Community Health Programs Celebrates 50 Years

GREAT BARRINGTON — What began as one pediatrician knocking on doors in a station wagon has grown into a regional force for healthy living in the Berkshires. In 2025, Community Health Programs (CHP) celebrates its 50th anniversary — a milestone honoring five decades of providing compassionate, accessible care to tens of thousands of Berkshire County residents.

“Our beginnings were modest and centered on our mission,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Beckwith said. “We’re very proud that we’ve grown into this size, expanded our services, and made them accessible to all of the Berkshires while maintaining our focus on our mission.”

Founded in 1975 by pediatrician Dr. Thomas Whitfield, CHP was born out of an urgent need. After seeing an alarming number of rural children who had never seen a doctor, Whitfield launched the Children’s Health Program with a mission to bring care directly to families, searching for signs of need, such as diapers on clotheslines and toys in the yard.

With the support of its first executive director, Linda Small, CHP quickly grew to include parent education, nutrition assistance, and early intervention services. Over time, the organization expanded to serve people of all ages, becoming a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in 2000, which resulted in a nearly threefold increase in the number of people it could serve.

“By the time the FQHC idea was presented, we had children we’d cared for since birth now entering adulthood,” Small recalled. “It was a natural next step to continue caring for them.”

Today, CHP provides primary medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition, and family services to more than 5,000 patients annually, regardless of their income, insurance status, or background.

“This milestone isn’t just about our history — it’s about the people and partnerships that shaped us,” CEO Bethany Kieley said. “And it’s about building the next 50 years of inclusive, community-driven care. It’s the perfect opportunity to remind our community that we’re here to care for all who need us.”

To mark this milestone, CHP has launched a year-long anniversary campaign, sharing powerful stories and hosting events across the region.

Highlights include Live on the Lake, a free family concert on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at Lake Onota in Pittsfield, where the public is invited to join CHP staff for an evening of music, giveaways, face painting, and more; National Health Center Week (Aug. 3-9), featuring giveaways and special events at all CHP sites; and a Community Day of Service in November, when CHP staff will assist Thanksgiving Angels in providing Thanksgiving meals.

To learn more and watch a mini-documentary, visit chpberkshires.org/fifty.

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