Birmingham Group Health Services and Harbor Health Services Announce Merger Plan to Form BHcare

November 22, 2011 – Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. based in Ansonia and Harbor Health Services, Inc. headquartered in Branford announced today that their respective boards of directors have voted to proactively merge the two locally based and fiscally healthy companies into a single and stronger organization.  The vote came after many months of careful review and planning; the new organization will be known as BHcare. 

The merger to form BHcare will be effective January 1, 2012, bringing together two strong organizations with essential and complementary programs, including mental health, addiction and prevention services, and domestic violence services.  The two private, non-profit corporations will be gradually transitioned over to a single organization during 2012, in order to maintain continuity in client service delivery and minimize disruption in operations. BHcare will continue to operate from the two primary locations that have been occupied by Birmingham Group Health Services in Ansonia and Harbor Health Services in Branford.

Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. (BGHS) has 180 employees and is the Local Mental Health Authority for the towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. Founded in Ansonia in 1979 as the Lower Naugatuck Valley Mental Health Center, the organization has expanded from providing solely mental health care services to offering substance abuse, domestic violence, and prevention services as well. The Birmingham Foundation was established in 1985 to help sustain the growing organization, and will continue its operations to ensure that people who cannot afford care still get the help they need.

Harbor Health Services, Inc. (HHSI) is a private, non-profit corporation with 104 employees dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people they serve by providing comprehensive, effective, and efficient mental health and addiction services.  HHSI was founded in 1980 and is designated as the Local Mental Health Authority for the towns of Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, North Branford and North Haven by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Presidents & CEOs, Roberta Cook of HHSI and Marilyn Cormack of BGHS, will continue to lead BHcare and the transition team forming the new, comprehensive behavioral health and domestic violence services organization.  Strategic outcomes of the merger include providing enhanced and expanded care programs, greater operating efficiency and economy of scale, and better professional growth opportunities.  The leadership team and board of directors of BHcare are committed to providing the best local programs and services for clients, communities and staff members.  Cormack said, “We have a longstanding history of successful collaborations, and this merger provides us with a fantastic opportunity to expand the reach and impact of our programs and services while increasing access and improving outcomes for our clients.”  Cook explained the far-reaching impact of the merger, “As one, we will provide critical mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence and substance abuse prevention services for more than 13,000 individuals and families spanning a 40 town service area.

For more information, please contact Emily Gangi, Director of Public Relations & Development, BHcare, Office: (203) 483-2630 x227, Cell: (203) 415-8952, egangi@harborhealthservices.org.