Shawn Hayden entered GAAMHA’s Pathway House in 2009 with little hope and a life unraveling from addiction. Over time, the program’s structure and support helped him rebuild his life, repair his family relationships, and discover a professional path in service to others. That journey led to an unexpected turning point: the creation of GAAMHA’s care farming program, where individuals with substance use disorder and/or mental health challenges care for rescued animals and, in the process, experience connection, healing, and trust.
Now President and CEO of GAAMHA, Shawn speaks candidly about his past struggles with addiction and how they continue to shape his perspective on recovery, purpose, and healing. He discusses the powerful, often transformative stories that emerge from the farm. And he reflects on the promising future of care farming and its potential to transform lives, communities, and the way society approaches support and recovery.
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ABOUT GAAMHA
Founded in 1967 and based in Gardner, Massachusetts, GAAMHA is a multi-service human services organization committed to meeting people where they are. Its mission is to ensure that anyone can access help when they ask for it, no matter who they are.
GAAMHA’s vision is to be an organization unafraid to explore new approaches to better support the communities it serves. GAAMHA provides behavioral health services for individuals experiencing substance use and/or mental health challenges; enrichment programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and door-to-door transportation for older adults and individuals with physical, sensory, or other challenges.
ABOUT THE CARE FARM PROGRAMS AT EVERGREEN GROVE
GAAMHA’s care farm programs are based at Evergreen Grove, a 115-acre equestrian estate. The estate is home to the Carl E. Dahl House, a residential recovery home for men with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Residents are supported by a multidisciplinary team and engage in daily farm life, caring for animals such as goats, pigs, chickens, and horses—work that fosters responsibility, connection, and purpose.
Also situated on the estate is GAAMHA’s R.O.O.T.S. program, an innovative clinical support model that integrates care farming with therapeutic services for young people navigating substance use and mental health challenges.
ABOUT THE REIMAGINATION CAFE
The ReImagination Café is a space for thoughtful, inspirational conversations with people who are reimagining work. We aim to foster connection and community, spark meaningful dialogue, celebrate our shared humanity, and offer hope for a better tomorrow. The ReImagination Café is an
initiative of ReImagining the Workplace, LLC— because everyone deserves to thrive at work.
Visit us at reimaginingtheworkplace.net.