Over seventy representatives of statewide CHNAs (Community Health Network Areas), members of hospital community benefits committees, and employees of the Department of Public Health gathered for the Second Annual Inter-CHNA Conference held in Canton, MA on October 31, 2014. Entitled "Building Strong Partnerships". the gathering was a follow-up to the first Roundtable held on October 23, 2013 and sought to examine the common mission of CHNAs and hospital community benefits committees. The program began with remarks from panelists David Aronstein of the Boston Alliance for Community Health, Kerry Mello of Southcoast Health, John Riordan of Boston Children's Hospital, and Lisa Wolff of Health Resources in Action. Following the second hour discussion and lunch, the group engaged in a final hour to discuss opportunities for advocacy between the two groups led by Massachusetts Public Health Association Field Director Andrea Freeman. Click here for a 15-minute video of meeting highlights. Click here for a 2-hour-21-minute video of the four-hour meeting. Click here for photos of an InterCHNA gathering in April. For further information about the statewide Inter-CHNA organization, contact David Aronstein at 617-279-2240 ,or Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900, Ext. 103.

(Top row, left and center) Michael Coughlin of Greater Fall River Partners and the DPH Office of Health Planning signs in and takes a seat next to Partners member and DPH staff member Joan Gancarski. (Top row, right) DPH Director of Community Health Planning Cathy O'Connor and LUK Director of Community Engagement and Support Vicente Sanabria talk with other participants before the meeting begins. (Row two) Partners member and Executive Director of United Neighbors of Fall River welcomes the group to the four-hour conference held at the Massachusetts Hospital School before David Aronstein begins the panel discussion with a moment of silence for Boston Mayor Tom Menino, the "public health Mayor," who passed away the day before. (Row three) Southcoast Health Community Benefits Manager Kerry Mello, John Riordan of Boston Children's Hospital and Lisa Wolff of HRIA begin a two-hour discussion. (Row four, left) Panelist Lisa Wolff, Moderator Wendy Garf-Lipp, and David Crowley of Social Capital Inc. and CHNA 15 listen as a participant makes a point. (Row four, center and right) Massachusetts Public Health Association Field Director Andrea Freeman leads a lively discussion on advocacy. (Bottom row, left) Karyn Beacham of the Hospital School is introduced to Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard by DPH Southeast Regional Health Office Director Ron O'Connor. (Bottom row center and right) Kerry Mello talks with one of the participants during lunch and SCI Americorps staff Sophie Fierst and Micah Savitzky talk following.