At FFIMI, we know how vital family and community connections are for our loved ones who are incarcerated. These relationships provide emotional support, promote well-being, and are essential to rehabilitation and successful re-entry. Yet, restrictive visitation policies in Massachusetts prisons and jails continue to create unnecessary barriers that keep families apart. That’s why we are… Continue reading Keep Families Connected Coalition: Support Legislation to Improve Visitation Policies
Another scathing report about Bridgewater State Hospital Disabiltiy Law Center just released their Feb. 6, 2025 report and the conditions at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) have NOT improved. The report states: "The Commonwealth must stop waiting for change that will never come and protect BSH Persons Served (PS), a population widely recognized as including individuals… Continue reading Disability Law Center Finds Unlawful, Violent Practices and Unsafe Environmental Conditions Persist at Bridgewater State Hospital
Massachusetts must stop mistreatment of people with mental illness Reposted from CommonWealth Beacon May, 13, 2024 by Summer Maxwell The report released in March condemning Bridgewater State Hospital —Massachusetts’s state psychiatric facility — felt more like a broken record than a revelation. The 87-page document outlined issues that have plagued the facility for years, including… Continue reading It’s past time to move Bridgewater State Hospital out of the Department of Correction
Why BSH Need to be Moved to the Department of Mental Health Hear Our Voices is a dramatic portrayal inspired by the real-life experiences of individuals residing at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) in Massachusetts. Crafted by an author intimately familiar with BSH and informed by the accounts of individuals with serious mental illness who have… Continue reading Hear our Voices
Exciting. Exhilarating. Energizing. This is the enthusiastic response of Sheriff Donna Buckley, the first female sheriff ever elected to Barnstable County, describing her mission to serve the community, families, and incarcerated individuals. She also carries a sense of solemn responsibility with a forward-thinking vision and a strong determination to ‘get it done’. Her goals are… Continue reading A Mission of Hope
Two significant bills are currently progressing through the Massachusetts legislative process, and we implore you to extend your support. These bills are essential for transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health, ensuring appropriate care for individuals in need of mental health services. FFIMI stands… Continue reading Your crucial support is needed to advocate for transferring Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health, where it rightfully belongs
Cross-posted from the Falmouth Patch June 28th, 2023 FFIMI applauds Sheriff Donna Buckley's decision to not renew Wellpath's healthcare contract to provide healthcare at Barnstable County Correctional Facility in the fall. "Our inmates come to us with significant mental and physical health challenges, so healthcare has to be a priority," said Buckley. "They will be… Continue reading Barnstable County Sheriff Moves To In-House Medical, Mental Health Staff
Reflections after first 6 months in prison - by Ben W. I feel just a real sense of security, maybe, like a strength of self and of purpose, when I reconnect with and talk to my friends from before prison. I always forget this, though. It's like, in this land of insanity, they can remind… Continue reading staying grounded…in the noise
By Kelli South of Treatment Advocacy CenterCo-response teams involving both police officers and mental health providers are becoming more widely used for response to crisis calls involving people with mental illnesses. As these programs grow in popularity across the United States, there is not yet a large amount of research available proving the efficacy of such crisis response… Continue reading From Treatment Advocacy Center: Co-Responding Police and Mental Health Team Reduces Likelihood of Arrest
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 