Massachusetts Public Health Association
 
Action for Equity in Health   
 
March 2017
In This Issue:

 

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week's Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF) Campaign Kickoff event to continue this first in the nation program! We had a great turnout for the event and also had teams of advocates from around the state join us beforehand for advocacy training followed by visits to their legislators. Read below for more details. 

In the coming weeks MPHA will be working hard for the continuation of PWTF, for sufficient funding in the state budget for essential public health programs, and for key public health protections in the implementation of recreational marijuana

While MPHA and our partners continue to work for a healthier and more equitable Commonwealth, we cannot ignore policy changes on the national level. This week, the US House of Representatives revealed its plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The House plan would have disastrous repercussions for the health of our nation and our commonwealth, with undue burden on our most vulnerable. In addition to changes that will make it more expensive and difficult to get quality health insurance, the plan also eliminates the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which provides states, counties, and municipalities with the funds they need to prevent chronic disease. We need your help to make sure that congress and the current administration do not roll back the clock on public health and health care access. Please visit MPHA's Action Center for more information and to learn how to take immediate action.

Lastly, please join us on Friday, June 2nd for our 15th Annual Spring Awards Breakfast. Tickets are on sale at reduced rates now. See the article below for reasons why you don't want to miss this signature event. 

Thank you for all that you do for public health and equity. 

Sincerely,

 
 

Rebekah Gewirtz
Executive Director 
MPHA UpdatesMPHA
5 Reasons to Register for the 2017 Spring Awards Breakfast Today
  1. Celebrate our 2017 Public Health Champions for their lifelong commitment to public health and their remarkable achievements in advancing health equity here in Massachusetts. Click here to learn more
  2. Take advantage of reduced ticket prices available for a limited time only - tickets for this event sell out quickly so don't wait.
  3. Reconnect with partners and friends, and meet new allies against the breathtaking backdrop of the Boston Harbor.
  4. Your ticket purchase, sponsorship or ad in our program book all go towards supporting MPHA's work to eliminate health inequities and create optimal health conditions for everyone in the Commonwealth.
  5. This is the signature public health networking event in the Commonwealth. Don't miss out on being a part of this uplifting and high energy celebration of what we have achieved together. Purchase your tickets before we sell out!
A special thank you to Department of Public Health  Commissioner Monica Bharel who is serving as the Honorary Chair to the Spring Awards Breakfast.

Thank you to our generous sponsors to date:
 

Thank you to our sustaining Advocate, Bronze and Silver members and partners in public health:

AIDS Action Committee | Association for Behavioral Healthcare  
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Fenway Health | Harvard Street Health Center
Health Foundation of Central MA | John Snow Inc. 
MA League of Community Health Centers
MetroWest Health Foundation | Novo Nordisk | Partners for a Healthier Community
Planned Parenthood League of MA

To learn more about sponsoring this event or advertising in our program book, please contact MPHA Events and Admin Manager, Alexa Piacenza at:  apiacenza@mapublichealth.org or at 857-163-7072, ext 114.
Policy NotesPolicyNotes
150 Rally to Protect the Prevention Trust, Calling for Fast Legislative Action
MPHA Executive Director Rebekah Gewirtz 
More than 150 people rallied last week at the State House to kick off a campaign to protect the first-in-the-nation Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF). The rally included patients and community residents served by PWTF, community health workers, community-based service providers, and hospital systems, along with public health and health care advocates. More than 20 legislators attended, along with many additional legislative staff.

Together, we called for quick action from the legislature to continue funding for PWTF, which is set to expire on June 30, 2017. Without action from the Legislature, access to important and cost-effective services for people in need will be eliminated and infrastructure across the Commonwealth that
PWTF Participant Francisco Feliciano
facilitates seamless coordination between clinical and community providers will be dismantled.

The rally included stories from patients, community health workers about how PWTF has transformed people's lives by providing services and supports in the community to address the underlying causes of their health struggles, as well as examples from clinicians and hospital systems about how PWTF is transforming the delivery of clinical care. Read on
budgetAsk your Legislators to Support MPHA FY18 Budget Priorities
On January 25, 2017, Governor Baker released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. Governor Baker's budget is now being examined by the legislature, which will debate the budget starting in April.  Now is the time to make sure that essential public health funding is included in the budget!

MPHA is working hard to secure adequate funding and language for the following priorities:
You can read MPHA's full budget request letter to the legislature for additional detail,  here

We need your help to make sure that essential public health programs receive the funding necessary to protect healthy communities and promote equity in the Commonwealth.  Please contact your representative and senator and ask for his or her support on the issues most important to you! Read on for more info
marijuanaMPHA Priorities in Promoting Public Health in Implementation of Recreational Marijuana Law
Last month the Massachusetts legislature created a new joint committee to review legislation related to the bill legalizing recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, which was voted into law last November. MPHA has identified eight issues to be addressed for the legislature to strengthen public health protections in the legislation and to address racial disparities in marijuana enforcement and in the legalized recreational marijuana industry. Our eight priorities are:
  1. Increasing the tax on recreational marijuana to support youth prevention
  2. Dedicating funding to youth prevention
  3. Placing necessary restrictions on marijuana edibles
  4. Placing necessary restrictions on recreational marijuana advertising
  5. Baseline data collection to measure public health impact
  6. Expungement of criminal records for marijuana possession of one ounce or less
  7. Promotion of racial equity in recreational marijuana industry
  8. Increasing control of local cities and towns
The Joint Committee on Marijuana has scheduled its first hearing, which will be an overview hearing on Monday, March 20th at 11:00 am at the State House.
The Fight for Healthy Affordable Food
Massachusetts advocates, including MPHA Coalition and Field Organizer Kristina St. Cyr (second row far left) at 2017 National Anti-Hunger Conference in DC
March is National Nutrition Month, an opportunity to highlight the critical role of nutrition in good health. While access to healthy foods is essential for optimal health, many people in Massachusetts suffer from food insecurity, meaning they regularly struggle to have enough food for themselves and their families. 

Food insecurity can lead to health issues that impede a person's ability to lead a full life --consequences that also impact health care costs and the economy. In Massachusetts, 1 out of 9 people are food insecure. For children, the numbers are even greater with 1 out of 6 being food insecure. To end food insecurity in Massachusetts it necessary to make healthy foods both affordable and accessible, which is why MPHA is working to close the "SNAP Gap" and to launch the Massachusetts Food Trust. Read on

Public Health News
Forum -- Critical Resources for Community Health: The State of Hospital Community Benefit in Massachusetts
April 5, 2017 | Springfield 
Click on image above to view flyer
MPHA is proud to partner with Community Catalyst, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, Partners for a Healthier Community, UMass-Amherst School of Public Health & Health Sciences, and the Western MA Health Equity Network to co-host a forum titled, Critical Resources for Community Health: The State of Hospital Community Benefit in Massachusetts.

Date: 
April 5, 2017
Time: 
8 am to 12 noon
Location: UMASS Center, Springfield, MA

There is no cost to attend but you must RSVP by emailing Risa Silverman, UMASS Amherst, at: risa@schoolph.umass.edu. 
2017 Common Health Report 
Last month, the Massachusetts Health Council released its 2017 Common Health for the Commonwealth: Report on Preventable Conditions and Social Determinants of Health (Report)  which identifies key public health areas that require action in order to reduce health inequity and improve overall health in the state. While the report states that Massachusetts is a leader in many ways, including access to health coverage and a low poverty rate, it also illustrates that race and income continue to impact the social determinants of health, creating stark health disparities across the Commonwealth.  To address these disparities, the Report outlines recommended policy solutions, many of which align with MPHA's policy priorities, including policies designed to increase access to healthy foods, affordable housing and a fair income and that prevent chronic health conditions and substance use disorder.

Giving the policy perspective in the income and poverty section of the report, MPHA Executive Director Rebekah Gewirtz recommends policies that address the root cause of health disparities. Read on
Naloxone Available Statewide at Affordable Prices for all First Responders
On February 23, 2017, Attorney General Maura Healey's Office released an advisory alerting first responders across the state that Naloxone (known as Narcan) is available at a steep discount through the Department of Public Health. 

Naloxone is essential to reducing the number of accidental opioid overdoses, which continue to climb in the state. 

Read full advisory:  AGO Naloxone Advisory Alert.
MPHA Staff Update
Welcome Alexa Piacenza
MPHA is delighted to welcome Alexa Piacenza as the new Events and Administrative Manager at MPHA. In this role Alexa will be the lead planner and organizer for MPHA's fundraising events. Alexa previously worked at EcoLogic Development Fund, where she led EcoLogic's individual giving campaign and managed an annual fundraising benefit as well as other small events. She is a graduate of Suffolk University, where she earned her BSBA in Global Business and Marketing. Alexa has lived in Massachusetts her whole life, and is passionate about advancing health equity in her home state.
Upcoming Events and New Reports
New Report: State of Equity in Metro Boston. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council.  


Data Brief: Opioid-related Overdose Deaths Among Massachusetts Residents. February 2017. Department of Public Health. 

3.14.17: NALBOH Webinar: Evidence for Action: A Resource for Local Boards of Health. More information, here

3.15.17: State House Briefing: Improving the Earned Income Tax Credit for Healthier Families. More information, here

3.28.17: Ounce of Prevention Conference 2017. More information and registration, here

3.31.17: Hampden County Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Release. More information and registration, here

4.9.17: 6th Annual Spring Fundraiser to Benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts. More information and registration, here
The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is the champion for public health in the Commonwealth. We are the catalyst for change, eliminating health inequities and creating healthy communities for all. For more information, visit us at  mapublichealth.org or call 857.263.7072.