Woods System of Care and Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services Announce Plan to Affiliate

June 29, 2023

The partnership will increase access to behavioral health services for individuals in New Jersey and boost access to services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

Woods Services, Inc. and Woods Resources, Inc. (Woods System of Care) and Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services (Bridgeway) are pleased to announce their intent to affiliate. The proposed affiliation has been approved by the organizations’ boards and is subject to approval by New Jersey regulatory agencies. When approved, Woods System of Care will employ 6,500 people and serve close to 27,000 individuals.

The Woods System of Care is headquartered in Langhorne, Pa., with 10 affiliates and joint ventures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that provide lifetime integrated services for more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and /or mental health challenges who may also have complex medical and genetic conditions. Services include mental and physical healthcare, education, housing and residential treatment, and workforce development.

Bridgeway, headquartered in Union, New Jersey, serves more than 4,000 people each year in crisis intervention programs and psychiatric screening in 10 counties in northern New Jersey.

Upon approval of the affiliation, Bridgeway will join Woods’ three other New Jersey affiliates — Legacy Treatment Services, Allies, Inc., and Archway Programs — in plans to enhance and expand behavioral health services in northern New Jersey, adding to the coverage Legacy provides in central and southern New Jersey.

“Woods and Bridgeway have explored an affiliation over the past several years. We are pleased today to announce that with the approval of our boards, we are a step closer to partnering to expand programs significantly over the coming years to serve individuals with behavioral healthcare needs in New Jersey,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, president & CEO, Woods Services, Woods Resources, and Woods System of Care.

“Bridgeway’s collaboration enables us to work together to serve even more individuals who seek behavioral healthcare services,” added Cory Storch, president and CEO of Bridgeway.

Through this affiliation, the organizations will be able to serve thousands of additional people. It will allow both organizations to create new programs and expand existing ones. Bridgeway will benefit from the back-office and shared services capacity of Woods System of Care as well as Woods’ strategic, operational, legal, and programmatic guidance. Woods, in turn, will expand its footprint across all of New Jersey, grow its behavioral health and IDD/A programs, and gain expertise from Bridgeway’s staff and leadership.

“The skills and expertise of Bridgeway’s leadership complement Woods’ leadership, which will greatly enhance the capacity of the system as a whole,” said Bridgeway’s board chairperson and treasurer, Joseph Perez. There is enormous potential for growth.

“Our organizations and organizational cultures are aligned, which strengthens our ability to provide much-needed, person-centered care to an underserved population,” said Barry Sharer, Woods Services board chair.

The organizations anticipate receiving regulatory approval within the next several months and will quickly formalize the affiliation afterward.

2023 Woods Golf Classic

June 6, 2023

Join us at the

Union League Golf Club at Torresdale

Monday, October 2, 2023

3801 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19114

Calendar Invite

Directions | Course information | Woods website | A look back at the 2022 classic

New Course. New Date.

Woods Golf Classic is back again, so save the date to tee off and support Woods Services! Every swing counts toward making a difference in the quality of life for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism served by Woods.

Questions?

Please email:

Diana Martinelli

diana.martinelli@woods.org

215-809-8628

Woods System of Care’s Three Outpatient Healthcare Centers in Langhorne, Pa. Welcome Patients for Primary, Dental, and Behavioral Healthcare

May 18, 2023

Woods Healthcare Opens to the Community, Providing Exceptional Outpatient Health and Behavioral Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Autism, and Emotional and Behavioral Challenges

Woods System of Care, a network of healthcare organizations located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that ensures lifelong support to individuals with disabilities, has launched Woods Healthcare to offer world-class outpatient health and behavioral care for children, adolescents, and adults in the community with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges. Woods Healthcare includes three outpatient healthcare centers – The Center for Behavioral Health at Woods, The Medical Center at Woods, and Penn Dental Medicine at Woods Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center – which are now open to the community. The three centers are located on the Bucks County site of Woods Services at 10 Meadowood Drive in Langhorne, Pa. Community members can now make appointments by calling 215-750-4004 and learn more at www.woodshealthcare.org.

“With the launch of Woods Healthcare, we are building on a long tradition of experience and service to our community,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, president and CEO of Woods System of Care and Woods Services. “For more than a century, Woods has been a leader in providing comprehensive lifelong care to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges at Woods. Our industry-leading specialists know how to break down the barriers that stand in the way of quality care for people with disabilities,” she said. “Now, with Woods Healthcare, we are expanding our services to support the community by providing individuals with disabilities access to world-class comprehensive primary care, dental care, and behavioral healthcare throughout their lifetime.”

The Center for Behavioral Health at Woods specializes in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges achieve their highest potential and independence. With a wellness team that includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, nurse navigators, counselors, and family therapists, The Center for Behavioral Health at Woods provides outpatient services for individuals ages six years through adults and seniors, including: intake, psychiatric, and diagnostics assessments; medication review and coordination; complex condition nurse navigation; and extended therapy. The Center for Behavioral Health at Woods also evaluates children ages 12 months through adolescents aged 18 years for autism spectrum disorder, making diagnoses and treatment recommendations. Sailaja Musunuri, MD, executive vice president of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry, oversees integrated healthcare at Woods and across the Woods System of Care, including the new Center for Behavioral Health at Woods.

The Medical Center at Woods, which is led by Dr. Stephen J. Kolesk, chief medical officer/vice president for Medical Affairs and Managed Care at Woods, provides primary care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges. The Medical Center offers outpatient services for individuals ages six through adults and seniors. The Medical Center at Woods serves as a national model for providing comprehensive, coordinated personalized care for people with complex diagnoses and medical conditions. In April 2023, the Medical Center at Woods was awarded Recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home Program (www.ncqa.org).

Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center is a state-of-the-art dental care center providing enhanced and leading-edge dental treatment for individuals of all ages. Woods partnered with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, one of the leading dental schools in the United States, to develop the dental program, and Dr. Marc Henschel, director of Penn Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, oversees the new center. The Woods facility includes five treatment rooms with advanced equipment, quiet space for those needing a lower-stimulation environment, a waiting area and reception check-in, and conference room. In addition to meeting the dental care needs of individuals with disabilities, Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center is helping prepare the next generation of dentists to care for patients with disabilities.

“We launched the Medical Center at Woods in June 2018, to provide a patient-centered medical home for the clients we serve and our Woods employees,” Hansen-Turton said. “We added Penn Dental Medicine at Woods in February 2023, followed by The Center for Behavioral Health in March. Now, we are opening these centers to the community, providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges with needed services in close proximity to their homes,” she said.

Start-up funding of $500,000 for The Center for Behavioral Health was awarded to Woods by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick through a Community Project Funding grant. The project was supported by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and selected because it will bridge the gap in mental health services in Bucks County. Penn Dental Medicine at Woods Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center renovations and operational expenses were made possible through generous donations from foundations and individuals. Woods Services is grateful to the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation for supporting start-up operational expenses and to the Joseph and Mary Faulkner Family Foundation, Eamon Foundation, The McLean Contributionship, TD Charitable Foundation, and Simon and Lisa Kimmelman for supporting the renovations, and Penn Community Foundation for funding operations. The waiting room renovation was made possible by the Joseph and Mary Faulkner Family Foundation.

In early 2024, the three new Woods Healthcare centers will be joined by a primary care center to serve individuals in N.J. In April 2023, RWJBarnabas Health, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and Woods Services announced they joined forces to establish the very first integrated primary and behavioral health care center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism in New Jersey. The Governor and the New Jersey Legislature recognized the critical need for I/DD services by supporting a grant of $800,000 toward the start-up costs for the initiative. The world-class center is expected to open to families and individuals in early 2024 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The Center will serve individuals who live in the central New Jersey region, with future plans to expand services to other areas of the state.

Woods is organized around the principles of population health management and addresses the social determinants of health through a comprehensive continuum and system of care that connects prevention, wellness, education, behavioral health, and social services with coordinated and integrated healthcare delivery.

For more information about Woods Healthcare or to schedule an appointment at one of its three outpatient centers, call 215-750-4004.

About Woods Services

Woods Services is a nonprofit organization that supports children, adolescents, and adults with complex medical and behavioral health care needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, achieve their highest potential and independence through innovative and individualized approaches that promote learning and personal fulfillment. Woods’ vision is a world where individuals have opportunities and supports that promote self-determination, dignity, respect, the joy of achievement, and a fulfilling life. Woods achieves this vision by providing comprehensive and integrated health, education, housing, workforce development, behavioral health, and case management services, along with a population health management strategy that includes the integration of primary and specialty medical care with behavioral health. More than 600 individuals from 23 states and 175 school districts are supported by Woods and its 1,400 staff at its Langhorne, Pennsylvania headquarters.

To ensure lifelong care and supports for the individuals its serves, Woods created the Woods System of Care – a $400 million organization with 10 affiliates and joint ventures that provide a full range of lifetime integrated services that include mental and physical healthcare, education, housing and residential treatment and workforce development for an estimated 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and /or mental health challenges who may also have complex medical and genetic conditions.

Founded in 1913 by Philadelphia schoolteacher Mollie Woods to advance the quality of life and standard of care for individuals with disabilities, Woods continues this mission today. For more information, visit woods.org.

About University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Founded in 1878, the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) ranks among the nation’s leaders in oral health education, research, and patient care. The School’s educational programs include: a four-year DMD program; postgraduate study in all the major clinical specialties as well as general dentistry; advanced graduate degree programs, including Doctor of Science in Dentistry, Master of Science in Oral Biology, Master of Advanced Dental Studies, and Master of Oral Health Science; and the Program for Advanced Standing Students in which foreign-trained dentists earn a DMD. As one of 12 schools within the larger urban campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Dental Medicine is uniquely positioned to provide a depth of opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research across other professional disciplines. The School is a major provider of oral health care for the Philadelphia community, serving approximately 31,000 patients each year in its care centers and Penn Dental Family Practice, while students also provide nearly 65,300 hours of clinical care in the community each year.

Woods Services, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care Partner to Open the First New Jersey–based Integrated Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care Center for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Autism

April 18, 2023

New Jersey’s largest provider of I/DD services joins the state’s largest hospital system to dramatically improve access to care for an underserved population

RWJBarnabas Health, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and Woods Services, are joining forces to establish the very first integrated primary and behavioral health care center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and autism in New Jersey.

The Governor and the New Jersey Legislature recognized the critical need for I/DD services by supporting a grant of $800,000 toward the startup costs for the initiative. The world-class center is expected to open to families and individuals in early 2024 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The Center will serve individuals who live in the central New Jersey region, with future plans to expand services to other areas of the state.

By providing equitable access to primary, specialty, and behavioral health services, this Center will improve health outcomes and reduce the overall costs of care for children and adults with I/DD and autism, and related behavioral and medical conditions, many of whom currently face a severe lack of services.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities traditionally have poor health outcomes and a life expectancy that is nearly 20 years below that of the general population. Many have multiple severe conditions that require highly specialized services and careful care coordination across medical, social, and community services. Communication barriers, mobility issues, and severe mental or behavior concerns make care needs complex and difficult to access, creating significant health inequities. Furthermore, there is an extreme shortage of providers who can or will work with this complex population of largely Medicaid recipients, in part because of the need for longer office visits and specialized skills, lack of accessible medical offices, and low reimbursement rates. As a result, gaps in care are common and people in this population experience significant disparities in access to care and health outcomes.

This Center will address and overcome these barriers by providing innovative, comprehensive, and coordinated care across primary, specialty, and behavioral health settings. Patients of the center may receive comprehensive medical and behavioral services onsite or through outpatient telehealth and in-home visits. The addition of telehealth will extend the program’s reach and remove barriers to care that are unique to the I/DD and autistic populations.

“We are excited to partner with RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care to bring Woods’ highly successful and leading edge Patient-Centered Primary Care Model to New Jersey,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, Woods President and CEO. “Through the Medical Center at Woods, our model has shown that providing integrated primary care and behavioral healthcare can increase both access to and quality of care and, at the same time, lower overall Medicaid and Medicare cost of care by at least 20% by decreasing emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalization.”

“This new partnership highlights our shared commitment to increasing the capacity of existing primary care and behavioral health providers serving individuals with I/DD, ensuring that these patients receive the attention and specialized care they deserve,” said Frank A. Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Addictions services at RWJBarnabas Health and President and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health. “Building a robust program of experts and a network of providers dedicated to caring for the I/DD population is a major step forward in addressing the gaps in care that these patients face all too often.”

About Woods Services and System of Care

Woods Services is a nonprofit, life cycle care management and advocacy organization that, along with six affiliate organizations located in Pennsylvania and New has formed a System of Care which provides innovative, comprehensive, and integrated health, education, housing, workforce, behavioral health, and case management services to more than 22,000 children and adults in the intellectual and developmental disability, mental health public health sectors who have complex and intensive medical and behavioral healthcare needs. For more information, visit woods.org.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 38,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

About Rutgers University Behavioral Care

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (RUBHC) provides a myriad of programs to address behavioral and physical health with individuals, families and communities throughout their lifespan. Services include all levels of care, such as inpatient, outpatient, community-based programs, integrated physical and behavioral health and 24-hour national peer help lines. RUBHC is dedicated to advancing science through programmatic research and educating the current and next generation of health care professionals.

Woods Services Honored with the Aramark Building Community Organizational Leadership Award

February 24, 2020

Woods Services was awarded the 2019 Aramark Building Community Organizational Leadership Award, in recognition of our efforts to provide innovative, comprehensive, and integrated health and case management services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and complex behavioral and medical challenges. Woods Services, as the umbrella organization for a network of care, takes a population health management approach to addressing the social determinants of health through a comprehensive continuum and system of care that connects prevention, wellness, education, behavioral health, and social services with coordinated and integrated healthcare delivery. The award is accompanied by a $20,000 grant from Aramark.

The Aramark Building Community Organizational Leadership Award honors exceptional high-impact organizations that are driving a culture of population health and well-being within their community. The award is presented annually by Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global leader in food, facilities and uniforms; and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, a strategic action network of thousands of committed social services professionals. This year’s award was announced at the Alliance’s annual Senior Leadership Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

ARAMARK AND THE ALLIANCE’S REMARKS ON WOODS’ AWARD

“We are proud to recognize Woods Services with the Aramark Building Community Organizational Leadership Award,” said Karen Cutler, vice president of communications & public affairs at Aramark. “Woods Services is dedicated to bettering the lives of thousands of children and adults of all abilities every day, a commitment we share and commend.”

“The Alliance is proud to partner with Aramark in honoring Woods Services for its innovative approach to systems change, scaling evidence-based approaches, and engaging partners across the ecosystem of government, regional, and local communities, particularly with a focus on special populations requiring complex care,” noted Susan N. Dreyfus, president and CEO of the Alliance. “Their work is leading by example and having an impact across the sector as more organizations recognize the efficacy and impact of a public health approach.”

A HISTORY OF WOODS AND OUR CURRENT POPULATION HEALTH APPROACH

Founded more than 100 years ago, Woods is comprised of six organizations and operates as a continuum of care across two states, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, collectively serving more than 22,000 children, adolescents, and adults and employing a team of 6,000 individuals who provide critical services and significant supports. Over the past three years, Woods has built capacity and evolved our model to address population health comprehensively for both the individuals it serves and our employees. This was accomplished through a variety of initiatives including the transformation of clinical services for children, adoption of a trauma-informed de-escalation and crisis intervention program, implementation of education and career pathways for employees, and the integration of a Patient-Centered Medical Home approach with the opening of the on-site Medical Center at Woods.

In addition, Woods has solidified our continuum of care across our network to become one of the largest group home providers in the eastern region of Pennsylvania serving young adults, which helps to ensure a natural continuation of services for those who graduate from the Woods Schools and residential programs into adult services. Similarly, Woods is building capacity in New Jersey through our family of services to be able to alleviate the pressure on the adult system of care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, several thousand of whom are on a waiting list for residential care. New specialized homes for people who are medically fragile or have psychiatric disorders or intellectual disabilities are under development. Woods and our leadership have also been driving the conversation on population health for people with intellectual disabilities and complex behavior and medical challenges on a regional and national level, as an approach which will successfully address the disparities in access to care, health outcomes, and cost that this complex population represents.

“Woods and our affiliates, Allies, Inc., Archway Programs, Woods Community at Brian’s House, Legacy Treatment Services, and Tabor Services, are so honored to be recognized by Aramark and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities for our efforts to transform the delivery of comprehensive, lifelong medical care and behavioral and educational supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live their lives safely and to their fullest potential,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods Services. “We see it as our responsibility to be disruptors and to redefine the ways in which services are connected and delivered for our clients while also supporting and advocating for the professional development and economic advancement of our employee population,” she said.

THE GOALS OF ARAMARK AND THE ALLIANCE

For more than a decade, Aramark and the Alliance have partnered to help communities thrive by bringing resources to the local level and cultivating strong relationships. Aramark’s global volunteer and philanthropic program, Aramark Building Community, enriches and nourishes lives by partnering with local community centers and sharing resources to inspire families to lead healthy lifestyles and help people succeed through education and employment. Since its establishment in 2008, Aramark Building Community has impacted more than 5 million families and children in 19 countries.

Aramark’s commitment to people is a core part of the company’s sustainability plan, Be Well. Do Well., focused on positively impacting people and the planet. Aramark’s people priority is to facilitate access to opportunities that will improve the well-being of the Company’s employees, consumers, communities and people in its supply chain. Building on current work, Aramark continues to help people develop careers and livelihoods; access, choose and prepare healthy food; and grow communities, businesses and local economies.

Learn more about Woods Services and our model of care by watching the award video above.

ABOUT ARAMARK

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 280,000 team members deliver innovative experiences and services in food, facilities management and uniforms to millions of people every day. We strive to create a better world by making a positive impact on people and the planet, including commitments to engage our employees; empower healthy consumers; build local communities; source ethically, inclusively and responsibly; operate efficiently and reduce waste. Aramark is recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Human Rights Campaign (LGBTQ+), DiversityInc, Black Enterprise and the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR STRONG FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities is a strategic action network of thousands of committed social sector leaders who through their excellence, distinction, and influence are working to achieve a healthy and equitable society. We aggregate the very best sector knowledge and serve as an incubator for learning and innovation to generate new solutions to the toughest problems. We accelerate change through dynamic leadership development and collective actions to ensure policies and systems provide equal access and opportunity for all people in our nation to reach their fullest potential through improvements in health and well-being, educational success, economic opportunity, and safety and security. Go to alliance1.org for more information.