Letter from the CEO

It is with gratitude and excitement we celebrate Meridian’s 50th anniversary this year. It is difficult to express what fifty years of services mean in words, but we see the impacts of those services on the faces of our friends and neighbors every day. During these past fifty years of providing hope, wellness, and recovery, we have seen many positive changes, such as new and innovative programs, improvements in clinical best practices , better medications and medical protocols , and an increase in dedicated staff . We have experienced significant growth and development, but most importantly, we have seen continued improvement in the community’s perception toward those of us striving to live our best lives while living with mental illness and recovering from substance use. As we celebrate this momentous achievement, it is most certainly a time to reflect on past accomplishments, but it is also time to look forward and prepare to meet the future needs of the communities we serve. The past, although something to be immensely proud of, has been written.

As we look forward to the next fifty years , the future is what we make it and how it takes shape is in our hands. I am optimistic that we can and will improve our system for behavioral healthcare in many ways. We anticipate not only continued growth to meet the growing community need and advancements in models of care, but also a better understanding from our entire community , regarding the impact mental illness and substance use disorder has on individuals and families. Most importantly, we hope to see a