The following announcement was made by Chyrell D. Bellamy, Janis Tondora, Maria O'Connell, Maria Restrepo-Toro, Kimberly Blackman, and Annie Harper, leadership of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health.
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Cheri Bragg, BA, MSW, program manager (M&P) for the Yale Department of Psychiatry's Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH).
Cheri's legacy is one of advocacy and commitment, particularly in creating better support for all people, especially family members/carers of those who have experienced trauma, distress, mental illness, and drug use. Her impact as a state and national leader in Recovery Community Affairs, with over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field, is immeasurable.
Cheri's unique perspective, gained from her own lived experience, enriched her work in advocacy, peer support principles, community organizing, and knowledge of cutting-edge mental health/substance use/trauma responses. Her focus on person-centered, strengths-based, community-oriented solutions has left a lasting mark on the field.
Cheri's achievements were remarkable. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1989 and recently graduated from the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Springfield College in May 2024. Cheri's journey at Yale began in 2019, when she was appointed the assistant director of the Office of Recovery Community Affairs for the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (CT DMHAS). For the past two years, she has worked more specifically at Yale PRCH as the program manager and creative designer for the newly established PRCH Family Lived Experience Initiative. She was key to designing the first Family/Carers Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy (LET(s)Lead) Australian cohort.
Prior to coming to Yale, Cheri served various positions over the years focused on the protections and rights of people with mental illness diagnoses through the State of CT Office of Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (PAIMI), as a family advocate for FAVOR Inc., as a coordinator at Keep the Promise Inc., and as a human services worker at Community Health Resources (CHR), Inc. Cheri was also a community volunteer and spent many years volunteering for the Connecticut Legal Rights project (CLRP), Witnesses to Hunger – New Haven, Special Olympics CT, and Unified Sports. Cheri received the 2024 Connecticut Upward Spiral Award: Spirit of the People Award for her leadership and advocacy.
Cheri leaves behind a loving family who will deeply miss her. She is survived by her spouse, Paul Acker; her son, Brian McGuire; her father, Kenneth Bragg; and her sister, Dawn Bragg. Her passing is mourned not only by her immediate family, but also by her extended family, friends, and all of us in the Department of Psychiatry and at PRCH.
The family is planning a celebration of life for January. Cheri's legacy will live on through the Family Lived Experience Initiatives, which will be named after her in honor of her invaluable contributions.
Cards and condolences for the family can be sent to Chyrell D. Bellamy at chyrell.bellamy@yale.edu and they will be sent to the family.