What We Do:
The Foundation works to make the MetroWest region of Massachusetts a healthier place by distributing grants, awarding scholarships and offering programs designed to address a variety of community health issues.
We serve as a resource for community organizations in 25 area towns by collecting and sharing data, providing leadership training and improving the capacity of local health providers. |
Health Professions Scholarship
The deadline to apply for a Health Professions Scholarship is May 31. Applications can now be submitted online.
If you know someone pursuing a career in health care, tell them to apply today! |
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Health Care for All Receives Grant to Address Cuts in Oral Health Benefits
Imagine, after you have eight of your teeth pulled you are told you are no longer eligible to receive dentures under the state's MassHealth insurance program.
Or, that you are a pregnant woman who cannot receive preventative dental care putting you at risk for oral infections which have been linked to preterm birth.
This was the picture presented to the Foundation's Board of Trustees recently as they approved a $25,000 grant to Health Care for All (HCFA) to bring greater awareness to the lack of oral health benefits available to adults under MassHealth.
Michael MacCormack, director of development at Health Care for All in Boston, said the grant will be used to create public awareness and education forums about the reduction in dental benefits and to encourage the restoration of previously available benefits. MacCormack said HCFA will work in the towns of Framingham, Milford and Natick.
"A lot of the prior oral health efforts had been preventative," said MacCormack. "This shifts the focus to a far more serious area because we're dealing with folks who have no coverage."
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New Health Data Available
We have recently added Behavioral Risk Factor Survey data for 24 of our MetroWest communities to our website. It is one of the most extensive town-by-town analysis done for any of the communities in the Commonwealth.
More than 2,400 MetroWest residents were randomly surveyed by phone about their health by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health from 2007 to 2009.
The results of the phone survey and the 2010 Census were used to statistically predict the number and percentage of residents who are in good health, who smoke or drink, are obese, have diabetes or suffer from respiratory illnesses like asthma.
"It allows people to plan what areas are right for intervention," said Larry Finison, of SigmaWorks in Needham, which analyzed the data for the Foundation. "It allows them to estimate the number of people in their town who are afflicted with certain conditions."
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Photo courtesy of MetroWest Daily News/Ken McGagh
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Driving Growth at ITNGreaterBoston
In just three months since the nonprofit transportation network called ITNGreaterBoston launched it has:
- provided more than 250 rides
- recruited 30 drivers
- signed on 46 members
ITNGreaterBoston wants to continue to expand and is looking for volunteer drivers to donate a few hours of their time each month. For more information, call 508-309-7375 or visit www.itngreaterboston.org.
On June 17th, ITN GreaterBoston will be hosting it's first annual fundraiser called Walk for Rides. For more information visit www.walkforrides.org. |
Save the Date!
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition
The Framingham Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition is hosting a community breakfast on May 31 called "Building a Healthier Community for Teens." The event will feature a keynote address from Sophie Godley, of the Boston University School of Public Health, who will discuss environmental strategies to prevent teen pregnancy.
The breakfast will be held at the MetroWest Medical Center's Medical Arts Building, 85 Lincoln St. in Framingham. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Please RSVP by emailing Amanda Holm at amanda.holm@uwotch.org or call 508-370-4871.
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Following Our Health Leaders
Angela Minardi, formerly the regional communications director at the American Heart Association in Framingham, is now marketing manager at CVS Caremark Corp. in Woonsocket, R.I. Maura Navin Webster, formerly senior regional  communications director at the American Heart Association in Framingham, is now director of business partnerships and public relations at WhippleHill Communications Inc. in Bedford, Mass. |
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