Brien Center Promotes Adult Community Clinical Supports Division Director

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services announced the promotion of Meri-Ellen Morgans, MSW, to Division Director of the Adult Community Clinical Supports (ACCS) Program. 
 
With more than 30 years of experience in clinical social work and mental health administration, Morgans brings leadership, expertise, and compassion to this role.
 
As Division Director, Morgans oversees an array of recovery-focused programs designed to support adults with significant mental health challenges across Berkshire County. She leads multidisciplinary teams, guides clinical best practices, and ensures compliance with state standards while fostering collaboration with partners, including the Department of Mental Health and Berkshire Medical Center.
 
"Meri-Ellen has long been a pillar of our clinical team," said Paul Hickling, Senior Vice President, Service Operations at the Brien Center. "Her promotion reflects her deep commitment to client-centered care, staff development, and the mission of our agency."
 
In addition to her full-time leadership responsibilities, Morgans serves as a Medical Social Worker (per diem) with HospiceCare of the Berkshires, where she provides end-of-life information and grief support, including leading holiday bereavement groups for families navigating loss.
 
Morgans is also a long-time Adjunct Field Instructor, having mentored social work interns from institutions such as SUNY Albany, Boston College, Simmons College, Smith College, Westfield State University, Boston University, and the University of New England.
 
Morgans previously held roles at the Brien Center, including Assistant Division Director, Program Director, Program Manager, and Program Supervisor. She also served as Interim Division Director of Community Services, where she oversaw multiple clinical programs and helped prepare the agency for key regulatory reviews.
 
She holds a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University and a Bachelor of Science from Pace University.
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Pittsfield's Ward 2 Councilor Petitions to Explore Police Station at Morningside

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham wants the city to explore turning Morningside Community School, which will not reopen in the fall, into a police station. 

He announced on social media that he will file a petition requesting the city to study converting the Morningside Community School building into a new Pittsfield Police Department headquarters and community resource hub.

"Morningside families deserve to feel comfortable and safe in their neighborhood. Converting the building into a police headquarters at 100 Burbank Street could put an integrated, visible public safety presence in the heart of a neighborhood that has asked for an end to this pattern of violence, he wrote. 

"Combined with youth programming, violence prevention resources, and community services in the same building, this is the kind of structural change that Morningside needs. The building must not be allowed to sit vacant deteriorating. It's time to use it to make Morningside safer. 

Cunningham's petition, which he posted, asks that Pittsfield conduct a feasibility study on the proposal, considering at minimum, considering the building's physical condition and cost of necessary rehabilitation, an estimated cost of relocating the Pittsfield Police Department, opportunities for the co-location of community services, available funding mechanisms to offset costs, and a recommended timeline. 

The pattern of violence references a deadly shooting near Morningside last week. 

Police are seeking an "armed and dangerous suspect," identified as Terry Martizna, for the murder of 29-year-old Pittsfield resident Justin Crawford.

Crawford was one of two individuals who were shot on Thursday, June 18, near the intersection of Pleasure Avenue and Tyler Street in Pittsfield. The second person, who has not been identified, was treated for a non-life-threatening injury at Berkshire Medical Center.

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