Citizen Advocates
Honoring 50 Years of Service and Leadership
In September, Citizen Advocates marked its 50th anniversary with a celebratory dinner honoring five decades of resilience, compassion and trailblazing service.
The program recognized two leaders whose commitment helped shape the organization from its earliest days: Paul Goodrow, recipient of the Founders Honor, and Greg Langdon, recipient of the Legacy Honor. Their vision established Citizen Advocates as an organization rooted in accessible, person-centered services and guided its growth into a leader in disability, mental health and substance use support.
With board members, staff and former leaders Sue Delehanty and Donna Kissane in attendance, the evening celebrated the agency’s proud legacy and affirmed a shared vision for the future.
Journey to Independence
When Jing Zheng boarded a plane to Utah for his sister’s wedding, it was the culmination of years of hard work, personal growth and comprehensive support from his team at Citizen Advocates.
Through a whole-person approach, teams in Behavioral Health, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Community Living, and Career Visions supported Mr. Zheng in building the skills needed for independent living. From mastering budgeting to improving his physical stamina, he embraced every challenge. His work as a Direct Support Assistant at a Citizen Advocates Community Living residence, along with his involvement on the Citizen Advocates Blue Birds Special Olympics team, further strengthened his confidence and financial independence.
Citizen Advocates and St. Joseph’s Earn National Accreditation for Behavioral Health Care
In 2025, Citizen Advocates earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)—a first in the agency’s history—while partner agency St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers renewed its longstanding CARF accreditation for inpatient and outpatient addiction services, first earned in 2002.
Citizen Advocates is now one of only three agencies in New York State—and the only provider in Upstate New York—to receive CARF accreditation for CCBHC services. CARF also recognized Fieldstone Foundation’s Backpack Program and Meals with Meaning fundraiser as organizational strengths, while Citizen Advocates’ disabilities programs remain separately accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).
Together, these accreditations affirm the network’s shared commitment to compassionate, high-quality care that puts individuals first, whether in recovery, seeking mental health support or living the life of their choosing. Patients can trust they are receiving care that is convenient, easy to navigate and meets the highest clinical standards—while safeguarding dignity, safety and overall well-being.
Building Leaders, Strengthening Team
The inaugural class of the Network Leadership Institute marked a major milestone in the organization’s commitment to cultivating exceptional leaders. Over nine months, professionals from Citizen Advocates, St. Joseph’s and affiliated organizations developed core leadership competencies, sharpened business acumen and embraced authentic, mindful management practices. As a cornerstone of the network’s leadership strategy, the Institute reflects a belief that strong leadership drives strong communities, a commitment supported by a Training & Development team that delivers dynamic learning experiences and expert coaching at every level.
That same investment in people extends to the frontlines. In 2025, Citizen Advocates’ Operations and Training & Development teams partnered to launch on-the-job training and mentorship initiatives informed by 30-day check-ins with new employees. These programs accelerate competency, reinforce confidence and improve retention through structured mentorship and standardized training.
The Community Living team complemented these efforts with Direct Support Professional Team Lead Training, equipping frontline staff with leadership tools to strengthen program consistency and improve employee retention.
From executive leadership to direct care, these initiatives share a common goal: building a resilient workforce ready to deliver exceptional care.
Summer Picnics
Throughout the season, Citizen Advocates, St. Joseph’s and affiliate agencies hosted employee summer picnics in Malone, Massena, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake and Watertown. Each picnic offered employees an opportunity to connect across the network and celebrate the incredible work happening every day.
Honoring 50 Years of Service and Leadership
Citizen Advocates’ Behavioral Health Campuses in Malone, Ogdensburg and Watertown marked Recovery Month with candlelight vigils honoring those on the path to recovery and remembering lives lost to substance use. Despite rain and fog, community members, patients, partners and employees joined in solidarity, including Citizen Advocates’ Network Chief Operations Officer Jennifer Rowledge-DiTullio, right.
Day Hab Trick or Treat
Citizen Advocates’ Day Habilitation program welcomed the community for its annual Trick-or-Treat celebration the weekend before Halloween. This festive tradition brings together neighbors and individuals supported through Community Living and Community Support programs for a day of connection and frightful fun.
Pictured: Katrina Armstrong, Angel Maroney and Abbegail Herrmann preparing to hand out candy.
Recognizing Those Who Make Our Mission Possible
Employees from Citizen Advocates, St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers, North Country Freedom Homes, Harison Place and the Fieldstone Foundation came together in May for the inaugural Spring Awards Ceremony, an event dedicated to honoring those who go above and beyond in service to their communities. Fourteen outstanding individuals and one exceptional team were recognized for their contributions.
Among the honorees was Jeffrey Morris, Director of Community Living at Citizen Advocates and a 39-year veteran of the organization, who received the Mark Carter Award, named for Citizen Advocates’ longtime residential services director. The award recognized Mr. Morris for his steadfast advocacy and respect for individuals with disabilities, and was presented by Mark Carter’s widow, Mary Jo Carter-Codling—who worked alongside Mr. Morris for decades—and Mr. Carter’s mother, Gail Carter.
That same spirit of appreciation carried forward in November, when the Network recognized employees marking five-year milestones and those retiring after decades of service. Longevity & Retirement Celebrations in Malone and Saranac Lake honored 90 employees whose combined tenure exceeded 1,120 years—a testament to the dedication and stability that strengthen the network’s mission.
Together, these events reflect a shared commitment to valuing the people behind the work, whether they are just beginning their journey or have dedicated years of service to the organization.
Listening to Patients, Driving Better Care
In 2025, Citizen Advocates partnered with rater8 to gather real-time feedback from patients and strengthen the quality of care across its six clinics. Through short, anonymous surveys, patients share their experiences and, if they choose, provide contact information for follow-up. The platform also offers the option to post reviews publicly on Google, resulting in outstanding testimonials that reflect the compassionate care delivered every day.
Beyond patient feedback, rater8 provides powerful analytics and benchmarking, which help identify opportunities for improvement and enhance patient satisfaction—ultimately driving continuous improvement in care quality and loyalty.
By listening closely and acting quickly, Citizen Advocates ensures every voice matters and every experience counts.
Crisis Care Without Barriers
In 2025, Citizen Advocates significantly strengthened the behavioral health safety net in St. Lawrence County by launching its 24/7 Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Team—ensuring help is available anytime, anywhere for individuals and families facing mental health or addiction-related crises.
Residents can access immediate support through the dedicated crisis hotline (315-265-2422), where trained peer specialists offer compassionate, real-time emotional assistance and begin the stabilization process. When situations require added expertise, licensed therapists join the call to guide deescalation and determine the safest, most effective next steps.
Starting in July, the program expanded its capabilities to include in-person crisis intervention through the Mobile Crisis Team. When phone support isn’t enough—such as when safety planning cannot be completed remotely or when a face-to-face connection is clinically necessary—teams are dispatched from Citizen Advocates’ Ogdensburg Behavioral Health Campus to meet individuals in the community. If safety concerns arise, local law enforcement may accompany responders. These on-scene interventions are reinforced by strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies, the Department of Social Services and other community organizations.
“By meeting people where they are, our Mobile Crisis Team makes sure that when someone is struggling, accessible, professional and compassionate support is always within reach,” said Kaitlyn Gervais, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Citizen Advocates.
Since its launch, the Mobile Crisis Team has delivered consistent, high-quality care, responding to around 15 mobile responses and 80 crisis calls each month. Beyond immediate intervention, the team provides follow-up support within 24 hours, connects individuals to community resources and schedules outpatient care when appropriate. Team members further assist law enforcement through the Office of Mental Health’s Mobile Access Program, providing real time clinical assessments via iPad and helping divert individuals from higher level interventions whenever possible.
No matter the circumstances, the program’s goal remains clear: timely, compassionate crisis support when and where it’s needed most.
Accessible, Stigma-Free Care
In 2025, Citizen Advocates partnered with Alliance for Positive Health, Adirondack Health Institute and MATTERS Network to install harm reduction vending machines at its Malone Behavioral Health Campus and Saranac Lake Outpatient Clinic. Available 24/7, these machines offer free Narcan kits, test strips, hygiene items and more to help reduce overdose and prevent disease.