Two Northwest Center staffers leave as merger is announced


The Northwest Center for Family Service & Mental Health has announced that it will merge with Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA), a not-for-profit, community-oriented behavioral health organization based in New Britain.

Donna Campbell has also announced that she will step down as president and CEO of the center to become chief operating officer at the Village for Children and Families in Hartford, begining June 1. Bonnie Viens has resigned as psychiatrist and medical director.

When asked if her resignation had anything to do with the merger, Campbell replied, "Absolutely not. The merger is going extremely well. This is just an opportunity that surfaced. Whether we were going through the merger or not, I would have taken this opportunity."

Campbell said that the center began looking for a partner about a year ago.

"When I came up three years ago, we knew, because of the size of the agency, we had to grow quickly or we would have to look for a partner." She said that the rates of reimbursment for treatment made it difficult for the Northwest Center to survive on its own.

As a board member of the Connecticut Council for Family Service Agencies, Campbell became acquainted with Mark Muradian, executive director of Community Mental Health Affiliates. She had the opportunity to observe negotiations for a merger between CMHA and Family Services of Central Connecticut, a New Milford-based organization similar in size and scope to the Northwest Center. That merger is scheduled to be finalized on July 1.

In Campbell’s absence, Muradian will serve as interim president and CEO of Northwest Center until the merger is complete. Muradian said he hopes to finalize the merger by July 1, the beginning of each organization’s fiscal year, but must receive a waiver from the state of a full certificate of need process. If they do not receive the waiver, the merger may not happen until January 2008.

"The Northwest Center will keep its name and its staff and its clients," Campbell said. "It should be a seamless transition. It’s going to strengthen services here and I hope extend them."

Muradian agreed.

"From a program perspective, from a client care prospective, there will be minimal impact," he said.

CMHA employs 200 people and has an annual budget of $16 million. It is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organization. CMHA provides services to 2,200 children and adults in a dozen communities throughout Connecticut.

The Northwest Center is the only state-licensed mental health clinic serving all of Litchfield County, with sites in Lakeville, Torrington, New Milford and Winsted.

Viens could not be reached for comment. The center said a new psychiatrist will be hired within the next two weeks.

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