The Somerville Mental Health Association’s impending merger with Riverside Community Care well strengthen the organization’s ability to continue operations and provide essential services in spite of cutbacks in federal funding. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

In a faltering economy and with a high national debt, many of the less-visible, federally funded services have fallen by the wayside. However, the Somerville Mental Health Association recently announced a merger with the local Riverside Community Care that will ensure the continuity of its services and programs.

The Somerville Mental Health Association (SMHA), a staple in the city since 1964, was created to assist residents through myriad hardships. Some of its programs include adult mental health treatment, a court clinic, and suicide prevention services at the public schools. The non-profit additionally assisted outpatient care, homeless shelters, public housing developments and childcare centers to further support those in need of aid.

The organization’s Head Start program focuses on assisting children and parents of non-English speaking homes work through the laborious task of assimilating to a new culture, a tough job market and entering public schooling without a firm grasp on the language used.

While the SMHA has no doubt assisted many residents through hard times, it was at risk of losing many of its employees and programs after a substantial piece of federal funding was no longer available. The decision by board members Michael Dwyer, Ed Smith and Michael McHugh was to seek out a partnership to alleviate the financial burden and continue offering its many crucial amenities.

The merger of the SMHA with Riverside Community Care (RCC) has been in the making for one year, and has strengthened the offerings of both non-profits. One of the reasons the partnership took so long was because of the Head Start program, as the federally funded license to conduct the services was put back to auction. The RCC was among the bidders, and eventually attained the license, finalizing the transference from the SMHA to RCC.

RCC is a well known non-profit that continues to evolve and grow in spite of disparaging fiscal times in the nation.

The RCC services approximately 20,000 individuals annually, in 70 Massachusetts cities and towns with more than 100 programs aimed at assisting residents with mental and physical health ailments. Some of its amenities range from early childhood services and developmental disabilities to mental healthcare, addiction treatment and traumatic brain injury programs.

In the negotiations, the SMHA board of directors worked to ensure that none of its employees or services would be lost as a result of the merger. Michael Dwyer, a general practice attorney and homegrown Somerville resident who was one of the SMHA board of directors and now member of the board at RCC, expressed his excitement for the partnership.

“What we’ve received has been the benefit of Riverside’s management personnel, who have stepped in and done a wonderful job,” said Dwyer, who is also a member of Somerville’s board of mental health. He went on to say, “They came in and promised us we wouldn’t lose any of our employees, and to maintain all of our programs for at least a year following the merger, and they have come through with everything they’ve suggested they would.”

Dwyer explained that the SMHA was in need of improved management practices and modernized systems, as well as guidance regarding essential tasks such as navigating the state tax and billing processes. He also cited his gratitude for RCC President Scott Bock, who was paramount in the decision to join forces, who helped facilitate the merger and assisted the SMHA through trying times.

All three of the former board of directors for the SMHA are now acting members of the board at RCC, and will continue to work with the non-profit to strengthen its practices, services and programs.

Residents looking for the services of each non-profit, can now find them all at one central location at Riverside Community Care’s website http://www.riversidecc.org/ .