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What's Inside?
- Race & Health Equity: Putting Resources Into Practice
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Policy: Ask Your State SENATOR to Co-Sponsor Key Budget Amendments by May 21; How can we reduce poverty in MA?
- Research & Evaluation: Free Data and Action Support
- PHIWM News: Tiffany Rufino named one of Business West's 40 under Forty
- Resources: Problem Gambling
- Upcoming Events & Opportunities
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Mental Health Awareness Month
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and the growing conversation around mental health is encouraging. Our mental health is just as crucial as our physical health; the two are deeply intertwined, and taking care of one positively impacts the other. We all experience sadness, nervousness, and emotional ups and downs – it's a normal part of life. However, if these feelings interfere with your daily activities, schoolwork, or relationships, it's important to seek help. Fortunately, there are many great resources available! This month (and all year long), prioritize your well-being.
Find support:
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MoreThanMyMood.org: Access youth and adult mental health resources curated by the Springfield Youth Mental Health Coalition.
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988 Lifeline: Access free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year via phone call, videophone, text, or chat.
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MA Behavioral Health Helpline: Call or text 833-773-2445 to connect to treatment services for mental health and substance use.
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Putting Resources Into Practice | |
Please Ask Your State SENATOR to Co-Sponsor Key Budget Amendments *by May 21* | |
Last month our State Representatives worked on their version of a ~$58 billion state budget and now it is our Senators’ turn. Last week the 40 MA State Senators filed 1,100 amendments that they will debate staring May 22. Between now and then we need to help our Senators by letting them know which amendments are important to us, their constituents. To help maintain valuable services in Western MA and pilot new ones, we encourage you to call or email your State Senator, by May 21st (at the latest), and respectfully ask them to co-sponsor the amendments below.
Find your State Senator | Email template | Phone Script | Questions/Comments?
Amendment #516 by Sen. Julian Cyr
This important amendment would transform local public health by passing the SAPHE 2.0 bill as an “outside section” of the Senate budget. Sen. Jo Comerford is the lead sponsor for this bill that will expand training and development for our public health workforce; create a uniform data collection and reporting system; provide minimum public health standards for each community; support shared services between cities and towns, and more. This amendment would implement the unanimous recommendations of the Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health and serves as the blueprint for using the $200 million ARPA investment made in 2021. More info.
Amendment #455 by Sen. Adam Gomez
The essential amendment would provide $200,000 (level funding) to continue 413Cares.org, the online search and referral tool that helps thousands of people in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties find free and reduced-cost support services, including workforce development, legal assistance, housing and food, substance use recovery, and more. Fact sheet.
Amendment #458 by Sen. Adam Gomez
This key amendment would provide $100,000 to expand the number of participants who could benefit from the Cliff Effect pilot project—a three-year effort to ease a family’s transition off public assistance while securing sustainable employment. More info.
Amendment #574 by Sen. Susan Moran
If adopted, this amendment would establish a Consumer Advisory Board for the Human Service Transportation (HST) program which is operated under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Among other services, HST includes MassHealth’s PT-1 program for non-emergency medical appointments, including life-sustaining treatments. HST provides millions of rides each year across the Commonwealth, to more than 50,000 people with disabilities, but lacks a forum for proactive input from those most impacted—the riders. More info.
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How Can We Reduce Poverty in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, our poverty rate ranges from 7.6% to 19.9% among different racial/ethnic groups. Why the wide range in numbers? Because current policies and systems impact people differently—and disproportionately—based on race, age, and gender, among other things. Poverty is a root cause of health inequities, and we must reduce these numbers, especially for Black, Latina/o/e, and other people of color. The MA Legislature recently established the MA Poverty Commission to study “ways to promote opportunity, address inequality and reduce poverty in the Commonwealth and make recommendations that, if implemented, would significantly reduce poverty in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years.” To that end, this Commission, co-chaired by Rep. Marjorie Decker and Sen. Sal DiDomenico, is holding its first public hearing (hybrid) on May 30, 2024, 3-6pm, at the American International College (AIC), Schwartz Campus Center Auditorium, 1000 State St, Springfield, MA 01109. If you would like to provide oral testimony or participate remotely you must pre-register by 12:00 pm on May 29. If you would like to submit written testimony or have questions, contact Rep. Decker’s Staff Director, Kerwin Amo, 617-722-2130. We encourage you to share your ideas to reduce poverty in Massachusetts!
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Free Data and Action Support Available
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, specifically among communities that are 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 provider for data support or to learn more about these opportunities, please fill out the Data & Action Support Interest Form or email Victoria Hill.
CHES 2023 Overview Slides and Data Tables are now available!
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In the News
Our projects and staff often appear in the news. Check out some of the latest:
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Power to the people as Springfield moves forward with energy aggregation plan, MassLive, 4/24/24
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Those Who Serve: Tiffany Rufino, Behavioral Health Network, 5/1/24
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Look what other states are doing on transportation funding (Op-Ed by Andrea Freeman and Reggie Ramos), CommonWealth Beacon, 4/25/24
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Public health group receives federal money to expand healthy air network, WWLP 22News, 5/1/24
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Massachusetts Receives Federal Earmark to Expand Healthy Air Network, Healthcare News, 5/1/24
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Worcester health official Rosen urges legislative action on overdose prevention laws, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 5/3/24
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Organizations working to provide help amid increase in mental health cases, Western Mass News, 5/13/24
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Upcoming Events & Opportunties | |
The Youth Mental Health Coalition and Beat the Odd's Youth Gambling Awareness event that was scheduled for this weekend has been canceled until further notice. We will share more information as it becomes available. | |
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Events
Check out these upcoming events in our region:
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2024 Massachusetts Problem Gambling Conference: Equity in Action, 5/17/24 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Four Points by Sheraton Norwood: The 2024 Problem Gambling Conference, hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is an opportunity to learn more about the many ways to limit and mitigate the harmful impacts of problem gambling and related issues on individuals, families, and communities. The conference will provide a space for authentic discussion and dialogue, where individuals with lived experience and individuals with professional expertise can continue to advance the public health response to problem gambling. PHIWM staff Tiffany Rufino, Samantha Hamilton, Eli Crespo, and Maddie Press will be presenting at this conference. Registration is now full.
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Community Health Equity Survey's Data & Action Webinar, 5/30/24 from 10:00 to 11:30 am: Join MA Department of Public Health for a webinar to learn more about the Community Health Equity Survey and available regional data and action support. ASL interpretation will be provided. This content will be the same as the webinar in April. Register now.
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Shared Solutions and Partnerships: Advancing School Behavioral Health in Western Massachusetts, 5/31/24 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at Hotel Northampton: Join the BIRCh Project for their Technical Assistance Center Kick-Off Event where they will focus on key strategic planning for school mental health; partnership and coalition building across school districts and community agencies; and how to take action, collaborate, identify a variety of resources. Pre-registration is now open. PHIWM staff Kathleen Szegda and Tiffany Rufino will be speaking at the event.
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Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness 8th Annual Regional Gathering, 5/31/24 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at PeoplesBank Room, Kittredge Center, Holyoke Community College: Join the Network for a gathering of state legislators, local officials, and partners from across from our four western counties to acknowledge the extraordinary work to prevent and end homelessness in our region, and the vision for going forward. Register now.
| Do you have events or news that you would like us to share in our newsletter? If so, send us an email! | | | | |
