February 03, 2022
Investing in Vinfen 2021
Dear Vinfen Community,
I hope this message finds you and your family safe and well! For Vinfen, this has been a year of challenge and triumph as we rise and adapt to the growing needs of our communities and the people we serve against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic.
One core tenet has guided us through these trying times – invest in our staff and the people we serve – and through that we transform lives. This year, we have enhanced programs and services in targeted geographies, sub-specialties, and audience segments to further strengthen the continuum of care while expanding and enhancing our impact and reach through strategic growth. This includes new residential service programs for adults with mental health conditions in Massachusetts and Connecticut, housing support programs for Medicaid recipients in Massachusetts, and two new centers of care – Vinfen’s Autism Support Center and Vinfen’s Brain Injury Community Center.
And it goes without saying, that none of this would be possible without the passion and commitment of our talented staff. That is why we have invested $11.7 million in permanent pay increases for direct care and clinical staff and once again shared $8.7 million in savings directly with our staff through a FY21 Gainshare Payment and a Retirement Plan contribution.
And our investment in our staff does not stop there. At Vinfen, we work to foster and support our employees’ personal and professional growth. In addition to our widely used Professional Development Fund and two annual board scholarships, we have created new programs as part of our Growing with Vinfen initiative that bolster the ability of staff to reach their educational and professional goals.
In addition, we continue to advance our research and innovation efforts by securing high-profile grants that allow us to better care for the communities we serve. This year we were awarded $6 million in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants to expand access to behavioral health outpatient services for the greater Lowell area and now serve as the lead provider organization on a $4.9 million Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant aimed at researching and developing best practices to prevent COVID-19 illness and spread in staff and people served in group homes.
And we are proud to say that this investment in Vinfen has not gone unnoticed. This year, we were recognized by the Boston Business Journal as the 18th largest nonprofit organization in Massachusetts, up from 20th in 2020. In addition, for this first time this year Vinfen is on the 2021 Boston Globe Top Places to Work List.
Now more than ever, the care we provide and the services we offer are essential. Vinfen looks forward to continuing to lead the way in providing innovative community-based services to people in need and partnering with providers across Massachusetts and Connecticut to expand access to quality community-based services and healthcare.
Vinfen has so much to be proud of. Join us as we begin this new year with continued hope and resolve to care for each other and deliver on our mission of transforming lives together.
Sincerely,
Bruce L. Bird, Ph.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer