United Counseling Service Recognized as a Center of Excellence

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Following a comprehensive review by Vermont Care Partners (VCP), United Counseling Service (UCS) has again received a three-year Centers of Excellence accreditation. 
 
Vermont Care Partners is a network of sixteen member agencies that provide mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability services and supports in every community in Vermont. 
 
The COE accreditation is based on stringent quality and performance measures, including world-class customer service, comprehensive care, easy access, excellent value and excellent outcomes, accorind to a press release.
 
"We are grateful for this recognition," said Lorna Mattern, Executive Director of UCS. "Achieving this certification is significant, particularly during these times of overwhelmingly high demand. We have worked hard to improve the wellbeing of the Bennington County community. Through innovative programming and the entire staff’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our community we have found new ways to ensure as many people as possible get the help and supports they need."
 
United Counseling Service (UCS) is a private, non-profit community mental health center that has been an essential part of Bennington County’s integrated healthcare system since 1958. The organization has been designated as a Center of Excellence by Vermont Care Partners. UCS promotes healthy lifestyles through all its programs and offers care at 15 different facilities, including two primary outpatient facilities in Bennington and Manchester. UCS provides outpatient counseling and addiction services, emergency mental health services, extensive rehabilitation services, home and school-based services, employment services for people recovering from mental illness or with developmental disabilities, and early childhood services.  For more information visit ucsvt.org.
 
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Coggins Auto Group Celebrates Five Years

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The family-owned Coggins Auto Group is celebrating five years of operations: Coggins Toyota of Bennington and Coggins Honda of Bennington, and Coggins of the Berkshires in nearby Massachusetts.
 
Mike Coggins purchased three dealerships — Honda, Toyota and Ford — in 2020 with a goal to restore trust and a "true sense of community-minded dealership culture." 
 
"My primary focus from day one was bringing back that connection to the region," Coggins had said back in 2021. "This area values real relationships. They want to know the people they're doing business with. We set out to rebuild that trust."
 
The Ford dealership was sold off in 2023 and Coggins of the Berkshires, with sales and services for used cars, opened the same year in Pittsfield, Mass. 
 
According to Coggins Auto Group, the dealerships had social media ratings of two stars when they were purchased; now all Coggins locations are garnering more than four stars in customer satisfaction reviews. 
 
"We sell cars, and we fix cars, and our goal is just to make our customers happy, and keep our employees happy, and that's what's made this really work these last few years," said General Manager Scott O'Connell.
 
Coggins Auto Group is also involved in events that benefit the community, including its popular annual charity golf tournament that funds local charities and organizations such as the Bennington Little League.
 
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