Christopher Baszto Introduced as New Executive Director of Farnham Family Services

OSWEGO – Farnham Family Services, Oswego County’s leader in substance use disorder treatment and prevention, has named Christopher Baszto, MA, CASAC, as the organization’s new Executive Director. Baszto will be succeeding the late Eric Breese who passed away unexpectedly in November 2023.

Baszto brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having worked for Farnham in a variety of capacities since October 2011. A member of Farnham’s Executive Leadership team, Baszto has previously served as an outpatient clinician, Senior Clinician, Outpatient Program Director, Senior Director of Services, and Interim Co-Executive Director.

“Being named Executive Director comes with a sense of duty as a servant leader to help carry the torch into the future,” Bastzo said. “Having been with Farnham for 13 years, I have come to care deeply about the work that we do and feel that we have a commitment to the community we serve, as the sole provider of comprehensive substance use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services.”

Baszto succeeds Eric Breese, who as Executive Director, oversaw the development and growth of Farnham Family Services including planning for the organization’s new 16,000 square foot facility in Oswego (to begin construction in 2024) and the establishment of the Farnham Foundation to support charitable activities of Farnham Family Services.

“For anyone who knew Eric Breese, it goes without saying that his shoes are impossible to fill,” said Baszto. “That said, Eric would have been the first to empower someone by offering guidance that we each have our own unique skill sets and vision to cultivate – that filling our own shoes well is the task at hand.”

Baszto is a native of Watertown, NY and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with Honors from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He and his wife then moved Seattle, WA where he attended Bastyr University to study Naturopathic Medicine.  While in Naturopathic medical school, Baszto fell in love with the theory and practice of Depth Psychology and continued his studies at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Southern California where he earned a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, emphasizing in Depth Psychology. After graduation, Baszto and his wife made the decision to move back home to the east coast to begin their careers and start a family, feeling the importance of giving back to their communities and raising their son surrounded by loving grandparents and extended family.

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