MHA (Mental Health Association) is a nonprofit provider of residential programs and supportive services to individuals affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, substance use, and homelessness. Throughout the greater Western Massachusetts area, MHA operates extensive residential, outreach, and supported living programs, as well as an outpatient center for emotional wellness.
Why It Matters
The youth, adults, seniors and families we serve want the same things in life as anyone: to have friends, work, go to school, have meaningful relationships, express themselves (and be heard), and be accepted in their community for who they are. With our help and resources from a caring community, people can live their potential, in their community, every day.
How We Think
Starting in the 1960s, MHA’s groundbreaking efforts and advocacy helped to transition people away from institutional living to a life in our community. This became a model for the deinstitutionalization movement. Today, our leadership continues to advance awareness of mental health conditions and needs at local, regional and national levels. We drive compassionate care for those challenged by mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use, homelessness, acquired brain injury and more.
What We Do
Able House
Located in Springfield’s historic McKnight neighborhood, Able House provides a welcoming environment that facilitates and nurtures successful living in recovery by providing a clean and comfortable home for our members to thrive in their sobriety.Learn MoreYouth Housing Navigators
MHA Youth Navigators help young adults to identify and access resources that fit their individual needs and circumstances from securing or sustaining housing, to health insurance, food subsidies, mental health services, job training or employment opportunities.Learn MoreA Good Place
A Good Place, a program of MHA, provides access to a continuum of housing support options for adults 18 years and older with a substance use and mental health diagnosis.Learn MoreYoung Adult Supported Community Living
MHA offers young adults from DCF care the opportunity to have an apartment within a small complex where MHA staff provides services to help them set and achieve individual goals and live as independent adults once they age out or leave the program.Learn MoreImpaired Driving Program
MHA is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to provide the Massachusetts Impaired Driver Program, a 38-hour program offered to individuals referred by the Court or RMV.Learn MoreThe Community Support Program (CSP)
The Community Support Program (CSP) at BestLife will provide mobile, short-term, intensive case management services to address the social determinants of health (SDoH) of the population that we serve.Learn MoreRecovery Coaching
Recovery Coaches (RCs) are individuals currently in recovery who have lived experience with addiction, substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring mental health disorders and have been trained to help their peers who have a similar experience to gain hope, explore recovery, and achieve life goals.Learn MoreDay Treatment Services
MHA’s BestLife Emotional Health & Wellness Center is pleased to be offering Day Treatment services. Day Treatment services provide evidence-based, time-limited, multi-disciplinary, and multimodal structured treatment in an outpatient setting.Learn MoreThe Resource Center
Through The Resource Center (TRC), our caring staff guides and supports our members to reclaim their abilities. Every program and activity we offer creates opportunities for independence.Learn MoreShared Living
This program offers individualized and personalized supports within a family home. Participants engage in community life, exercise choice and build new skills while benefitting from the support of a family setting.Learn MoreGRIT
Residential Recovery Services program for people who experience both psychiatric disability and addiction. Provides structured treatment and relapse prevention support as well as connections to community resources to sustain sobriety.Learn MoreBestLife Wellness Center
Outpatient center providing services for emotional wellness, including comprehensive substance use treatment and recovery support for adults and children.Learn More
Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Nancy Mirkin, Chair
Donna-Rae Kenneally, Vice Chair
Joseph Lepper, Treasurer
Dee Cady, Clerk
Denise Cogman, Director
Earl Miller, Director
Maureen Babineau, Director
Janette Vigo, Director
Neal Lakritz, Director
Darlene Libiszewski, Director
