Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community works to improve or sustain your health and the quality of your life! Whether it’s better access to health care, or to reduce the harm from the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, or to reduce the chances that you will develop heart disease, diabetes or any number of health risks, Partners is the organization that works for you.
Organization
Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community is one of 27 Community Health Network Areas (CHNAs) organized in 1993 across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Department of Public Health. The goal of Partners is to improve the health status of the residents of Fall River, Somerset, Swansea and Westport through the coordinated efforts of concerned citizens. Since its inception, Partners has been a catalyst for bringing new healthcare and related resources to the Greater Fall River area and has repeatedly and successfully mobilized these resources to address identified community health needs. It is Partners’ vision to expand these resources and services to even better meet the needs of all residents in Greater Fall River, and ultimately build a healthier area-wide community.
Structure
Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community is a not-for-profit corporation in Massachusetts (Partnership for a Healthier Community, Inc.*) governed by a 15-25 member Steering Committee elected biennially by the general membership at its annual meeting held in the Fall of each year (see By-Laws). Officers of the Steering Committee are elected biennially by members of the Steering Committee and serve as the organization’s Executive Committee. Membership in Partners is open to any person willing to promote the purpose of Partners.
The work of Partners is performed through Task Forces designated by the Steering Committee to focus on specific areas of concern identified through a periodic needs assessment process. These Task Forces include: Health and Well Being, Healthy Eating Active Living, Positive Youth Development, Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention. Membership on a Task Force is open to any person who has an interest in working on that designated issue.