UMass Memorial Medical Center works with and reports to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The Determination of Need/Community Health Initiative (DoN/CHI) law and regulation governs Health Care Facilities as that term is defined in M.G.L. c 111, § 25B. Under Massachusetts law M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 25C and 51, proposals for a Substantial Capital Expenditure, Substantial Change in Services and Original Licensure as well as many Transfers of Ownership and Changes in Site for Health Care Facilities must be reviewed and approved under the DoN Regulatory scheme.

The purpose and objective of the DoN program is to encourage competition with a public health focus; to promote population health; to support the development of innovative health delivery methods and population health strategies within the health care delivery system; and, to ensure that resources will be made reasonably and equitably available to every person within the Commonwealth at the lowest reasonable aggregate cost. To that end, health care organizations must file a DoN application with DPH when capital improvement projects are planned for its facilities. New capital improvement projects (new construction and purchases) must be approved by the state’s Public Health Council, and five percent of expenses must go to community health efforts. MDPH has developed requirements and has issued guidelines on how these funds are distributed and monitored.

For questions regarding UMass Memorial Medical Center’s DoN/CHI projects, please contact: 
UMass Memorial Medical Center, Office of Community Benefits 
UMMMCDoNRFP@umassmemorial.org
 

Recent Determination of Need/Community Health Initiative Programs and Awardees

In July 2024, UMass Memorial Health awarded nearly $5 million through 18 grants to local non-profit organizations working to improve health outcomes for communities across the Worcester region. This DoN/CHI program was launched as part of the construction of the Medical Center’s North Pavilion – a new building opening in early 2025 that will offer 72 new hospital beds on the Medical Center’s University Campus. Priority areas of focus for funding in 2024 were healthcare access, housing and mental health.

And in April 2023, UMass Memorial Medical Center awarded more than $1.2 million through 16 grants to local non-profit organizations working to improve health outcomes for communities across the Worcester region. This DoN/CHI program was created as part of the 2017 University Campus renovation project and the 2018 Surgical Center in Shrewsbury, which was developed in collaboration with its partners, the Reliant Medical Group and Shields Health. The grants awarded totaled $2.58 million, with $1.38 million distributed by Shields Health.  Priority areas of focus for funding in 2023 were food insecurity, mental health and housing.

UMass Memorial Medical Center’s mission as a safety net hospital goes beyond providing exceptional care to also addressing the social factors that influence the wellbeing of Central Massachusetts residents. These grants provide deserving organizations with the resources they need to increase access to essential health resources across the region.
 

Medical Center’s North Pavilion DoN/CHI Project - July 2024 Awardees

Boys & Girls Club of Worcester: Club members are still affected by the pandemic. They were shaken by interrupted academics and enforced isolation. Many had to grow up quickly while caring for themselves and siblings. The Club’s approach helps them believe in themselves and their ability to perform in school and recover mental/emotional health. Teen members will be trained to serve as "near-peer" mentors. They will lead groups (under supervision) working on anger management, social skills, etc., and serve as mentors and role models to members ages 8–12. Awarded $100,000.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Worcester’s Citizenship classes address the health disparities faced by community members pursuing US citizenship, especially non-native English speakers and those new to American culture. The citizenship journey poses financial and stress-related challenges, creating barriers, particularly for those with limited economic means. The high application fees and intricate requirements compound these difficulties, raising health equity concerns. In addressing financial, informational, and emotional health aspects, these programs empower individuals to achieve US citizenship while fostering health equity within the community. Awarded $20,000.

The Center for Health Impact’s project improves health and public systems navigation in Worcester’s diverse communities, especially for persons experiencing harmful impacts of social drivers of health, by assuring access to trusted navigational experts across service systems. Awarded $338,100.

Central Mass Housing Alliance (CMHA): The project provides temporary financial assistance along with stabilization services to break the cycle that often results in homelessness. CMHA aims to maintain its support for families by helping with rent payments before they reach a critical point. This assistance is targeted toward families whose income exceeds the eligibility for government programs but who still struggle with high rent costs. Awarded $579,579.

The Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester strives to close health disparities for highly impacted populations through prevention. With over 200 partners, it develops specialized resources to help people navigate the public health system effectively. Awarded $300,000.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Worcester County has implemented its "Shine the Light" program throughout Worcester County since 2021, ensuring that CASA volunteers have the education, training, and community support needed to effectively support children exposed to parental substance use/mental health challenges. CASA will implement additional capacity-building needs, ensuring as many as 150 youth have access to highly trained volunteer advocates and specialized clinical and/or therapeutic services to improve long-term mental health. Awarded $100,000.

Iglesia Cristiana de la Comunidad/Christian Community Church’s Zac’s House offers comfortable living spaces featuring dorm-style rooms, each designed to provide a relaxed and private space for residents. The rooms are thoughtfully arranged to balance personal space and communal living, fostering a sense of camaraderie among residents. It offers a supportive environment with financial literacy, educational and vocational advising, and cooking classes for young men overcoming significant obstacles as refugees or asylum seekers. Awarded $80,000.

The Latin American Health Alliance (LAHA)’s Hector Reyes House and LAHA Supportive Housing Program (LSHP) will use funding to set up a fire prevention and protection system. The LSHP offers safe transitional housing and essential case management services for Latino men who are experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health disorders. The LSHP aims to identify support needs for the residents and work together to find and access community resources that would aid in their recovery. Awarded $120,000.

The New England Center for Family Connection (CFFC)’s Family Connects is an intensive 10-week program combining family therapy, trauma education, and sensory integration occupational therapy within an integrated cohort model. The program will serve up to 150 local families struggling with disruption and adversity. Awarded $600,000.

The Regional Environmental Council (REC)’s Community and Mobile Farmers Markets program will work collaboratively with the Worcester Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and Worcester Community Action Council’s Resiliency Center to increase the use of existing federal nutrition programs in Worcester, particularly for families with children and recent arrivals including immigrants and refugees. This project will focus on successful enrollment and use of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, the Healthy Incentives Program, and the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons. Awarded $512,105.

Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) provides a comprehensive range of trauma-informed, culturally competent services designed to eradicate stigma, remove barriers to mental health care, and assist clients in accessing critical resources. SYFS maintains a structured and integrated approach to addressing individuals' mental health needs. Awarded $240,222.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC)’s Medical Respite Program Continuum of Care will enhance an existing Medical Respite program located at 237 Chandler Street in Worcester and operated in partnership between SMOC and UMass Memorial Medical Center. The continuum will support seven medical respite beds for individuals who meet eligibility criteria; each potential participant will receive an eligibility assessment that is equitable and easily accessible. Awarded $415,000.

The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts (SEACMA)’s Community Care Navigation Program will expand community outreach and mobile direct and referral (D&R) services for immigrant and refugee individuals in Worcester will be expanded. This supports immigrants and refugees who are unable to receive services in SEACMA’s office including the elderly and homebound and those with challenges related to mental health disorders, disabilities, illness, mobility, transportation and more. SEACMA will partner with the Center for Health Impact to train community health workers to conduct outreach and provide in-home D&R services. Awarded $173,750.

The Trustees of Clark University’s award supports Resilient Worcester (RW), a partnership between Clark University and Worcester’s Governance Council on Children, Youth, and Families. Through a systems approach, RW will reduce youth violence, prevent the long-term negative impacts of trauma, and address inequitable exposure to violence facing communities of color in Worcester. RW involves building a cross-sector collaborative structure within the Governance Council to coordinate three downstream trauma responses that address different needs in Worcester but have yet to achieve their desired impact: Handle with Care, Youth Crisis Response Team, and the Hub. Awarded $347,000.

The Worcester Refugee Assistance Project has been working with Afghan refugees since 2021. This program specifically assists Afghan/Syrian/Palestinian refugee women and girls who come from a society where gender roles have historically limited mobility and access to transportation. This grant will allow them to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and a better quality of life, easing their transition into their new community and the workforce by helping them obtain their driver's license. Awarded $19,000.

Worcester RISE for Health aims to develop a new model of healthcare specifically geared towards newly arriving migrants who are unfamiliar with the United States (US) health system. As part of this goal, RISE will build a medical office to serve immigrant and refugee individuals. The physical structure, staffing and services will be informed by refugee and immigrant community input and designed to make it easier for newcomers to navigate the health system. Awarded $660,000.

Worcester State University Latino Education Institute's Community Health Education Program is dedicated to enhancing health equity and tackling racial disparities in the City of Worcester. This is accomplished through culturally sensitive, community-based health education, developed through a strong partnership with the Department of Public Health and Worcester Public Schools using a Community Health Worker service model. Awarded $195,000.

The YMCA of Central Massachusetts will use the funds to integrate at least two, part-time mental health staff into its Central Community and Greendale Family branches' afterschool programs. The mental health specialists will provide youth, staff, and parents with tools and strategies that address the continued and pervasive anxiety and depression that plague youth, often manifesting in incidents of negative behavior that strain staff. Awarded $90,000.

2017 UMMH University Campus Renovation and 2018 Surgical Center DoN/CHI Projects – April 2023 Awardees 

2Gether We Eat is a community based 501(c)3 youth hydroponic farming program that provides food, education, training, and employment using hydroponics to help fight food insecurity in areas of greatest need across local communities. They donate fruits and vegetables into the community through food banks and non-profit organizations, while also partnering with academic institutions and municipalities. This grant will support the organization's overall youth hydroponic farming efforts. Awarded $50,000.

Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc. (Abby’s House) is a non-profit organization providing shelter and affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services to homeless, battered, and low-income women, with or without children. This grant will fund the organization's program to improve culturally competent case management shelter services in the local community. Awarded $96,250.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Worcester County, a member of the National CASA Association, recruits, screens, and trains community volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). Appointed by judges to support the most challenging cases in the foster care system, CASAs report on case facts, amplify the voices of the children impacted, and help them to navigate the Worcester County Juvenile Courts. This grant will fund the organization's "Shine the Light" initiative to increase comprehensive behavioral health support for the youth they serve. Awarded $66,550.

Catholic Charities Worcester County provides numerous services including, but not limited to, emergency stabilization and homeless prevention services, immigration services, day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, substance use recovery programs, home care services, emergency shelters, senior community service employment programs, and more in the communities surrounding their offices in Worcester, Milford, Leominster, and Southbridge. This grant will also help fund the Catholic Charities Worcester County food pantries to fight food insecurity. Awarded $30,000.

Central Mass Housing Alliance, Inc.’s mission is to recognize the dignity of all, leading a collaborative response to homelessness that fosters long-term stability through prevention, quality services, education, and advocacy. Their vision is to create a community where everyone has a home through accessing tools and resources to obtain residential and economic stability. This grant will fund the organization's initiative to prevent families from losing their housing. Awarded $79,855.

El Buen Samaritano Food Program Inc. (EBS) is a community-based, grassroots non-profit with a mission to provide relief to low-income, food-insecure neighbors through food, clothing, and additional resources. Its vision is a community where everyone works together to fight poverty and eliminate hunger for all. This grant will fund the organization's work to close gaps in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits while providing fresh produce and nutrition education. Awarded $100,000.

Friendly House, Inc. was founded in 1920 “for the educational, social and family betterment of residents of the City of Worcester.” The organization has grown into a multi-service center that works with entire families, both immediate and extended. This grant will support the organization's ongoing social services work. Awarded $52,832.

Genesis Club House, Inc. helps people in recovery from serious mental illness attain employment, education, good physical health, and stable housing. Their mission is to ensure clients have access to meaningful employment, healthy lifestyles, safe housing, education and find genuine belonging, friendships, and purpose. This grant will support the organization's services for young adults with mental illness. Awarded $100,000.

Inner Voice Outer Change is a non-profit organization that engages youth ages 11 - 19 through music and multimedia tools for mental health therapy with the support of a licensed independent clinical social worker. Their social services foster personal empowerment through the creation of music and multimedia projects with the aim of fostering healthy Social and Emotional Learning. As part of this work, this grant will support the organization's "summertime music program" initiative for mental health. Awarded $20,000.

Legendary Legacies is a Worcester-based, grassroots, minority-owned non-profit that provides case management and culturally responsive re-entry services for young men of color who are at risk of reincarceration, or are re-entering society after incarceration. This grant will fund the organization's transitional employment food delivery project to support local food pantries in addressing food insecurity. Awarded $100,000.

Living Together In Freedom (LIFT) Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Worcester offering supportive and exit services to victims and survivors of the sex trade, many of whom have experienced homelessness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health disorders. The organization serves over 500 individuals annually of all ages, ethnicities, and genders experiencing systemic inequities. This grant will fund the mental and behavioral healthcare services offered at the organization’s residential treatment program, Jana’s Place, low-barrier shelter and harm reduction program (including mobile outreach) HARBOR, and low-threshold housing program opening in late 2023. Awarded $100,000.

Open Sky Community Services, Inc. is one of the largest human service providers in Central Mass, operating over 100 programs and serving over 5,000 individuals per year. They utilize evidence-based models to effectively engage people in opportunities for growth and stability with services rooted in trauma-informed, person-centered, and strength-based approaches. This grant will fund the organization's Central Mass Behavioral Health/Human Services Career Pipeline Initiative. Awarded $75,000.

Pernet Family Health Service provide on-site and home-based health and social services that support the physical, social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual development of individuals and families in Worcester. This grant will fund the organization's emergency assistance program, which provides residents of Worcester and surrounding communities access twice monthly to food, diapers, formula, and hygiene products. Awarded $60,000.

Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc.'s mission is to strengthen the emotional and social well-being of individuals and families through equitable access to mental health counseling and social services programs. They work to eradicate stigma and help their diverse communities by providing mental health, social services, and community support through direct service, access to resources, education, and outreach. This grant will fund the organization's mental health first aid program. Awarded $64,493.

Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC), Inc.’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty and help people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships, and advocacy. The organization runs programs such as energy assistance, early education and care, financial empowerment, positive youth development, and career pathways. This grant will help to fund the WCAC's Resiliency Center, which addresses the needs of low-income families through streamlined access to community resources and a holistic client-centered approach. Awarded $150,000.

The YMCA of Central Massachusetts is an association united in a common goal to strengthen our communities and to develop the spirit, mind, and body of all persons, regardless of means, through activities guided by and based upon their core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. This grant will support the organization's mental health specialist integration initiative. Awarded $56,090.