Bridgewell CEO responds to staffing constraints

The Lowell Sun recently published an article about the ongoing workforce struggles in the healthcare industry and reported that Bridgewell, a Peabody-based social and human services organization, had more than 300 job openings — a figure taken from another Lowell Sun article written by the same reporter eight months ago.

Currently, the staffing situation at Bridgewell, as with many other human services organizations, is about the same as it was last year — with nearly 300 open positions in cities and towns across the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. Over the past three months, we have started to see a glimmer of hope, with a slight increase in applicants, and new hires finally starting to outpace departures. Unlike many other organizations in the healthcare industry, which has recently seen employee layoffs in the hundreds, Bridgewell is actively hiring in communities across northeastern Massachusetts to meet the needs of those we serve, from people with autism to those battling substance use disorder. Bridgewell provides employees with opportunities to support people facing life challenges through impactful and fulfilling work at all levels of the organization.

However, attracting and maintaining high-level talent remains a challenge not only for us, but across the human services industry as a whole. These issues are not due to poor working conditions or an unmotivated workforce, but rather our industry not having the fiscal resources to attract a sustainable workforce. Our hope is that Gov. Maura Healey and her administration will increase critical funding to human services organizations like Bridgewell so that we can raise salaries to a living wage and reduce employee turnover. The current funding rates from the Commonwealth are simply insufficient to pay human service workers fairly for the vital work they do, and the State House must act now. Without additional funding for organizations like Bridgewell, unmet needs among some of the most vulnerable populations in our communities will remain unaddressed and will continue to increase.

Bridgewell is a nonprofit social and human services organization dedicated to strengthening communities. Headquartered in Peabody, Bridgewell empowers people with disabilities, and other life challenges to live safe, self- directed, and productive lives. Bridgewell delivers support through community housing, day programs, outpatient treatment, recovery services, education, and employment training. Bridgewell’s staff of more than 1,400 professionals serves approximately 6,300 people and their families annually.