Blue Hills Community Health Alliance 
CHNA 20
October 2016 Newsletter
 
CHNA 20 Fall Meeting and a Behavioral Health Initiative Call to Action

The Fall Meeting featured Dr. Alexander Mendoza, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital -Plymouth and South Shore Hospital's Chief of Psychiatry. Dr. Mendoza related some of his experiences and hopes for the future of behavioral medicine such as how behavioral Health (BH) providers and Emergency Room (ER) physicians could utilize telemedicine to reduce unnecessary ER visits.  Dr. Mendoza's remarks were followed by a presentation on the Community Conversation portion of CHNA 20's BH Initiative.  The major trends identified were the need for broad based and resource education and the stigma that accompanies BH. Small group discussion followed and ideas were shared concerning the future focus of the Behavioral Health Initiative. CHNA 20 thanks all those who attended the Fall Meeting for their valuable input.
 
The next step for the Behavioral Health initiative is to build a CHNA community-based action planning process. In the coming weeks, the CHNA will release a "Call to Action" for the development of a BH Task Force beginning January 2017. This group will be composed of community members with a mission to evaluate the BH landscape using local data and best practices provided by CHNA 20. The task force's goal will be to propose the terms for a new funding opportunity to be released by the CHNA in early fall 2017. 
2015/2016 
Community Grants
  During the 2015/2016 CHNA 20 Community Grant cycle six distinct grants were completed. Upcoming newsletters will highlight the great work each did in the community. This month we feature the  South Shore Cancer Collaborative and the 
Melanoma Awareness Initiative Expansion Project.

South Shore Cancer Collaborative
The South Shore Cancer Collaborative recognized that several cancer support organizations were not aware of each other's efforts. The goal of this program was to increase collaboration between cancer organizations and create a community resource database to better serve those in need.  The program worked to bring  cancer support organizations and health care providers together to identify gaps in services and improve organizational linkages. In addition, the Cancer Collaborative began a partnership with Lyft, a ride sharing service to provide transportation for better access to cancer treatment.

More than 100 families and patients were impacted by this program as a whole. The South Shore Cancer Collaborative resource database received positive feedback. Users reported it to be an extremely useful resource to obtain comprehensive, coordinated information quickly and effectively. Overwhelming positive response was also received concerning the Lyft partnership. This partnership was cited as providing some of the most practical and helpful support for their treatment.

  The Cancer Collaborative was able to increase collaboration, create a useful resource database, and partner with Lyft to increase access to cancer support and ultimately improve the quality of life for cancer patients.

Melanoma Awareness Initiative Expansion Project
The Melanoma Awareness Initiative was granted funding to expand their awareness efforts to additional CHNA 20 communities.  The program goal was to decrease the health problems associated with overexposure to sun and the long term health problem of skin cancer through SunAWARE education. UV cameras, proven to promote skin cancer prevention, were purchased and used to educate community members.

Public health nurses were given training, resources, and use of UV cameras to help them provide Melanoma education  in their schools and at community events. The initiative successfully trained all CHNA 20 service area public health nurses while creating positive relationships and plans for future collaboration.   

 The Melanoma awareness education programs led by the public health nurses reached over 7,000 people including teachers, students, school nurses, and parents. Multiple community events used the UV camera in a hands-on, interactive way to promote the best education. Many children self-reported that they would engage in the SunAWARE action steps when in the sun. Ultimately, Melanoma awareness was provided to thousands of people in CHNA 20 communities and public health nurses formed positive relationships for lasting collaboration. 
CHNA 20 Interns

Throughout this past summer and to the present, CHNA 20 has been fortunate to have support from three wonderful undergraduate and postgraduate interns. We would like to thank Ivy Watts, Brittany Burke, and Ariel Mack for their hard work and  commitment to our organization.  We'd like you to know a little bit about them.
          

Ivy Watts is completing her Master's Degree in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University. 

Ivy has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Nutrition and is most interested in reducing childhood obesity in low income and homeless populations. As an intern with CHNA 20, Ivy assisted one of our multi-year grantees in program planning as well as organized and prepared for our summer meeting on collaboration. Even though Ivy has completed her internship, she continues working for CHNA 20 several hours a month.


 

Brittany Burke is completing her Bachelor's Degree in Public Health from Regis College. As a summer intern , Brittany assisted with the "Community Conversations" portion of CHNA 20's Behavioral Health Initiative that focused on collecting and analyzing qualitative behavioral health data from its service area. Brittany's work with CHNA 20 helped to reinforce her interest to pursue a career in the field of community health. Upon graduation in spring 2017 she plans on  securing a job within the field and pursing a Masters in Public Health. 
      

Ariel Mack is a senior at Boston University (BU) studying Health Sciences. Ariel has been researching and analyzing behavioral health data and assisting in many other aspects of CHNA 20.  Ariel relates, "Throughout my time at BU, I have been exposed to the hardships that those with mental illnesses have to face on a daily basis. I started to realize that, as students, we were not having the type of conversations we needed to have about our own mental health. I was drawn to CHNA 20 because of their commitment to starting those conversations and taking action to change the way our society thinks about overall health." Ariel's internship continues through December 2016.

 CHNA 20 Strategic Planning

CHNA 20 has embarked on a strategic planning process to aid in future programming and funding opportunities through the DPH Determination of Need Community Health Initiatives (DoN) program.  Our goal is to further support agencies and organizations working to improve the health and well being of our 13 communities and beyond.

As we fine tune our strategy we are reaching out 
to our broader membership for feedback. If you have not done so already, please click on the link below to complete a short survey. Your responses to this survey are critical to our strategic planning efforts.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
BCNC Day at Lyric Stage
 
BCNC invites you to join them at Lyric Stage for a special performance of
Warrior Class and an exclusive meet the cast reception.

Warrior Class
Saturday, October 29, 2016
3:00pm  5:00pm
Lyric Stage
140 Clarendon St., Boston, MA

A $75 ticket purchase includes admission to the show and a wine and cheese reception with the cast/crew. Proceeds from the event will support BCNC programs for children, youth, adults, and families.

For more information and/or purchase tickets, please click on the link.
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The Scituate Hoarding Response Team and MassHousing invites you to a  peer facilitated 
Buried in Treasures Support Group
Is Clutter ...
Taking over your home or workspace?
Creating safety problems in your home?
Affecting your life and your relationships?

Program begins Monday, October 31 at 2 PM
For more information or to register, please contact:
Laura Minier, Mgr. Social Services Scituate
781-378-1653 or lminier@scituatema.gov
(You do not have to be a Scituate resident to attend)
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Cohasset Safe Harbor Coalition invites you to:
Under Construction!
What Every Parent Must Know About Your
Tween/Teen's Brain Development
Dr. Ruth Potee
Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
November 10 at 7 pm

For more information, please click on the link.

 
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Integrated Care Learning Consortium Members  
Please join us for our 
Aging and Emotional Wellness Forum
Wednesday, November 16th
6-8:30pm, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton
 
Our panel of experts will explain the different behavioral health challenges that occur as we age, including social isolation, depression and anxiety. Learn about different healthcare, community support and education programs for individuals and caregivers. In addition, learn more about who can participate in your health care decisions, advance directives for care, health care proxies and more.
Please invite your community! 


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Several Free Programs Being Offered at Norwood Hospital
800 Washington Street, 
Norwood
Diabetes Support Group
Meets 2nd Tuesday of each Month from now until May
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
RANI Conference Room
Meetings are facilitated by registered dietitian/ certified diabetes educator
For more information call: 781.278.6022

Feel Better During Cancer Treatment
Cosmetologist led workshop for help with cosmetics, skin care, and head covering
November 14, 2016    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Norwood Hospital Heffernan Conference Room
To reserve your seat call: 781.278.6022
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"Social Media for High School Parents"

November 16, 2016, Scituate HS, Rm. 101, 7:00-8:15 PM

How can parents/caregivers keep up -
and support their older children's safe use of technology?  
This session is for families with slightly older children.
Parents/caregivers of students in Grades 9-12. 

Location: 
Scituate High School, Rm. 101, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
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Maria Droste Counseling Services Presents:
Addiction: Removing Barriers to Care
A community panel discussion 
addressing disparities & barriers to care for all of us impacted by substance use

Thursday, November 17,2016
Quincy High School
6:30 -8:30pm
Moderated by Joe Catalano, QATV

Light Refreshments Served

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Let it Out is a non-profit support group that utilizes an emotional release boxing program to balance the mental and physical health by those impacted by lose or the struggle with a loved one's Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
Our Funders


We believe the path to sustainable change for the health of our communities
lies in multi-sector, collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts that address the roots of health disparities. Serving the towns of Braintree, Canton, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, Sharon, and Weymouth.
Blue Hills Community Health Network Alliance (CHNA 20) | chna20@baystatecs.org | www.chna20.org