Support Report
January 14, 2026
NeighborHealth: The Virtual Peer Support Network’s Pioneering Community Health Center
Left to right: Linda Kenney, Rebecca von Barta, Whitney Crebase
In spring 2025, the Betsy Lehman Center’s peer support team began partnering with NeighborHealth, a federally qualified community health center with multiple sites around greater Boston. In an effort to provide an extra resource of support for their staff, they began co-branding the Virtual Peer Support Network in June. This marks the first community health center in Massachusetts to join the Network.
Rebecca von Barta, Director of Clinical Compliance and Risk Management and a veteran employee at NeighborHealth, spearheaded the work to bring this resource to the entire staff. She successfully garnered support from all corners of the community health center and built an advisory committee to guide the rollout.
With help from the Betsy Lehman Center’s communications team, NeighborHealth launched a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the Virtual Peer Support Network. Emily Martin, NeighborHealth’s Director of Communications, worked alongside von Barta to explore every available channel to share the message with their staff. Some of these include:
- Formally presenting at managers and full staff meetings to disseminate information, show how to request support and allow for Q&A
- Embedding peer support into their safety reporting system (RL Datix) so individuals involved in reports could be notified of the Network when appropriate
- Using the co-branded digital signage as their main screensaver on all workstation computers across the organization
Digital signage used as screensavers on work station computers
In the fall, the Betsy Lehman Center’s peer support team joined NeighborHealth at two of their East Boston locations. While touring the facilities and talking with staff in multiple departments, it was clear that the message of the Network had spread widely and was well received. Several staff members said they understood and believed in the Network’s purpose and importance.
The Betsy Lehman Center is so grateful for NeighborHealth’s dedication and efforts to bring this resource to their community. Any organizations interested in joining the Virtual Peer Support Network can reach out to our team at Peer.Support@BetsyLehmanCenterMA.gov.