The Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy | | Health Center-led Science | | |
As we close our second year, we at IHE are excited to share our accomplishments in the past twelve months. IHE supports member community health centers to advance health center-led science, an approach that seeks to ensure research, evaluation, and policy-relevant dissemination is led by and builds on the expertise of the 50 health centers members in Massachusetts and the communities we serve. IHE supports the tireless work of Massachusetts health centers that advance evidence-based, education, quality improvement practice, health center collaboration, and policy recommendations to attain optimal health for all.
This year, IHE and our partner health centers have worked to align with the clinical priorities of Advancing Health Equity in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (AHEM): maternal and perinatal health, social drivers of cardiometabolic health, place-based investments, and measuring success.
IHE is working to address health conditions that matter to our members. Some of these issues include substance-use disorder care, interoperable systems in maternal care, cancer prevention, workforce health for health center staff, workforce development, and chronic disease management.
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This year, we worked closely with Brockton Neighborhood Health Center and NeighborHealth to advance maternal and child health through the collection and visualization of key perinatal data. We supported the advancement of scholarship at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center and Codman Square Health Center through the pilot year of the INSPIRE program, funded by the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative.
We supported Caring Health Center in Springfield in understanding facilitators and barriers to substance use and harm reduction care and are working to frame the kinds of recovery communities that can emerge through building bridges between community health centers and community-based organizations. We are also proud to have completed evaluations for youth programing run by community health centers and the Mass League.
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This year also marks new leadership on our IHE Steering Committee. We are pleased to announce our new bi-chairs, Cristina Huebner Torres (Caring Health Center in Springfield) and Joe Panerio-Langer (Brockton Neighborhood Health Center).
With many of our research efforts ongoing, there is much to look forward to in the next twelve months!
Coming up this summer, we invite you to learn more from our partners and us during webinar 2 of the Perinatal Data Learning Collaborative series and the IHE Mission Committee Open House.
To review these and other IHE accomplishments and events please see the IHE webpage of the Mass League website and read more below.
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Save the Date: August 20 | 1pm-2:30pm ET
Perinatal Data Learning Collaborative Series
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Please join us on August 20, 2025, at 1pm for the Perinatal Data Learning Collaborative Series Session 2 | Tracking What Counts: Perinatal Data Equity in Action at NeighborHealth where we will address how tracking perinatal data can assist with managing and ensuring perinatal health equity.
Dr. Christin Price, MD, Administrative Director of the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network (PNQIN), the statewide perinatal quality collaborative for Massachusetts, will present on the importance of maternal health data and health promotion priorities at PNQIN. She will address how PNQIN came about and how every state has a required perinatal-neonatal quality improvement plan. Dr. Price’s presentation aims to provide an overview of PNQN’s history and perinatal initiatives and identify opportunities for collaboration and engagement between PNQIN and Massachusetts CHCs.
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Moderated by Mimi Gardner, LICSW, MPH, Vice President and Chief Equity Officer of NeighborHealth, the presentation will include information about an example process for tracking and building data visualizations for maternal health equity data. This event is hosted by the Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation, and Policy, Inc. View the event on Higher Logic.
Register in advance for the Zoom link. After registering, registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
| | | | IHE Mission Committee Open House | | |
The IHE Mission Committee Open House is moderated by IHE's executive director, Cheryl Clark, and features remarks from IHE Mission Committee members regarding health, wellness, and the significance of community health centers.
Stay tuned for more information about watching the broadcast of the Open House by checking the IHE webpage.
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2025 Community Heroes: This year we are excited to honor the four IHE Mission Committee members as the 2025 Community Heroes. Our Mission Committee members are dedicated to health equity and do incredible work in the community to advance health and wellness.
Joyce Rain Anderson, PhD
Professor, Bridgewater State University
Board Member, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
Nieisha Deed
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, PureSpark
Sonia Erlich, LMHC, MFA, MA
Deputy Director for Workforce Development and Training, TEAM UP Scaling and Sustainability Center
Jeffrey Thomas
Founder & Executive Director, Mandela Yoga Project
| | Read the full biographies of our Mission Committee members in our June newsletter. | | Health Center Week is August 3-9 | | National Health Center Week is August 3-9, 2025. This year’s theme is “America’s Health Centers: Celebrating Past, Present, and Future“ — honoring 60 years of improving our nation's health. | |
IHE encourages our readers to consider attending Health Center Week events in Massachusetts!
Find an event close to home or consider attending one where you are a patient or have a strong relationship with the center. Health Center week is a time to celebrate and support the incredible work of community health centers with events such as the following:
Snug Harbor Patient Appreciation Table | Aug 5 | 1pm
Learn about Manet Community Health Center's programs, services, and employment opportunities. Enjoy a healthy snack and learn about mindful snacking. Grab a reminder card for reducing stress during the workday. Pick up some giveaways! Location: Manet CHC Snug Harbor, 9 Bicknell St., Quincy, MA 02169
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center Health Fair | Aug 6 | 10am-1pm
Now in its 3rd year, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center invites community partners to join in this wonderful, family-friendly community event. The health fair features free diabetes and blood pressure screenings, swim safety demonstrations, voter registration, food resources, health insurance registration, and much more. There will also be free raffle prizes, face painting and ice cream. Location: GLFHC North Lawrence, 150 Park St., Lawrence, MA 01841
Whole Life, Whole Community | Aug 7 | 11am
This Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center event will address inequities outside of healthcare. In particular, we will have resource tables that address food access – information on local food pantries and non-profits that deal with food access. Our Veterans Center will have information on the Dress for Success Boutique, which gives veterans professional clothing for free. We will also have mental health, housing, and multicultural resources, as well as childcare agencies. Location: HSNHC, 632 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121
Learn more about Health Center Week and find an event near you.
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IHE June Feature
In June, IHE shared information about our Mission Committee in advance of the IHE Mission Committee Open House.
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We celebrated Juneteenth by joining the Massachusetts Medical Society in recognizing the voices of Black physicians who are improving lives across the Commonwealth.
We also celebrated the work of Fenway Health in honor of Pride Month.
Read the full feature.
| | | The Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation, and Policy | |
In 2023, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (Mass League) created the Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation, and Policy, Inc. (IHE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to support Health Center-led Science driven by community health centers.
IHE convenes communities and supports the scientific infrastructure, implementation, program evaluation and training needed to identify and sustain the most effective strategies for attaining equity in health and healthcare, as defined by those with lived experience of health inequities.
Learn more about IHE on our webpage of the Mass League website and on our LinkedIn page.
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