Gould Farm Awarded Grant from the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation to Expand Wellness Programming

At Gould Farm, we’ve long believed that recovery flourishes when the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—is nurtured. Thanks to a generous grant from The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation, we can now deepen our commitment to wellness and expand the ways we support our guests’ physical and mental health.

The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation, since its founding in 1999, has awarded over $50 million to organizations that improve the lives of people living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Their mission is to fund programs that have a tangible, measurable impact on mental health outcomes.

Since 1913, Gould Farm has been serving adults with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, and co-occurring challenges like trauma and substance use. Our therapeutic community combines meaningful work, clinical care, and communal living on a 700-acre working farm in the Berkshires, helping guests rebuild confidence, purpose, and connection.

For many living with serious mental illness, managing medications and navigating fragmented health systems can be challenging. Physical health concerns—like weight gain, metabolic issues, and cardiovascular risk—can interfere with recovery. At Gould Farm, we know that holistic care is essential: a strong, nourished body supports a resilient mind, and wellness is woven into daily life through work, recreation, and community engagement.

With the support of the Foundation, we are focusing on three key objectives from our approved grant:

1. Strengthen Nutrition and Fitness Programming

We are providing dedicated fitness and nutrition instruction, including weekly group classes, individual support, and expert consultation on the Farm’s food and wellness practices. Our new programs, led by Angie Craig, licensed dietitian nutritionist and certified personal trainer, include functional fitness, mindfulness-based movement, and nutrition education designed to meet the diverse needs of our guests.

2. Implement a Comprehensive Wellness Framework

We are formalizing a structured approach to wellness using evidence-based assessment tools such as Peggy Swarbrick’s 8 Domains of Wellness and the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC). These tools allow us to track individual progress, tailor support to each guest’s needs, and evaluate the impact of our wellness programming over time. They also provide the foundation for future staff and community-wide training, curriculum development, and engagement efforts.

3. Build Capacity for Long-Term Wellness Integration

Funding will help us sustain a robust wellness program by training staff to use new tools, integrating wellness goals into individual service plans, and refining internal systems to track outcomes. It also supports wellness services directly, including updated exercise equipment, journals, and educational materials, ensuring that wellness practices become a consistent and measurable part of each guest’s recovery journey.

These efforts reflect the heart of Gould Farm’s therapeutic community. Our 20-year outcomes study confirms what we see every day: guests experience meaningful gains in quality of life, reductions in symptoms, and a strengthened sense of purpose when wellness is embedded into recovery.

Like planting seeds in the garden, these investments take time to bear fruit. Patience, persistence, and trust in the slow work of transformation are essential. Yet season after season, guests leave Gould Farm stronger, more resilient, and ready to live into recovery on their own terms. With the support of the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation, we can continue to grow wellness in ways that are both deep and lasting.