WELLMORE AND THE VILLAGE FOR FAMILIES & CHILDREN ANNOUNCE PLANNED MERGER

Behavioral health providers based in Waterbury & Hartford to form one of CT’s largest social services non-profits

WATERBURY and HARTFORD, Conn. Wellmore and The Village for Families & Children (The Village), two of Connecticut’s leading behavioral health organizations, plan to merge operations in the coming months with the goal of expanding services, sharing expertise and maximizing impact for their clients. Together, the agencies employ nearly 1,000 staff members and annually serve 30,000 families in 100 municipalities in Connecticut.  

“This is an incredibly opportunity for Wellmore’s clients and staff,” said Wellmore’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gary Steck. “By combining forces, we can build on the success of each organization and deliver even more for our clients. This is truly a joyful moment for all of us who are devoted to Greater Waterbury and the mental health of its families.”

The Village’s CEO, Hector Glynn, says the merger is a win-win for both organizations and their clients. “This is about capitalizing on what we each do well, learning from each other and most importantly—using our combined resources to invest in programs that transform lives.”

Wellmore CEO, Gary Steck and The Village for Families & Children CEO, Hector Glynn shake hands after signing the planned merger agreement.

Wellmore and The Village’s programs are well aligned. While the scope and size of the services vary, both non-profits are focused on mental and behavioral health and offer programs that include:

• School readiness and early childhood education

• Home-based counseling, support for parents and caregivers

• Substance use prevention and recovery support

• Urgent Crisis Centers and mobile crisis operations for youth

  
  

Wellmore’s Board Chair, Dr. James Nardozzi, says his top priority is ensuring that the merger benefits the Greater Waterbury community. “Growth is a good thing, especially when it’s thoughtful and strategic. The Village shares our values and priorities, and it’s clear from their 200-year history that they understand what it means to part of the community,” said Nardozzi.

Curt Cameron, The Village’s Board Chair, says there will be ample opportunities for collaboration and synergies when the merger is completed. “Tackling the mental health crisis requires providers to examine how they can deliver services more efficiently and effectively. I’m confident that the sum of these two great organizations will be even better than the parts,” said Cameron.  

Each of the organization’s Board of Directors has given initial approval for the merger, but final sign-off by the boards and stakeholders is not expected until the end of June 2026. Once finalized, Wellmore’s President & CEO, Gary Steck, will become The Village’s Chief Impact Officer, while Hector Glynn will remain The Village’s President & CEO. No layoffs are planned as a result of the merger.

Legal work and feasibility studies related to the merger have been made possible in part with support from SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration.

Wellmore, with history dating back to 1951, is one of the largest behavioral health providers in western Connecticut, serving 43 towns. It employs approximately 260 employees across 10 sites and serves about 10,000 clients annually. The Village, with a history spanning more than 200 years, is based in Hartford and serves individuals and families in more than 80 towns. It operates multiple sites across Greater Hartford and serves approximately 20,000 families each year.   

Contact:

Gary Steck, Chief Executive Officer, Wellmore, 475-260-0619.

Sarah Heath, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications,The Village for Families & Children (c) 860-751-4179, sheath@thevillage.org 

About Wellmore

Wellmore is a private, non-profit organization that has been providing and facilitating comprehensive behavioral health (substance use, psychiatric and mental health) treatment, prevention, early intervention to adults, children, adolescents, and their families in the Greater Waterbury area since 1951. Wellmore promotes lifetime of wellness through essential and innovative treatment and support and envisions a community where all individuals are empowered to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. For more information please visit www.wellmore.org.

About The Village

The Village for Families & Children was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, The Village provides a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment, and support services for children, families and adults in the Greater Hartford region. Learn more at thevillage.org.