BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that 36 community service agencies have been selected across the state to provide home- and community-based services for children, including the Behavioral Health Network, who are MassHealth members with behavioral, emotional and mental health needs.
“There is nothing more important than supporting our children during key development years so that can grow into happy and healthy adults, and a critical part of that work involves includes supporting the behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs of all kids regardless of socioeconomic background,” said state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) about the administration’s announcement.
“I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their dedicated work to establish new partnerships with skilled providers across the state, which will open new doors and possibilities for children and families who utilize MassHealth,” added Velis who is chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
The new network, which will be the first expansion of the provider network in over a decade, will offer more options for families, increase access to high-quality behavioral health services, and ensure geographic coverage across the entire state, including for families seeking specialized cultural and linguistic care.
MassHealth provides health care coverage for nearly half of all Massachusetts children.
As part of the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative, the selected agencies will provide intensive care coordination, family engagement services, and new intensive team-based treatment services for families of children and youth with particularly complex needs.
One of the agencies is the Behavioral Health Network that is a regional provider of comprehensive behavioral health services for adults, children, and families starting as the Child Guidance Clinic established in 1938 and serves those with life challenges due to mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
State Rep. Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) said he welcomes the expansion.
“The mental health of our children and their families is vitally important to the success of the as productive adults and anything we can do expand the services they need it a benefit to our society,” he said.
BHN also welcomed the announcement.
“We are thrilled to be selected to continue to and expand these services,” said Katherine Mague, BHN’s Senior Vice President of Quality, Forensic Services, Development, Communications and Social Justice. “We are grateful that the Commonwealth is able to continue its commitment to children, youth and families in this way.”
Childhood mental health conditions affect many children and families across the country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children ages three to seventeen have, at some point, been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition.
“This expansion will strengthen the behavioral health system of support for hundreds of thousands of children and their families here in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Through this important work, we are making sure that our young people get the care that they need.”
“MassHealth is dedicated to offering integrated behavioral health services and a comprehensive, community-based system of care for our members,” said Undersecretary for MassHealth Mike Levine. “This expanded network will help us strengthen those efforts to reach more kids who need help.”
Community service agencies were selected through a rigorous review process led by the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, with review teams comprised of community members and caregivers with relevant lived experience and representatives from state agencies and managed care entities. MBHP will conduct a rigorous readiness process with the selected agencies prior to contracting.
“We are excited to announce the selection of new community service agencies, key partners in providing every child and family with access to coordinated care,” said Sharon Hanson, Vice President of Client Partnerships and CEO, MBHP. “With innovations like Family-based Intensive Treatment, we aim to transform behavioral health services and create lasting positive change in our communities.”
As part of Carelon Behavioral Health, MBHP manages comprehensive, high-quality behavioral health care for over 400,000 MassHealth members statewide, ensuring accessible and culturally sensitive services through strategic collaborations with state agencies, providers, and community stakeholders to promote rehabilitation, recovery, and whole health.
