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Minutes for the Meeting of October 11, 2002

Ellen Banach Karen Scott Statser, Joe Borges, Alan Silvia, Diane Colletti, Jeff Sypek, Patricia Fanning, Billie Jane Valente, Robert Oliveira, David Weed, Marcia Picard, Denise Wright, Gladys Rosofsky

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, October 11, 2002 at South Coast Hospital. Chairperson Karen Scott Statser called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM.

The minutes of the September 13, 2002 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the September 13, 2002 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial report for September 2002 was circulated. Joe Borges gave information regarding the financial distribution of funds.

1. Postage stamps $37.00

1. Vernon Company $508.15
2. Consultant fees-Healthy Lifestyles/Carlos Pavao $306.25
3. We are currently awaiting word from the "Prevention Center" about our bookkeeping status.

VOTED to approve the Financial Report for September as presented.

Introductions made of our new support staff, Jennifer Sylvia, from Family Service Association

REPORT OF WORK GROUPS

Met with representatives from Health First and the video was reviewed for feedback. Some things need to be fixed. These issues will go back to the workgroup and they will finish them. Project for fiscal year 2003 will be cultural and linguistic barriers to healthcare. Surveys will be done at local supermarkets with gift certificates for those who participate. We will make arrangements to watch the video at a future meeting.

The Cardiovascular task force will be conducting a study in several cities assessing how the city promotes cardiovascular health (e.g., walk paths, warm walking facilities, adequate sidewalks). There is also a food pyramid flyer being prepared for distribution and the 1% or less campaign to promote switching from whole milk to 1% milk. We are hoping to distribute this through the school department. The next Healthy Lifestyle meeting is on October 22 at the VNA.

We did not receive the grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield, and will be finding out why. The groups focus will be the Access Center at Durfee High School with a retreat/youth forum in conjunction with the Access center opening. We have had a request to be a community advisory board. This will be discussed at the October meeting.

The mayor seems to be ready to move on the Healthy City Initiative, but Mike is having trouble connecting with him. He will speak to the Mayor and hopefully will have more information before 10/25. The impact on the fiscal crisis will be highlighted at the annual meeting. We will have guest speakers sharing personal stories, a spreadsheet outlining the reductions and a document entitled "United for a Healthier Community". The draft was distributed for all to review. It was suggested that it stress that investments in the community prove to be cost effective. Mike will make the necessary changes.

The legislative breakfast is October 25^th with registration ending October 18^th. To date, 79 people have responded which is a very good response. Speakers include Barney Frank and the mayors of both New Bedford and Fall River who will be giving out the community awards. The meeting will be used as a vehicle to express concerns regarding the cuts in the budget and highlight the impact this has had on consumers. There will be two presenters from Fall River (youth and elder services) and New Bedford (access to health care and housing) who will share their stories as to how the cuts have affected them. There has been some interest from consumers who want to attend the meeting, but cannot afford to do so. It was decided that each task force can subsidize up to three consumers from their budget if there is interest.

Two or three awards will be given out from New Bedford and Fall River. We need two volunteers to choose the recipients from the New Bedford area. Awards will be given at the Annual Meeting. Gladys and Denise have volunteered to review the nominations and select the New Bedford area awards.

More budget cuts were announced today totaling about $200,000,000. Very little information is available at this time. It appears that DPH took the largest cut at 7-8 million. Tobacco control may be eliminated. AIDS programs and community health centers took large cuts also. All this will be highlighted at the legislative breakfast.

Bob Horne passed out free booklets entitled "One World One Heart" that promotes understanding, peace and tolerance. The United Way has more if any is interested.

The Cardiovascular Task Force has hired a full time prevention nurse, and a part time dietician and pharmacist are still needed. The Task Force will be conducting a very detailed risk factor analysis assessment with the mobile van and on site in the schools.

As the Annual Meeting is in two weeks, we will not meet in November. There is a Regional Public Health Networking Meeting on November 22^nd at the Jockey Club in Raynham from 9-12. This is also the same day as the MSPCC breakfast. Barney Frank will be at Heritage State Park on October 30^th advocating for legal assistance.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 am. The next meeting for the Partners for a Healthier Community will be held on December 13, 2002 at the Charlton site of Southcoast Hospitals Group, in the Jackson Conference Room.