Present:

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, November 4, 2005 at Southcoast Hospital – Charlton Site.  Chairperson David Weed called the meeting to order at 8:40AM.

Minutes

The minutes of the September 9, 2005 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the September 9, 2005 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

Reviewed the financial report for September.  This does not reflect all expenses incurred from the Legislative Breakfast.  Also, it looks like we have not received payment from New Bedford for their portion of the breakfast last year.

VOTED to approve the Financial Report as presented for September, 2005

REPORT OF WORK GROUPS

Access to Health Care

The group is working on the brochure that coincides with the video.  Work continues on distribution.

Healthy Lifestyles

The Great American Smoke out is November 17^th.  We are looking for names of successful quitters who may be willing to be interviewed.  The cardiac program will be expanding into the middle schools.  Kids need to be tracked continuously for three years, and it was very difficult to get them to come back in at the junior level.  So far the data looks like the kids are fairly healthy.  The group will be sponsoring an upcoming edition of the Hilltop.  Work on grants continues.

Healthy Youth

The next meeting will be held at the Student Services Center at Durfee.  We are still trying to link local youth groups together.   

Health City Initiative

The draft of the action plan is completed with the 50 additional participants listed.  Grants are being given to local parks for renovation.  The newsletter is also available on the website. 

Men’s Health Partnership

Mary  Devlin and Josie Beuvien of the VNA of Cape Cod joined us to discuss the Men’s Health Initiative.  They have funds available for uninsured and underinsured males to receive cardiovascular and prostate screening.  They are looking to branch out into our area, and need local clinics to do the screening.  They do all the necessary paperwork, advertising, etc.  Both Health First and SSTAR were recommended. 

Announcements

Family Planning is pleased to announce that they have received Teen Challenge funding back.  They will be using “Making Better Choices”, a science based model for pregnancy prevention in the Fall River Middle Schools. 

Pharmacy Access Bill  - H4176 will make it legal to go into a pharmacy with a prescription and receive clean needles.  This does not, however, solve the problem of appropriate disposal of needles. 

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings:

minutes 9-9-05

minutes 8-12-05

minutes 6-10-05

minutes 5-13-05

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