Present:

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, May 13, 2005 at the Southcoast Hospital – Charlton Site.  Chairperson David Weed called the meeting to order at 8:35AM.

Minutes

The minutes of the April 8, 2005 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the April 8, 2005 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

            The financial report was not available at the time of the meeting.  We will review next month.

REPORT OF WORK GROUPS

Access to Health Care

Paula is working on a letter to send out when the video is distributed. Distribution should begin soon.  Pat will bring copies to the next meeting for those interested.  Also, if anyone wants to call her at Family Service (730-1138 x3513) she will send out copies.  The healthcare surveys are still being distributed.  The stats should be available by the end of June.   The group is also working on a brochure to encourage accessing primary care.   

Healthy Lifestyles

On June 3^rd there is an infant food drive being held at several area grocery stores.  Sue will be covering one store.  The Task Force is sponsoring an edition of the Durfee Hilltop next year.  The issue will have a nutrition focus.  Work continues at Durfee on identifying vending machines.  Judith reported on the results of the MI study.  It is currently being reviewed by St. Anne’s and Charlton.  The study showed a 25% decline in admission to both hospitals due to MI since the start of the smoking ban.  It doesn’t appear that the decline is attributable to anything else.  Data will be compared from July through January of 2003 and 2004.  Nicotine patch kits are still available.  Some reported problems and confusion with obtaining the kits.  There was a set of criteria that callers must meet when requesting patches.  If they did not meet the criteria than their request was initially denied.  Patches were made available to local health centers for distribution for those who were denied via telephone.  The criteria were not released to prevent people from giving false information in regards to their health. 

Healthy Youth

The annual poster contest is at our next meeting on June 10^th at CDREC (Bank St. Armory) we will meet at 8:30.  The youth forum is on Saturday, June 11^th at the Boys and Girls Club. 

Health City Initiative

We are in year two, and continue the collection and identification process.  The evaluations should be ready for the public by the end of June.  This report will not be too data heavy and will be used a motivator.  We reviewed the Healthy City logo as it will be appearing in various places such as real estate signs.  We will be partnering with the Real Estate Board.  This will go to local businesses that we are partnering with. 

Westport Needle Exchange

Westport Selectman David Dionne joined our meeting to discuss the recent controversy in Westport.  Westport was attempting to house a program run by SSTAR to provide prevention education and needle exchange.  Westport residents were outraged by this decision and the outcome was that the center would not be located in Westport.  We have written a letter of support for SSTAR that will be released to all local newspapers. 

Announcements

Partners has purchased a new color printer that can be used by all.  This printer prints high quality color pictures and can be used to design brochures, etc.  Contact David Weed if you are interested in using the printer.

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 9:45.  Our next meeting is Friday June 10, 2005.  The location has changed to CDREC on Bank St.

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings:

minutes 4-8-05

minutes 3-11-05

minutes 2-11-05

minutes 1-14-05

minutes 12-10-04

minutes 11-12-04

minutes10-8-04

minutes 9-10-04

minutes 8-13-04

minutes 5-14-04

minutes 4-9-04

minutes 3-12-04.html

minutes 2-13-04.html