Building Skills, Confidence and Community at CPC Partial Care
Recovery looks different for everyone. At CPC Integrated Health’s Adult Partial Care Program, that understanding shapes each day as clients move toward greater independence, stronger connections and personal wellness—at their own pace and on their own path.
Partial Care is a community-based day treatment program for adults living with serious mental illness, often alongside co-occurring substance use disorders. Many participants come to CPC after a psychiatric hospitalization or when they need more support than traditional outpatient care can provide.
For Program Coordinator Tanesha Brown LCSW, and the Partial Care team, the goal is not only to provide treatment, but to help people build and practice the skills they need to live, work and participate in the communities they choose. Much of that growth happens through everyday experiences.
Learning Through Doing
Each day, clients participating in Partial Care have opportunities to build practical skills alongside the clinical services they receive. One of the most popular examples happens in the program’s kitchen, where clients help prepare lunch each day as part of a culinary group supervised by CPC staff. Meal preparation provides much more than lunch. Planning, preparing and serving food gives participants opportunities to practice teamwork, organization, communication and other independent living skills in a supportive environment. The program also maintains an on-site food pantry for clients experiencing food insecurity. Staff can provide emergency food and, when possible, additional meals for clients to take home—an especially important resource for individuals who may otherwise have limited access to food over the weekend.
Turning Self-Advocacy Into Real-World Experience
Another example of client leadership can be found in Partial Care’s self-advocacy group. Participants have created and operate their own small canteen, selling affordable snacks to fellow clients while learning practical business and interpersonal skills. The group has its own executive board, including a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Members take responsibility for different aspects of the operation and have even developed their own promotional materials. What may look like a simple snack stand is actually an opportunity to practice budgeting, decision-making, communication, responsibility, leadership and teamwork—all skills that can support greater independence in the community.
Creating Opportunities for Connection
Recovery also means having opportunities for creativity, self-expression and belonging.
Throughout the year, Partial Care creates experiences that bring clients together in ways that extend beyond traditional therapy. Recent activities have included a Pride Celebration, a client Talent Show and an Art Contest centered on themes of blossoming and growth. Guest speakers also bring new perspectives into the program. Recent presentations have included wellness and mental illness-management education from a Johnson & Johnson representative and a presentation from NAMI that was particularly well received by participants. The team hopes to continue expanding these opportunities, including inviting individuals with lived experience to share their own stories of overcoming challenges, navigating recovery and moving toward greater independence.
Supporting Each Person’s Next Step
For many clients, Partial Care serves as an important bridge between hospitalization and greater independence in the community. While an individual’s time in the program varies according to their needs and goals, the focus is always on progress. For one person, the next step may be transitioning to outpatient therapy. For another, it may mean developing stronger social connections, preparing for employment or becoming involved with a community resource such as Shore House. Those goals are developed collaboratively between each client and their CPC care team. With a strong, compassionate staff team in place, the program is well-positioned to continue strengthening its clinical services and creating new opportunities for clients. Whether someone is preparing lunch, managing the canteen, sharing artwork, participating in therapy or simply becoming more comfortable connecting with others, each experience can become another building block toward recovery.
At CPC, Partial Care is about helping people develop the skills—and the confidence—to move toward the life they choose. None of this would be possible without the dedicated Partial Care team, whose compassion, creativity and commitment help create an environment where clients feel supported, connected and empowered to work toward their individual goals. We are grateful to the staff who show up each day to meet people where they are and help them take meaningful steps forward.
Could Partial Care be the right next step for you or someone you care about? Make a referral or learn how to schedule an appointment by contacting CPC at 732-290-1700, ext. 5116. Our team will complete a comprehensive assessment and help connect each individual with the care and services best suited to their unique needs.
