The Senate budget, released last week, contains over $10 million more for public health compared to Governor Romney’s H. 2 budget. The Senate and House allocated similar totals for DPH, but there are significant differences in how they propose to fund some programs. As the budget goes to a legislative conference committee, where differences between the House and Senate budgets will be reconciled into a single spending plan for the coming year, MPHA is advocating for the highest possible funding for hepatitis C, school health services, public health hospitals, AIDS treatment and prevention, and substance abuse services. MPHA's budget spreadsheet is linked here. For more information or to get involved, please contact Eric Weltman: 617-524-6696, ext. 111, or eweltman@mphaweb.org.

 

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Another environmental health bill is successfully making its way through the legislative process. In April, we reported that the House and Senate had passed legislation to phase out mercury containing products, a top priority for the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow. Last week, a second AHT priority, the Safer Cleaning Products Bill, was given a “favorable” recommendation by the Health Care Financing Committee, after having been approved by the Environment Committee. The bill requires the use of safer cleaners in schools, day care centers, and other public buildings. Next stop for the bill: the House Ways and Means Committee. For more information or to get involved, please contact Eric Weltman: 617-524-6696,ext. 111, or eweltman@mphaweb.org.

 

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Legislation to prevent AIDS and hepatitis C is also making good progress. More than one-third of people with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts have a needle-related infection, and needle sharing is the primary way of contracting hepatitis C. The Pharmacy Access Bill (H. 4176) would allow people age 18 or older to buy needles from a pharmacist without a prescription. In November, the House overwhelmingly approved H. 4176. After repeated delays caused by opponents, the Senate finally gave initial approval to the bill on June 1. One more vote by the Senate is necessary, so please stay tuned!  For more information or to get involved, please contact Eric Weltman: 617-524-6696,ext. 111, or eweltman@mphaweb.org.

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On May 10, over 275 people attended the 17^th annual Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference. The conference attracted providers, administrators, policy makers and educators for a day of workshops and networking, kicked off by a keynote speech from Ellie Shea-Delaney, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Development in the Office of Elder Affairs. MPHA is a co-sponsor and lead organizer of the event.

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MPHA continues its strong advocacy in support of H. 4452, our bill to prevent childhood obesity by prohibiting the sale of junk food and sugared drinks in schools. We’ve topped well over 100 endorsing organizations, ranging from local boards of health to statewide unions. A recent “letters-to-the-editor” campaign has scored letters in numerous local newspapers. And our “got lunch?” postcards continue to be posted by constituents to their legislators. To get involved, please contact Eric Weltman: 617-524-6696, ext. 111, or eweltman@mphaweb.org.

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MPHA is scheduling "shadowships" with public health and medical professionals for the HCOP (Health Careers Opportunity Program). The program, run by Tufts Medical School, aims to increase the number of Boston middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested in and prepared for a career in medicine and/or public health. MPHA is responsible for organizing the program’s shadowships, several hours spent “shadowing” a public health professional at work. If you can contribute a Thursday afternoon in July, please contact Roberta Friedman: 617-524-6696, ext.103 or rfriedman@mphaweb.org.

 

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Please join us on Wednesday, June 21, for an important and timely forum, “Global Warming and Public Health: Science and Solutions.” The forum is sponsored by MPHA’s Environmental and Occupational Health Section, and will be held at MPHA’s Jamaica Plain office at 434 Jamaicaway. We will begin with networking and refreshments at 5:30 pm, followed the forum at 6:00 pm. The featured speakers are Dr. Paul Epstein, of the Harvard Medical School, and Lori Segall, of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network. At 7:00 pm, the Environmental and Occupational Health section will hold a meeting (open to all). For more information, please contact Roberta Friedman: 617-524-6696, ext. 103 or rfriedman@mphaweb.org.

 

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MPHA’s Public Health Nurses Section is working on exhibits and events for APHA’s Annual Meeting this November in Boston. We need your help! The next meeting of the section is on Wednesday, June 14, at 1 pm, at the MassPRO offices in Waltham. For more information, please contact Roberta Friedman: 617-524-6696, ext. 103, or rfriedman@mphaweb.org.

 

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A project to engage middle school students on public health issues came to a successful conclusion in May. Led by Sarah Fontaine, an MPHA intern from Holy Cross, the students learned about testing for environmental toxins, the benefits of organic farming, and the health impacts of junk food. As a final project, the students designed a survey to assess teacher and staff attitudes about public health. The students have been presenting their results on local television and radio stations, in local print media, and at a community forum.

 

In other news, the regional committee scored an interview for John O’Brien, our annual dinner honoree, in Worcester Magazine. Planning is also underway for a regional pandemic flu forum (see article below), with outreach to local disability, AIDS, and immigrant groups.

 

For more information, or to get involve, please contact Sara Kanevsky: 508-414-0976, or sara.kanevsky@gmail.com.

 

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In Western Massachusetts, MPHA has been hard at work on the school nutrition bill, as well as helping to revitalize a school greenhouse, organizing a forum on health care access, and laying the groundwork for a regional pandemic flu forum. Piper Allard, a local activist, published a letter in support of H. 4452 in her local newspaper, and other members are submitting pieces as well.

Progress is being made on the Sullivan Green House Revitalization Project, a joint effort of MPHA, the YMCA, and WGBY, the local PBS affiliate. The project aims to refurbish a greenhouse at the Sullivan Elementary School in Springfield for use as a community resource and educational tool about agriculture and nutrition. The project recently received a generous donation from the Baha’ai Faith Organization at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

Two regional forums are also on the agenda. On Wednesday, June 21, MPHA is co-sponsoring a forum on the new health care access bill. Additional sponsors are the Community Outreach Workers Network and Training Coalition (COWNT), the City of Springfield, and Partners for a Healthier Community, Inc. a program of Bay State Hospital. The forum will be held at Mercy Medical Center’s Deliso Conference Center from 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. In addition, MPHA is conducting outreach to prepare for a forum on planning in the event of a flu pandemic for populations with special needs (see article below).

 

For more information, or to get involved, please contact AJ Juarez: 413-750-2060, or ajjuarez@verizon.net.

 

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MPHA and the Massachusetts Community Health Worker Network (MACHW) have been included on the steering committee for a new project to promote workforce development for community health workers. The Boston Community Health Worker Initiative (BCHWI) is the latest component of SkillWorks, a workforce development program managed by the Boston Foundation and partners from the philanthropic, business, education, labor, and non-profit sectors. Action for Boston Community Development was recently chosen as lead agency in a competitive planning grant process to develop the BCHWI, which will be funded for three years by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. MPHA and MACHW responsibilities will include work on policy development and advocacy to promote career development and stable employment opportunities for community health workers. CHWs have critical roles in reducing health disparities and increasing access to health care and public health services.

 

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MPHA has received a contract from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to organize three forums on emergency preparedness planning for populations with special needs in the event of a flu pandemic. DPH has staff dedicated to providing guidance for local health officials on planning to meet the needs of people with disabilities, linguistic minorities, people dependent on medical technology, the homeless, and others. MPHA will organize sessions to bring people together from different sectors in Springfield, greater Worcester, and the Boston area for more detailed local and regional planning. The forums will identify strategies for integrating public health and social service systems and providing overarching structure to support local public health planning to accommodate special needs populations. MPHA will publish findings and recommendations from the forums.

 

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