Founded in 1963, Riverbend Community Mental Health is driven by its mission: to offer individuals in their own community a full range of responsive and accessible mental health services. This vision promotes hopefulness and self-determination; marshals appropriate resources to provide carefully customized, personalized care; and cultivates partnerships with family, friends, employers, and other connections that can help support a fuller, more balanced life. We view our clients as partners in a process that promotes well-being and inspires an enhanced quality of life.

The community-based non-profit agency serves Merrimack County and surrounding communities, providing a full range of quality outpatient and residential services for individuals, families, and businesses. Riverbend's 300 employees served more than 6,000 people last year, including 1157 children, 861 adults with serious mental illness, and 1,307 adult emergency services visits.

We offer a broad array of home and community based services, always prioritizing those who are most in need. We are proud of our commitment to promoting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and the many partnerships that we have developed in serving children, adolescents, elders, and their families.

Riverbend programs include outpatient counseling services in Concord, Henniker, New London, and Franklin; 24-hour emergency mental health services; specialized services for children and families; the Parent-Child Centers parenting education and family support services; recovery-focused community support, vocational and residential services for adults with serious and persistent mental illness; a nine-bed acute care residence; elderly housing and senior mental health services; and an art studio and "Heart and Soul" shop (which sells client-produced art).

In 1999, Riverbend received the Business of the Year for Health Care from Business NH Magazine. The organization received three national awards in the year 2000. On April 18, 2000, the National Managed Health Care Congress and Eli Lilly and Company presented Riverbend with its annual Behavioral Health Care Leadership Award. Riverbend was recognized for seeking new opportunities and adapting to change.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care gave Riverbend both its Year 2000 Effective, Efficient Provider Organization Award and its Special Programs - Older Adults Award. These awards were presented on April 30 in Washington, DC. Riverbend was cited for its forward-looking leadership in collaborative initiatives, including the new community dental clinic for low-income citizens at Concord Hospital, and the alliance of twenty-three health and human services organizations through the Community Provider Network of Central NH. Riverbend is also at the forefront of integrating technology to achieve its mission and enhance utilization management.

The NCCBH Special Projects award was given for a specific program, the Elders Wrap Around Team. The Riverbend Elders Program was the lead agency in the creation of the Elders Wrap Around Team, a community-based effort that includes representatives of 52 agencies, consumers, families and partners. Without coordination, vulnerable clients can "slip through the cracks," putting them at a higher risk for crisis.