For 45 years, Manet Community Health Center has been a beacon of compassionate, integrated care, providing uninterrupted access to health services for tens of thousands of individuals in southeastern Massachusetts. Beginning with a single location in Quincy in 1979, Manet is now a multisite health center network serving nearly 25,000 people annually. Manet’s legacy is defined by its responsiveness to community and dedication to comprehensive health care.
Manet opened its first practice site in the medically underserved Hough’s Neck neighborhood but quickly expanded, opening a second practice site in Quincy’s public housing complex in Snug Harbor by 1983. Manet continued to grow, opening the Hull practice site in 1989 and its largest site, in North Quincy, in 1993. In 2014, Manet opened yet another location in Taunton to serve the unmet needs of those in Massachusetts Bristol County. In response to community need, additional sies followed, with the opening of the Attleboro clinic in 2021 and a school-based health center in Taunton Public Schools in 2023. The addition of these newest sites has helped the health center increase the number of patients served by nearly 35% in just 5 years (2019-2023).
At the heart of Manet’s success is its integrated, team-based care model. Manet patients have access to primary care, behavioral health counseling, nutritional services, pharmacy, vision care, chronic disease management, substance use treatment, vision care and women’s health. As of 2023, Manet also offers radiology services through a partnership with Boston Medical Center. As a recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home, Manet is able to ensure that “no patient is left without care or outside care.”
Manet’s commitment to community well-being extends beyond medical care to encompass social drivers of health. Certified Navigators connect patients with essential community resources, including housing assistance, food security programs, fuel assistance, and mental health services. It offers benefits counseling and enrollment assistance, helping eligible individuals and families access affordable coverage.
Manet has demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly during times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Manet adapted swiftly to ensure uninterrupted care, expanding telehealth services and providing emergency department diversion to reduce strain on local hospitals. Manet delivered more than 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines in the community during the pandemic and conducted over 32,000 COVID-19 tests. Manet has also responded to the area’s opioid crisis, providing medically focused substance use disorder services including medication-assisted treatment as well as needle exchange programs and community education on opioid overdose prevention and infectious disease risk reduction.
Manet Community Health Center continues to serve multi-generational families and new patients alike. With its deep community roots and forward-thinking vision, Manet is poised to meet the needs of future generations with the same dedication and innovation that have defined its first 45 years.
This article was published in 2025.
