Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 1, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 13 Helping the Whole Person Mental health Behavioral Health Arts & Culture Housing Opportunities Wellness Relationships Recovery Employment Education Learn more about the Open Sky Approach at openskycs.org/about-us 724 Main Street, Holden MA 01520 Phone: (508) 829-5566 HoldenHearingAid.com/audiologist HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEARING EVALUATION? Matthew Moreno, AuD.,CCC-A, Doctor of Audiology • Hearing Aids • Batteries & Accessories • Assistive Listening Devices • Amplified Phones • Hearing Evaluations • Wax Removal • Hearing Protection • Musician's Ear Plugs • Swim Plugs Our goal is to improve the lives of people with hearing loss through better hearing and quality hearing care services. We offer comprehensive hearing care services including complete hearing evaluations, hearing loss rehabilitation, education and counseling. H E A LT H C A R E F O C U S Dianne Walsh Vice president of clinical services & director of the Center for Behavioral Health RFK Community Alliance, in Lancaster Education: Master's degree in social work from Salem State University; bachelor's degree from University of Vermont, licensed independent clinical social worker What are the best and worst aspects of working in health care? Best: Supporting people on their journey to healing. Worst: Lack of respect by in- surance companies, resulting in second guessing our judgement and lower pay for staff doing lifesaving work. Mental Health Provider of the Year Walsh led the effort to transition RFK's group practice into a licensed clinic, which will be licensed and overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. As is, all clinicians at the organization's group practice must be individually li- censed, meaning the practice can't take on interns, those completing practice hours to sit for their licensing exams, or those who are not licensed independently. Becoming a licensed clinic will mean RFK can utilize those willing and able employees to help meet the mounting mental health crisis and staffing shortage facing the region. "We'll be benefiting the entire field," said Naomi Reville LeBlanc, RFK's asso- ciate vice president of strategic commu- nications. "Some of them will inevitably move on to other places, but we're also benefiting the North Central region where people can access us." While the practice hasn't needed to do much to ensure its policies and proce- dures are in line with the DPH, Walsh has still had considerable work to do to align its processes with the state agency's requirements, including those related to intake, referrals, grievances, performanc- es, and assessments. Furthermore, the practice's building had to become Americans with Disabili- ties Act-compliant, which was completed in March. RFK submitted its application to DPH on Oct. 8. "Diane sets the tone for the level of therapeutic work that we do and the level which we're willing to go to," said Mills. W

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