News

Friday, May 31, 2024

In times of economic uncertainty and pressing social challenges, it is often the most vulnerable among us who bear the brunt of hardship. This is why it is particularly heartening to see our state legislators stepping up to the plate and prioritizing human services in the fiscal year 2025 budget.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LYNN — Bridgewell, a nonprofit social and human services organization, recently announced that Kirsten O’Keefe is the new director of the organization’s Family Support Center (FSC).

The FSC’s purpose is to provide resources for people with autism and developmental disabilities, and support their families. The center provides its services to people from diverse cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.

Friday, March 29, 2024

PEABODY — A Beverly man who worked for Bridgewell for 43 years will be honored by the nonprofit social and human services organization next week. Gary LaPierre will receive the Visionary Leadership Award at Bridgewell’s Imagine the Possibilities Gala and fundraiser on April 5 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. The event will also honor the Rubin family of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture with the Excellence in Service award.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

PEABODY – Human services providers from across the region recently attended the Northeast Regional Caring Force Rally, advocating for a livable wage and a loan repayment program.
The Caring Force, a grassroots advocacy initiative of the Provider’s Council that promotes better pay and recognition for human services workers, along with leaders from nonprofits Bridgewell, Centerboard, Incompass Human Services, JRI, Key Program, NFI Massachusetts, Northeast Arc, Plummer Youth Promise, Vinfen, and Wayside Youth & Family Support Network hosted the event late last week at the Peabody Holiday Inn. The TriTown Rock Band, a music ensemble composed of local students with and without disabilities, also performed to kick off the event.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

PEABODY — A Lawrence woman carried a clear message from the workers who care for the state’s most vulnerable at the Northeast Regional Caring Force Rally on Friday. “One of the saddest, most common situations I’ve seen was when someone had built a strong connection with clients and would leave their work for better pay,” said Rosalee Sanchez, a direct care assistant supervisor at NFI Massachusetts. Sanchez spoke before a crowd of lawmakers, caregivers, clients and human service advocates at a legislative breakfast hosted at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Peabody ahead of a rally at the State House later Friday afternoon.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

In 1958, when parents and community members formed an organization called the Child Guidance Center to support youth in the Lynn Public Schools, their goal was to establish a new and different program that would allow people with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.

At the time, it was common practice to place someone with a disability in an institution that would meet only their basic needs – away from society – for their natural lifetime. These Lynn parents and advocates wanted more for people with disabilities, knowing that if provided with opportunities and support, they could live fulfilling lives in the community.

Sixty-five years and several name changes later, that group of advocates has grown into an organization with 1,600 employees and more than 100 programs serving 25 communities in northeastern Massachusetts. The mission for Bridgewell, however, essentially remains the same: to inspire hope and empower people experiencing life challenges to achieve their fullest potential.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Bridgewell hosted its annual day of service last Tuesday, with dozens of volunteers, including staff and individuals from autism day programs, disability services, and housing and employment programs, heading to Newhall Fields Community Farm as part of the organization's Celebration of Community Service Project.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Please dine at Not Your Average Joe's in Peabody on September 14 and Bridgewell will receive 15 percent of the sales!

Monday, February 6, 2023

The Lowell Sun recently published an article about the ongoing workforce struggles in the healthcare industry and reported that Bridgewell, a Peabody-based social and human services organization, had more than 300 job openings – a figure taken from another Lowell Sun article written by the same reporter eight months ago.

Currently, the staffing situation at Bridgewell, as with many other human services organizations, is about the same as it was last year – with nearly 300 open positions in cities and towns across the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. Over the past three months, we have started to see a glimmer of hope, with a slight increase in applicants, and new hires finally starting to outpace departures. Unlike many other organizations in the healthcare industry, which has recently seen employee layoffs in the hundreds, Bridgewell is actively hiring in communities across northeastern Massachusetts to meet the needs of those we serve, from people with autism to those battling substance use disorder.