Related

• MAPC Presentation Highlights Changing Demographics of the Region

  On November 16th, Seleeke Flingai and Barry Keppard of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) presented data on the changing demographics of the MetroWest region.

  
  

  The presentation focused on the subtle but important shifts seen since 2010 in population, age, race, educational attainment, as well as economic markers, such as home ownership and wages.  The report also highlighted population shifts expected over the next 20 years.

  
  

  The report found:

  • The MetroWest region is becoming more diverse but the spatial distribution of this diversity across the region depends on race;
  • Much of the region is older than the state average and projections suggest that nearly a quarter of the region will be 65 and older by 2040;
  • The region fares better economically than the state average, but significant growth in the region's low-income population is projected; and,
  • If economic and housing disparities persist along racial lines, health disparities are also likely to persist.

  Click here to read or download the presentation.

• 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.  

• Latest Data on Opioid-Related EMS INcidents for MetroWest

  The foundation has posted the latest (August 2018) Massachusetts Department of Public Health data on opioid-related overdose deaths and opioid-related emergency medical service incidents on our website.

  
  

  Click into our Health Data Center  to view or download these reports.

• Highlights from the 2016 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey now available.

  Over seventy school and community leaders were present today as Shari Kessel Schneider, project director at EDC, presented highlights from the 2016 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. The survey captures risk behavior data from over 40,000 middle and high school students. The data suggest that many communities are seeing a decline in high risk behaviors, such as substance use, sexual activity and bullying, but stress among adolescents continues to rise.

   

  Danna Mauch, CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health served as a reactor to the presentation. Dr. Mauch discussed the risk and protective factors associated with stress in children and adolescents, and how families, schools and communities can work together to create a culture that can support youth as they struggle with stress and other behavioral health issues. 

   

  To read or download copies of the 2016 Highlights for middle and high schools, click here.

• County Health Data Points to Areas for Improvement

  US News & World Report recently issued their 2019 County Health Rankings. Counties that make up the MetroWest area (Middlesex, Worcester and Norfolk) all scored relatively high. However, the data also showed areas for improvement, such as the teen birth rate and preventable hospital admissions.
  
  

  The rankings are based on 81 metrics drawn in large part from publicly available data sets from reputable sources such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These metrics were selected for their value in assessing community performance in each of the categories and subcategories in our framework, as identified in consultation with industry experts.

  To see how Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester Counties fared in the rankings, click here.

  To learn more about the 2019 County Health Rankings, click here.

• What are the issues and needs facing MetroWest nonprofits?

  What are the issues and needs facing MetroWest nonprofits?
  

  
  

  The MetroWest Nonprofit Network  and Framingham State University are collaborating to assess the needs and issues facing the MetroWest nonprofit community.

   

  They believe that a strong nonprofit sector in MetroWest is essential to building and sustaining vibrant communities that serve the needs of our citizens and they need your input.

   

  Please take a few minutes to respond to this brief eight-minute survey.

   

  CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY