnectCare has promoted Jessica Ferry to the position of Assistant Chief Fiscal Officer. John Bennett, chief executive officer of the nonprofit agency (formerly Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse), announced the promotion of...