The boards of directors of BAMSI and Bridgewell have voted for the two human services agencies to initiate merger discussions, with a planned implementation date of July 1.
“BAMSI and Bridgewell have the opportunity to fulfill a unified mission on a broader scale, providing greater support to more individuals and families in Massachusetts,” said Julia Chandler, BAMSI Board Chair. “The boards and leaders of the two organizations are actively planning for an entity that will offer a broader array of services to a larger population. We envision an agency where the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.”
Dr. Peter Sheckman, Bridgewell Board Chair, said, “The individuals and families we serve are at the forefront of this decision, and they will continue to be at the center of all that we do moving forward in this partnership. Those who fund our services seek to achieve greater scale through contracting, and we believe that a single, combined organization is best suited to meet this need. We are eager for what is to come for our organization and those we serve.”
The new agency will retain a strong focus on BAMSI and Bridgewell’s communities of origin, even as its service area will continue to expand. This planned partnership is consistent with a trend in the nonprofit community of consolidation to achieve higher quality, greater efficiency, standardization of services, and ultimately lower costs to the agencies purchasing those services and the taxpayers funding them.
While some administrative consolidation is expected, there are no anticipated changes to the relationships between individuals served by these agencies and the staff members who support them.
About BAMSI
BAMSI is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit human service organization that helps people live more independent and healthful lives by providing a comprehensive network of services addressing developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and substance use, and the social determinants of health such as housing and nutrition. This past year, over 30,000 individuals and families across five Massachusetts counties received personalized care from one of BAMSI’s nearly 1,600 dedicated and compassionate employees. BAMSI is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and fully licensed by the state.
About Bridgewell
Bridgewell is a nonprofit social and human service organization dedicated to strengthening communities. Headquartered in Peabody, Bridgewell empowers people with disabilities and other life challenges to live safe, self-directed, and productive lives. Bridgewell delivers support through community housing, day programs, outpatient treatment, recovery services, education, and employment training. Bridgewell’s staff of more than 1,200 professionals serves approximately 7,200 people and their families. Bridgewell is accredited by CARF and fully licensed by the state.
