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Food Resources in Worcester County for Those in Need

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:53:07 GMT

Download the food resources list to find help throughout Worcester County

While the Trump Administration has said it plans to partially fund SNAP benefits for November. It remains to be seen when the funds will be available for SNAP recipients, and how much recipients will receive. As this situation develops, you can download this list of food resources throughout Worcester County to help you find resources and access to food. It also includes links to Websites with the latest information about the status of SNAP benefits.

Community Healthlink Awarded 3-Year Accreditation from CARF

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:06:16 GMT

The three-year accreditation is the highest level of accreditation CARF provides.

Community Healthlink received another three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The three-year accreditation is the highest level of accreditation CARF provides.

Achieving accreditation means CHL has demonstrated to the CARF surveyors the we are committed to delivering the highest level of safe and effective services, ongoing performance improvement, and the satisfaction of the persons served.

Comments from the final report include:

“Community Healthlink exemplifies excellence in behavioral healthcare delivery through its combination of clinical expertise, community engagement, operational efficiency, and strategic vision. The organization's successful navigation of significant governance changes while maintaining and enhancing service quality demonstrates remarkable organizational resilience and leadership capability.”

“Staff members at all levels and in all roles are highly competent, creative, mission focused, dedicated, caring, and compassionate.”

“Community Healthlink stands as a beacon of excellence in behavioral healthcare delivery, demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptability during a period of significant organizational transformation. The organization's integration into a larger healthcare system has brought both opportunities and challenges, yet Community Healthlink has emerged stronger, with enhanced resources and expanded capabilities.”

The three-year accreditation emphasizes the role CHL plays as an important organization with a mission to care for and meet the needs of people in great distress.

Community Healthlink Reopens Transitional Support Service Program

virna.obrien@umassmemorial.org (Virna Obrien) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:21:02 GMT

UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink announced today that it has reopened its Transitional Support Services (TSS) program. TSS is a 24/7 substance use disorder recovery program.

Last April, CHL leadership made the difficult but necessary decision to suspend three of its continuum programs – TSS, Clinical Support Services (CSS) – formerly PASSages – and Detox following discussions with the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. It was not a decision they took lightly, as they recognized the urgent need for these services across our community. However, they were confident that this course of action was in the best interests of clients and caregivers and would allow for the time needed to resolve existing challenges.

Over the past several months, UMMH and CHL have invested in TSS, CSS, and Detox’s facilities in many ways, including a refreshed layout, as well as new furniture for client bedrooms, group meeting rooms, and staff offices, to make sure they meet our high standard of care.

As part of the reopening activities, CHL worked closely and met regularly with SEIU 509 representatives and continue to do so. They brought important perspectives and insights to the process and were important to the planning for the reopening process.

“TSS’s reopening is an important milestone in our journey to meet the challenges of today’s behavioral health care field,” said Gordon Benson, President (Interim), Community Healthlink.

Work continues on the reopening of CSS and Detox, with the reopening of CSS expected to happen in May, and Detox reopening some time after that.

Community Healthlink designated Community Behavioral Health Center by EOHHS

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 15:15:34 GMT

The designation represents a significant milestone in the Commonwealth’s “Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform.”

The Massachusetts Executive Office for Health and Human Services (EOHHS)

has selected UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink to be the designated Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) for two regions in Worcester County: North and Central.

Community Healthlink is one of only 21 organizations the EOHHS designated a CBHC.

“This is a significant development for CHL for a couple of reasons,” said Community Healthlink President Tamara Lundi. “First, it demonstrates the confidence the EOHHS has in CHL to play a key role in their ‘Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform.’ Second, as a CBHC, we will be able to expand access to care to people in crisis.”

A little over a year ago, the Baker-Polito administration announced a “multi-year blueprint, based on listening sessions and feedback from nearly 700 individuals, families, providers and other stakeholders who identified the need for expanded access to treatment, more effective treatment, and improved health equity.”

As a designated CBHC, Community Healthlink will:

Expand evidence-based and evidence-informed treatments to meet individual needs, including interventions and close coordination for individuals with BH needs who are involved with other systems, including the justice system or children in the care and custody of the Commonwealth.
Provide Adult Mobile Crisis Intervention (AMCI) services.
Provide Youth Community Crisis (YCC) services.
Expand walk-in clinic hours.

As part of the contract, the EOHHS is asking all CBHCs to be ready by January 1, 2023.

This designation comes just several weeks after the city of Worcester selected CHL to be its partner agency for its new community crisis co-response model.

“This is a transformational achievement for the community and for us,” said Lundi. “It’s a testimony to the passion and dedication our caregivers have for the people we serve.”