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.
Youth CHOICES
A merger of the Healthy Youth Task Force and the Shannon Grant Steering Committee has created Fall River Youth CHOICES (Community building and mobilization for Healthy youth development through positive Opportunities, Intervention and prevention, Collaboration, Empowerment and Support to ensure success) that consolidates all youth development planning and coordination activities for the City. This single group will now oversee all issues that affect youth, including youth substance abuse and violence prevention and any intervention involved in preventing youth risk behaviors. Co-Coordinators: Christian McCloskey and Jamison Souza. Meeting Time: First Wednesday of the month, at 3:30 p.m. at Community Development Recreation, 72 Bank Street, FR
Substance Abuse Task Force
Mission: To collaborate with the Greater Fall River community to eliminate the abuse of substances through education, awareness, and prevention. Vision: A healthy and drug-free Greater Fall River community Goals: 1. Assess the prevalence and conditions of substance abuse 2. Increase education on all forms of substance abuse and its risks and consequences 3. Raise awareness on substance abuse prevention and treatment services 4. Increase access to treatment options Meeting Time: TBA Please contact Roger Dextradeur to verify the date, time and location of the next meeting.
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 Stratgies 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 first Thursday of January, March, June, and September. Meeting Location: Stanley Street Treatment & Resources, 386 Stanley Street (check to be sure)
All meetings are open to anyone who lives or works in the Fall River, Somerset, Swansea or Westport areas.


	HOME \| ABOUT US \| WORKGROUPS \| HEALTHY CITY \| NEEDS ASSESSMENT \| RESOURCES \| COALITIONS \|