The Seven Hills Child & Family Behavioral Health center at 135 Gold Star Blvd. in Worcester is expected to open by March and become the main hub for the behavioral health clinical operations of YOU, Inc., Children’s Friend and Family Services of Central Massachusetts, three Seven Hills affiliates that have supported children and families in the region for decades.  

The new center and the diversified and integrated services it will offer enables Seven Hills Foundation to meet the increased need among children, adults and families in the Greater Worcester area, while also contributing to the ongoing revitalization of the city.

“This new center provides a central location for three affiliates currently in scattered sites and will facilitate the further growth of telehealth for behavioral health, which has proven to be extraordinarily beneficial,” said Kathleen M. Jordan, Executive Vice President and CEO of Seven Hills Foundation.  “With the launch of Seven Hills Child & Family Behavioral Health, nearly 100 clinicians will have a hub to offer virtual and in-person care at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the rate of anxiety, depression and economic disruption affecting youth and their families.” 

Features of the new center such as central intake, a combined electronic medical records system, psychiatry, and evidence-based clinical practices will facilitate comprehensive and specialized behavioral health care. An array of programs operated by the affiliates, including home-based therapy, foster care, and other community-based programs will also be housed in the building.

Seven Hills Child & Family Behavioral Health is specifically designed to facilitate telehealth visits, which many clients have shown a preference for during the pandemic because of the ease of receiving treatment at home.  The law signed by Gov. Baker on Friday will ensure that providers are permanently reimbursed at the same rate for in-office and telehealth behavioral health care services.  Among the advances at the new center will be flex capability, which provides the option to conduct either an in-person or telehealth session based on the client’s needs on that particular day, and in the case of family therapy, to accommodate one parent virtually and another in-person during the same session.

“Seven Hills is excited to create a location where truly integrated care can be provided,” said Annie Fine, Senior Assistant Vice President/Director of Clinical Operations at Seven Hills.  “We have such talented clinicians who can now come together as an integrated team to provide expanded comprehensive care to children and families in Central Massachusetts.”