Wednesday, June 29, 2022
June 28, 2022 Dear Family Members, Guardians and Staff, On July 1, 2022, the requirements for masking and testing for COVID-19 will be changing at Bridgewell. These changes are based on the guidance issued by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), and Bridgewell has updated its COVID-19 plan to reflect these changes. A summary of the changes...
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Tuesday, January 11, 2022
January 11, 2022 Dear Family Members and Guardians, I hope you enjoyed the holiday season. I am sure you are aware that the nation is in the middle of a COVID-19 surge which is expected to last until February. This is not how any of us wanted to start 2022, but we are hopeful that this surge will pass quickly...
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Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Bridgewell now provides public alerts related to weather delays and closings through our emergency notification system, Regroup. Please use the form below if you would like to become a subscriber. You can always reply STOP to a text message alert if you wish to remove yourself from the alerts.
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Thursday, May 27, 2021
May 26, 2021 Dear Families and Guardians, The State of Massachusetts is reopening and lifting more and more of its COVID restrictions as people continue to become vaccinated. With the reopening, many of you have been questioning what this means for people who live in our residential programs and attend our day programs. Bridgewell-operated day programs continue to follow the...
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Wednesday, March 10, 2021
March 10, 2021 Dear Colleagues, On March 10, 2020 Governor Baker declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts due to growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus infections. On March 13, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services for Massachusetts closed all day programs and put restrictions in place for all congregate care programs. That was one year...
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Tuesday, March 2, 2021
March 2, 2021 Dear Bridgewell family members and guardians, As the positivity rate and the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline in the state of Massachusetts, Bridgewell has decided to update its residential visitation guidelines to include indoor on-site, off-site and overnight visits. In addition, there will no longer be any restrictions regarding cities or towns being in a...
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Monday, February 22, 2021
February 19, 2021 Dear Bridgewell family members and guardians, I am pleased to let you know that as of today, 97% of the individuals residing in our residential programs and 45% of our residential staff have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, we have seen a drop in the “red zone” cities across the state of Massachusetts....
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Monday, February 8, 2021
February 3, 2021 Dear Bridgewell Family Members and Guardians, We are so glad that people who attend and staff who work in our day programs will soon have the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in this first phase of the MA vaccine rollout plan. COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations seem to be on a gradual decline – a trend...
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Monday, February 8, 2021
February 3, 2021 Dear Bridgewell Family Members and Guardians, We are so glad that 576 people living in and staff working in our residential homes have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to date, and clinics to administer the second dose are starting to be held this week. While COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations seem to be on...
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Monday, January 11, 2021
Dear Bridgewell staff team: Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season and 2021 is off to a good start for you. I know 2020 was a very challenging year, but I am optimistic about our path ahead in 2021, particularly as the COVID-19 vaccines are now being rolled out. Today is an exciting day; individuals and staff...
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Friday, December 18, 2020
Message from Commissioner Jane F. Ryder. Dear DDS Community: As always, let me start by saying thank you. You have shown commitment, creativity, and patience since last March. We are in the midst of a second surge and you are again demonstrating your resilience during these difficult winter months. At long last, the COVID-19 vaccination is on the horizon. With...
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Monday, December 14, 2020
Please click here for Bridgewell’s updated Visitation Guidelines letter from Chief Operating Officer, Elaine White, effective Monday, December 14, 2020
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Monday, November 9, 2020
November 9, 2020 Dear Bridgewell Family Member and Guardians, Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bridgewell has been extremely vigilant with its health and safety practices as we continue to navigate COVID-19. We realize that this has been challenging for all and it has been our goal to keep you informed and to share our practices. Massachusetts is currently experiencing...
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Friday, September 25, 2020
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) have updated their visitation policies to include guidelines and requirements for indoor visitations, effective as of October 1, 2020. DDS Residential Programs Indoor Visitation Policy BSAS Indoor Visitation Policy
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Thursday, July 16, 2020
Email from Bridgewell's Vice President, Day Habilitation & Community Engagement Stacey Leibowitz to Parents and Guardians updating on the opening of our Day Habilitation Program later this month.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Dear Family, Guardians and Bridgewell community, On July 2, 2020, EOHHS released guidelines and protocols regarding the reopening of day programs. This coincides with Massachusetts entering Phase 3 of its reopening plan on July 6th. In preparation for Phase 3, Bridgewell has been working to develop safety protocols and standards so that we are ready to re-open in a fashion...
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Thursday, July 2, 2020
July 2, 2020 Dear Parents and Guardians, I am pleased to share with you that the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has announced guidelines for expanded on-site visitations and the commencement of off-site visitations, effective July 3, 2020. I also want to share the attestation form that DDS requires parents/guardians to submit when the person served returns to their...
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Thursday, June 11, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Thursday, June 11. As of this morning, we have 3 staff members and 5 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. I am very happy to share that on Saturday DDS announced that residential program visitations can now resume. On Monday we...
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Monday, June 8, 2020
June 8, 2020 Dear Parents and Guardians, I am pleased to share with you that the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has announced that visitations can resume beginning Wednesday, June 10. Please find below the guidelines under which visits will be conducted. These guidelines insure visitations adhere to recommended DDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts...
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Friday, June 5, 2020
Email from President & CEO Christopher Tuttle to Parents and Guardians updating on new protocols for our Day Habilitation Programs and residential program visitations for when they resume operations.
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Friday, June 5, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Thursday, June 4th. As of this morning, we have 3 staff members and 10 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. In the next few days, we expect to hear from DDS when on site residential program visitations can begin and the...
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Thursday, May 28, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Thursday, May 28. As of this morning, we have 1 staff member and 11 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. In the next couple of weeks, I hope to be able to share with you information on when visitations can happen...
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Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Official Message from DDS Commissioner Ryder to Families To: DDS Individuals and Families From: Commissioner Jane F. Ryder Date: 5/22/2020 Subject: Coronavirus Update for Individuals and Families Dear DDS Community: Much has happened in the weeks since my last message. I’d like to provide an update on the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) response to COVID-19 as of Friday, May...
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Thursday, May 21, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Thursday, May 21. As of this morning, we have 8 staff and 18 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. In the next couple of weeks, I hope to be able to share with you initial information on our next steps in...
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Monday, May 18, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Monday, May 18. As of this morning, we have 8 staff and 23 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. At this point, most of our programs have been tested through mobile testing. As I have been saying, we’re not out of...
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Thursday, May 14, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Thursday, May 14. As of this morning, we have 8 staff and 30 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. We also have several staff who have passed their quarantine period but have not yet returned to work. At this time, approximately...
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Monday, May 11, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle, President & CEO, and today is Monday, May 11. As of this morning, we have 31 staff and 30 people in our services currently positive with COVID-19. I’m happy to report that a significant number of negative mobile testing results came in over the weekend. While we’re not out of the...
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Friday, May 8, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Elaine White, Chief Operating Officer and today is Thursday, May 7. As of this morning, we have 41 staff and 31 people in our services currently positive with COVID-19. These numbers continue to fluctuate daily as new test results come in and people finish their 14 day quarantine. I anticipate we will continue...
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Monday, May 4, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Monday, May 4. As of this morning, we currently have 22 staff and 21 people in our services positive with COVID-19. These numbers continue to fluctuate daily as new test results come in and people finish their 14 day quarantine. I anticipate we will continue...
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Friday, May 1, 2020
Bridgewell’s Day Habilitation Programs, Employment Support Programs and Transportation Services will not be opening on Monday, May 4 due to Massachusetts extending the non-essential business closures and stay at home advisory until May 18. We have not yet been notified by the Commonwealth when these programs can reopen. We will notify you as soon as we hear; it will not necessarily be...
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Thursday, April 30, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Thursday, April 30. Over the last two weeks, the DDS Fallon mobile testing unit has been to about a third of our programs, testing both staff and individuals. While results have been coming in on an ongoing basis, we received large batches of test results...
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Monday, April 27, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Monday, April 27. Starting off this week, we have 39 staff and 11 people in our services who are currently positive with COVID-19. Mobile testing continues to take place and we are working with DDS to make sure all Bridgewell residences are tested. We are...
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Thursday, April 23, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Thursday, April 23. As of this week, we have 37 staff who are positive. We have 11 people in our services who are currently positive with three who have recovered. You likely heard that Governor Baker has closed Massachusetts schools for the remainder of the...
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Monday, April 20, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Monday, April 20. As of this morning, we have eleven people in our services who are currently positive and one who has recovered. Everyone is doing well and recuperating. We currently have 39 staff who are positive and five people who have recovered and are...
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Monday, April 20, 2020
Advocacy Bridgewell needs your help right now! This past week, all state employees who work in I/DD group homes received a $5 or $10 per hour “hazard pay” increase for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, but there was no “hazard pay” allocated for the staff of community providers, like Bridgewell. Tell Governor Baker to rectify this disparity for essential...
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Thursday, April 16, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Thursday, April 16. As of this morning, we have eight people in our services who have tested positive and one who has recovered. They continue to do well and are recuperating. We currently have 30 staff who are actively positive for COVID-19 and thankfully four...
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Monday, April 13, 2020
In an effort to keep families and guardians informed, President & CEO Chris Tuttle has implemented a twice-weekly phone message. Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Monday, April 13. As of this morning, we have five people in our services who have tested positive. All of them are doing well and...
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Thursday, April 9, 2020
In an effort to keep families and guardians informed, President & CEO Chris Tuttle has implemented a twice-weekly phone message. To hear today’s message, please call 339-883-2201. Thank you.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Monday, April 6. As of this morning, we’ve had our first person in our services test positive for COVID-19. This person is doing well, is stable and recuperating in quarantine in their room. We have implemented our contingency plans for this expected situation and are...
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Thursday, April 2, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Christopher Tuttle President & CEO and today is Thursday, April 2. I am happy to share that we continue to not have anyone in our services test positive for COVID-19. However, we do have a few people who are currently being tested. I will continue to keep you informed as we learn more....
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Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Hello Bridgewell Parents & Guardians. I am Chris Tuttle President & CEO and today is Tuesday, March 31. Bridgewell’s Day Habilitation and Employment Support Programs are closed until May 4. The no visitation policy at our programs is in place until May 4. These measures follow Governor Baker’s orders and are to keep everyone safe. The people in Bridgewell’s residential programs have settled into a nice routine over the last two weeks. The staff...
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Friday, March 27, 2020
April 27, 2020 April 27, 2020 Phone Script from CEO April 23, 2020 April 23, 2020 Phone Script from CEO April 20, 2020 April 20, 2020 Phone Script from CEO April 16, 2020 April 16, 2020 Phone Script from CEO April 13, 2020 April 13, 2020 Phone Script from CEO April 9, 2020 April 9, 2020 Phone Script from CEO...
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Friday, March 20, 2020
From Bridgewell’s President & CEO You hear everyone saying these are unprecedented times, and they are. It’s very unsettling for us all. But at Bridgewell, we continue to support the people we have the privilege of serving just as we did last month and last year. We have made adjustments, accommodations and taken extra precautions to follow the CDC’s and the Governor’s...
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