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• 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.  

• Foundation Honors Framingham School Health Services & Wayside's Taiany Goulart

  At its 20th Anniversary dinner, the MetroWest Health Foundation presented its 2019 Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award to the School Health Services Division of the Framingham Public Schools.

  
  

  In presenting the award to School Health Services Director Judy Styer, Foundation President Martin Cohen said, “Our 2019 Leadership Award recognizes a set of caring and dedicated health professionals who every day respond to the health needs of over 9,000 students. That alone is worthy of this award, but when you add the district’s unique make-up, the many cultures and languages spoken, the level of illness, psychosocial needs, high risk behaviors and even trauma experienced by many children, the school nurses and other school health personnel in the Framingham Schools are truly the front lines of the region’s public health system.” Cohen also said it has been Framingham school nurses that have been at the forefront of efforts to address child obesity, student vision needs, depression, teen pregnancy, and services for LGBT youth.
  

  
  

  The Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award is named for the late State Representative Deborah Blumer, who served as the founding chairwoman of the foundation’s board of trustees.

  
  

  The foundation also presented its 2019 Edna Smith Health Equity Award to Taiany Goulart for her work to promote health equity in the region.

  As Director of Intake for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s MetroWest Counseling Services, Ms. Goulart has a significant impact on youth and families seeking services as she is often their first point of contact. She is described by her peers as compassionate, patient and culturally sensitive to the needs of each individual she sees and ensures that they have the opportunity to speak with someone who speaks their native language. She also serves on Wayside’s

  Diversity Committee and is a trainer for Wayside’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative.

  
  

  The Edna Smith Health Equity Award is named in honor of Edna Smith, the foundation’s second chairwoman, and a leader in advancing racial and ethnic diversity health equity in the region.
  
  
  

• Foundation Honors Needham Board of Health and Natick's James White Jr.

  Framingham, MA – The MetroWest Health Foundation presented its 2018 Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award to the Needham Board of Health and Natick’s Director of Public Health, James White, Jr.

  The Needham Board of Health was chosen for its decision in 2005 to set the minimum age for tobacco purchases in the town at age 21. As the first public health agency in the country to go to Tobacco 21, Needham set a standard that is now being replicated in cities and states across the country thereby reducing teen tobacco use rates. 

  James (Jim) White, Jr. is being honored for his leadership in launching the MetroWest Tobacco Control Program - a nine-town consortium that has helped align tobacco regulations and control measures across multiple jurisdictions. Through Jim's work, the MetroWest area leads the state in communities adopting 21 as the minimum purchase age for tobacco products. 

  The Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award is named for the late State Representative Deborah Blumer, who served as the founding chairwoman of the foundation’s board of trustees.

• 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.

• New Community Health Improvement Plan Finalized

  Following the release of an updated Community Health Needs Assessment in late 2016, community partners recently joined forces to update the region's Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The new CHIP focuses on four areas: Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Healthy Aging, and Healthy Eating/Active Living. The CHIP is designed to align the individual and collective efforts of organizations working to improve the health of the region.   
   
  Copies of the 2017 CHIP are available on the foundation's website. Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the foundation.

• Announcing the MetroWest Health Equity Award!

  The MetroWest Health Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019. As one way to commemorate the work that has been done over the past 20 years, 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.