News

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Last month, Massachusetts Treasurer Steve Grossman visited Boston Street to learn more about Bridgewell. Pictured: Bridgewell President & CEO Bob Stearns, Assistant Director Katherine O’Sullivan with Treasurer Steve Grossman and Day Services Supervisor Victoria Jasper. He toured the Boston Street Day Habilitation Center and learned more about Employments Supports and Day Services. Pictured: Brian pictured with Treasurer Grossman explains the...

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Program Director of Baltimore Street Liz Kuhne (pictured right) and Program Director of Church Street Jocelyn Brotherton (pictured below) graduated from the Nonprofit Human Service Management Certificate Program through The Providers' Council & Suffolk University. The 2013 Commencement Exercise was held on July 16 at Suffolk Law School. Click here to learn more about the Nonprofit Human Services Management Certificate...

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Starting at the 2012 Imagine the Possibilities Gala and through an end of the year online appeal, donors raised more than $18,000 in Fund a Need dollars! With these donations, we have been able to purchase:  A New SMART Board and AV Equipment for our new day habilitation center at Rosewood Drive! 6 iPads! 6 YMCA Group Memberships! 12 Need to Feed...

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

More than 25 years ago, Reverend Simpson started chairing the Mental Health Human Rights Committee and gradually became involved in several of our Developmental Disabilities Committees, chairing the North Shore Human Rights Committee for a number of years. Bridgewell’s three Human Rights Committees were established to promote, safeguard and protect the human dignity and legal rights of persons served by...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Last week, WCVB TV’s News Anchor Susan Wornick toured Bridgewell’s Boston Street Center in Lynn. Wornick met several individuals in the employment supports program and day habilitation. Everyone she met had questions for her such as how long it takes her to get ready? What sports she likes? Does she go to crime scenes? President & CEO Bob Stearns, Chief...

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A Message from Bob Stearns: We are only three weeks away from November 6 and a historic election that will decide the next President of the United States, as well as one of our U.S. Senators and all nine U.S. Congressional seats from Massachusetts. Residents will also cast votes for 200 State Legislature seats, three important ballot questions and a...

Friday, August 17, 2012

Earlier this year, Former Senator Richard Tisei toured Bridgewell’s Boston Street Day Habilitation Center. Clinical Director of Day Services Sue Craven led the tour with COO Kelly Johnson and President and CEO Bob Stearns. He met several individuals throughout his tour, including Rachel (pictured right), who showed off an article featuring her in The Connector. Click here to read The Connector...

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Through funds donated at the 2011 Imagine the Possibilities‘ Fund-A-Need Auction, Bridgewell has been able to purchase 14 seasonal shares of locally grown fresh vegetables from a group of local farmers who belong to the Greater Lowell branch of the World PEAS (People Supporting Agricultural Sustainability) cooperative. One share of fresh vegetables supplied by CSA/New Entry farmers can feed two people for...

Friday, July 20, 2012

It was a fun afternoon for the Boston Street Employment Supports team! Rachel Deveau, who was featured in the latest issue of the Connector, took a break from work and had a signing party to celebrate her new fame! Click here to read the article! Since 2009, Rachel has worked at Petco, where she stocks shelves and cleans. She is...

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bridgewell is excited to share its new Giving Common profile, an initiative through The Boston Foundation! The Giving Common is a free, but detailed, online resource that connects donors to in-depth information about nonprofit organizations working to enhance communities across Massachusetts. The Boston Foundation believes that data is a critical part of driving social change and has created this resource...

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Bridgewell’s continuum of care adapts and meets the changing needs of each individual allowing the opportunity to stay in Bridgewell services for life. Harry, pictured with Bridgewell COO Kelly Johnson, is one example of someone who has aged well with Bridgewell. Harry has been in Bridgewell’s services since 1981 and now lives at Bridgewell’s Stocker Street home in Saugus. As...

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Last month, Congressman John Tierney visited Bridgewell’s latest project in Lynn. He toured the construction zone with President of Bayview Realty of Lynn John Gilberg and Bridgewell’s Director of Housing Elaine White, President & CEO Bob Stearns and COO Kelly Johnson. Click here to learn more read a Lynn Daily Item article on the Lewis Street project. Bridgewell is working with JJ...

Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Last month, Bridgewell celebrated the opening of another new home in Dracut on Mammoth Road. As all of Bridgewell’s recent new residence, the Mammoth Road house is a fully accessible single-family ranch with five bedrooms and an oversized garage to permit easy van access. This beautiful property abuts a baseball field, where the residents can watch games. More than...

Thursday, March 29, 2012

For the past few months, Bridgewell’s Boston Street Day Habilitation Center has been printing the Boston Street Herald. Each week, several individuals and staff review current events, write news articles and print the publication to be distributed around the Boston Street Center. In late March, The Lynn Daily Item’s General Manager Phil Oulette and Reporter Chris Stevens provided journalism advice...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

SUPPORT TEAM BRIDGEWELL’S SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES and TAKE THE PLUNGE! SATURDAY MARCH 3rd 2012 at REVERE BEACH!! To Join Team Bridgewell and either register for the Plunge or make a secure on-line tax deductible donation:   Follow This Link to visit our team web page. Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Starting in 2011, the Lowell Adult Day Treatment (LADT) program has created a photography group where members use photography as a modality to express thoughts and feelings related to recovery from mental illness. The group consists of not only taking photographs, but also learning about the photo editing process. The goal is to print pictures the clients can present to...

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

In mid-January, Congressman John Tierney toured Bridgewell’s Boston Street Day Habilitation Center with CEO Bob Stearns, COO Kelly Johnson and Director of Development and Advancement Cari Palmer. Congressman Tierney was instrumental in securing funding for several of Bridgewell’s housing programs including Coolidge Road, Church Street and Lewis Street projects. Click here to read a press release from Congressman Tierney’s office...

Monday, January 23, 2012

Through Bridgewell’s partnership with the UMASS Lowell Bridgewell has worked with interns to create adaptive technology, including exercise equipment designed specifically for those with developmental disabilities. Jackie, pictured, is working out with the help of a specially designed bubble bike. Click here to learn more about UMASS Lowell’s bubble bike project. Bridgewell works with faculty, staff and students in the...

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The New England Council President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Brett toured the Boston Street Day Habilitation Center with the Council’s Executive Vice President Larry Zabar. Pictured left to right: Bridgewell’s Director of Day Service Nancy Marticio, New England Council’s Jim Brett, Bridgewell’s Program Director Victoria Mucciarone, CEO and President Bob Stearns and COO Kelly Johnson. Jim and Larry met...

Thursday, December 29, 2011

In addition to duties at her program, Assistant Program Director Jessica Crowley has been volunteering as an Assistant Track and Field Coach for Bridgewell’s Special Olympics program for the past two years. She is dedicated to ensuring that all athletes are well conditioned, but most importantly having fun. Jessica Crowley poses with Paula at a Bridgewell Recreation dance class at LeAnne...

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Earlier in December, Craig Cunningham, Vice President of Marketing at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center stopped by to visit Bridgewell’s Boston Street Center and Keeling Road Home. Craig poses with Karina and Belinda at Boston Street. The Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center was a Partnership sponsor of Bridgewell’s Imagine the Possibilities Gala, and the event has been...

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Bridgewell was represented at The Providers’ Council Annual Convention on Tuesday, November 29 at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston. The annual convention includes a full-day of workshops, networking opportunities and vendor exhibits for human service professionals in New England. The Providers’ Council honored Bridgewell Residential Supervisor Kelli Hyland with the Richard J. Bond Award for a supervisor with outstanding contributions...

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Early this fall, Bridgewell held an open house at its new Saugus home on Stocker Street. Despite being a rainy day, there was a great crowd of neighbors, friends, family, Bridgewell and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) staff! Like most of Bridgewell’s recent new homes, the Stocker Street house is a fully accessible single-family ranch with five bedrooms and an...

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

After providing quality trainings and workshops for more than 27 years, we are pleased to announce Community Program Innovations is now the Center for Professional Innovation! A subsidiary of Bridgewell, the Center for Professional Innovation (CPI) offers continuing education for mental health and healthcare professionals and educators, holding day-long workshops throughout Massachusetts and Vermont on clinical and management topics. All...

Monday, November 21, 2011

Horticultural therapy utilizes plants and plant-related mediums to enhance or rehabilitate the physical, social and emotional well-being of people experiencing mental illness. Bridgewell Counseling Services is currently hosting a horticulture psychotherapy group facilitated by Bridgewell’s Bilingual and Bicultural Psychotherapist Noemi Breneman, LMHC. Right: Yogurt Cups Recycled as Cradles for a Nursery of Baby Cilantro Plants This Spanish-speaking therapy group explores...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Even in a down economy, Bridgewell is still building affordable housing for specialized populations.  Bridgewell is a leading provider of services to adults with developmental disabilities in eastern Massachusetts. Right: Bridgewell Program Director Yelena Kharzis with Coolidge Road resident Michael, flipping through a Bridgewell Connections newsletter. Recently, Bridgewell celebrated the opening of a new home for five people with developmental disabilities and...

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

This past weekend, members of the Bridgewell community participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern MA Walk to End Alzheimer’s in North Andover. With walkers representing members of the developmentally disabled/Down Syndrome community, caregivers, family members and friends, the Bridgewell team raised over $2,000 for the cause. Special thanks to Justin & Suzanne Devoe, Beverly Elias-Stearns, Erica Forte, Ella Hunt, Liz Hunt, Lizabeth Kuhne, Laura McNamara, Virginia Vaught,...

Friday, September 30, 2011

Channel 5 EyeOpener's Bianca de la Garza stopped by for a tour of Bridgewell’s Boston Street Center earlier this week and met many of Bridgewell’s individuals in our employment training and day habilitation program. Left: Bianca with Marjorie Arons-Barron talking with Bridgewell individual Lori as she finishes her lunch. Director of Day Services Nancy Marticio and Employment Support Program Director...

Friday, September 23, 2011

As part of ongoing marketing efforts, Bridgewell Counseling Services staff participated in the third annual River Place Towers Resident Fair this past month. Left: Program Director Renee Heusser and Senior Administrative Assistant Iris Tricoche pose for a photo at Bridgewell’s booth. Other exhibitors included Greater Lowell Health Alliance, Lowell Senior Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Lowell and Lowell General...

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

At the end of August, Representative Donald Wong toured Bridgewell’s Boston Street Center and Keeling Road residence. Earlier this summer, Rep. Wong attended the Open House at Bridgewell’s new START program in Saugus, too. During his tours, he greeted individuals, learned more about each program and watched a demonstration of the new SMARTBoard at the Boston Street Center, donated by...

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

In the past six years, Bridgewell has opened 15 new homes. Each home is fully accessible with oversize bedrooms, living space and some homes have oversized garages to permit easy van access. This specialized design allows people who would otherwise be confined to a nursing home to live in their own home in the community. This summer, Bridgewell opened its...

Friday, August 19, 2011

On August 18, Bridgewell employees held a “Veggie Drive” at the annual Management General Meeting and year-end BBQ. With more than 100 employees in attendance, a van full of vegetables and fruit was collected for Bridgewell’s Pathfinder Drop-In Center in Lowell. Pathfinder Drop-In Center Assistant Program Director Lynn Ducharme helped fill the van and transported all the fresh produce back...

Monday, August 15, 2011

Summer 2011 The Sovner Center, a Bridgewell program, is an outpatient mental health clinic that specializes in the provision of counseling services, psychiatric assessment, medication management and psychotherapy services to adults with a dual diagnosis of developmental and psychiatric disability. The Sovner Center is moving to a larger location, which will better accommodate the increased number of individuals we serve. The...

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Thank You to LeAnne Leslie’s School of Theatrical Dance! This past month, Bridgewell individuals in the Adult Education and Recreation program managed by Recreation Coordinator Charlotte Alimenti, participated in a Latin dance class at Ms. LeAnne’s studio. The group learned the Salsa and Merengue along with other Latin dances under the instruction of Ms. LeAnne and her assistant, Ms. Mary....

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Since 2001, Kelli Hyland has been a faithful employee of Bridgewell and is now working as a program supervisor, overseeing several different aspects of the organization’s community. A friend, counselor, and activities coordinator, Hyland holds many roles in her career. In 2003, she added one more to the list by revitalizing Bridgewell’s involvement with the Special Olympics. Hyland claims that...

Monday, July 18, 2011

Congratulations to Bridgewell Program Director Carl Baker for completing the Human Service Management certificate program through Suffolk University and the Providers’ Council! Carl was also one of the two class speakers and received perfect grades. In his inspiring speech, Carl thanked his Supervisor Jessica Primo for all of her support. Congratulations from everyone at Bridgewell! To learn more about this...

Friday, July 8, 2011

This past spring, Lindsay deVilliers interned at Bridgewell while completing her senior semester at Gordon College where she was studying Communications Arts. Lindsay posing with her parents at her graduation in May. At Bridgewell, she assisted the development and advancement department with numerous tasks including public and media relations. She found this opportunity through her public relations class, where students...

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International has announced that Bridgewell has been accredited for a period of three years for its community housing, respite services, supported living, community employment services, including job development and job-site training programs. Bridgewell is one of the largest Massachusetts agencies that the international accrediting body has awarded in Massachusetts. “We are enormously proud...

Thursday, June 9, 2011

For the past several years, Bridgewell has enjoyed a strong partnership with The Key Club at Lynn Classical High School. The club is comprised of students who make volunteerism and community service a priority in their lives.  This school year was no exception as members of the club committed themselves to a variety of events held through Bridgewell’s Adult Education...

Thursday, May 19, 2011

In April 2011, Bridgewell Residential Supervisor Justine Rudgis was interviewed by CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The broadcast discusses Bridgewell’s residential program for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease focusing on the unique home design and services. Listen to the interview: CBC’s Information Radio Interview with Bridgewell’s Justine Rudgis Read more about Bridgewell’s Wedgemere Road Residence: Innovative home in Beverly for...

Monday, May 9, 2011

Bridgewell Residents Held a Bake Sale to Help Local Animal Shelter Bridgewell residents in Dracut volunteered at the Lowell Humane Society last month. Ron, Evelyn, Anna and Brenda along with Program Director Maria Vega, Assistant Program Director Samantha Tevepaugh and their families and friends set up a bake sale to raise money for the animal shelter. The residents and staff members...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Bridgewell is committed to building relationships with public officials throughout our service area. In February, State Representative Lori Ehrlich toured Bridgewell’s Boston Street Center and Lynn Friendship Club. Bridgewell Board Member Ann Cohen, CEO Bob Stearns and COO Kelly Johnson led the tour. In March, State Senator Katherine Clark visited the Medford Day Hab program and our Keeling Road residence...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Three members of the Bridgewell community were honored by the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) at the 2011 Conference and Expo in March 2011. Serving 18 communities in eastern Massachusetts, Bridgewell is a private, non-profit comprehensive human service organization that has been providing support to individuals with developmental and psychiatric disabilities for more than 50 years. All three honorees...