About the DCC
The Division of Community Care (DCC) is dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of the Northampton community, meeting people where they are and ensuring that our responses are timely and effective. The DCC offers a comprehensive array of services tailored to meet the unique circumstances of each person. Our on-the-ground support and connections to essential long-term resources such as housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and legal aid reflect our commitment to fostering well-being and stability within the community.
For more information about the DCC's community impact and engagement, read the 2024 Impact Report.
Our Services and What We Offer
The Division of Community Care (DCC) responds to calls for those experiencing emotional distress, conflict, challenges meeting basic needs, houselessness, substance use concerns, and other difficulties. The DCC works to reduce the disparities and risks individuals face, promoting equitable health outcomes across the Northampton community. These efforts aim to minimize intersections with the criminal justice system, address gaps in care, and alleviate burdens on healthcare and emergency department capacities.
The DCC receives non-violent, non-medical referrals from Northampton Public Safety Dispatch in addition to calls from community members, local businesses, and partner organizations.
Our team collaborates across all six divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure holistic care and a seamless continuum of support. These divisions include:
Additionally, DHHS facilitates community education programs, outreach initiatives, and prevention strategies to address and mitigate the root causes of crises, ensuring a proactive approach to community well-being.
The DCC also operates a welcoming community space where people can access essential services and connect with others in a supportive environment.
Partnerships
The DCC is proud to work in partnership with many other dedicated organizations in support of community members. Following are some of our key partners:
MANNA Community Kitchen offers prepared gourmet community meals four days a week. MANNA Community Center is a place people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity can go to access everyday necessities.
Clinical & Support Options (CSO) offers behavioral health and family support services, emergency and crisis stabilization services, and housing and homelessness resources, including emergency shelters, in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties.
Craig's Doors is a human services organization that provides vulnerable and unhoused members of our community with emergency shelter, food, and safety, as well as access to the resources they need to achieve physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
Eliot Community Human Services
Eliot Community Human Services (Eliot) is committed to serving the most vulnerable of populations. Eliot offers care coordination and child, youth, and family support services, as well as services for adults that include behavioral health, counseling and psychiatric services, homeless services, and developmental disability and brain injury programming.
Community Legal Aid (CLA) provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. CLA practice areas including housign and homelessness, employment and government benefits, family law and domestic abuse, elder law, veterans services, education law, and CORI/re-renty.
https://www.tapestryhealth.org/
Tapestry Health provides comprehensive community-based healthcare for adults, teens and children. Services include sexual reproductive health, harm reduction, community education, and food access and family nutrition.
Hilltown Community Health Center
Hilltown Community Health Center (HCHC) provides accessible, affordable healthcare services to ensure the health of all Hilltown residents. HCHC offers a range of community programs and services to connect patients and their families to resources, education, and assistance.