Anna Jaques Hospital Awards Community-Based Health Initiative Grant to Link House, Inc.

Three-Year Award Will Support Behavioral Health, Substance Use Services Throughout the Region

Newburyport, MA – Anna Jaques Hospital has awarded a three-year grant through its Community-based Health Initiative to Link House, Inc. to support behavioral health and substance use initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of community members throughout Greater Newburyport.

The approximately $82,000 grant award will enable Link House, Inc., a nonprofit healthcare provider, to implement Wellness Delivered, a comprehensive behavioral health education program. The program seeks to expand the reach of Link House’s outpatient services to low-resourced populations in Haverhill, Salisbury, Amesbury, Newburyport and Merrimac via easily accessed public gathering spaces.

“Anna Jaques Hospital is committed to supporting programs that positively and meaningfully improve the lives of our community members,” said Glenn Focht, MD, President of Anna Jaques Hospital. “We are thrilled to support Link House in its efforts to assist vulnerable populations by educating individuals and addressing mental health and substance use needs throughout the region.”

The grant award will allow Link House to address the urgent community need for behavioral health services for individuals of all ages from low-income households by removing barriers to accessing behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Through the new Wellness Delivered program, experienced Link House staff, including program directors, residential program managers and clinicians, will offer 15 programs at easily accessed gathering spaces such as libraries, senior centers, schools, houses of worship and other frequented community spaces. The grant will also support continuing education unit (CEU) training for community health and safety professionals, including therapists, educators and first responders.   

“We are grateful for the chance to partner with Anna Jaques Hospital on this initiative that will allow us to get out into the community to meet with people where they live,” said Chris Turner, Executive Director of Link House. “It is a great opportunity to talk about behavioral health issues that affect us all in community settings and to be able to respond directly to people about their concerns and challenges.”

The grant will be provided over three years.

The community health investment has been allocated as part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Determination of Need process for the purchase of Anna Jaques Hospital’s second computed tomography unit, which is expected to go online this spring. The addition of a second CT scan will further Anna Jaques’ ability to provide enhanced cardiac imaging services to its patients, allowing for quicker scanning times and faster diagnosis.

About Anna Jaques Hospital

Anna Jaques Hospital is a 83-bed not-for-profit community hospital serving the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Southern New Hampshire. With 1,200 employees and more than 200 physicians on staff, Anna Jaques is recognized for delivering high quality community health care with an emphasis on patient satisfaction.

Anna Jaques Hospital is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians, and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through ground-breaking research and education.