Present:

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, September 14, 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 August 10, 2007 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the August 10, 2007 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

VOTED to approve Financial Report through September 13, 2007.  (attached)

A detailed financial accounting was submitted by Marcia with an updated format for the following accounts:

Partners for a Healthier Community – Healthy City Initiative Record 9/06 - present

Partners for a Healthier Community – Fiscal Agent for Medical Reserve Corp

Partners for a Healthier Community - Mini-grant Record as of 6/07

Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community August Financial Report (thru 9/13/07)

From this day forward only the monthly financial report will be submitted at the meetings.

Report of Work Groups

Access to Health Care

Paula Harrison

This group’s last presentation at a community supper will be at Catholic Social Services on Tuesday, October 9 starting at 11:00 AM.

They met last week and are looking to the future for another project.  Would like to collaborate with Healthy Lifestyles and offer an awareness program to focus on problems affecting the community such as drug abuse prevention and/or nutrition.  Perhaps initiate a conference/luncheon and invite a speaker and include New Bedford participants as they did a very successful conference in the past. 

Much time has been spent on reaching out to those in need of insurance and PCP’s.  Unfortunately there is still a portion of the population – non-citizens- who are not eligible for the state insurance and are currently getting free care – sliding scale basis.  Free care could come to an end.  This could be a future concern.

Healthy Lifestyles

Sue Sterret – The group did not meet this month. 

Working again this year with publishers of the “Hilltop” to educate students on nutrition, etc.

Very interested in joining with “Access to Healthcare” work group – proposed a joint meeting for October.  Had an idea to plan a nicely combined Spring Conference – pool funds. 

Healthy Youth

Jamison Souza- Group met on September 5,2007

September 27 is “Make a Difference Day” – an Email will be coming about it.  There is a week long competition being planned – the “Red Wagon” competition, geared towards America’s Promise.

Continuing work on the “Mayor’s Youth Forum”. 

Also meeting with TEAM F.R.E.S.H. as the kids want to continue their work in this program.

Jamison introduced Ine D. Ogagan – Massachusetts PROMISE Fellow – (Email- iogagan@gmail.com).

She is with the City of Fall River Department of Health and Human Services and will be working throughout this school year with Middle School students.  She presented a very detailed and energetic agenda that began with explaining - What is America’s Promise and listed the Five Promises.  Some projects include:

P.L.O.T. Mentoring Program – A small, diverse group of 7-10 students will be picked to be mentored by members of Team FRESH.

Young Professional 101  - Where they will learn how to set up a resume, how to interview well and create their own career profile. 

Public Speaking – Make them feel more comfortable and confident speaking in front of others.

Youth Leadership/Development Trainings – Partnering with members of BOLD.

Fall River Youth Forum 2008 involvement.

Mix it up 2007- Date: November 13, 2007 – Lunch day – Encourage students to move around the cafeteria and meet new people, make new friends. 

DO Something Club – organize community projects.

Suggestions followed on how students could collaborate with some of the agencies represented at the Partners meeting –

-“Reach out and Read” at Health First –

-Attend some neighborhood Association Meetings and help plan holiday parties

-As the world has become so Email oriented, education incorporating writing skills was suggested.

We thank Ine for her presentation and wish her good luck in her endeavor!

Team FRESH organized 2 car washes this summer and made enough money to go to 6 Flags.

Working with Jane DiBiasio on submitting an application to be included in “100 Best Communities for Youth”.  It is not a grant, but for recognition only.  However, the information compiled is huge and will prove to be very useful for future grant applications.

In the process of writing a grant from DPH on violence prevention – “What can you do from 2 – 11 PM?”.

Healthy City Initiative

David away on vacation – BJ read a list submitted by him:

The walk-to-school event is scheduled for October 3rd, International Walk-to-School Day, at the Lincoln, Carroll and Sts. Peter and Paul Schools. What we actually will be able to do at the FR schools will depend on what the school attorney recommends as he has liability concerns.

A planning group meets again at Charlton to continue planning a spring conference to promote prevention practices on the part of medical practitioners in the city.

Three UMassD marketing students will be calling a sample list of local employers to survey them on wellness resources

I’ll be presenting the Healthy City Fall River initiative to a group in Holyoke on the 26th, to the Cambridge CHNA on October 1st and through a display at the October 11th MPHA conference in Marlboro

Met on Micro Grants.  Decided on the awards.  Very excited about the diversity of the submissions this time around.  The limit was only $500.00 but this amount is a good jump-start on these projects.  (See attachment of awards).  Official announcement letter going out next week.

BJ announced that after a slow start the committee for the breakfast has met twice and are well on their way to planning this year’s event – the Theme being “ People Changing Communities” “A celebration to honor our citizens “

Mike Coughlin jumped in with great news for our speaker.  Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, oversees 17 state agencies and serves in the Cabinet of Governor Deval Patrick. Her broad range of experience - as a physician, professor, researcher and health policy expert - gives her unique insights into how the state can best serve the people of the Commonwealth has accepted the invitation to be the speaker.  This is a big deal!  It’s an honor to have her, partly because this will be her first speaking engagement in this area since her appointment earlier this year.  But also because she is a very prominent doctor from the Boston area, very well respected, sets important policy that affects us all, and reports directly to Governor Patrick. 

WE NEED A HUGE TURNOUT!  THE GOAL IS 150-200 PEOPLE!  REACH OUT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!  An incentive may be to offer to cover the cost of a person’s ticket ($15.00) if finances are an issue.  Send letters to legislators, congressmen and other prominent citizens (noting that both Mayors will be present could help). 

Mike Coughlin is in charge of all media announcements.

Nomination forms will soon be available for this year’s honorees.  They will be sent by email and we hope everyone will distribute them elsewhere in any groups or organizations.  There will be 3 selected from New Bedford and 3 from Fall River. 

An additional one time only “Life Time Achievement” Award to honor Brad Sell will be on the agenda this year also. This will be chosen by New Bedford.

Next meeting for the Legislative Breakfast Committee is September 27 at 10:15 AM at Family Service Association, 151 Rock Street.

Announcements:

BJ received a very nice thank you note from Maureen Estes Ryan after her trip to Detroit for the National Conference for “Weed and Seed”. 

Maureen gave a brief report on her experience there.  Detroit appeared to be a “ghost town” to her; however, their new mayor is working diligently to refresh the city.  There is a monorail system that loops the city 24/7.  The conference was at the Renaissance Marriott, which was very beautiful.  Maureen found the conference to be very inspiring and well attended.  She met with others who were battling the same issues facing many of the nation’s cities.  She came away with an Action Plan that can really make a difference.  Maureen made it a point to bring a lot of printed material back with her.  Her plan is to make a more formal, written summary report.

Michelle Nogueira from 7 Hills Behavioral Health introduced herself.  She gave the group detailed information on her program – S.T.E.P. Outreach Center – that is funded by DPH specifically to educate the community on HIV/AIDS.  Location:  310 South Main Street, Fall River MA  508-235-1012.  Their main objectives are to provide needs assessments for those who ask for their services and then place them with appropriate agencies (food, shelter, health needs, etc.).  They also have a program targeting Portuguese women and offer written information in Portuguese and Spanish.

Jenny (Rulison) DiBlasi reported how her agency will be working on a new project involving residents of Fall River Housing units.  They will circulate a workshop survey to discover what topics will be covered, perhaps getting other agencies to partner with them.  Two subjects they are already exploring are a “Dad’s” workshop series and also will be working with People Inc and Middle School age children around communication with parents.

Bea circulated a flyer on a Conference being held in Newport RI – “Practices from Around the Globe”.

A 2-day meeting – September 27 and 28, 2007 that is part of SSTAR’s 30-year anniversary celebration.

Marcia announced that there is some reorganizing and merging in the Girl Scout organization that affects her territory.  She will no longer be covering the Fall River area.  She has previously discussed this development with BJ and has shared her feelings of how she would like to continue her involvement with CHNA and Partners.  We will continue to enjoy Marcia’s company at future meetings!

Meeting Adjourned at 10:00 am

Next Meeting – October 12, 2007

South Coast Hospitals – Charlton Site

Jackson Conference Room

Visit us at www.gfrpartners.com

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings

minutes of 8-10-07

minutes of 6-08-07

minutes of 5-11-07

minutes of 4-13-07

minutes of 3-9-07

minutes of 2-9-07

minutes of 1-12-07

minutes of 12-8-06

minutes of 11-10-06

minutes of 10-13-06

minutes of 9-8-06

minutes 8-11-06

minutes 6-9-06

minutes 5-12-06

minutes 4-14-06

minutes 3-10-06

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minutes 6-10-05

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