After deciding this spring to close its Community Healthlink affiliate, UMass Memorial Health has finalized deals with nonprofits from around Massachusetts to take over CHL’s mental health and substance use treatment programs.
Open Sky Community Services and Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, both in Worcester; Behavioral Health Network in Springfield; Clinical & Support Options in Northampton; Eliot Community Human Services in Lexington; and Mentor South Bay in Brockton will take over CHL’s programs, UMass Memorial announced Friday.
“While CHL as an organization will close, its legacy and impact will live on thanks to these trusted partners who will continue to serve clients throughout the region,” Dr. Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health, said in the announcement. “We are proud to have reached this outcome, which keeps specialized behavioral health services available in the community.”
The transfers were designed to minimize the impact on patients and caregivers, according to UMass Memorial. A number of Community Healthlink employees will be able to transfer to their programs’ new administrators.
UMass plans to lay off 231 employees by Sept. 16 as part of CHL’s closure. The health system is closing the affiliate due to financial and operational challenges.
The CHL programs set to be transferred to new nonprofits are:
- Open Sky will assume ownership of the CHL properties on Sigourney and Orchard Streets with plans to introduce a Co-Occurring Enhanced Residential Recovery Service model at the sites, pending state approval.
- BHN will operate Worcester-based mental health and addiction counseling and support programs, including the Worcester Community Behavioral Health Center, substance use stabilization and recovery services, the Program for Assertive Community Treatment, the Adult Community Clinical Support Group Living Environments, and Single Individual Environments, and the Worcester Clinical Team for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- CMHA will take responsibility for providing a continuum of care supportive housing services.
- CSO will operate North Central-based programs including the Leominster Community Behavioral Health Center, the Program for Assertive Community Treatment, the Leominster Community Support Program, and the Leominster Clinical Team.
- Eliot Community Human Services will operate the Tenancy Protection Program and the Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals.
- Mentor South Bay will operate the Early Intervention program.
CHL’s website will be updated as the program transitions are completed.
Brad Kane is editor of the Worcester Business Journal.
