Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Connecticut Valley Hospital Overview

Vision Statement:  To promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe and caring environment.

Mission Statement:  At Connecticut Valley Hospital, individuals receive services that assist them to better manage their illnesses, achieve personal goals, and develop skills and supports that lead to living the most constructive and satisfying lives possible.

CVH opened in 1868 as the State’s public hospital for the treatment of persons with mental illness. Throughout its history, it has experienced the multitude of medical, social and political changes affecting such facilities. In 1995, the Governor and General Assembly through a statewide restructuring of services for persons with psychological and addiction disabilities called for a renewed commitment to specialized treatment at CVH by expanding community options for patients and staff while closing two other hospitals and consolidating inpatient services here. The hospital became the amalgamation of four formerly freestanding psychiatric hospitals, four freestanding substance use disorder treatment facilities, and one maximum security hospital. Then in 2010, the former Cedarcrest Regional Hospital (with 2 campuses – Cedar Ridge campus in Newington and Blue Hills campus in Hartford) consolidated services with CVH. On May 1, 2018, the Whiting Forensic Division of CVH separated, creating two separate hospitals; Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) and Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH). Today, CVH is comprised of 17 inpatient units over two campuses (Middletown and Hartford).

All of the services provided by CVH are designed with the concept of "Recovery to Wellness" as their operational framework.  Recovery is a process of restoring or developing a positive and meaningful sense of identity apart from one’s condition and then rebuilding one’s life in the fullest sense.  Recovery is an individualized patient-centered approach. Achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health and wellness is integrated in our recovery approach.  Individuals acquire and practice life skills that will assist them in their recovery process.

One of the major tenets of recovery is that individuals are responsible for their own lives and therefore are responsible agents in their own recovery.  Individuals have a real chance at reclaiming full and productive lives if they are given access to treatments, services, and programs vital to recovery.

These programs and services have been designed based on determination of individuals' need, in accordance with the Mission of its Governing Board, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and in collaboration with community providers, families, advocates, consumer groups and other customers of services. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is also the Chair of the Governing Body of the Hospital and is appointed by the Commissioner of the DMHAS according to Connecticut General Statutes. Operational reporting to the Department is through the Assistant to the Commissioner within the Office of the Commissioner.

Almost all of the programs offered today have a statewide constituency and most patients are admitted upon referral and evaluation for admission. 

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