Connie Rocha-Mimoso, director of community health services at SHBH, led the efforts with her team of community health workers. The team uses the Seven Hills Mobile Outreach Van to raise awareness about free testing, and sets up local testing sites in each community. Clients received their test results by email, phone, or in person.
Staff also connect individuals to medical care and other essential health promotion services in the community including substance abuse; Overdose Prevention Education and Naloxone Education and Enrollments; Syringe Services Programming; HIV and STI Prevention, Screening, Testing, and Referral Services; and HIV/AIDS Medical Case Management Programs.
SHBH also employs harm reduction specialists and other professional staff to provide culturally competent services to high-risk children, youth, adults, and families living in its catchment area. SHBH works closely with more than 80 local community partners to provide wrap-around supports and referral services to ensure successful outcomes for clients supported. The affiliate’s 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. Seven Hills Behavioral Health has used COVID-19 Emergency Response Funds received through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts as an additional funding source for food, basic hygiene items, rent, and mortgage assistance supports that are being offered to clients in need.
“I just wanted to say thank you to the people who are standing in this heat and putting themselves at risk to do free testing in New Bedford. I personally very much appreciate it."
— A grateful test recipient