Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery

What Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery does

Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1939 in Montpelier, Vermont, that delivers advocacy, professional training, and community programs for mental health and addiction recovery. The organization's core technology platform is the Collective Learning Institute of Vermont (CLI-VT), a LearnUpon-hosted learning management system offering 50+ free, peer-informed, trauma-aware, equity-centered courses with CEU credits in areas including harm reduction, motivational interviewing, ethics, trauma-responsive care, pharmacology, and youth engagement. Branded program lines include the Umatter® registered suicide prevention training (with specialized tracks for schools, older men, and LGBTQ+ youth), the Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) certification program for Vermont employers, the Beyond Bars peer-informed reentry initiative for justice-involved individuals, the Your Story Your Work storytelling campaign, the INTO LIGHT Vermont exhibit, and the annual Recovery Day advocacy event.

VAMHAR operates a freemium, grant- and donation-funded business model in which training and certification are provided at no cost to learners and employers, while primary revenue is sourced from charitable donations (tiered from $25 Bridge Builder to $1,000+ Guardian of Hope) and grant funding. Its distribution spans a self-serve LMS (CLI-VT), cohort-based RFW certification with a two-year renewal cycle, direct outreach to employers and community agencies for Beyond Bars, and annual in-person events including Recovery Day. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, leveraging peer recovery coaches, employer cohorts, and policy advocacy — including direct legislative access through a Board Chair who serves in the Vermont General Assembly. VAMHAR serves multiple customer segments simultaneously: Vermont employers seeking recovery-friendly workplace certification, peer recovery and behavioral health professionals pursuing CEU credits, justice-involved individuals in reentry, schools seeking Umatter® training, and Vermont communities engaging through Into Light and Recovery Day.

The organization is small (approximately five core staff plus a 12+ member volunteer board), operates exclusively within Vermont, and has no disclosed subsidiaries, funding rounds, or external ownership interests. Its strategic posture over the past two years has emphasized curriculum diversification (adding career-readiness tracks such as AI and Cybersecurity via The New Trade Program), expanding the employer RFW cohort across sectors, and broadening cultural programming through INTO LIGHT and Recovery Day as portable, traveling platforms for stigma reduction.

Name

Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery

Legal name

Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery

Website

https://vamhar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VAMHAR is a Vermont statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1939 that delivers free peer-informed training (50+ CEU courses via CLI-VT/Umatter®), employer certification (Recovery Friendly Workplaces), reentry support (Beyond Bars), and community advocacy (Recovery Day, INTO LIGHT) for mental health and addiction recovery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Addiction recovery training
• Suicide prevention training
• Recovery friendly workplace certification
• Peer recovery support

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: VAMHAR relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations to fund operations and programs. Donation tiers range from $25 (Bridge Builder) to $1,000+ (Guardian of Hope), with specific impact statements tied to each level.
2. Training Programs (Free): The Collective Learning Institute offers over 50 training courses free of charge to learners. CEUs are available for most courses. This is a cost-recovery or grant-funded model rather than revenue-generating.
3. Recovery Friendly Workplace Certification: Certification program provided at no cost to Vermont employers. Resources and assistance are provided free of charge. The program is grant-funded rather than fee-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VAMHAR is a statewide nonprofit advocacy and training organization that provides free peer-informed, trauma-aware education, workplace certification, suicide prevention, and re-entry support to advance mental health and addiction recovery across Vermont. Its flagship offerings are the Collective Learning Institute (CLI-VT) online training platform with 50+ CEU-accredited courses, the Umatter® registered suicide prevention program, and the Recovery Friendly Workplace certification pathway for Vermont employers.

Product overview

VAMHAR operates as a statewide nonprofit offering a unified portfolio of advocacy, training, and community programs focused on mental health and addiction recovery. The core educational platform is the Collective Learning Institute of Vermont (CLI-VT), an LMS hosting over 50 training courses with CEU credits. This platform is complemented by branded programs including Umatter® suicide prevention training, the Recovery Friendly Workplace certification program, the Beyond Bars re-entry initiative, the Your Story Your Work storytelling campaign, the INTO LIGHT exhibit project, and the annual Recovery Day event. All offerings center lived experience, trauma-informed practices, and harm reduction principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Collective Learning Institute of Vermont (CLI-VT): A learning platform formerly known as Recovery University, offering peer-informed, trauma-aware, equity-centered training for people across Vermont. Provides over 50 free trainings with CEU credits.
• Umatter®
• Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW)
• Beyond Bars
• Into Light
• Your Story, Your Work

Quantifiable outcome

• VAMHAR's Collective Learning Institute offers over 50 free training courses with CEUs available for most courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RHINO FOODScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified Recovery Friendly Workplace employer demonstrating commitment to supporting employees in recovery from substance use disorders.
• Good Neighbor Health CliniccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRecovery Friendly Workplace partner providing healthcare services in Vermont. Joint effort to create supportive workplace environments.
• Red Logan Dental CliniccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRecovery Friendly Workplace partner providing dental care services while supporting employees affected by substance use.
• The Family PlacecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRecovery Friendly Workplace partner serving Vermont families and creating recovery-supportive work environment.
• Hanover Consumer Cooperative SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified Recovery Friendly Workplace cooperative committed to supporting employees in recovery.
• Good Samaritan HavencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRecovery Friendly Workplace partner providing housing services with commitment to recovery-supportive practices.
• Hightop CleaningcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSmall business certified as Recovery Friendly Workplace, demonstrating second-chance employment practices.
• Clara Martin CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMental health and addiction services provider certified as Recovery Friendly Workplace.
• INTO LIGHT ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized mental health and addiction awareness initiative. VAMHAR leads the Vermont chapter, bringing the exhibition to Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (July 11 - November 1, 2026). Professional artists create graphite portraits of loved ones lost to addiction.
• Brattleboro Museum & Art CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Vermont chapter of INTO LIGHT exhibition, providing space for community engagement with recovery narratives.
• Pride Center of VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with VAMHAR to create the 'Working with 2STLGBTQ+ People' training course, exploring language and recovery access best practices.
• Faces & Voices of RecoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational recovery advocacy organization led by Patty McCarthy, Recovery Day 2026 keynote speaker. VAMHAR partners on policy advocacy and peer recovery support initiatives.
• LundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont nonprofit (since 1890) helping approximately 5,400 people annually. Partnered for 'Recovering Loudly' film screening at Recovery Day 2026, sharing stories of moms in recovery.
• SafeSpotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhone-based overdose prevention hotline. Operations Coordinator Kimber King to present at Recovery Day 2026. SafeSpot grew from volunteer pilot to nationally recognized fully staffed service.
• The New Trade ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer preparation program (Digital Marketing, AI, Cybersecurity) offered through CLI-VT platform. Founder & CEO Salim Holder helps prepare people for future of work without requiring degrees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Faces & Voices of Recovery: A national recovery advocacy organization led by Patty McCarthy. Directly comparable as a peer-led, recovery-focused advocacy nonprofit; VAMHAR has a Core strategic partnership with Faces & Voices on policy and peer support initiatives.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: The largest suicide prevention nonprofit in the U.S. with extensive training programs and advocacy. Directly comparable to VAMHAR's Umatter® suicide prevention training portfolio, but operates nationally with a chapter network and federal lobbying presence.

Broad incumbents

• Partnership to End Addiction: A national nonprofit addressing substance use through family support, education, and policy. Comparable to VAMHAR in employer-facing substance use support and family/adult recovery coaching, but operates at national scale with corporate partnerships.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): The largest U.S. grassroots mental health advocacy organization. Comparable to VAMHAR as a peer-led advocacy, education, and training nonprofit, but operates nationally with state and local affiliates across all 50 states and a substantially larger budget.
• Shatterproof: A leading national nonprofit focused on ending addiction. Comparable to VAMHAR in advocacy and employer-facing substance use programs, but operates at multi-state scale with larger corporate partnerships and federal policy reach.
• Mental Health America: The nation's oldest community-based mental health nonprofit, founded in 1909. Comparable to VAMHAR's long-history advocacy and training model, with national affiliates, screening tools, and policy work; operates at substantially larger scale.

Emerging players

• SAFE Project: A nonprofit focused on substance use disorder and recovery support, with training and workplace programs. Comparable to VAMHAR's RFW certification and CLI-VT training model, but operates across multiple states with a narrower focus on collegiate and military populations.

Regional players

• Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR): A statewide Connecticut recovery community organization with peer recovery coaching and training. Comparable to VAMHAR as a regional peer-led, recovery-focused advocacy and training nonprofit; serves a similar state-level population with analogous program mix.
• New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition: A neighboring New England nonprofit focused on harm reduction, peer support, and community advocacy. Comparable to VAMHAR in peer-led harm reduction philosophy and training, though more focused on direct harm reduction services rather than employer certification.
• Recovery Friendly Workplace (Massachusetts): A state-led employer certification initiative that mirrors VAMHAR's RFW program. Comparable as a direct program-equivalent peer in the same New England region; represents both a potential expansion geography and a competitive model in adjacent states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/recoveryvermont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vamhar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery