Community health leaders from across Franklin County and North Quabbin gathered remotely Wednesday afternoon for the first Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) meeting of the year, kicking off the final year of the three-year plan.
CHIP aims to identify health needs, different from their causes; access to current and necessary resources to meet these needs; reduce gaps in services; and improving the health of our community.
In the 2021-2023 plan, three main goals were identified, which include reducing the use of drugs by young people; building individual and collective resilience by strengthening the connections of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety; and finally, continuing to evolve tools to reduce barriers for people with Type 2 diabetes or those at risk. Within each goal, there are a number of specific objectives, with expected outcomes.
“Our first year was a good year, but it was a little slow, planning, thinking, retooling,” said CHIP Program Coordinator Jennifer Audley, reflecting on 2021, the first year of the program.
The second year, Audley said, represented an opportunity to get back into the community, stopping in classes and visiting fellow residents at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. While the meetings remained on Zoom, the group was able to continue making announcements via email.
Representatives from housing, transport and local charities spoke about how things have progressed over the past two years, and the work that still remains.
“I think one of the things we’ve all learned here, and one of the things I really appreciate about CHIP, is understanding housing is part of the solution,” Franklin County Housing & Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Gina Govoni said. . “There is enough demand, availability and support.”
Govoni said the housing authorities are happy to work with Clinical & Support Options (CSO) and are happy that the organization will begin the expansion of the housing complex on Wells Street in Greenfield, which will include the expansion of living spaces from 30 to 40, as well as the construction of a housing complex. a new three-story building that will house 36 studio apartments.
Megan Rhodes, director of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ transportation and land use planning organization, added that transportation “touches all aspects of people’s lives.” In particular, Rhodes talked about changes to the special transport system.
“This system is very important to us,” he said. “Not only are we looking at all types of transportation, but we’re also looking at … the next 25 years.”
Rhodes said the project is in the public sector, gathering information on what people think is needed in the area, whether it’s more roads or more buses. In addition to the survey posted on the FRCOG website, a public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 pm Registration is required at tinyurl.com/5AB5BWKV.
“For me, the biggest thing we’ve done this year is how we’ve fixed the culture of our life, which was disrupted by the epidemic, and we’re a little tired. Some strings were cut,” said Audley. “I feel like I have a glimpse of the renewal that’s going on and the new threads, and the inspiration. I feel like we’re more connected because of the process.”
FRCOG Director of Community Services Phoebe Walker shared with attendees the five bills that health officials hope will gain parliamentary support in 2023, including one, bill S 89, which provides financial support for spouses who care. The bill, he explained, aims to address the shortage of health care providers.
“This is a very important bill,” Walker said. “And we think we have a lot to say as rural people about that.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.
