We know that meaningful mental health care extends far beyond the walls of a therapy office. It’s about showing up for children and families in the moments they need support most - and making sure support is accessible and rooted in community.

That’s why we’re excited to share three important developments for our Center for Behavioral Health that will help us reach more people and reduce barriers to care across Massachusetts.

A Generous Gift That Helps Care Go Further

Thanks to a $50,000 gift from an anonymous donor through the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, our clinicians can continue providing the kind of wraparound support that makes a lasting difference in people’s lives.

This funding allows our team to spend time coordinating care with parents, teachers, physicians, psychiatrists, and other trusted adults in a client’s life. It also helps connect families with important resources such as SNAP and WIC benefits, early intervention services, and enriching programs like music lessons or our therapeutic horsemanship program.

For many families facing complex mental health challenges, these connections can be just as important as the therapy itself.

“The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has been a strong and caring partner to RFK Community Alliance for many years, and we are deeply grateful for their continued investment in our work,” said Dr. Kathy Mills, President & CEO of RFK Community Alliance. “This gift reflects their genuine commitment to ensuring that young people and families in our region have access to the care they need and deserve. It allows our clinicians to go further, to walk alongside clients in ways that go well beyond the therapy session, and that makes all the difference.”

Steve Adams, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, shared a similar sentiment:

“RFK Community Alliance's Center for Behavioral Health has long been a trusted resource for families across our region who are navigating some of life's most difficult challenges. We are proud to support their work through this gift, which reflects our belief that every young person deserves access to quality mental health care close to home.”

Becoming a Licensed Clinic

We’re also proud to announce that the Center for Behavioral Health has officially become a licensed clinic through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

With clinic licensure, we can now hire master’s level clinicians who work under the supervision of licensed therapists. This change allows us to expand our team, increase appointment availability, and reduce wait times for individuals and families seeking care.

Just as importantly, the Center is now positioned to help train and mentor the next generation of behavioral health professionals. By creating opportunities for emerging clinicians to gain experience and supervision close to home, we’re helping strengthen the region’s behavioral health workforce for years to come.

Bringing Mental Health Services Directly to Students

Another area of exciting growth is our expanding network of school-based partnerships.

For many families, finding time to attend appointments outside of school can be challenging. Transportation issues, work schedules, and other responsibilities often create barriers to accessing care. School-based services help remove those obstacles by bringing therapy directly to students where they already spend much of their day.

RFK Community Alliance is proud to continue its long-standing partnerships with Clinton Public Schools and the Nashoba Regional School District, serving students in Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow. This fall, we’re also expanding services into select schools in Hudson and Ashburnham, allowing even more students to access mental health support in a familiar and convenient setting.

A Spark of Possibilities

These achievements all point to the same goal: ensuring that children, families, and individuals facing mental health challenges can access the care they need, when and where they need it.

We are deeply grateful to the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, our community partners, and the families who trust us to be part of their journey. Together, we are building a stronger system of care to further provide support for building connected, capable, and healthy lives.