Mass. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Visits CHA’s Community Behavioral Health Center
Lt. Gov. Driscoll and other state leaders learned about the center’s progress in supporting local families since its launch in January
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Mass. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll visited Cambridge Health Alliance’s Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) at CHA Cambridge Hospital on Thursday, May 11. CHA is one of 25 designated Community Behavioral Health Centers which began operating in Massachusetts earlier this year.
The CBHC is a new model of behavioral health care designed to expand access to routine, urgent, and crisis treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. At CHA, key CBHC services include a 24-hour Access and Crisis Line (833-222-2030) and a Behavioral Health Urgent Care, open daily for walk-in visits. CHA also provides 24/7 mobile crisis services in individuals’ homes, schools, or other community locations.
Lt. Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh, Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, and EOHHS Office of Behavioral Health Chief Emily Bailey toured CHA’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care and met with staff members who explained how people are able to get connected to treatment more quickly via same-day evaluations, referrals, and evidence-based treatments.
The group then participated in a roundtable discussion with CHA clinicians and staff members along with representatives from the Cambridge, Malden, and Somerville Public Schools. The discussion highlighted students’ behavioral health needs and how the CBHC serves as a key resource for immediate care.
The conversation provided key insights into how the recent expansion of mental health services including urgent care in Massachusetts is making a positive impact and what policy changes could continue to improve much-needed access. It also reinforced CHA’s key partnership with both the Commonwealth and the schools in the communities it serves to advance efficient and high-quality mental health and substance use services for all in need.