Cambridge Nonprofit Honored For Mental Healthcare Work

CAMBRIDGE, MA — A local nonprofit has been honored for its work to expand community-based mental healthcare.

Vinfen’s Cambridge-based Expansion Team received an Excellence in Program Leadership award from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare during its annual Salute to Excellence celebration on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Boston Marriott in Burlington.

The team led the creation of nearly 100 additional beds for adults with serious mental illness in residential programs across eastern Massachusetts. The expansion helped relieve pressure on the behavioral health system and created opportunities for people living in long-term inpatient hospital settings to move into community-based care.

The association said the work improved access to mental healthcare while helping individuals move into settings better suited to their needs and supportive of greater independence.

“It feels especially meaningful to honor and uplift the behavioral health workforce at a time when providers are navigating the uncertainty of federal policy changes and loss of insurance coverage for many of the people they serve,” Association for Behavioral Healthcare President and CEO Lydia Conley said. “We applaud the resilience and determination of community behavioral health professionals to provide critical, high-quality care in our communities, regardless of circumstance. ABH is proud to recognize these leaders and deeply grateful for their service.”

Vinfen is based at 950 Cambridge St. and provides services for people with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges.

Its residential programs for people with mental health conditions range from independent housing with periodic staff visits to group homes with more intensive support. The size and staffing of the homes vary based on residents’ needs.

Vinfen said its group homes most often accommodate eight people, with staff available 24 hours a day. Staff help residents with daily responsibilities including meal planning and preparation, transportation to medical appointments, and managing personal finances. They also work with residents, families, guardians, and other providers to help individuals build skills for greater independence and strengthen connections within the community.

The organization was founded in 1977 by psychiatrists and social workers from the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and Harvard Medical School. Their goal was to help people with mental health conditions, many of whom were living in hospitals, live as members of their communities.

Vinfen now has more than 3,200 employees and operates 327 programs and services across more than 500 locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It serves more than 14,000 people annually, according to the organization.

The Expansion Team was among 10 individuals and teams honored during this year’s celebration. The awards recognized work in areas including program leadership, substance use disorder services, administration, and treatment outcomes.

The Association for Behavioral Healthcare represents 80 community-based behavioral healthcare providers in Massachusetts. Its member organizations employ nearly 50,000 people and serve more than 80,000 individuals daily.

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