Ecu-Health Care Moving Back to Former North Adams Hospital Site

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ecu-Health Care, a nonprofit community organization that provides Northern Berkshire residents with information and application assistance to access state health insurance programs, has announced that it will relocate to the Northern Berkshire Campus of Berkshire Medical Center, effective Oct. 24.

Ecu-Health Care will occupy the second floor office it had used for many years prior to the closing of the former North Adams Regional Hospital at 71 Hospital Ave. The office is in the former Doctor’s Building, located between the Ambulatory Care Center and the Clark House.

Ecu-Health Care is currently located at 26 Union St. in North Adams. The office will be closed on Oct. 23 for the move, reopening on Oct. 24. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.


“Since the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital, Berkshire Health Systems has provided Ecu-Health Care with significant support, allowing us to quickly move to new quarters in early April, and BHS has consistently aided us in continuing our mission for the community,” said Charles “Chip” Joffe-Halpern, executive director of Ecu-Health Care. “We are grateful that we can now return to the office setting at the BMC Northern Berkshire Campus, and I thank Berkshire Health Systems for its support of our organization.”

“The services provided by Ecu-Health Care are crucial to the Northern Berkshire community,” said David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. “Access to health insurance and assistance in navigating the many options under the state health plans is an essential service, and Berkshire Health Systems is pleased to support Ecu-Health Care and the Northern Berkshire community.”

Ecu-Health Care is the designated outreach and enrollment site in Northern Berkshire for all of the Massachusetts health programs and also helps residents enroll in all supplemental programs associated with Medicare. The programs include: The new subsidized and unsubsidized Qualifed Health Plans implemented under national health reform, ConnectorCare, MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, the Children's Medical Security Plan, Medicare Part-D, Prescription Advantage for seniors and the disabled, Medicare premium assistance, reduced fee dental care, and all prescription assistance programs. For more information on Ecu-Health Care, call 413-663-8711.

 

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Mass MoCA Commission Approves Mental Health Practices as Tenants

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Mass MoCA Commission on Thursday approved three new tenants for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 
 
Kimma Stark, project manager at the museum, gave the commission the rundown on each of the new tenants. 
 
Eric Beeman is a licensed mental health counselor who uses art in his therapy. He holds a master's degree in expressive arts and arts therapy from Lesley University, where he's also taught graduate-level practices and principles of expressive art therapy.
 
He integrates creative arts based interventions into his clinical work including drawing painting, poetry, writing, brief drama and roleplay, movement and sound. Beeman works one-on-one and with small groups and said he mostly works with adults. 
 
He will be operating as Berkshires Expressive Arts Therapy on the third floor of Building 1. 
 
Beeman said Stark has been very helpful. "It's different than just renting a space and she's been very helpful and personable and accessible," he said. 
 
Mary Wilkes, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, works with individuals with severe mental illness, with attachment and relationship issues and needing support navigating major life transitions. She works with teenagers, college and students and adults. 
 
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