NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The head of Northern Berkshire United Way said her experiences are a testament to its good work in the region.

 

"Northern Berkshire United Way unites people, resources and member agencies to improve lives and build a stronger community," said Executive Director Patti Messina at the nonprofit's campaign kickoff on Wednesday. "Being a part of Northern Berkshire United Way for the past seven years is personal for me.

 

"I've said it before, but it bears repeating."

 

Her brother receives services from Berkshire Family and Individual Resources; Berkshire Community Action Council was "my saving grace" in raising three children after a divorce; Elder Services has stepped in to help when her parents were ill. 

 

"Then came a certain age where I needed to get assistance from Ecu-Healthcare to navigate through the Medicare system. And yes, I'm that age," she laughed. "This is how I'm giving back. This is why I'm in this role. This is why I'm part of Northern Berkshire United Way." 

 

The international United Way has been around for 135 years. Locally, Berkshire United Way marked 100 years last week and NBUW is not far behind at 88. 

 

The crowd at 3 West at the Norad Mill were gathered to do some business, hear about the work being done by some of the 20 member agencies, and set a fundraising goal for next year of $475,000. Christine and Peter Hoyt will be campaign chairs for a second year. 

 

This past year's drive raised more than $450,000 in corporate gifts, individual donations, grants and workplace campaigns. Anywhere from 75 percent to 78 percent will go directly to member agencies like Ecu-Healthcare and Berkshire County Kids' Place, which gave the meeting an overview of the work they're doing. 

 

The nonprofit also provides funding toward such programs as the Summer Step Up program in the North Berkshire School Union and collaborates with other charities to provide more than 200 bags of groceries to local elders and more than 500 winter coats to North County schoolchildren. 

 

Heather Williamson, director of Berkshire County Kids' Place, said Northern Berkshire United Way has supported Kids' Place for many years, and it has been instrumental in advancing the mission of our agency, and we are deeply grateful."

 

Kids' Place works with children and families affected by abuse and is one of the state's 12 accredited children's advocacy centers. It collaborates with local law enforcement and the District Attorney's office as well as the Department of Children and Families, and partners with organizations such as the Elizabeth Freeman Center. 

 

"We reduce the trauma children experience during the investigation process and ensure that they do not have to repeat their story over and over and over again," Williamson said. "Instead, a single forensic interview is conducted to gather the information each partner needs. Our work doesn't stop with the investigation. Kids Place offers comprehensive services, all at no cost to families."

 

Since July, the agency has received 31 referrals and conducted 23 forensic interviews, she said. "These are real numbers, representing real children, real lives forever changed by abuse, at Kids' Place. We are committed to helping them rebuild their futures." 

 

April Slater Roche, a licensed social worker and clinical coordinator, said Kids' Place uses a specialized treatment model to help children and families build coping skills to better understand what has happened and how it is not their fault, and to move forward in a positive way. The agency has satellite offices in Great Barrington and North Adams, at 37 Main St., in addition to headquarters in Pittsfield. 

 

Karen Baumbach, executive director of Ecu-Health Care since 2015, also thanked the NBUW team for its program support.

 

"We are a health-care access program whose mission is to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of North Berkshire gain access to health coverage," she said, explaining it began in 1995 as a voluntary program in which physicians offered services on a sliding scale. It had more than 500 physician members at one point and later began to transition clients into insurance programs as Medicaid expanded, then to Commonwealth Care and finally the Affordable Care Act.

 

"Ecu-Healthcare's own voluntary position physician program, which started back in 1995, was the true original model of health reform, and it began right here in North Berkshire," Baumbach said. "Today, Ecu-Healthcare has become the designated Outreach and Enrollment Center in North Berkshire, providing outreach education, application and enrollment assistance to all area residents."

 

The agency has five certified navigators for the Massachusetts Health Connector and three SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors to help with understanding Medicare changes. One example she gavie was of a couple paying $174.40 a month each for their Medicare Part B, but also $195.96 apiece for supplemental and $110 a month for a drug plan premium. A counselor was able to walk them through the new program that allowed them to discontinue their supplemental, pick up costs of their Part B and reduce their prescription plan to zero. The couple saved $850 a month. 

 

Ecu-Healthcare sent out 386 letter to Medicare beneficiaries during open enrollment last fall; reviewed the 248 respondents, and made plan chages for 121 resulting in cumulative savings of more than $215,000. Additionally, it enrolled 480 individuals into a MassHealth program and 216 into the Health Connector, assisted 397 individuals with Medicare Prescription plans, 283 individuals with dental coverage and 740 to make updates to their health insurance coverage.

 

"We continue to work closely with Berkshire Health System and North Adams Regional Hospital to provide direct outreach to uninsured members of our community utilizing their services and have been identified as uninsured in an effort to assist them with applying for in the mailing into any and all public programs that they may be eligible for," Baumbach said. "Additionally, we maintain a close working relationship with local medical groups, employers and other local health and human service agencies." 

 

The business portion of the meeting, board President Kelly McCarthy called for a vote of officers for next year, with her returning as president, Tyler Bissaillon as vice president, Marissa Kirchner clerk, Tracy Sheering VP of finance, Stacy Parsons VP of allocations, Leah Thompson VP of community needs, McCarthy as interim VP of board development, and Thomas Rumboldt as past president. Returning directors Peter Mirante, Iris Moresi, Celia Norcross and Erik Ray are joined by newcomers Laura Baran, Jake Dabrowski, Randy Kinnas, Doreen Meczywor and Kimma Stark. 

 

Departing members Christopher Barbarotta, Sharon DeMyer-Nemser, Jennifer Meehan, Yvette Stoddard, Ellen Sutherland, Colleen Taylor and Rich Weisenflue were thanked for their service.