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• Achieving Health Equity in MetroWest: Best Practices

  Join us and the MetroWest Racial & Ethnic Disparities Workgroup as we explore the implications of inequities on health and healthcare in our region and look at best practices from across the state for the promotion of health equity through program and community interventions.

  
  

  This one-day training will be led by Mo Barbosa, Director of Community Engagement at Health Resources in Action.

  
  

  Thursday, March 14, 2019, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

  Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rt. 9 East, Natick

   

  This training is free of charge and breakfast & lunch will be provided.

    

  To Register click

  Achieving Health Equity in MetroWest 

        

  Although seating is limited, multiple agency staff, volunteers and board members from MetroWest organizations are encouraged to attend.

   

  For more information regarding this training, contact Rebecca Gallo at 508-879-7625 ext. 207.

  
  

• Common Health Blog cites MetroWest Community Health Needs Assessment

  The work of MetroWest area health and social service agencies to develop a regional Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) drew the attention of two health policy doctoral students in a recent opinion post on WBUR's CommonHealth Blog.

   

  The blog entitled, Please, Boston Nonprofit Hospitals, Can't You Join Forces Instead of Competing?  by Michael Anne Kyle and Lauren Taylor, used the MetroWest CHNA as an example in calling for Boston hospitals to come together to develop a single CHNA for the city. The blog also pointed to similar efforts in Cincinnati, Baton Rouge and Seattle. 

   

  Click here to read the blog post.  

• MetroWest Health Leaders - Class of 2017

  Congratulations to the following MetroWest area health and human service professionals who have been selected for the MetroWest Health Leadership Program's Class of 2017. The six-month program will officially kick-off on January 27th with remarks by newly-elected State Representative Jack Lewis of Framingham.  

   

  Ellen Adams, MA    Executive Director Heritage at Framingham	Lauren Mazzola, MS Site Director Advocates Community Counseling
  Marykate Bergen, MPP, MBA Director of Community Wellness Hockomock YMCA	Kelly Quinn, MSW Social Worker Barbieri Elementary School
  Gail Bourassa, MA Program Director Bellingham Senior Center	Hannah Stohler, MDiv    Residential Program Manager Voices Against Violence
  Nanci DaSilva, MA Assistant Site Director Wayside Youth and Family Support Network	Mary Ann Stein Director, Volunteer Services, Community Outreach & Spiritual Care UMass Memorial-Marlborough Hospital
  Kelsey Hampton Director Food Pantry & Volunteer Services Natick Service Council	Heidi Trainor Peer Support Coordinator Advocates, Inc.

  
  

  Click here to learn more about the foundation's Health Leadership Program.

• Foundation to Support the 2020 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey

  The foundation's Board of Trustees recently voted to continue its support of the biennial MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. The survey, administered by EDC and done in partnership with local school systems, represents one of the most comprehensive surveys of adolescent health and wellness in the country. The survey reaches nearly 42,000 middle and high school students and provides data to inform policy and program decisions on key adolescent heath issues, such as mental health, tobacco and e-cigarette use, and cyber-bulling.

   

  The foundation funded the first survey in 2006 with a handful of schools. The 2018 survey included all public schools systems across the foundation's service area, as well as a number of vocational-technical and charter schools.

   

  Dr. Anna Nolin, Superintendent of Schools in Natick said, "The data from the MetroWest survey allows us to educate our families, our students and our funders as to critical needs facing our students."

   

  To see results from the 2018 survey, click here. 
  

• Who's Your Health Equity Hero?

  The foundation, in partnership with the MetroWest Racial and Ethnic Disparities Workgroup, is offering the first Annual Health Equity Award.

   

  The MetroWest area is one of the healthiest regions in one of the healthiest states in the country. Yet inequities still exist based on race/ethnicity as well as economic status. There are many in our community working everyday for equity. The Health Equity Award recognizes an individual or organization that has had a significant impact in addressing health inequities in the region.

   

  To find out more about the award or to nominate a person or organization that you think deserves this recognition, click here.
  

• MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey Approved for 2018

  The foundation's board of trustees recently approved continuation of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWAHS) through 2018. The survey, first begun in 2006, examines the health risks and wellness behaviors of more than 40,000 middle and high school students across the 25 communities served by the foundation.

   

  In approving continuation of the survey, the foundation's trustees noted how the survey data has led to improvements in the health and well being of adolescents across the region. In a letter to the trustees supporting continued funding of the survey, Wellesley Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Lussier noted, "Our involvement with the MWAHS is an essential part of the work we do everyday with students and families. Having these data allows us to better serve our students as we support their full development from preschool to high school." 

   

  The 2018 survey will be administered for the foundation by Education Development Center, Inc. In addition to overseeing the administration of the survey, EDC will provide technical assistance to each school district on how to maximize what can be learned from the data, as well as strategies for communicating data to local audiences to stimulate actions to improve student, school and community health. 

   

  To view the latest results from the 2016 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey for middle and high school students, visit the publications page of our website.