Healthy City Fall River coordinator David Weed was invited by members of the Taunton/Attleboro Community Health Network Area (CHNA) Health and Wellness Committee to present the Healthy City model at their July 8, 2009 meeting. The group is considering starting a similar initiative in the City of Taunton and wanted to learn as much as possible about the process that Fall River followed over the past five years. Dr. Weed described the original visioning process that led to the designation of Action Plan Priorities and many of the activities that have been developed to address the many health challenges that Fall River faces. The Health and Wellness Committee plans to structure a similar process to address similar health challenges for the City of Taunton using a healthy communities model. For further information about the presentations, contact Massachusetts Department of Public Health Southeast Regional Director Ron O'Connor at 508-984-0615 or Dave Weed at 508-324-2411. (Photos by Dave Weed & Ron O'Connor)

(Top row, left) Southeast Regional Director Ron O'Connor introduces Dr. Weed to members of the Health and Wellness Committee of the Greater Taunton/Attleboro CHNA at their July 9th meeting held at Morton Hospital. (Middle row) Dr. Weed outlines the first five years of the Fall River initiative in a PowerPoint presentation. (Bottom row) Committee members Diana Martell and Karen Swass of the Citizens for Citizens WIC program, Colleen O'Brien of Community Care Services - Healthy Families, Donna Cronin, R.N. of Triumph Inc. Head Start program, Julie Weisskirchen and Julie Lizotte of Morton Hospital and Kelly Nevins of BMC HealthNet.