BHN Wellbeing aims to shorten wait times for individuals seeking behavioral health treatment.

Behavioral Health Network, Inc. announced that its new centers for Wellbeing officially launched on January 3, born out of the state’s new Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) designation and designed to streamline and shorten wait times for individuals seeking behavioral health treatment with MassHealth and Health New England insurances.

BHN’s Community Behavioral Health Center is based in Springfield at its Liberty Street campus and serves the Springfield and Westfield catchment area, which includes 17 cities and towns in the region.

This new model of behavioral health services, which the organization has named “BHN WellBeing,” was launched with the goal of ensuring the right mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care when and where people need it: “At home, in your community, at our clinic, and/or via telehealth.”

“BHN WellBeing” centers are located at 417 Liberty Street, Springfield, and 77 Mill Street, Westfield. The hours for walk-in care at both locations are Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Those seeking care can also call (413) 301-9355-9355-WELL (413-301-9355) to be connected to services, or go online to bhninc.org/wellbeing for more information.

“BHN WellBeing” and the CBHC model serve as an entry point for timely, high-quality mental health and SUD treatment. The main goal is to expand access, including same-day access to assessments, urgent stabilization, medication management, evidenced-based psychotherapy, and crisis services.

Other offerings that are part of “BHN WellBeing” include connection with peer specialists, (individuals who have had similar experiences to those seeking treatment); help with navigating support services including insurance, housing and food; and skill-building workshops.

According to Steve Winn, President and CEO of BHN, “BHN welcomes the opportunity to provide much needed behavioral health services and greater access in the coverage areas designated by the Commonwealth. We believe this will serve the state and region well and we are pleased to be a part of this new and critically important initiative.”

BHN’s Community Behavioral Health Center catchment area includes most of Hampden County. Existing clients living in other towns may continue to access care from BHN.

The CBHC designation was awarded by the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP), the single statewide behavioral health vendor for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ MassHealth program.