During the past year, the Access to Health Care Task Force of Partners for a Healthier Community, Inc., began meeting with Pastor John Amaral, the chaplain for the Seekonk and Rehoboth Fire Departments who has since joined the Task Force. Pastor John was instrumental in encouraging area Brazilian and Latino pastors to attend a breakfast presentation by the Task Force at McGovern's Restaurant on February 6, 2010, to learn about the availability of health care in Greater Fall River. Task Force chairperson Paula Harrison from HealthFirst Family Care Center  and Bea Dean from the Family Health Care Center at SSTAR explained the importance of having a primary care physician, avoiding hospital emergency rooms for non-emergent situations and how to access primary health care services at both community health centers. Pat Fanning from Family Services Association and Lisa Alves from the Fall River WIC Program also provided information about the services their respective programs provide. The pastors were grateful for the information and agreed to pass it along to their congregations. Task Force members are available to provide informational presentations regarding health care accessibility at each of the Brazilian and Latino churches and to any other interested group upon request. For further information contact Paula Harrison at 774-627-1204.
 

(Top row, left) Pastor Tony welcomes the group of Brazilian and Spanish church representatives to the meeting at McGovern's Restaurant. (Top row, center) Access to Health Care Task Force members Bea Dean, Paula Harrison, Pat Fanning, Lisa Alves, and Linda Hennessey pose for a photo. (Top row, right) Paula Harrison expresses her gratitude to the group for inviting her to speak. (Middle and bottom rows) Paula and Bea present information to help people find primary care physicians where they can get care in order to avoid costly emergency room department visits.

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