Newsletter: Issue No. 2 - December 30, 2009

The MDPH seeks to fund up to five community-based organizations/entities to develop and implement an action plan with innovative and sustainable policy, systems, and environmental changes that link the community with healthcare to promote wellness and reduce chronic disease among men of color. The overall goal of this initiative is to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities for men of color in Massachusetts.  Click here for the online application.

Where We Live Matters for Our Health: Worcester Housing Challenges and Initiatives
The Challenges

At the December Common Pathways Leadership Council meeting, the City of Worcester, the Neighborworks® Home Ownership Center, and the Worcester Community Housing Resources revealed the realities of the housing crisis in Worcester and provided hope in overcoming them.  Going hand in hand with the foreclosure crisis,¹ 

• there were 1,927 distressed housing units in the city of Worcester in July 2009
• houses’ physical deterioration invites break-ins, squatters, arson, and other illegal activity, a decrease in property values and an eroding the local tax base
• housing instability contributes to “family turbulence” – domestic violence, parent’s inability to keep consistent bedtime, mealtime, or homework schedules, causing negative consequences for children’s security, emotional development, and school success
• increase in homelessness - On January 28th of 2009, 1,414 people, living in families or individually, were homeless in Worcester County.  This represents a 10% increase from the previous year²
• rise in stress increases risk of illness and complications in pregnant women, as well as in children and adults.

• Participating banks and credit unions have pledged more than $90 million in available Buy Worcester Now program mortgage loans.  The program is a private/public partnership to preserve and promote homeownership in the City of Worcester.³
• The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), administers a $3 million program known as the Massachusetts Lead Abatement Program (MLAP).  In total, an estimated 315 units will be assisted and brought into compliance with the Massachusetts Lead Law through the program.⁴
• Concerning the Home Ownership Center’s Flexible Loan Products, participants in the program may be eligible to receive loan amounts between $1,500 and $15,000 at flexible interest rates with terms up to 7 years.⁵
• The Worcester Community Housing Resources has stabilized over 125 housing units in Worcester, with a modest investment of $300,000 in repairs.  These units are back in the housing market.
• The Receivership Program of the WCHR is recognized as a model for the state.

WORCESTER —  Starting next month, the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be available to everyone.

Until now, limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine has forced health officials to discourage people aged 25 to 64 from getting the vaccine, so that priority groups — children, pregnant women, caregivers of babies under six months old, and people with chronic health conditions — could have the first, well, shot. (Or nasal spray).

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced yesterday that there is now enough H1N1 vaccine available to begin offering vaccination to everyone. Open clinics will be scheduled for January. More than two million doses of the vaccine have been distributed in Massachusetts, with larger shipments arriving to health officials throughout the state over the past two weeks. The DPH is asking local health departments to begin holding large-scale public flu clinics after the New Year, that will be open to all residents “regardless of whether or not they are in a priority group.”

“While the amount of flu we're seeing in the state has fallen off in recent weeks, we fully expect that we could see another spike in illness later this flu season,” said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach. “We want to encourage all residents to take this opportunity to protect themselves against H1N1 flu by getting vaccinated — especially those at higher risk of complications from flu.”

To see the complete story, click here!

Pharmacy Chain to Offer H1N1 Flu Vaccinations
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Walgreens, a national pharmacy chain, has begun offering H1N1 (swine) flu vaccinations at all of its Massachusetts stores, including a dozen in central Massachusetts.

To see the complete story, click here!

To find a flu clinic nearest to you, click here and type in your zip code!

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work. Best of all, census takers work right in their own communities.  Click here to read how to apply!

In April 2008, the MDPH surveyed a random sample of 3,000 worksites with 11 or more employees to assess their practices with regard to promoting and protecting employee health and well-being within their organizations.  Of the 3,000, only 890 responded to the survey.  Here were some key findings:

• 66% of Massachusetts adults, or 3,122,010 people, are in the workforce.
• 4% of responding businesses had an annual budget for health promotion activities.
• 8% of responding businesses offered incentives to employees to engage in healthy behaviors.
• 78% of respondents do not offer on-site screenings for common chronic conditions, and only 3% of businesses reported using a mobile health unit or on-site health center for preventive screenings.
• Almost 20% of businesses reported having written policies to ensure that healthy food items are offered in vending machines, in cafeterias, or at meetings and catered events.
• 10% of responding businesses have on-site exercise facilities.
• 292 businesses (32%) had some type of stress reduction policy.
• Despite MA Smoke-Free Workplace Law which states that smoke cannot migrate back into the enclosed workspace, 45% of businesses reported allowing smoking anywhere outside.
• 61% of respondents reported conducting audits or inspections to identify worksite health and safety hazards. This varied by industry.
• Approximately one third of businesses reported offering emergency medical response training to employees including first aid (82%), CPR (79%), and AED (44%) trainings.

¹ PowerPoint Presentation given by the Common Pathways Housing Work Group to the Leadership Council

² Diversitydata.org at the Harvard School of Public Health

³ Buy Worcester Now Q&A

⁴ Massachusetts State Lead Abatement Program

⁵ Neighborworks® Home Ownership Center of Worcester’s Flexible Loan Products

For more information on Common Pathways
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