What began in 1986 as one woman’s determination to serve children who had experienced sexual assault has grown into a mental health lifeline for thousands. Today, For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center provides expert mental health services, victim crisis support, education and outreach, and statewide leadership. The agency’s unique model of care ensures that no one in the region has to imagine life without these services, regardless of language or ability to pay.
Guided by the vision of local social worker Joy Mitchell-Price and fueled by steadfast community support, For All Seasons was born to help child victims of sexual assault and trauma on Maryland’s Mid-Shore find services locally. Co-founders Nancy Wilson, Maureen Jacobs, Kathleen Francis, Janet Pfeffer, and Karen Kaludis sought early backing from a major grant through the Maryland Governor’s Office. Along with committed community leaders, the only Rape Crisis Center opened its doors serving the five Mid-Shore counties, bringing care, dignity, and hope closer to home.
“There was nothing here for these children, their families, or adults abused as children,” shares Karen Kaludis, Co-Founder. “Joy Price knew that she couldn’t do it alone. She formed a coalition of women who each had different strengths that would contribute to the success of the organization’s mission. That is what Beth Anne Dorman, For All Seasons’ current President and CEO, has done over the past 11 years. She selects the people who fit the bill and have the strength to build what we need in our ever-changing times.”
As the years unfolded, For All Seasons leadership listened closely to what the community needed and expanded to support survivors across the lifespan. As the team continued to serve the community, they recognized the significant need for mental health services and broadened the For All Seasons’ mission to include mental health support for all, ensuring that high-quality, local therapy was accessible to anyone in need, not just those in crisis.
“As I think about the areas that For All Seasons now serves,” states Janet Pfeffer, Co-Founder, “I realize that when we started it, we recognized that mental health is at the heart of all things that make a society healthy. Whether it is sexual violence, substance abuse, or other destructive behaviors, we now recognize the importance mental health plays in our everyday lives, from our work life to our family life. I am grateful for how For All Seasons has grown to address these issues in our community.”
That spirit of responsiveness defined the decades that followed as For All Seasons built a comprehensive continuum of care to address persistent gaps in access. This expansion included school-based mental health services in select K–12 public schools, a 24-hour crisis program, the addition of psychiatry services, a human trafficking awareness program, a Latino outreach program, and an embedded interpretation team – each designed to meet people where they are and remove barriers to care.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, For All Seasons again demonstrated its commitment to access and innovation by launching a comprehensive telehealth program that ensured continuity of care during a time of unprecedented need. More recently, the agency introduced the groundbreaking Open Access Program, allowing new clients to walk in for services five days a week.
Since Dorman arrived in 2014, For All Seasons has experienced extraordinary growth. At that time, the agency served approximately 1,000 clients annually with a staff of 28 people. Today, the agency has grown to nearly 100 team members, providing over 100,000 life-saving services to more than 4,000 clients annually from every county in Maryland and Baltimore City. Approximately one in nine people on the Mid-Shore have used the agency’s services over the past 15 years. The agency, which continues to serve as the only Rape Crisis Center for Caroline, Kent, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, stands as a statewide leader in mental health and sexual assault support services and a national model of excellence.
One of the newer initiatives is For All Seasons’ Center for Learning, which focuses on training and strengthening the expertise of the agency’s clinical team. 100% of For All Seasons service providers are trauma-certified and trained in cultural competency and military assistance. Additionally, the Center for Learning provides training for mental health professionals outside the agency and sponsors national and international mental health authors/speakers to help the community through free presentations that offer the knowledge and skills necessary to live healthier and more resilient lives.
As For All Seasons is guided by a bold vision for the next generation of care through its Bringing Mental Health to Main Street campaign. This initiative reflects the belief that mental health services should be visible, accessible, and woven into the everyday fabric of community life. Grounded in three core pillars—accessibility, education, and sustainability—the agency focuses on expanding timely access to care, deepening community understanding of mental health and trauma, and strengthening the foundation that will ensure For All Seasons remains a trusted resource for decades to come.
“One of the most important responsibilities of a Board is to assure the sustainability of an organization,” adds Len Wolf, President, For All Seasons Board of Directors. “At For All Seasons, we’ve taken that responsibility seriously with a keen focus on prudent financial management, as well as senior leadership development and succession planning. I am confident that we have in place the infrastructure to provide, and in fact expand, the life-saving behavioral health services that many of our neighbors require.”
Beth Anne Dorman concludes, “For All Seasons leads with heart and smart stewardship, working alongside our community to address mental health challenges head-on. We’re focused on today’s needs while intentionally building for a future that ensures our services endure for decades to come.”
With an unwavering commitment to meeting people where they are, For All Seasons is not only honoring its past but building a future that ensures compassionate, expert care will be available for the next 40 years and beyond.
Watch an interview with Beth Anne Dorman and Karen Kaludis on the 40th anniversary of For All Seasons here https://forallseasonsstories.org/40thVideo1.
For All Seasons Behavioral Health & Rape Crisis Center offers mental health services, victim and crisis support, and education and outreach on Maryland’s Mid-Shore and throughout the state. The agency’s unique model of care ensures that anyone can receive high-quality, trauma-certified mental health care when they need it – regardless of language or ability to pay. For information about For All Seasons’ walk-in hours, call 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.