Seven Hills Behavioral Health has been selected by the Governor’s Office and the COVID-19 Command Center to provide SARS-Cov-2 testing in the priority cities of Fall River and New Bedford as part of the Stop the Spread Initiative. Testing will be available July 10-August 14 and open to anyone, even if you have no COVID symptoms. Please get tested to help stop the spread. For more information about these free testing sites and locations, please visit: mass.gov/stopthespread.

This effort is led by Connie Rocha-Mimoso, Director of Community Health Services at SHBH and her team of Community Health Workers who utilized the Seven Hills Mobile Outreach Van to connect with individuals congregating in high risk areas of Fall River and New Bedford to raise awareness about the free testing.  The team is providing testing in each community and are promoting through the State’s website and through other social media platforms.  Test results are delivered to clients either by email, phone, or in-person. SHBH staff area able to connect individuals to medical care and other essential health supports in the community post-testing, as needed.

An added benefit of this community-based testing is that clients are able to be connected to other SHBH local health promotion services including substance abuse, HIV, and STI Prevention, Screening, Testing and Referral Services; Syringe Services Programming; HIV/AIDS Medical Case Management Programs; and Overdose Prevention Education and Naloxone Education and Enrollments.
SHBH employs an integrated team of community health workers, harm reduction specialists and other professional staff to provide culturally competent services to high risk children, youth, families, and adults living in its catchment area.  SHBH works closely with over 80 local community partners to provide wrap around supports and referral services to ensure successful outcomes for clients supported.  Our food pantry in New Bedford has become a well-known community resource and has been providing food at the testing sites for clients who are food insecure. COVID-19 Emergency Response Funds received by Seven Hills Behavioral Health through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts have provided additional funding for food, basic hygiene items, rent and mortgage assistance supports that are being offered to clients in need.

When

• July 10 - August 14, 2020

• No appointments taken. Walk-In only

Eligibility

• Open to everyone

• You don’t need to have any symptom(s)

• No cost to you

• Testing at these sites is not restricted to residents of the city or town

Test Results

• Will be provided to each participant confidentially

• Participants are encouraged to share these results with their doctors

Where

• Visit mass.gov/stopthespread for weekly testing site locations in Fall River and New Bedford

For more information, contact Seven Hills Behavioral Health:

New Bedford 508.996.0546

Fall River 508.235.1012