On July 7, the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced that CHD is one 25 behavioral health and substance use providers in Massachusetts to receive the state’s newly developed Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) designation. CHD’s participation in this statewide CBHC network, which was formed to expand access to treatment, is part of the Behavioral Health Roadmap to strengthen the behavioral health system—particularly routine, urgent, and crisis services— starting in January of 2023.

The cities and towns to be served by CHD’s CBHC will be Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Monson, Palmer, Southampton, and Ware. CHD is among four agencies in the state’s Western Region with this new CBHC designation.

“Achieving this designation means that CHD will stay at the forefront of innovation in the state’s Medicaid-funded mental health service delivery,” said CHD Chief Operating Officer Marlo Connor. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for the agency to pilot new approaches in improving outcomes for those we serve.”

The CBHCs will provide same-day evaluation and referral to treatment, evening and weekend hours, timely follow-up appointments, and evidence-based behavioral health treatment, in person at their community-based locations, and via telehealth. These centers will also deliver 24/7 community-based mobile crisis intervention and stabilization, as an alternative to hospital emergency departments. Beginning in January, the Commonwealth will launch a 24/7 Behavioral Health Helpline that provides clinical assessment, triage, and referral to treatment, including deploying 24/7 mobile crisis intervention teams operated by CBHCs.