MPHA Monthly Update
May, 2006
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Good News in the House Budget Now on to the Senate
On April 26, the House of Representatives approved $466.3 million for the Department of Public Health for Fiscal Year 2007, an increase of nearly $36 million compared to the current fiscal year. MPHA and its allies won amendments boosting funding for school health services,
immunizations, hepatitis C, teen pregnancy prevention, and DPH administration. For a more detailed analysis, click here.
Please stay tuned for alerts about the Senate Ways and Means Committee
budget, likely to be released in mid-May. For more information, contact Eric
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Spring Celebration a Resounding Success! 
MPHA's Spring Celebration was a success by every measure. Nearly 300 people joined us on April 27 at Boston's Park Plaza to honor John O'Brien, former CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance and current head of UMass Memorial Health Care. The event brought together old colleagues and new friends, while showcasing MPHA's successes and inspiring future victories. The heart and soul of public health was on full display, as O'Brien shared his views on how much we've accomplished and how much more must be done. Thanks to the event co-chairs, Karen van Unen, Chester Douglass, and Harold Cox, for helping make the evening a great
success.
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Spark an Interest in Public Health
MPHA is partnering again this summer with the Tufts School of Medicine in the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). Our mission is to spark an interest among disadvantaged young people in pursuing careers in public health and/or clinical care. One highlight of the program is the Shadowship, when progam participants spend an afternoon with a public health or clinical professional, getting the flavor of a typical day and learning about the job. We are actively recruiting MPHA members to support this program. Please share a few hours to show off the work you do! If you are interested in being a mentor for an afternoon for this excellent program, please contact Roberta Friedman at MPHA: (617) 524-6696 x103 or rfriedman@mphaweb.org.
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APHA in Boston
Planning is well underway for the American Public Health Association annual meeting and convention in Boston on November 4-8. MPHA is holding a reception for all Massachusetts delegates on Sunday, November 5 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm., and we will also have a booth at the convention expo. We need members to share ideas and help organize these and other activities. For more information and to get involved, please contact Roberta Friedman at MPHA: (617) 524-6696, ext. 111; rfriedman@mphaweb.org.
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17th Annual Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference
This Wednesday, May 10 is the 17th Annual Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference. This year's conference, held at the Springfield Sheraton, is entitled, "Living Longer, Stronger, and Wiser," and will offer a broad range of workshops for elder care providers, administrators, educators and policy-makers. The conference is a collaboration between MPHA, the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging, and the western region Aging Service Access Points.
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Reaching Out in Worcester
MPHA Organizer Sara Kanevsky has been working to diversify and strengthen our central Massachusetts regional network, meeting with members of the local HIV/AIDS task force, immigrant groups, religious organizations, and school health centers staff. She recently participated in a coalition-organized rally for education funding and met dozens of local parents and teachers. For more information, contact Sara Kanevsky: (508) 414-0976; sara.kanevsky@gmail.com.
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Getting the Word Out in Western Massachusetts
MPHA continues its strong grassroots outreach in support of H. 4452, our bill to prevent childhood obesity. Our humorous "got lunch?" postcards - featuring a "meal" of soda, a candy bar, and chips - are a centerpiece of these efforts. In Western Massachusetts, organizer AJ Juarez has distributed over 500 of the postcards. Among his accomplishments: recruiting 50 elderly women from the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield to send postcards to their senators. In addition, several graduate students from the UMass School of Public Health conducted
outreach to their school's teaching
assistants.
In other news, regional committee member Brenda Evans has organized the Community Outreach Workers Network and Training (COWNT) Coalition to advocate for the training needs of community health workers in Springfield. For more information, contact AJ Juarez: (413) 750-2060; AJJuarez@verizon.net.
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"Women's Voices, Women's Lives" Film Showing
In April, MPHA's Women's Health and Minority Health Sections organized a showing of "Women's Voices, Women's Lives," a powerful film chronicling the struggles of four African-American women from Boston living with HIV/AIDS. If you missed the event, and would like a chance to see the film, please contact Dr. Rosanna DeMarco, one of the film's producers, and a nursing professor at Boston College: (617) 552-4908.
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Save the Date! Healthy Weight Conference
On Wednesday, September 27, the Massachusetts Partnership for Healthy Weight will be holding a forum to bring together organizations and agencies involved with promoting healthy nutrition and exercise. The forum is at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough. For more information, contact Roberta Friedman at MPHA: (617) 524-6696, ext. 103; rfriedman@mphaweb.org.
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Farewell to Maddie Ribble! Welcome to Greer Harewood!
Maddie Ribble, our part-time administrative assistant, is receiving his MPH from Boston University and leaving MPHA for new, full-time opportunities in the field of public health. Maddie is extremely competent, bright and talented, and will be much missed. Fortunately, Maddie is training a very capable replacement, Greer Harewood, a native of Ohio who just graduated from Boston College.
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Soda Industry Makes a Deal
The soda industry has bowed to growing grassroots pressure, announcing a deal on May 3 to phase out sugary soft drinks sales in schools. The standards mark continued progress towards protecting the health of our children. But MPHA is concerned that industry is still protecting its interests by selling sugar-packed sports drinks in schools. MPHA and its partners continue to campaign for H. 4452, "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition," which, in addition to prohibiting the sale of sports drinks, includes healthy standards for snacks.
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Massachusetts Public Health Association
434 Jamaicaway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 |
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