Present:

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, March 10, 2006 at SouthCoast Hospitals Group – Charlton Site.  Chairperson David Weed called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM.

Minutes

The minutes of the February 10, 2006 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the February 10, 2006 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

§         Treasurer Joe Borges presented report.   Report does not reflect a recent deposit of $9,000.00 .

§         Balance should be 41142.52 .

§         Audit will be performed after 4/15/06. Financial information will be gathered by Family Service from Jen’s records and given to Joe.

After stating this correction financial report was voted on and approved.

Report of Work Groups

Access to Health Care

Poster contest a success. 107 posters submitted top two awards to Durfee students. One may be a good choice for the brochure.  Student from the graphics department at Diman took third place.  The contest awards ceremony made first page of Herald News .At their next meeting the brochure will be finalized. It has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Khmer translation is in process. Brochure will be good access for those who do not have DVD or VCR availability. Question was asked if taping is showing on FREDD TV. Not at this time but the committee will look into the possibility.

Next meting March  13^th 3:00 pm at HMI. Discussion about parity issues will occur.

Healthy Youth

Meeting held on March 1, 2006. Annual poster contest plans under way. Explanation given of the meeting time and place for regular June meeting including award ceremony for poster winners. Sue Sterrat reported for the group regarding continued interest in developing a resource with the school department on the web page for access to services. David has had conversations with them.  Group is also involved in the plans for the Mayor’s Youth Forum IV to take place on May 4, 2006.  More details will be forthcoming on these two events. 

Health Lifestyles

The group is sponsoring the February edition of Durfee Hilltop titled Health and Wellness. The school is excited about this venture and is talking about it being a yearly task and in addition having a wellness column for teens. The group is monitoring legislation: a) nutrition bill – encouraging passage of bill #4454 b) comprehensive health bill – support for vending machines out of school s and overall wellness curriculum and activities in all school includes all area of nutrition, substance abuse, physical education, sex education, and parent education. c) Also, there is a bill about physical education requirements in schools.

Discussion in-group of a long-term project due to the decreasing time in school spent on wellness to collect and make available to teachers lessons that can be incorporated into other academic areas like science and math.

Restaurant Association not interested in partnering on the idea of identification of restaurants willing to identify heart health menu items. Other ideas will be explored for local restaurant to identify themselves with simple criteria having some heart healthy choices, or low calorie or  low carb listings  etc. . We can put links on our web page supporting these restaurants participation     for mo better exposure as a healthy choice restaurant. 

Health City Initiative

Photo Op with front page of Herald News with the Faces and Places of Fall River. Encourage everyone to go see the display. Spring Celebration on April 6, 2006 currently 60 persons signed up to attend.

48 new participants will be recognized Dave still compiling short explanation of events and projects for the program booklet.  Already have 28 new participants for the year 2006.

Other Discussions

Guests form PYCO – Seven Hills Behavioral Health -   Mario Medeiros, Natasha Pereira, and Susana Pontes

These guests enlightened the entire group with a presentation of their work in the Brazilian community with the homeless and commercial sex workers.  They sped time in the coffee shops meeting people and building trusting relationships. Once this is accomplished they ‘re able to assist the community with legal issues, medical concerns, filing out forms, immigration issues, etc. This is a younger crowd in Fall River close to 8% of our Fall River community approximately 6000-7000.

Contact each of these persons for more information and brochures about their services.

Natasha 508-679-0962 ext.235 

Susana  508-679-0962 ext. 236

Mario 508-679-0962 ext. 215

Jim Merchant – VNA of Cape Cod Men’s Health Partnership Initiative 508-472-6566

Department of Health grant to provided to uninsured or underinsured men with screens for prostate cancer cholesterol, glucose for diabetes, etc. No forms to fill out no qualifications.  Can be arranged here in the city at the community health centers SSTAR and Health First for any resident.  Call 1888- 557-9994 ext. 7629 for more information. 

Announcements

Robert Oliveira a long time member of the Steering Committee submitted his resignation form the group. Bob will be joining the Department of Public Heath Aids Bureau staff in Boston. We will truly miss Bob and in his role of Secretary for the CHNA.

Judith announced that 2 students from U Mass would be continuing the cardio study at St. Anne’s and Charlton Hospitals. We will then have a full year perspective.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:00AM

Next Meeting – Friday, April 14, at 8:30 AM

SouthCoast Hospitals Group – Charlton Site

Jackson Conference Room

Visit us at www.gfrpartners.com

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings

minutes 2-10-06

minutes 1-13-06

minutes 12-9-05

minutes 11-4-05

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