School-Community Partnership

 

 

 


Substance Abuse Task Force

 

 

 

 

 

 


Active Living/Healthy Eating (HEAL) Task Force

 

 

 

 


Greater Fall River Coalition for Health and Well Being

 

 

 

 


Suicide Prevention Task Force

 

 

 

      HOME | ORGANIZATION | TASK FORCES |  INITIATIVES | NEEDS ASSESSMENT | RESOURCES | COALITIONS 

Task Forces

School-Community Partnership

A merger of the 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) and the School-Community Partnership that consolidates all youth development planning and coordination activities for the Fall River Schools has created a single group to oversee all issues that affect youth, including youth substance abuse and violence prevention and any intervention involved in preventing youth risk behaviors.

Co-Coordinators: Michaela Hetzler (508-675-8100, Ext. 1390) and Annemarie Holly  (508-679-0922)

Meeting Time: First Tuesday of the month, at 9:00 a.m. at the Durfee High School Tradewinds restaurant (call to verify)

Substance Abuse Task Force

The mission of the Substance Abuse Task force is to expand on collaborative efforts within Greater Fall River that reduce substance abuse through coordinated education, awareness, prevention, and intervention strategies. Its goals are to:

  • Prevent further increase of heroin related overdoses by increasing access to overdose prevention tools such as Narcan (naloxone)

  • Increase supportive substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment (information and resources) for youth (and parents)

  • Support educators in responding to youth substance abuse through specialized opportunities for training and linkage to available resources 

  • Develop/implement supports that address existing gaps in services for individuals with substance use disorder and their families

Coordinators: Rachel Davis at 508-973-5212 and Stephanie Perry at 508-674-5600, Ext. 2075

Meeting Time: Second Wednesday of every month at 3:00 p.m. (check to verify)

Meeting Location: Elizabeth House at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River.

Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) Task Force

The Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) Task Force brings together the many resources that contribute to improved nutrition and increasing the activity levels of adults and children in the Greater Fall River Area.  This Task Force also seeks to reduce levels of overweight, obesity and poor nutrition by providing nutrition education and access to healthy foods throughout the community. Working closely with the Mass In Motion Project, this Task Force also seeks to improve the physical environment to enable multi-modal transportation, greater use of parks and open spaces, and resources designed to increase physical fitness.

Coordinators: Dave Weed (508-837-9029) and Julianne Kelly (508-324-2405) 

Meeting Time:  Every first Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room of the HealthFirst Family Care Center, 387 Quarry Street, Fall River (check to verify meeting date and time)

Greater Fall River Coalition for Health and Well Being

The Greater Fall River Coalition for Health and Well Being is an ad hoc group formed in response to the challenges posed by homeless families living in local motels while they await placement in permanent housing. Members of the group meet to continue their ongoing discussion of strategies to assist the families. The group is working on providing resources and assistance with accessing medical care, finding donations of clothing and personal care items, transportation, and options for recreation for the children who are living in very restrictive environments. Anyone with an interest in problem-solving for this at-risk population is welcome to attend the meetings.

Coordinator: Wendy Garf-Lipp  (508-324-7900, Ext. 103)

Meeting Time: Usually the third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Contact Wendy to confirm the date and time of the next meeting

Meeting Location:  Community Room, HealthFirst Family Care Center, 337 Quarry Street, Fall River

Suicide Prevention Task Force

Representatives of various organizations have come together to form a Suicide Prevention Task Force under the leadership of United Neighbors of Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community. The group was formed to respond to the rising incidence of suicides in Bristol County and to promote prevention, education and support services. The group is supported by the Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention (BCRCSP), the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, United Neighbors of Fall River, Child & Family Services, Dog Tag Navigators, Silva Funeral Home, GFR Re-Creation, Diman Regional High School, Fall River Schools, MA Department of Children and Families, Fall River Army Band, Fall River Police Department, The Samaritans of Bristol County, Health First Family Care Center, Saint Anne's/Steward Hospital, WIC, interfaith groups and community residents.

Coordinator: Wendy Garf-Lipp  (508-324-7900, Ext. 103)

Meeting Time: Usually the fourth Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Contact Wendy to confirm the date and time of the next meeting

Meeting Location:  Community Room, HealthFirst Family Care Center, 337 Quarry Street, Fall River