The Fall River Mass in Motion hosted the second day of a two-day training on Health Impact Assessments (HIA) provided by staff from Human Impact Partners (HIP) on June 5th and 6th, 2012 at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center on Martine Street in Fall River. Designed to teach participants the elements of a comprehensive HIA, the session focused on actually doing an HIA for the Quequechan River Bikepath Project that Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator and others have been promoting over the past two years. The training took participants through the seven stages of an HIA outlined in their Health Impact Assessment Toolkit provided by HIP. The session included staff interns from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council as well as representatives of the Office of Neighborhood Outreach, the Niagara Neighborhood Association and Fall River Park Advocates. Click here for a   video of the session.  For more information about the HIA process go to the HIP Resources page. For more information about Mass In Motion in Fall River, contact Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly at 508-324-2411. 

(Top row, left) Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) interns Kate Ito and Peter James cover the registration table for the day-long training at the ATMC. (Top row, center) Massachusetts Department of Public Health's cancer prevention program policy coordinator Maria Evora-Rosa introduces herself to Lola Omolodun of the MAPC during an introduction exercise. (Top row, right) Human Impact Partners (HIP) project director Kim Gilhuly begins the session by asking participant what they already know about Health Impact Assessments (HIAs). (Row two, left) Westport resident and former Mass Public Health Association executive director Valerie Bassett talks about her experience with HIAs. (Row two, center) A chart with the results of a Social Determinants and Health Tree Exercise that was done in the first day of training in Boston is displayed on the wall. (Row two, right) HIP Research Associate Sara Satinsky describes the Screening step in doing HIAs before introducing a group exercise. (Row three) James Bazinet from the Fall River Office of Neighborhood Outreach records suggestions from MAPC interns Kate Ito, Jennifer Molina, and Lola Omolodun. (Row three) SRPEDD transportation planner Adam Recchia and Fall River Park Advocates coordinator Sandy Dennis work on the group Scoping exercise. (Row three, right) Fall River Health and Human Services director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D. and Kim Gilhuly add their ideas during the exercise. (Bottom row, left) Niagara Neighborhood Association vice-president John Sylvia reports on his groups ideas. (Bottom row, center and right) Jane Dibiasio reports for her group that included Valerie Bassett, Julie Kelly, HealthFirst dietitian Pam Bermudez, Dr. Vaillancourt and Kim Gilhuly.