Citizen Advocates, d.b.a. Daxia Integrated Health Network, and Community, Work & Independence, Inc. (CWI), Inc. announced a formal affiliation between the two organizations following final approval by their respective Boards of Directors.
The affiliation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community-based services, preserving local leadership and positioning both organizations for long-term sustainability in a rapidly evolving health and human services environment.
CWI is an intellectual/developmental disability provider based in Glens Falls, serving individuals and families of Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. With administrative offices in Malone, the Citizen Advocates Network provides a wide range of behavioral health and disability services, and supports that promote individual health through stable housing, job training and transportation across Upstate New York.
In addition to CWI, the Daxia Integrated Health Network includes Citizen Advocates, St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers, North Country Freedom Homes, Harison Place Housing Development Corporation and Fieldstone Foundation. Citizen Advocates is the parent organization of the Network.
Under the new structure, CWI maintains its local Board of Directors, executive leadership, and day-to-day operational authority while benefiting from the broader shared-services infrastructure and organizational support of the Citizen Advocates Network. Shared services include areas such as finance, compliance and information technology, helping strengthen operational efficiency and long-term resilience.
“This is about building strength for the future while protecting what matters most — the people we support, our workforce and strong local leadership,” said James Button, President & CEO of Citizen Advocates and the Daxia Integrated Network. “CWI is a respected organization with deep community roots and a strong mission-driven culture.”
“CWI has always been guided by a commitment to helping people live meaningful, self-directed lives while remaining responsive to the needs of our communities,” said Mindy Wilson, Executive Director of CWI. “This affiliation represents a thoughtful investment in our future. It creates new opportunities to strengthen the organization, support our workforce, and expand the resources available to the individuals and families we serve, while preserving the mission, values, and local leadership that have guided CWI for decades.”
The organizations worked together over the past year to evaluate alignment opportunities and develop a governance structure designed to preserve operational independence while enhancing enterprise-level collaboration and sustainability.
“This affiliation positions CWI to remain strong and locally focused while gaining access to broader operational support and shared expertise,” said Mark Hasselwander, Chair of the CWI Board of Directors. “Our Board has been deliberate throughout this process, and we believe this direction strengthens our ability to continue serving people and families across our region for years to come.”
Leaders from both organizations emphasized that the affiliation is rooted in a long-term vision for community stability, workforce sustainability and expanded regional collaboration.
“This affiliation reflects thoughtful governance and a shared belief that local organizations can remain community-centered while benefiting from strategic collaboration,” said Nick Eells, Chair of the Citizen Advocates Board of Directors. “Together, we have an opportunity to strengthen services, expand organizational stability, and reinforce the safety-net systems that communities across Upstate New York rely upon.”
As health and human services providers continue to face workforce pressures, rising operational complexity, and changing reimbursement environments, the partnership is intended to create greater scale, efficiency and resiliency while preserving local identity and mission delivery.
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