SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD

Alice Forrester CEO

Clifford Beers Community Health Partners

Dr. Alice Forrester is Chief Executive Officer of Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic in New Haven and the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County in Norwalk, collectively referred to as Clifford Beers Community Health Partners. These widely recognized, highly regarded community-based mental health centers are reaching well over 5,000 children and families annually, many of whom have experienced trauma.

Under Dr. Forrester's leadership, Clifford Beers received the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Innovation Award in 2014 for a model of care called Wrap Around New Haven and in 2020 earned a seven-year CMS grant to create a new system of care called Integrated Care for Kids. In 2021, Clifford Beers was awarded a five-year National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative grant and a three-year Department of Justice STOP School Violence Grant focusing on work in the New Haven Public Schools. Dr. Forrester serves as Project Director for these initiatives.

Dr. Forrester serves on the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, the Connecticut Children’s Mental Health Task Force and the Governor’s Youth and Urban Violence Commission.