Partners for a Healthier Community


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Minutes for the Meeting of June 8, 2007

Present:

BJ Valente	Paula Harrison	Jane DiBiasio
Mike Coughlin	Fran Fuller
David Weed	Pat Fanning	Joan Gancarski
Marcia Picard	Gladys Rosofsky	Jenny Rulison

Attendance was not taken so if you attended please notify Kathy King at the next meeting for our records. Thank you.

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, August 10, 2007 at the Jackson Conference Room at Charlton Hospital in Fall River. Chairperson BJ Valente called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM.

Minutes

The minutes of the June 8, 2007 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the June 8, 2007 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

VOTED to approve Financial Report through August 9, 2007.

Auditor update: Requested more information to complete.

- National Conference for Weed and Seed in Detroit. Motion made and seconded to front the money for the trip for Maureen Estes Ryan with agreement that the money will be reimbursed by the DA’s office. $1000.00 was the limit for the expenditure.

Report of Work Groups

Access to Health Care

The group will be presenting at Sacred Heart Church community supper on Monday August 13, 2007 at 4:30 pm. The South Coast van will be there to provide services to all participants at the supper.

Representatives from the group met with their New Bedford Counterpart for Access to Health Care Judith Coykendall. Their goals are of a different nature than ours focusing on peri-natal reports and concerns. We will continue to focus on underinsured and uninsured. Discussion of a Spring conference collaborative with New Bedford at our next meeting.

Healthy Lifestyles

Did not meet this month. Sue Sterrett not at this meeting to report.

Healthy Youth

No meeting in July. Many activities throughout the summer involved members of this task force and summer and full time outreach workers. Teen leaders participated in the summer festivals. Looking to complete the Shannon grant for another year with the DHHS in the mayor’s office being the leader for the next year.

The next meeting will be September 5, 2007 3:30 at CD recreation, Bank Street Armory.

Healthy City Initiative

Healthy City searching for new partners. First year 48, then 50, last year 32 new partners. If anyone can identify a new partner contact David with the information and he will pursue.
David continues to consult with Holyoke MA using Fall River as a model for their Healthy City Initiative.
Meeting to be held on September 5 for UMASS Dartmouth hosting a discussion linking partnership with service learning and internships.
Some initiatives being looked at to have the medical care practice community more in tune with preventative healthcare measures. Possibly a conference for them in early Spring involving a wide range of medical care practices persons. This idea is a take off from the premature mortality rate being published. Preventive items that have happened are smoking cessation being paid by Medicaid and education in the schools available. In addition there is a proposal to the state in the works now to offer nutritional education in community health centers. Very exciting should it get approved.
Walk to school planning committee getting everything in place for 10/3 -- a national walk to school day. St. Peter and Paul and Lincoln School on board for this adventure and possibly one other school.
BOLD - and Police Department along with the Mayor’s office addressing the topic of drug paraphernalia. This includes the roses in tubes and wraps etc. Letters are out to all vendors talking to stores about the dangers of this. Currently an exercise in educating the public.
Violence Prevention Grant – 2 million statewide The United Interfaith Action is looking at partnering on this for outreach to youth, transportation, and locations in areas of concerns for programming, and cultural diversity. Meeting on 9/27/07 Father Diafario 10:00 am.
Weed and Seed activity. Some $71,000 to spend. Renewal of this grant due out by October concentrating on some spending in activities in identified areas. Transportation for students