March 19, 2009
Regional Center for Healthy Communities (Metrowest)
E-news 3/19/09
In this issue:
Community News
Conferences/Trainings
Funding Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Resources
Ever wonder what the Regional Center for Healthy Communities’ library actually looks like or what we do besides send out e-news? Come to our Open Houses during the day on April 3 from 12-3 or in the evening on April 30 from 3-6 and learn what the Regional Center has to offer, chat with our staff, and enjoy refreshments and a viewing of Unnatural Causes. Please share the attached flyer <RCHC Open Houses> with a friend!
Community News
Tobacco Free Mass and youth leaders are organizing a Kick Butts Day advocacy event at the state house on Wednesday March 25 from 3-4 in the Great Hall. Youth groups are encouraged to come and show support for tobacco prevention and control to state lawmakers.
Somerville Cares About Prevention will hold its annual Addictions Speak Out on April 1 from 7-8 PM at Somerville Community Access Television. It will also be broadcast live on SCAT Channel 3. For more information, contact SCAP at 617-625-6600 ext. 4300.
The Cambridge Health Alliance will hold information sessions for patients and community members to discuss changes in the East Somerville, North Cambridge and Riverside Health Centers. For more information and dates, see the attached flyer called <CHA informational meetings>.
The Community Alliance for Youth (CAFY) will hold its skate “fun”draiser to benefit the Wellness Project, the Acton/Boxborough Parent Involvement Project and Acton area food pantries on March 29 from 2-4 PM at the Nashoba Valley Olympia (rink #3), Rte 111 in Boxborough. For more information, visit http://actonpip.org/pdf/2009familyskateposter.pdf.
The Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College is looking for 30 middle schools to participate in an evaluation of Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts’ comprehensive sex education curriculum. For more information about participating, contact Dr. Sumru Erkut at 781 283-2533 or serkut@wellesley.edu.
The Context Journal publishes original papers by graduate students highlighting work in the community in the areas of policy, program evaluation, community partnership, and patient empowerment. For more information on the journal and to submit articles, visit www.contextjournal.org.
Conferences/Trainings
Project Green Schools is having their Green Schools Community Fair and High School GREEN FEST on March 21 at Woburn Memorial High School. For more information, visit http://www.projectgreenschools.org/.
The Community Alliance for Youth is co-sponsoring a discussion on Recognizing Depression in Our Youth on March 25 from 7-9 PM at the RJ Grey library in Acton. For more information, call Judy at 978-897-9541.
The Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) will hold a statewide alcohol awareness month forum to spread the value of prevention, treatment, and recovery on April 14 from 5:30-8:30 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Worcester. For more information, contact Melissa at moarmelissa@aol.com or toll free 877-423-6627.
Brown University Distance Learning Program is offering an online course on understanding the language of warriors: substance abuse treatment for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans beginning April 6 and continuing for four weeks. For more information and to register, visit http://www.browndlp.org/warriors2ann.php.
The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services will hold a conference on You Can Make a Difference: Preventing & Treating Inhalant Abuse on April 29 from 8:30-4:15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 10 Lincoln Square in Worcester. For more information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=0c0a27f4-c4bf-4e8d-a313-3028adf543a5.
True Colors: Out Youth Theatre, a touring theatre program for GLBT youth and allies, is scheduling their spring tour beginning May 5, 2009. If you are interested in booking True Colors for school or business diversity trainings, contact Magda Spasiano, Education Coordinator at magda@thetheateroffensive.org
mailto:%20magda@thetheateroffensive.org" href="mailto:%20magda@thetheateroffensive.org">magda@thetheateroffensive.org or 617-661-1600 X 219.
Funding Opportunities
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has a program to partner with local funding organizations to provide matching funds for innovative, community-based health projects. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=20605.
The Department of Public Health’s Mass in Motion campaign has announced funding for municipalities to build capacity to create a sustained approach for active living and healthy eating with a long term goal of reducing the burden of chronic disease. For more information, visit http://www.tmfnet.org/news_massinmotion.html.
Massachusetts SADD is offering mini-grants of up to $600 to support post-prom parties this spring under its Using Prevention Strategies program. For more information and to apply, visit www.masadd.org.
Job Opportunities
The SADD Students Advisory Board is accepting applications for the 2009-2010 advisory board from current high school freshmen and sophomores. The complete application is attached called <SAB Application>.
The United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) is hiring a full-time Evaluation and Learning Director and a full-time Youth Organizing/Political Action Coordinator. For more information, contact lcody@healthier-communities.org.
The Home for Little Wanderers Waltham House program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth is hiring two full-time direct care staff. For more information, visit http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=careers_openings.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is a hiring a community organizer with familiarity of public health. For more information, see the attached description called <REACH Community Organizer>.
The South End Healthy Boston Coalition is looking to hire a part-time coordinator for its new opioid overdose prevention strategies. For more information, see the attached description called <Strategy Coordinator Position>.
The Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs (MASAP) is searching for a coordinator for its Maine Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse based in Augusta, Maine. Please contact Laura at lcody@healthier-communities.org if you would like more information.
Resources
The Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program has released an alert on dissolvable tobacco (nicotine in a pill form that can be dissolved in the mouth). For complete information, visit http://www.makesmokinghistory.org/schools/Dissolvable%20tobacco%20--%20fact%20sheet.pdf.
The Ad Council and the Family Violence Prevention Fund have launched a website and media campaign to help teens identify and stop online dating abuse. Visit www.thatsnotcool.com for more information.
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs has launched a website called www.findyouthinfo.gov to help youth-serving organizations and community partnerships plan and implement effective youth programs.
The Health and Human Services Report on Health Reform has created a website to track the federal movement on health reform. Visit the site at www.HealthReform.gov.
Laura Cody, MPH
Community Health Specialist
Regional Center for Healthy Communities (Metrowest)
552 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 203
Cambridge, MA 02139
phone: 617-441-0700 X210
fax: 617-441-0555
www.healthier-communities.org
NOTE: Should you have a question regarding the content of e-news, like to submit content for future e-news, or wish to be removed from this distribution list, please email Laura Cody: enews@healthier-communities.org.