Inside This Edition
In numerous public insttitutions, especially in the 1950s and 60's, the care for patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities lacked any semblance of privacy or dignity. In Boston, Bay Cove played a major role in the deinstitutionalizing movement, changing the narrative and outcomes for people, including those suffering from Substance Use Disorder and homelessness.
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Final letter from Bill Sprague, Interim CEO
Earlier this month you received news that the Board has hired Kevin Martone to be the next President/CEO of Bay Cove. Kevin is a great choice as he brings a wealth of experience, all of the requisite skills, and a strong commitment to our mission. I am confident that Kevin will do an excellent job. I hope you will get a chance to meet him soon after he starts (at least virtually if not in person).
As Kevin will be starting next month, this will be my last column in the Insider as Interim President/CEO While the circumstances for my return to Bay Cove were not anticipated or desired, it has been a true pleasure and privilege to once again work with all of you for the past nine months. As you probably know, Bay Cove, our mission, and all of you are incredibly important to me.
The past nine months have been a period of great change with the departure of our CEO, our CHRO when Julie retired, and finally, our CFO when Marcel left to head up the Convention Center Authority. So much change in such a short period is pretty stressful for an organization and subsequently for many of you. I’m thrilled that we were able to hire Anne Rush as our CHRO and I’m extremely grateful that Kerry was willing to return (on an Interim basis) as CFO. They are both doing an extraordinary job in directing components of our Agency essential to our mission and our success With Kevin starting next month and hopefully a conclusion to our CFO search soon, we will once again have a full team of permanent leaders at the helm of the organization.
We are very fortunate to have had incredibly talented and devoted senior staff who provided steady leadership throughout this year of transition and ensured that despite all these changes we were able to provide all of the essential programming to the thousands of people who rely on us for services every single day. I am very grateful to Carley, Kelly, and all of our Vice Presidents for welcoming me back last June and providing me the opportunity to again lead this organization.
We have dealt with several significant challenges over these past months and are faced with many more in the months to come. Delivering the highest quality service within limite will be) a challenge for Bay Cove and the entire Massachusetts Hum the ways we can maximize the revenue we bring in and strive to ma revenue as effectively as possible.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary (see article in this issue of The Insider), at Bay Cove, we know that you, our staff, are our greatest resource. Staff recruitment and retention are a constant focus Our commitment to training and supervision designed to enable each person to be successful at their job will always be a priority. At Bay Cove, we are fortunate to have a very diverse staff. We are strengthened by this diversity, we value it greatly and we strive to ensure that every member of our staff feels welcomed, and supported We believe strongly in the values of DEI and the importance of recognizing that there are more than two genders.
While my role will be changing next month, please know that my commitment to you, Bay Cove, and our mission will never change. Thank you for again allowing me to contribute to that mission. -Bill
A young Bill Sprague!
Black History Month
February 1 marked the start of Black History Month. This month-long observance celebrates the achievements and history of African American people, as well as their ongoing contributions to the United States. Its origins date back to 1915, when the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment was commemorated. Since 1976, Black History Month has been federally recognized.
At Bay Cove, a significant number of our employees identify as Black, and are representative of many communities throughout the African diaspora. These team members work tirelessly every day to ensure Bay Cove lives up to our mission of helping people overcome challenges and realize their personal potential. The commitment demonstrated by all of our employees exemplifies what Black history represents resilience, endurance, and the often-unsung contributions that make the world a better place.
Let us use Black History Month as an opportunity to celebrate the pioneers, leaders, and milestones of the past while acknowledging and paving the way for those of today.
If you are looking for ways to honor Black History Month or learn more, check out the following:
Visit the Museum of African American History at 31 Milk Street, Suite 705, Boston, MA 02109 (click here for more details)
You can also check Eventbrite and Meetup for more events near you.
brates 50 Years of Impact!
ssica Lynch & Joelle Nims
Bay Cove Human Services is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Since 1974, Bay Cove has been building healthy communities, one person at a time. For 50 years, our founding vision has guided our work: everyone has value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Above all, we believe that when people need services, they should be able to get them.
Center Club Program Director Mary Gregorio gave insight into this founding vision and how it started well before Bay Cove was officially established. While Bay Cove Human Services was founded in 1974, the Center Club Clubhouse has been in operation since 1959. Gregorio says:
“When Center Club began in 1959 our basic mission was to assist adults with a psychiatric disability in returning to their local communities after many years in mental health institutions (the era of deinstitutionalization). There weren't many services available then and people were confronted with discrimination due to their mental illness. Perhaps the club's most significant contribution was creating a sense of community which was and still remains the best way to combat loneliness and isolation which these many decades later is now viewed as a public health epidemic.”
Bay Cove's first program, Andrew House Detox (shown above), carried this vision well. Andrew House served homeless men with alcohol use disorder and mental illness for medically supervised detox. The program was purposely non-institutional, built on the idea that people could be most effectively cared for in small community-based programs where they could access support from friends and family. Cont’d on next page...
BC staff shows off the 5th anniversary newsletter
Bay Cove’s 50th, Cont’d
Starting in the late 1990s, Bay Cove began expanding through mergers, including Center House Enterprises, Kit Clark Senior Services, CASPAR, Inc., and Growthways, Inc. At the same time, we were contacted by state funding agencies to take over the operations of struggling agencies, and to develop programs for very high-risk people that no other agencies would serve.
Today, Bay Cove offers 27 different models across 180 programs. Gregorio comments on how she sees Bay Cove “as a kind of multi-service center in which we try to meet the needs of a wide range of individuals by providing support and access to services while bringing out the best in people. We provide opportunities for growth and relationship building.”
In addition to providing services across a multitude of areas, Bay Cove serves people who are racially/ethnically diverse who are predominantly low income, and many of whom have language and cultural barriers to accessing services. Bay Cove’s programs, while concentrated in Boston, can be found throughout Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, ding Cape Cod and the Islands.
Vice President of Developmental Services Mary Jo Cooper been with Bay Cove for 37 years and counting. She has ed in a variety of positions at Bay Cove from direct care to her current position as vice president. Regarding Bay e’s 50th anniversary, she says: “It has been remarkable e part of Bay Cove's journey and to know that as an ncy we are still committed to the same values of ect, dignity, community, and responsibility that ded the agency. We continue to be at the forefront of ice delivery and advocacy by listening and asking stions, working with integrity and humility. I think those c principles set us up well for the next 50 years.”
Of course, a story about the 50 wonderful years of Bay Cove would be incomplete without mentioning our incredible team of nearly 2,000 current and countless former staff members, who make the work we do for our clients possible. Through our employee’s dedication to their work, Bay Cove has upheld our mission of providing services to those in need for the past 50 years, and we hope to continue to change lives for another 50 years. Thank you to our staff for all that they do!
The Building that would become ACCS & TOB at 1500 Dot Ave
Staff and Person’s served hanging at Center Club
Longtime Beloved Program Director, Mary Gregorio
The beginning of
Center Club in Action!
Center Club’s (belated) New Year podcast episode! Push play!
Showing off the new Pet Calendar
Lunar New Year Presentation
At Center Club, members stay active in their community and around Massachusttes! This month, they released their 2025 pet calendar ($10 for non-members, purchase at the club), celebrated a Lunar New Year Luncheon and got out into the city for Cuisine Tasters - this month was Mexican food!
Pet Calendar for 2025 available at Center Club
Monthly outing for Cuisine Tasters
Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration
Cuisine Tasters was Mexican this month
Boston Marathon Updates
It can be difficult to navigate the Boston Marathon; where to park, where to find your people, track your runner?
Thisyear,BayCoveischangingallthat.OnMarathonMonday,youwillhavetheopportunityto joinusnearthefinishline,atthe25mile-marker.Savethedateandlearnmoreonourblog!
Join us in supporting Hema Mahase’s fundraisers for Bay Cove!
Fitness Fundraisers:
- Tuesday, March 11 @ 4:00 PM
- Tuesday, March 25 @ 4:00 PM
Breakfast Fundraiser:
- Tuesday, April 1 @ 8:00 AM
Raffle Fundraiser:
- Details coming soon!
*Locations TBD
Hema running the 2024 Marathon
The New BayNet Has Arrived
A new BayNet experience is coming soon!
During the evening of March 3, users will see updates to BayNet. This includes improvements to the login process and a more up to date and organized home page.
The new look was designed with Bay Cove staff in mind. To do this, the team collected survey feedback, conducted focus groups, and looked at data to see what information and links were most important for Bay Cove's staff to see on the homepage.
The intent of the newly redesigned BayNet homepage is to make this a “One Stop Shop” for staff to find all the important links they need, see organizational news, and find key information to do their work.
For Support, more Information and a schedule of our Q&A sessions, click here.
Staff Corner!
Congrats to February’s Birthday Bucks Winners
Each month, 5 Bay Cove employees have their names selected at random from a pool of all employees with birthdays in that particular month. The winners receive a $50 VISA gift card and their names are revealed here in The Insider.
Please join in congratulating (and wishing a Happy Birthday to) the lucky “Birthday Bucks” recipients for February 2025:
Brooklyn Dillon, Clinician - UCC - Per Diem
Ruth Chen, Early Intervention Occupational Therapist
Gabrielle Cespedes, Program Director - Metro Boston
DMH Respite
Daleshia Flood, 3rd Party Data/Billing Specialist
Nia Francis, Shelter Support Worker
Birthday Bucks winners should claim their prizes by March 31 by emailing Fatima at fdoumbia@baycove.org. Congrats to all!!!
Happy Retirement, Barbara Brown!
On 1/29/25, the Community Partners program celebrated the retirement of Barbara Brown, LMHC, LADC1 after just under 30 years of service at Bay Cove. Barbara started as a relief counselor at the Harbor House group home, ran the Health Safety Net program, worked as the Forensic Liaison to the courts within the CBFS program, and ended her career as a Clinical Care Manager within the Community Partners. Barbara "retired" on 1/31/25 from FT work but now continues to support the Community Partners program in a per diem role (because we just can't let her go)!
Adebayo Brown, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Alina Maier, Outreach Advocate - Per Diem
Alisa Slayman, Dispensing Nurse
Analisha Millan Rivera, Recovery Specialist
Beverly Lidonde, Residential Counselor I
Brandan Morris, Shelter Stabilization WorkerResidential
Briana Graves , Assistant Program Manager - ACCS
Calvin Davis, Safety Monitor - Weymouth Warming Center
Carlotta Richardson, Clinical Director - AS Residential
Caroline Evans, Recovery Specialist
Chandra Smith, Program Director - DS ResidentialAssistant
Cynthia Fascio, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
David Reen, Patient Access Coordinator - Cape Cod
Edghord Leconte, Residential Counselor I
Elliott Vazquez , Safety Specialist
Emilia Nwachukwu, Residential Counselor I
Erin Sivak, Nurse - MAP Administrator
Evins Saint Cyr, MH Residential Relief Counselor
Fidel Nunez, Outreach Advocate - Per Diem
Gleidy Tejada Sanchez, IBGLE Residential Support Specialist - ACCS - Subcontracted
Godfrey Kizito, Residential Counselor I
Heather McPherson, Residential Counselor I
Hoa Berggren, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Idiatou Balde, Residential Counselor I
Ika-Begina Germain Jolicoeur, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Isoken Osazee, Clinician - UCC - Per Diem
Jacqueline Fougere, Case Manager - Addiction Services
Jasmine Francois, Residential Counselor I
Jayla Dorsey, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Jennifer Brown, Dispensing Nurse
Jenny Church, Safety Monitor - Weymouth Warming Center
Jordan Johnson, MH Residential Relief Counselor
Joseph Lentini , Clinical Supervisor, LPHA - ACCS
Kerven Louis, Residential Counselor I
Kymara Hartfield, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Lora Triplett, Family Support DDS Respite -Per Diem
Margarita Gomez-Bustamante, Family Support
DDS Respite -Per Diem
Mariam Kabba , Residential Support
Marie Lover Jean, Residential Counselor I
Matthew Almeida, Residential Counselor I
Michael Krupa , Medication Specialist
Mishelle Mojica, Administrative Coordinator
Mwanza Nzuriwatu, Residential Counselor II
Nelroy Nelson,HR Business Partner
Nildaliz Enamorado-Rodriguez, Mental Health Worker - CCS
Nyasia Smith, Case Manager - Respite
Olaniran Sadare, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Olawumi Sadare, MH Residential Relief Counselor
Rasheed Hall, MH Residential Relief Counselor
Reginald Badiau, Individual Support Navigator
Shailany Ortega-Battle, Operations AssistantBoston Community Crisis Stabilization (CCS)
Shanaya Carr, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Shawna Miller, Navigator
Sincere Kelley, Residential Counselor I
Sophia Dimanche, Residential Counselor I
Stephanie Gordon, Engagement Partner I - ACCS
Susan Darosa , Residential Counselor I
Tarell Tondreau, Education & Employment Counselor
Thomas Fagiolo, Administrative Assistant
Tiarra Wint, Case Manager - Respite
Tiffany Mierop, Assistant Controller
Timothy McNally, Nurse (RN) - Per DiemDiversionary Services
Valery Nkeze, Residential Counselor I
Veronica Washington, Program Manager - ACCS
Vivian Agen, Assistant Manager
William Voges, Recovery Support Navigator - SOR
Yamilee Rodriguez, Individual Support Navigator
Yasmin Asante, Director of Process InnovationBehavioral Health Integration
Yomaira Del Rosario, Residential Counselor I
Yvette Harriott, Program Manager - ACCS
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Charles Hollins, Director of Advocacy, Government & Community Relations
Governor Maura Healey’s FY26 $61.5 billion budget includes a $207 million funding allocation for the Chapter 257 legislation that determines fair rates for human and social services contracts. This $207 million represents a 19.65% increase to maintain human services rates at the 53rd percentile under the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) benchmarks. The sector continues to advocate for increasing the human services workforce rate to the 75th percentile under the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) guidelines.
Bay Cove and its human services provider partners are closely monitoring Presidential Executive Orders (E.O.) that may impact the sector. Among these E O s are those aimed at terminating, suspending, or restricting federal DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) programs The “memo” disseminated by the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announcing the DEI/DEIA freeze was subsequently rescinded due to legal action and support from elected officials. Providers are asking about their grant contracts to understand the effects of a potential freeze.
The nonprofit provider community is also determining the appropriate legal and human rights response to potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contact at their organizations. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has stated she will not allow unlawful arrests in Massachusetts, while Governor Maura Healey has affirmed that state officials will follow the law. Bay Cove’s leadership and its human services and healthcare partners are committed to ensuring service accessibility and compliance with Protected Health Information (PHI) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Other relevant E.O.s with potential sector impacts remain priority areas for the OMB. Stay updated and ready to act.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
2025 Public Visibility Events
Bay Cove has traditionally participated in various public visibility events over the past 30 years. Save the dates for these 2025 events:
Caring Force Rally and Lobby Day: May 8, 2025
NAMI Walks: May 17, 2025
Haitian American Unity (HAU) Day Parade: May 18, 2025
Dorchester Day Parade: June 1, 2025
More details to come closer to the event. Those interested in participating can contact me for further details.
Community Service Officer (CSO) Program Visits
Teams interested in scheduling a visit from Law Enforcement CSO to speak with staff and/or people served should reach out to me. These visits can help establish and strengthen stakeholder relationships, enhance communication, and improve understanding of expectations.
Public Health and Community Safety
In Boston, dial 311 to report issues such as potholes, unplowed streets, malfunctioning streetlights, abandoned vehicles, or dumping I am available to assist if reported issues remain unresolved.
Neighbor Relations
Please invite me to join in efforts to address complaints or concerns from business or residential neighbors.
Please send an email to Chollins@baycove org or or Text/Call (617) 893-0004. -Charles
In the last two years, Massachusetts cities and towns have received $91 million in opioid settlement funds but spent just $6.7 million, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The Backstory:
Pharmaceutical corporations flooded Massachusetts with opioids, fueling the opioid epidemic. Patients developed opioid use disorders, and many transitioned to street opioids and overdosed. Overdoses have killed almost 18,000 people in Massachusetts over the past 20 years. Then-Attorney General Maura Healey joined attorneys general from other states and sued these companies, winning a massive settlement that was meant to fuel programs and services in affected cities and towns. Most cities and towns have only spent a fraction of the money given to them, and people are wondering why.
However, there is one place that’s doing it right: Our very own CASPAR’s First Step
Check out this video clip with Program Director, Alexis Grandberg and a big thank you to our friends at the Cambridge Community Foundation for providing it.
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