HCN News & Notes

Behavioral Health Network Named Among Top Places to Work in Massachusetts

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been named one of the 2024 Top Places to Work in Massachusetts in the 17th annual employee-based survey from the Boston Globe. BHN has earned this designation for three consecutive years and is ranked tenth on the list of 25 companies in the largest-company category (1,000 employees or more).

BHN was also awarded recognition as a 2024 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Champion, which recognizes a commitment shared throughout all levels of the organization to prioritizing a welcoming and inclusive culture, no matter one’s background. Only 26 of the Top Places to Work in all categories qualified for this distinction.

Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them best — their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay, benefits, and engagement.

“We are honored to be nominated for the Top Workplace Award for the third consecutive year and to be recognized for our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Steve Winn, president and CEO. “At BHN, our focus on social justice, high-quality care, and staff well-being is strong. This recognition reinforces that our efforts are making a difference, and it motivates us to continue this important work for our staff to feel valued, respected, and appreciated. We are grateful to our staff for their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.”

BHN employs more than 2,500 employees across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Berkshire, and Suffolk counties. The organization serves 38,000 individuals annually with life challenges due to mental illness, substance-use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

BHN offers comprehensive benefits for its employees and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, seeking to eliminate social and economic inequities. In 2022, BHN launched the Katherine B. Wilson Staff Excellence Fund, which supports the career development of its workforce by providing funds for license preparation courses and fees, forgivable loans for tuition costs, community-college courses and certificate programs, and online and live trainings. This fund also supports ancillary costs to professional development, including books and materials, childcare, and transportation necessary to engage in education and career advancement.

BHN aims to break down barriers to advancement and foster a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity, allowing the organization to attract and retain more diverse staff. By creating a more representative workforce which better reflects the communities BHN serves, the organization is able to better meet the needs and expectations of its diverse stakeholders.