As of July 1st, 2002 the RCHC replaced the
Massachusetts Prevention Center as part of the public health infrastructure for
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The RCHC promotes partnership among regional
and local public health leaders and providers, collaborates with communities to
reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs particularly among youth and
young adults, and mobilizes youth and young adults for leadership and civic action.
The RCHC is committed to conducting all
of our work in a culturally competent manner. Three years ago we embarked on a cultural
awareness initiative, and through the years it has informed our thinking about how we build
our library collection, shaped our technical assistance and training, guided our recruitment
of new staff, and influenced our understanding of the communities with whom we work.
As a result, we are invested in fostering strong youth-adult partnerships, strengthening the
presence of underrepresented communities in local coalitions and networks, co-facilitating
trainings with a variety of community partners and keeping up-to-date on best practices in
both cultural competency and the reduction of health disparities. Please join us in our
efforts to foster an equitable approach to prevention and health promotion.
community health network areas
Build and maintain the leadership capacity of CHNAs, including youth. We will
deliver a variety of skill building opportunities for CHNA leadership and
members. These include Leadership Development, visioning, decision making
models, communication flow; Partnership Development, recruitment, retention,
inclusive processes, media relations; Youth Development, fostering youth
membership, running youth-friendly meetings, sharing asset-based models. The RCHC
will also assist in creating peer learning and/or networking opportunities,
membership outreach and orientation, facilitated retreats for revitalizing or refocusing the steering committees
substance abuse prevention
The RCHC will host a series of workshops open to all community members,
coalitions, and school personnel addressing substance abuse models,
prevention programming and evaluation, environmental strategies and youth
development. A series of workshops coupled with peer learning and intensive
technical assistance designed for coalitions ready to employ environmental
strategies.
youth development
Assist the communities, coalitions and agencies to shift from youth focused
to youth centered. A youth centered approach "emphasizes fully preparing young
people to succeed and contribute now and as adults; rather than focusing simply
on ensuring that young people are not engaged in risky behaviors."
resource library
Maintain and make accessible a resource collection and other materials to
all of our 60 communities. |
