Theresa Garee

New Horizons was incorporated as a private, non-profit corporation in 1971, originally known as "The Drug Abuse Board."​ The agency's original mission was to prevent and treat drug abuse problems among the children and adults of Fairfield County. A strong community focus and an active, collaborative involvement with local school systems were prominent values at agency inception, and remain important components today. Based upon identified community needs, in the early 1980's, the agency evolved into a children's mental health agency. While drug abuse remained an important focus, services were expanded to include the treatment of wide-ranging mental health disorders in children and families. This was the first time specialized children's mental health services became available to Fairfield County citizens. At this time, the agency also changed it's name to New Horizons Youth and Family Center. The agency then experienced another evolution on July 1, 1993 at the initiation of the Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board. At this time New Horizons absorbed another existing agency, and began operations as a comprehensive, community mental health agency, providing a wide array of mental health care to the children AND adults of Fairfield County. This coordinated care approach has resulted in increased service quality, added value to consumers and greater cost-efficiency for the Fairfield County mental health system. In 2013, the agency changed it's name to New Horizons Mental Health Services. Today, ninety staff members provide numerous programs and services from multiple locations to thousands of people each year. New Horizons Mental Health Services mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and our community, through the provision of accessible, evidence-based, comprehensive mental health and substance abuse care and the creation of effective community partnerships.