FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Melwood
Jewelyn Cosgrove, [email protected]
Humanim
[email protected]
Upper Marlboro, MD—Melwood and Humanim, two of the region’s most respected nonprofit organizations serving people with disabilities and those facing barriers to employment, today announced a strategic affiliation that will usher in a new era of enhanced disability services and opportunities across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. Humanim will formally join the Melwood Family of Companies as an affiliate, creating a partnership that strengthens both organizations while preserving their unique identities and missions.
This collaboration will build one of the most comprehensive and sustainable networks of behavioral health, youth, employment, and support services for people with disabilities in the Mid-Atlantic. By combining forces, Melwood and Humanim will expand their reach, improve service quality, and ensure long-term stability—delivering even greater value to the individuals, families, and communities they serve.
“This affiliation is a true partnership, thoughtfully designed to honor and elevate the strengths of both organizations while maintaining their distinct brands, logos, and community-focused approaches,” said Larysa Kautz, President & CEO of Melwood. “Unlike mergers where smaller nonprofits often lose their identity or see services become more institutionalized, this model demonstrates how strategic affiliations can make everyone stronger. We’re not just combining resources; we’re amplifying impact, fostering innovation, and setting an inspiring example for other nonprofits considering similar paths to sustainability and growth.”
For individuals and families currently supported by Melwood and Humanim, this affiliation means uninterrupted access to trusted services—with the promise of even better outcomes ahead. Programs will continue seamlessly, with enhanced resources leading to expanded offerings, improved efficiencies, and greater opportunities for independence and inclusion. Families can take comfort in knowing that their loved ones will benefit from a more robust network, where high-quality, person-centered care remains the priority, now backed by shared expertise and investments.
The partnership comes as the nonprofit community faces growing financial and operational pressures—from workforce shortages to rising costs of care. In joining forces, Melwood and Humanim are answering the call by creating efficiencies, expanding access to critical services throughout the region, and demonstrating operational synergies without compromising mission or quality. It serves as a national model for mission-aligned collaborations, showing how nonprofits of different sizes can affiliate to thrive together—preserving legacies, expanding services, and inspiring others to explore similar affiliations for mutual benefit.
“For more than 50 years, Humanim has been committed to building pathways for individuals with disabilities and people facing barriers to employment,” said Cindy Plavier-Truitt, President & CEO of Humanim. “By joining the Melwood Family, we are preserving Humanim’s mission and history while scaling our impact. We’ll serve more people as Humanim becomes the licensed provider for services offered by the Melwood Family of Companies across Maryland. This affiliation empowers us to deliver even higher-quality, innovative services within a more resilient framework, ensuring brighter futures for those we support.”
Under the affiliation, Humanim will maintain its trusted name, brand, and locations, while gaining new opportunities to grow its acclaimed human services programs. Humanim will gain access to additional investment and infrastructure, while Melwood will benefit from Humanim’s geographic reach and specialized expertise in behavioral health and youth transition services, creating a more connected, capable, and forward-looking network of support.
Humanim will serve as the primary licensed service provider in Maryland for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) offerings from the Melwood Family of Companies, streamlining access for individuals and families. Humanim’s social enterprise division will integrate into Melwood Enterprises, unlocking broader employment, training, and innovation opportunities. Melwood Community Services will continue delivering support, training, and employment services in Virginia and lead innovative programming across the National Capital Region that empowers children, youth, and adults with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their communities.
Together, Melwood and Humanim are advancing a shared vision of inclusion, independence, and opportunity—creating a brighter, more connected future for people with disabilities and individuals facing barriers across the region.
About Melwood
Melwood is a family of companies with a shared vision of a world where people with disabilities are fully included. Melwood comprises three primary companies—Melwood Enterprises, Melwood Community Services, and Melwood Inc.—together serving as one of the nation’s leading advocates, service providers, and employers of people with disabilities and their caregivers. We offer employment, job placement, job training, life skills for independence, support services, and youth and community recreational services to more than 3,000 people each year in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. For more information, visit www.melwood.org.
About Humanim
Humanim is a human services and workforce development organization serving more than 3,000 people each year across Maryland. Humanim provides developmental disability services, behavioral support services, behavioral health programs, youth transition services, workforce development, and community-based day programs. Its Social Enterprise Division offers hands-on job experience and skill-building, while iHomes, Humanim’s sister nonprofit, develops safe, affordable housing for individuals with disabilities. For more information, please visit www.humanim.org.
