Massachusetts Public Health Association
Action Alert! Contact Your Senator Today for Health Equity in the Senate Budget
This week the Senate is deliberating on the fiscal year 2019 Senate Ways and Means budget proposal. Now is the time to act to make sure that essential public health funding is included in the FY19 budget.
Please contact your Senator TODAY and urge her or him to co-sponsor the important amendments listed below. Don’t forget to mention why the program or programs you are calling about are important to you.
To find your Senator’s contact information or to find out who your State Senator is, click here.
Please ask your Senator to co-sponsor the following amendments:
Action Alert! Contact Your Representative Today for Key Programs in the State Budget
This week the House is deliberating on the fiscal year 2019 House Ways and Means budget proposal. Now is the time to act to make sure that essential public health funding is included in the FY19 budget.
Please contact your Representative TODAY and urge him or her to co-sponsor the important amendments listed below. Don’t forget to mention why the program or programs you are calling about are important to you. Read More
Press Release: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau Chief Takes the Helm of Massachusetts Public Health Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2018
Contact: Melanie O’Malley, (617) 949-6688.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Bureau Chief Takes the
Helm of Massachusetts Public Health Association
The Executive Board of the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is pleased to announce its recent hire of Carlene Pavlos as its new Executive Director effective April 1, 2018. In this role, Ms. Pavlos will lead MPHA’s strategic vision and manage implementation of its organizational goals to further MPHA’s advocacy and policy successes advancing health equity in the Commonwealth.
MPHA is a statewide non-profit membership organization that promotes a healthy Massachusetts through advocacy, education, community organizing, and coalition building with a focus on eliminating health disparities and creating healthy communities for all. MPHA’s recent accomplishments include successfully leading the campaign for the Complete Streets Program, which provides grants to cities and towns for projects to make streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. MPHA also led the campaign for the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, a first-in-the-nation program investing in evidence-based interventions that keep residents healthy by linking clinical care and community-based services. Read More
Announcing an Exciting Leap Forward for the MA Food Trust!
We are excited to announce some great news at the start of National Public Health Week! This morning, April 2, 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) began accepting applications for a MA Food Trust Program administrator to lead the program and raise private funds to invest in local communities. This is a significant first step in getting the MA Food Trust fully launched!
MPHA March 2018 Newsletter
Click here to read MPHA 2018 Newsletter
What’s inside:
- Intro by Maddie Ribble, Policy Director
- Main article: What is Transportation Justice and why is it Important for Advancing Health Equity?
MPHA January 2018 Newsletter
Click here for MPHA January 2018 Newsletter
What’s inside:
- Intro by Jodie Silverman, Interim Executive Director
- Main article: MPHA Launches New Campaign to Tackle Social Determinants of Health Through Health Care
- MPHA Member of Work Group to Advise MassHealth on Social Determinants
- Who’s your public health hero?
Message from MPHA President: Announcing Our New Executive Director
Dear Friend and Supporter,
We are excited to share with you that Carlene Pavlos will be joining us as the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association on April 1st.
Carlene has worked tirelessly for decades on improving the health of all residents of the Commonwealth. She is coming to us from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where she has served as the Director of the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention. Carlene sees this opportunity with MPHA as a chance to continue the work she is passionate about, working with the big levers of policy and systems change and making an impact on the environment that people live in by addressing the root causes of injustice and health inequities. Read More
Press Release: Health Care Providers, Mayors, Health Policy Leaders Press House to Save Successful Prevention Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2018
Contact: Maddie Ribble, 617-697-2107
Health Care Providers, Mayors, Health Policy Leaders
Press House to Save Successful Prevention Programs
Letter cites role of Prevention Trust in successful MassHealth transformation
In anticipation of a major debate on health care in the state House of Representatives this spring, a group of 27 health care provider organizations and health policy leaders today pressed Speaker Robert DeLeo to support continued funding for the Prevention & Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF). The letter is signed by coalition co-chairs Mayor Thomas Koch of Quincy and Mayor Linda Tyer of Pittsfield, each of whom has seen the direct benefit of PWTF in their communities. Additional signers include representatives of the MA Health and Hospitals Association, the MA Medical Society, the MA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the MA League of Community Health Centers, the MA Health Council, Health Care For All, and the MA Association of Community Health Workers. Read More
Press Release: Public Health, Community Advocates Praise Attorney General For Updated Hospital Investment Guidelines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2018
Contact: Maddie Ribble, 617-697-2107 or Enid Eckstein, 617-694-0304
Public Health, Community Advocates Praise Attorney General
For Updated Hospital Investment Guidelines
Reforms Expected To Lead To Greater Impact On Community Health And Improved Community Engagement
Today, leaders from the Alliance for Community Health Integration (ACHI) praised the release of updated guidelines on hospital community benefits from Attorney General Maura Healey. ACHI, a coalition of public health, consumer advocacy, and social service leaders, expressed support for changes that will increase the impact of hospital community benefit investments on the communities they serve.
“We thank Attorney General Healey for leading an inclusive process to develop these updated guidelines,” said Maddie Ribble, Director of Public Policy for the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “The final product is more than just a set of guidelines; it represents a powerful vision for how hospitals can help address the social and economic factors that lead to poor health in our communities. It has been a true pleasure to collaborate with the Attorney General and our hospital colleagues to help advance our shared goals.” Read More
Modest Environmental Health Investments Welcomed in Otherwise Disappointing Public Health Budget Proposal
On Wednesday, January 24th, Governor Baker announced his $40.9 billion state budget proposal for fiscal year 2019. Governor Baker’s budget proposal includes a 2.6% increase over the current year’s budget.
While there are some modest public health investments proposed in the Governor’s budget, MPHA is disappointed to see overall level funding for the Department of Public Health, which in addition to failing to keep up with the costs of inflation, comes after years of disinvestment in public health.
Governor Baker’s proposal includes a moderate, but much needed, funding increase for the Bureau of Environmental Health, which protects all Massachusetts residents from hazardous exposures and environmentally-induced illness. However, the Governor also proposes funding cuts to other core public health protection line-items such as the State Lab and Critical Operations and Essential Services. Read More