
We are all here to make help accessible in the Connecticut River Valley towns of Chester, Deep River and Essex.
Get to know a little about us!
Our Staff

Charity Benedict, MACP
Executive Director
Directorttysb@gmail.com
860-526-3600 ext. 103
Charity holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Marymount University in Arlington Virginia and a Masters’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in Illinois. She has worked in non-profit, municipal, and county government settings. Charity comes to Tri-Town with over 10 years of experience in writing and managing federal, state, and local grants. She has successfully built community collaborations to address substance use and mental health and wellness. She enjoys analyzing and identifying community needs and building evidence-based programs to address those needs. She shares Tri-Town’s commitment to the crucial importance of mental health services and positive youth development programming. Charity is excited to be an advocate for the youth and families in the Tri-Town area.

Faith Sprigg, MSOL, ACE-CPT and CHC
Director of Positive Youth Development
Faith@ttysb.org
860-526-3600
Faith comes to TTYSB with a not-so-cookie-cutter story. She has lived experiences throughout her adolescence and young adulthood, struggling with mental health and addiction. In recovery since 2005, she attributes her success to holistic health practices, wellness strategies, and recognizing the need for mental health support. She is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Health Coach because she believes in addressing all aspects of wellness when supporting others. She advocates transparency and story-telling to encourage others to speak their truths, with no shame attached.
Committed to being the person she needed during her teen years, Faith began her education at Middlesex Community College and quickly moved on to receive her BA in Human Services with a concentration in Child and Family Welfare from SNHU. Faith earned her MS in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofits from SNHU in February 2023. Faith is a certified Mindful Art and Meditation Facilitator and One Circle Foundation Facilitator who uses a variety of skills and modalities to create safe, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental spaces for youth to learn, grow, express themselves, and become changemakers in our community! A parent in Region 4, Faith brings energy, passion, and creativity to all of her programs at TTYSB.

Lyn Connery, CAC CPS
Case Manager, School Engagement + Truancy
Lyn@ttybs.org
860-526-3600
Lyn Connery comes to Tri-Town Youth Services with a vast and rich background of working with teenagers. As the Student Assistance Counselor for Westbrook High School for over 30 years, she had a reputation of engaging students into her counseling services and initiating a wide array of prevention programs. She successfully developed and facilitated a Peer Counseling Program, Students against Destructive Decisions Chapter and a Gay Straight Alliance. She was also recognized as the coordinator for Westbrook’s Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth and promoted asset-building initiatives throughout the community.
In addition to Lyn’s clinical duties at Tri-Town Youth Services, she works at Rushford’s Early Intervention Program and facilitates group counseling for teenagers who have gotten in trouble due to their drug use. She has a passion for helping young people find their way and continues her work, all while being semi-retired. Lyn loves exercise classes, walking and playing pickleball and believes staying active is an important component to one’s positive mental health.

Melanie Meyer, LMFT
Clinical Director
Melanie@ttysb.org
Private Line and Secure Voicemail: 860-526-3600 ext. 101
Melanie is a licensed marriage family therapist who has been working for youth services bureaus since 2015. Melanie graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and minoring in psychology. She went on to obtain her Masters degree from the same university for an MS in marriage and family therapy. Melanie has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families experiencing common stressors and behavioral challenges that arise across the life span. She also enjoys co-facilitating the Peer Advocates program at the high school with High School Social Worker, Brad Pitman. Melanie serves as a community diversion advocate with Tri-Town’s local Juvenile Review Board in addition to being case manager for school avoidance or other behavior concerns. She also serves as chair for the local community collaborative, Valley Shore Collaborative, which meets monthly to assess gaps in service and community needs for most of Middlesex County.

Elizabeth Keyes Charles, LPCA, MT-BC
Prelicensed Mental Health Clinician
Support@ttysb.org
(860)526-3600
Elizabeth Keyes Charles, MT-BC is excited to continue her journey at Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau and grow from an intern to a pre-licensed mental health clinician. Elizabeth holds a BA in Music Therapy from Anna Maria College and is expected to graduate from Wake Forest University in August 2023 with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. When Elizabeth is not running her music therapy business or providing counseling at Tri-Town, she enjoys spending time with her two young daughters and traveling.
Board of Directors
About the Board
The Board of Directors of the Tri-Town Youth Service Bureau consists of 6 to 18 members from the tri-town area of Chester, Deep River, and Essex. Each board member serves a two-year term, with no more than three consecutive terms served. One can serve again after a year’s absence.
Board members are expected to participate in meetings, fundraising activities and to promote Tri-Town Youth Services and its mission.
Meetings
The Tri-Town Board meets the second Tuesday of each month (Sept-June) at 6:00pm. Committees meet as needed throughout the year.
Committees
Each board member serves on at least one committee: Suicide Prevention Task Force; Community Resources Roundtable; Early Childhood Council; DEI Steering Committee; and Committee on Restorative Practice. Additional special committees are formed as needed.
Fundraising
All board members participate in the bureau’s fundraising activities. We are always seeking new ideas for fun, family-friendly fundraisers!