Partners for a Healthier Community


In 1995, Charlton Hospital contracted with a national consulting group to conduct a comprehensive community health needs assessment on behalf of Partners. Partners then organized a day-long vision workshop to prioritize community needs based on the results of this survey. With these results, Partners formed three ongoing health improvement task forces or Work Groups to address cardio-vascular disease, substance abuse, and access to health care. Since that time, work groups have been modified to include a broader range of issues. In addition, a number of mini-grants have been awarded to a number of local groups and agencies to address specific concerns. Click on the Work Group name for more information about meetings and current group goals.
Healthy Youth Task Force
The focus of the Healthy Youth Task Force is on all issues that affect youth, including youth substance abuse and violence prevention and any intervention involved in preventing youth risk behaviors. This work group works closely with school systems to ensure an integration between school-based and over thirty community programs. Community Goal: To reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and violence among youth between the ages of 12-17 in the Greater Fall River area. Mini-grant Projects: Teen Leadership Video (Fire City Pictures) and the Young Parent Speakers Program (Family Planning/CFC) Co-Coordinators: Christian McCloskey and Jamison Souza. Meeting Time: First Wednesday of the month (except July and August), at 3:30 p.m. at CD-REC, 72 Bank Street (see calendar for schedule of meetings)
Healthy Lives Advisory Group
The Healthy Lives Advisory Group is a community-driven action group welcoming representation from local community activists, community based civic group organizations, local health and human services, the educational community, local boards of health, and volunteers of all ages who come together to change community norms around healthy risk factors for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It serves as the primary advisory body for the DPH-funded Healthy Lives Program and the Tuft's University-funded Children In Balance program in the Fall River Public Schools. Further, we seek to promote positive change with all of the groups and institutions in our community that influence healthy lifestyles. The Healthy Lives Advisory Group strives to be representative of the diverse populations within Fall River and the surrounding area. Community Goal: To promote healthy food choices and eating behaviors, encourage the adoption of active life-long fitness goals, and to educate the population as to the dangers of tobacco use. Meeting Time: Second Friday of the month, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Charlton Hospital (see calendar for schedule of meetings). If there are any questions, please call Healthy Lives Coordinator Mike Ramos at 508-837-0815.
Access to Health Care Work Group
The Access to Health Care task force is a subcommittee of the Partners for a Healthier Community. The goal of this Work Group is to promote the health and wellness of the community through voluntary, collaborative participation of health and human service providers with the goal of linking under served community members in Greater Fall River and to increase access to health education, primary care health screenings and referral services. Community Goals To increase the number of community members who have access to health care services and to reduce healthcare disparities. Coordinator: Paula Harrison (508-679-9376) chairs the workgroup. Mini-grant Projects: Smoke Free Home Campaign (PYCO/ Partners for Clean Air), Healthy Eating Course (People Inc.) Meeting Time: 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except July) at HealthFirst Family Care Center, 102 County Street, Fall River.
Healthy City Fall River Design Team
The Design Team is made up of dozens of individuals representing a broad array of groups and activities that contribute to the health of the Fall River community. Members of the Team meet quarterly to review the progress of the Healthy City Fall River process and to make recommendations to the Planning Team, a smaller group composed of representatives of the Mayor’s Office, the Fall River Department of Health and Human Services, Partners for a Healthier Community and the Southeastern Center for Healthy Communities. The role of the Design Team is to interpret the input of the community, to help shape a plan of action and to evaluate the overall progress of the initiative. Community Goals To engage members of the Fall River community in addressing the five Action Priority Areas of Healthy City Fall River. Coordinator: Dr. David S. Weed (508-324-2411) chairs the workgroup. Meeting Time: 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.. on the 3rd Thursday of January, March, June, and September. Location: Administrative offices, Stanley Street Treatment & Resources, 386 Stanley Street.
All meetings are open to anyone who lives or works in the Fall River, Somerset, Swansea or Westport areas.


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