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What's Inside?
- Race & Health Equity: Putting Resources Into Practice
- Update your email preferences
- Upcoming events: Social Media & Our Youth, Lead Poisoning Prevention Event
- PHIWM News: open house, job opening, policy showcase, and more
- Resources: Communicators' guide to misinformation, free COVID tests, problem gambling, data and action support
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Connecting to the human story | |
Update Your Email Preferences | | |
Thank you for your patience as we update our email lists. Please take a moment to let us know which email lists/topics interest you. If you change your mind in the future, simply click "Update Profile" in the email footer. | |
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Join the Public Health Institute of Western MA for a webinar on November 1 from 12:00-1:15pm featuring Dr. Jill Walsh, an expert in the field, and Liza Hirsch from the Children’s Justice Unit, MA Office of Attorney General. National conversations around social media safety and mental health have intensified, with 42 state attorneys general calling for a Surgeon General warning label. In this webinar we will cover the evolving landscape of social media and its influence on young people, potential benefits and risks, the role of parents and educators in promoting healthy usage, implications of the proposed Surgeon General warning, strategies for addressing social media-related challenges. | |
Square One, Springfield Healthy Homes Initiative, and the Public Health Institute of Western MA are hosting a FREE Lead Poisoning Prevention and Awareness Workshop on October 23 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the East Forest Park Library. At this workshop, you will learn how to protect yourself and your family from lead exposure and how to connect with resources for lead abatement and education. Refreshments will be served and children are welcome to attend (activities will be provided). There will be free prizes and giveaways! | |
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In The News
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MA Department of Public Health awarded the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts funding to address youth problem gambling through the Youth Mental Health Coalition. The Youth Leaders in Gambling Prevention project will build programs that empower young people to lead and develop problem gambling prevention, advocacy, and community strategies to raise awareness of problem gambling and related health issues throughout the state. Learn more: Mass.gov | WGBH
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Transportation for Massachusetts awarded the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts an Impact Grant to support the Healthy Air Network’s advocacy for clean air and transportation initiatives across Springfield, Holyoke, and regional partners. Learn more: T4MA | Mass Transit
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Inside Our Doors
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting an open house in our new space on the 10th floor at 1350 Main Street in Springfield. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our beautiful new space and honor our founding Executive Director, Dr. Frank Robinson. We’re so grateful for everyone who attended. Check out photos from the event.
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Join our team!
We are looking to hire a full-time data and evaluation manager. Do you have experience with program evaluation and quantitative data analysis? Are you committed to advancing racial justice and health equity? Do you want a flexible work environment? If you answered yes, then this job might be a good fit for you! Learn more about this role and how to apply.
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Celebrating a Decade of Impact: Western MA Health Equity Advocacy and Policy Showcase
More than 200 attendees from across the region gathered at the UMass Amherst Campus Center to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Western MA Health Equity Network. The event featured tables and posters from advocacy organizations and a variety of "information galleries", including a Data and Action Gallery staffed by Leela Ramachandran, Rebecca Hunt, and Keleigh Waldner. Jessica Collins and Wanda Givens (Women of Color Health Equity Collective) gave a speech reflecting on the past 10 years as well as the work moving forward. Shout out to our policy director Andrea Freeman, Risa Silverman, and the many other people who helped make this event a reality!
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The Public Health Communicators' Guide to Misinformation
Better understand the current misinformation landscape, ways to assess risk, and when and how to respond. This guide from the Public Health Communications Collaborative includes tools, tips, and actionable takeaways designed for public health professionals who are navigating an increasingly complex information environment. Download the new guide today.
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Free At-Home COVID Tests
The federal government is once again providing free COVID tests to every U.S. household. Orders for 4 free COVID-19 rapid tests can be placed at www.covid.gov/tests. Accessible tests are also available for people who are blind or have low vision. For any current tests you have, check to see if the expiration dates have been extended.
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Data and Action Support
Do you want support using Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI) survey data for action? As the regional data and action support provider for Western and Central Massachusetts, we are here to help! CHEI collects data on the social and structural causes of health needs facing Massachusetts residents, with a focus on communities disproportionately affected by health emergencies. This data can be used to inform programming, apply for grant funding, and advocate for policies that reduce health inequities. To connect with a data and action support provider or to learn more about these opportunities, please fill out the Data & Action Support Interest Form.
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