NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
MISSION EDITION
UPCOMING EVENTS 1/1 - Welcome 2026! 1/6- Celebration for Terri Brennan on her retirement! 1/19 - Martin Luther King Day
The Gingerbread Competition at THS Concord is showcased during their fantastic open house event!
Questions about events or have an event you are attending? Email Halie Chavanelle.
NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
Hello and Happy 2026! I hope you all were able to enjoy time with family and friends during this holiday season. Usually in January I write something about setting goals or choosing your focus word for the year. (I would love to know what yours is). Yet, this time around, I would like to send a message of appreciation to all of you who have been so dedicated and unwavering during this past year, and for many years before that. Longevity is critical to any business operation for a number of reasons. Here are a few. 1.Deepened Relationships: Long-term employees often build strong relationships with colleagues, fostering a collaborative environment. 2.Commitment to the Organization: Can enhance an employee's sense of belonging and commitment, leading to higher engagement levels. 3.Knowledge and Skill Retention: Employees with longer tenure possess valuable insights about company processes and culture. 4.Skill Development: Over time, employees refine their skills, leading to increased productivity and innovation. 5.Cost Efficiency: Experienced employees tend to work more efficiently, reducing the time and resources spent on training new staff. 6.Enhanced Company Culture: workforce with long-term employees contributes to a stable and consistent company culture, which can attract new talent. 7.Mentorship Opportunities: Seasoned employees can mentor newcomers, fostering a culture of learning and development. 8.Strategic Insight: Long-term employees often understand the market and customer needs better, leading to informed decision-making. 9.Resilience: Their familiarity with the company's challenges and successes allows for quicker adaptation and problem-solving. 10.Customer Trust: Long-tenured employees often build relationships with clients, increasing trust and loyalty from customers
Longevity fosters deeper relationships, enhances knowledge retention, reduces costs, and improves overall company culture and performance. It is such a testament that we have many people who have been with NFI North 20 plus years and supported one another during many of these times. I would say that is why our culture is so strong and NFI North is successful. As we say goodbye to Terri Brennan, our most dedicated (27 years) Director of HR, we are reminded that longevity and loyalty are still valued characteristics. The world has changed and so has our workforce. We are so grateful for those of you who have stayed on course and give you our word that we will keep working hard to keep our culture strong. Together we can create A Place to Belong for the long road. Warmly, Jill
HR NEWS AND INFORMATION January Anniversaries 3 Year Employees Amanda Burton Amber Gilbert Dominic Mooney Lisa Morello
10 Year Employees Tarek Metwaly
NEWS Welcome Joe! As many of you are aware, with Terri's retirement, we are thrilled to welcome Joe to our team! Joe will take on the role of Director of Employee Development. He has truly distinguished himself as a perfect fit for our culture and our dedication to serving others. We are incredibly excited to have him aboard! PAGE 2
New Hires
Welcome! Justin Arcidiacono William Baker Jessica Dooley Milan Gurung Monica Lanciano Jennifer Mooney Tina Pecor Jeremy Smith Robyn Sockbeson
NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
THANK YOU TERRI! WE WILL MISS YOU! I have had the honor of working with Terri for the past 26 years. As most know, Terri began working in our payroll department and worked diligently over the years towards the position of Director of HR. In the Director role Terri has been steadfast as a leader who embraces the values of fairness and compassion. Her focus has always been for the betterment of the employee. If you looked in the dictionary for the definition of intense work ethic, you would see a picture of Terri. She is the first in the office, the last one to leave and often works on her days off. She is consistent and trustworthy. You can always count on Terri to be there when you need her. Terri has earned this retirement and then some. While we will miss her dearly, we are so happy that she can spend her days reading, gardening, traveling, and of course spending time with her husband Jim and her children.
Thank you Terri for everything you have done for the agency! We are all so thankful! We will miss you but wish you the best on this journey!
Terri we are grateful for your leadership over the years! You deserve to enjoy some time for you and your family! You have worked so hard at NFI North and we wish you the best! PAGE 3
Terri, a million thank yous for the legacy you have left at NFI North. We are so grateful for all you have done for our organization. Congratulations!
NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
New Hampshire News THS Manchester Crockpot Palooza and Gingerbread House Champions THS Manchester proudly hosted our 4th annual Crockpot Palooza, an event designed not only to celebrate our staff and participants but also show belonging and shape our community. This year’s gathering was a powerful reflection of who we are. Staff members prepared dishes representing their unique cultures, countries, and traditions, turning the event into a vibrant tapestry of flavors and stories. By sharing food that holds personal meaning, our team created an environment where everyone felt seen, respected, and connected. The Crockpot Palooza continued to serve as a space where differences are not only acknowledged but embraced and celebrated. The event also provided an opportunity to recognize the many accomplishments of our staff and participants over the past year. We highlighted milestones both big and small, each one a reminder of the collective strength that comes from an inclusive, supportive community. Crockpot Palooza has become more than an annual tradition. Through food, culture, conversation, and celebration, we continue to build a workplace where everyone truly belongs. We look forward to carrying this spirit forward and expanding the impact of this meaningful event in the years to come. The THS Manchester team also came together for the NFI North gingerbread house competition and walked away the champions! Congratulations!!
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Spotlight
Katrina LeTourneau Assistant Program Director THS Ashland Kat has served as the Assistant Program Director at THS Ashland for the past year and has been a tremendous asset to the team. She joined the program with extensive prior experience and quickly stepped into her role with confidence and dedication. Over the past year, Kat has implemented several effective tracking systems and has worked diligently to make meaningful improvements within the residence. Kat has built strong, trusting relationships with both participants and staff. Participants frequently seek her out for conversation, guidance, and support, drawn to her calm, approachable, and reassuring demeanor. She consistently provides support in a thoughtful and compassionate manner. Throughout the year, Kat has navigated multiple challenging situations with professionalism, composure, and grace. She treats all participants and colleagues with respect and kindness, and her insight and feedback are highly valued by staff across the program. In addition, Kat recently attended both the NFI Annual Conference and the NAFI Conference, where she actively engaged in networking and professional development opportunities. She has expressed a strong interest in continued growth within NFI North and consistently seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills. We are very grateful to have Kat as a member of the THS Ashland team and look forward to her continued contributions and future growth within the organization.
NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
Maine News Beacon House has been enjoying the holiday season! Beacon House is enjoying the Holiday season by focusing on getting back to basics with the Normative Approach after working with a challenging milieu. Our aim is building stability and community connection. Staff and Participants have been working diligently to rebuild a stable community through therapeutic groups, community activities and celebrations together. After a challenging summer and fall the program and hard work, Beacon House is back to structure and a caring environment that can foster growth and change. The program has been taking weekly trips to a community center to swim and to the local library to read more books. This holiday season we have made connections with our outside community. They have been more than generous with donations to give us a Merry Christmas celebration together. We had a great time opening presents and eating a great meal including yummy desserts. Beacon House looks forward to a New year!!
David Soto
Spotlight
Assistant Program Director After many years of commitment and hard work with NFI North, David Soto recently achieved Intermission his goal of becoming an Assistant Director with our agency when he accepted the position of Assistant Director at the Intermission program. In 2024, David received the longevity award at the NFI North conference for his longstanding commitment to NFI North. He also serves as the co-chair of the Community and Belonging Committee. As of 2025, David has spent 20 years with NFI North, mostly in a management capacity as a shift supervisor. He has worked in both children’s and adult programs in the Bangor Maine area, serving at Stetson Ranch and Miller Terraces before transitioning to his current position as the assistant director at the Intermission program in Lewiston, ME in October 2025. The road that David traveled to reach his current position included many twists, turns, roadblocks, and challenges along the way. But David persevered in pursuing his goals and with the help of his mentors and the community here at NFI North, changed his life for the better and never stopped reaching for greater heights. At NFI North, David found a community and found a place not only to belong but to contribute to a greater good.
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NFI NORTH | JANUARY 2026
Clinical Connections Empowering Lives, Inspiring Hope January is National Mental Wellness Month
“January is recognized as National Mental Wellness Month, a time to focus on self-care, emotional balance, and breaking the stigma around mental health, offering a fresh start after the holidays with simple, sustainable habits to improve overall well-being, unlike May's broader Mental Health Awareness Month. It encourages prioritizing mental health as much as physical health through mindfulness, healthy habits, seeking support, and finding purpose, often marked by "Blue Monday" (third Monday in Jan) as a focus for these efforts.” You spend much of your day at work, where the environment can positively or negatively influence your mental health and that of your coworkers. This year, encourage your workplace to celebrate Mental Wellness month. Activities can range from short and simple to month-long campaigns.
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A Place to Belong: Intermission As part of celebrating a place of belonging, the Intermission program in Lewiston, Maine is constructing a "Hallway of Belonging" to begin 2026. When people enter the program at the back entrance they will be greeted by a large board that combines technology, education, and celebration of all our unique cultures. Mohamed Musse, Shift Supervisor is the architect behind the project. The board will contain the 12 months of the year and in each month, various cultural and religious holidays will be denoted, showing that our community acknowledges holidays and traditions from various cultural and religious backgrounds. In addition, QR codes will be added to the dynamic presentation so that viewers can access more detail and further educate themselves on various traditions, cultures, and holidays from people all around the world. The "Hallway of Belonging" will be an ongoing project at the Intermission program that will celebrate and educate anyone who visits and walks through the main hallway on the first floor of the program. By acknowledging and celebrating our differences and by educating ourselves and our community, we can help create a place where our unique contributions move us forward together.