Board Member Spotlight: Brenda Jenkins
With over 30 years of experience in advocacy and community work, Brenda Jenkins brings a unique and invaluable perspective to Spectrum’s mission of supporting individuals affected by substance use disorders and mental health challenges. A Lifelong Commitment to Advocacy Her passion for advocacy began at an early age, inspired by her mother’s own active participation ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2024
Reflecting on 2024, I'm filled with pride for the incredible individuals and communities that make Spectrum Health Systems the beacon of hope it is today. This past year has brought remarkable achievements, growth, and new opportunities to expand our mission of providing accessible, life-changing treatment. At the core of all this success is ...
Overcoming Employment Stigma and Finding Purpose
One of the most complex challenges in addiction recovery is re-entering the workforce. Employment stigma remains a significant barrier, rooted in misconceptions about reliability, trustworthiness, and the perceived risks of hiring someone with a complex past. This stigma affects job seekers and deprives workplaces of dedicated, empathetic, resilient employees. By dismantling harmful biases and focusing ...
Spectrum Health Systems Opens Intake and Admissions Center in Westborough, Mass.
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., an innovative non-profit provider of evidence-based treatment for substance use and mental health disorders throughout Massachusetts, today announced the opening of its new admissions and intake facility. Later this year, Spectrum will open its new home office building on the Westborough property. Previously headquartered in Worcester, Mass., this expansion of Spectrum’s ...
Setting Boundaries and Building Trust for Healthy Relationships in Recovery
Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a transformative journey, not just for the individual but also for their relationships. It's a process of rebuilding trust, establishing healthy boundaries, and navigating the complexities of family, friendships, and romantic connections. While it's a path filled with hope and healing, it also presents challenges that require patience, ...
Spectrum Board Member Spotlight: Cheryl Gallant
Spectrum Health Systems is proud to highlight Cheryl Gallant, Spectrum’s board chair, a dedicated board member with over 30 years of human resources expertise and a deep-rooted passion for helping those struggling with addiction. Putting People First Cheryl Gallant's extensive career in human resources began in the Midwest, where she held various HR management roles ...
Distancing Yourself from Trauma Triggers in Addiction Recovery
Trauma leaves a lasting impact, and its effects can resurface through triggers – those seemingly innocuous events, sensations, or situations that unexpectedly ignite a flood of emotions and memories. For individuals in addiction recovery, understanding and managing these triggers is crucial for maintaining recovery and fostering overall wellbeing. What Are Trauma Triggers and How Do ...
Board Member Spotlight: Brenda Jenkins
With over 30 years of experience in advocacy and community work, Brenda Jenkins brings a unique and invaluable perspective to Spectrum’s mission of supporting individuals affected by substance use disorders and mental health challenges. A Lifelong Commitment to Advocacy Her passion for advocacy began at an early age, inspired by her mother’s own active participation ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2024
Reflecting on 2024, I'm filled with pride for the incredible individuals and communities that make Spectrum Health Systems the beacon of hope it is today. This past year has brought remarkable achievements, growth, and new opportunities to expand our mission of providing accessible, life-changing treatment. At the core of all this success is ...
Overcoming Employment Stigma and Finding Purpose
One of the most complex challenges in addiction recovery is re-entering the workforce. Employment stigma remains a significant barrier, rooted in misconceptions about reliability, trustworthiness, and the perceived risks of hiring someone with a complex past. This stigma affects job seekers and deprives workplaces of dedicated, empathetic, resilient employees. By dismantling harmful biases and focusing ...
Spectrum Health Systems Unveils Scholarship Program with Assumption University
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment and behavioral health services throughout Massachusetts, announced today its partnership with Assumption University to create a scholarship program for its employees to complete the university’s clinical counseling psychology master’s program. “We continue to see an increased need for both representation and ...
Spectrum Health Systems Awarded Contract with Middlesex Sheriff’s Office
Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment throughout Massachusetts and a range of programming for justice-involved individuals throughout the country, has been awarded a new contract by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) to serve individuals at risk for recidivism. “In addition to our long-standing relationship with the Massachusetts ...
Observing Youth Substance Use Prevention Month
When young people are growing and developing, it's crucial that they understand the risks life can present to them. Not only are they having formative experiences that could impact them well into their adulthood, but their brains are also still in critical phases of development, making them vulnerable to the risks they take and the ...
Celebrating Graduates and Alumni
At Spectrum and NERC, nothing is more important to us than the success of our clients. The people that pass through our programs and go on to find health and happiness are living proof that recovery is possible. The example they set is crucial to the recovery community, supporting and inspiring others along their own ...
National Recovery Month: The Impact of Peer Recovery Centers
Peer recovery centers are crucial to the recovery community, serving as safe meeting places where people in all walks of recovery can both give and receive support. At these free centers, individuals participate in recovery meetings, find parenting and employment resources, learn helpful skills like anger management and financial planning, attend yoga and mindfulness classes, ...
National Recovery Month: Spectrum’s Voices of Recovery
A hallmark of substance use disorder and treatment is that there is no one recovery journey—everyone experiences different roadblocks and successes on different timelines, and almost always requires a unique combination of support services along the way. For National Recovery Month, we spoke with several of our clients and staff members in recovery themselves to ...

