Greater Fall River 2014-2019 Action Plan for Improving Health
Click here for a WORD copy of the entire Action Plan Workbook and here for a PDF version.
Click here to review the Action Planning Process
For separate Task Force editions of the Workbook listing just those goals:
Click here for the 31 Healthy Eating Active Living Task Force Action Plan Goals from the Workbook
Click here for the 7 Substance Abuse Task Force Action Plan Goals from the Workbook
3 Sexual Health and Infectious Disease Action Plan Goals from the Workbook
Click here for the 4 Access to Quality Dental, Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Goals
Click here for the 8 School-Community Partnership Action Plan Goals from the Workbook
Click here for the 6 Coalition for Health and Well-Being Task Force Action Plan Goals from the Workbook
| Health Factor I | Health Factor II | Health Factor III | Health Factor IV | Health Factor V | Health Factor VI | Health Factor VII | Health Factor VIII |
| Health Factor I: | Diet and Exercise |
| Problem: | Diet & Exercise Problems with poor diet, inactivity, and lack of knowledge of and access to healthy food. |
| Goal: | To lower diabetes, heart disease, some cancers rates |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Amanda Raposo Nicky D’Abrosca |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 1 | Population Nutrition is poor, obesity and diabetes rates are high | Increase rate of fruit and vegetable consumption | Increase the availability of healthy produce | Increase outlets which offer healthy produce | Increase access and availability of farmers’ markets | Number of hours markets are open and number of locations | Count hours and locations |
| 2 | Mass in Motion Healthy Neighborhood Market expansion | Increase number of markets offering healthy produce | Count of markets offering health produce | ||||
| 3 | Increase number of school and community gardens | Work with school and organization staff with an interest in gardens | Link experienced gardeners with those willing to learn | Number of gardens and gardeners | Count of gardens and gardeners | ||
| 4 | Create permaculture gardens throughout the community | Plan, organize, create and maintain plantings | Mass in Motion grant, Permaculture expert | Number of plantings | Count of plantings | ||
| 5 | Increase education around the selection and preparation of healthy produce | Expand nutrition education opportunities | Umass-Amherst Nutrition Education Program staff | Increased number of locations where nutrition education is offered | Count of nutrition education opportunities | ||
| 6 | Improve the quality of food offered at work locations | Educate and incentivize employers to adopt healthy nutrition policies | Introduce healthy workplace nutrition guidelines to local employers | Partners educational materials; Worksite Wellness Coordinator’s time | Number of employers that adopt healthy worksite nutrition policies | Count of worksites with healthy nutrition policies | |
| 7 | Improve the quality of food offered in public and private schools | Educate and incentivize school systems to adopt healthy nutrtion policies | Work with School Wellness Policy development teams to address nutrtion guidelines | School Wellness Coordinator’s time | Number of school systems that adopt health nutrition policies | Count of school systems | |
| 8 | Improve the quality of food offered in civic and religious organizations | Educate and incentivize civic and religious organizations to adopt healthy nutrition policies | Work with civic and religious organizations to adopt healthy nutrition policies | Healthy City Fall River Coordinator’s time | Number of civic and religious organizations that adopt | Count of organizations | |
| 9 | Increase the availability of nutrition education opportunities | Arrange for nutrition education, especially for low-income and special populations at-risk of nutrition problems | Offer teaching opportunities at soup kitchens and food distribution sites | Voluntary instructors from BCC, Johnson & Wales, and Umass-Amherst Nutrition Education Program | Number and locations of nutrition education opportunities offered | Count of nutrition activities offered | |
| 10 | Promote the “Look Who’s Cooking” Series | Advertise series through multiple outlets | Community Media on-line service and CDs distributed widely | Frequency of views | Count of views | ||
| 11 | Promote Family Fun Night nutrition education | Promote Family Fun Nights in all elementary schools | Local nutrition educators | Numbers of attendees | Count of attendance | ||
| 12 | Promote nutrition education opportunities for those with diabetes and prediabetes | Hold cooking demonstrations at a variety of venues | People Incorporated Diabetes Association staff | Numbers of attendees | Count of attendance | ||
| 13 | Promote WIC “Cooking Matters” and shopping tour program to 3,000+ enrollees | Hold cooking and shopping demonstrations at a variety of venues | HealthFirst WIC program staff | Number of attendees | Count of events and attendees | ||
| 14 | Population fitness levels are low; too few people get the recommended hours of moderate physical activity per week | Increase the availability of organized fitness activities throughout the community | Organize, promote and operate a year-around Fitness Challenge for residents for the Greater Fall River Area | Engage voluntary participation of professional fitness providers; fund-raise for incentives | Partners paid coordinator’s time to organize and promote Challenge | Number of attendees for each event and event totals | Count of participants |
| 15 | Organize and promote a school-based Challenge series for local schools | Engage voluntary participation of physical education teachers and principals | Partners School Wellness Coordinator’s time | Number of children participating | Count of teachers and child participants | ||
| 16 | Organize a Safe-Routes-To-School Walking program at elementary schools | Engage parent volunteers, principals, teachers and community health workers | Partners School Wellness Coordinator’s time | Number of children participating | Count of teachers and child participants | ||
| 17 | Engage behavioral health clients in a program of regular exercise | Organize and operate a daily fitness program at the SSTAR Outpatient Program | SSTAR staff | Number of participants and frequency of sessions | Count of sessions and participants | ||
| 18 | Engage housing authority residents in a program of regular exercise | Run a wellness program that includes regular physical activity for adults and children | SCHHWI staff | Number of participants and frequency of sessions | Count of sessions and participants | ||
| 19 | Engage new moms in a program of regular exercise | Run a FitWIC program at HealthFirst | WIC staff | Number of participants and frequency of sessions | Count of sessions and participants | ||
| 20 | Operate a program at Bristol Community College that engages students in physical exercise | Operate a physical fitness program in the Commonwealth Center open to all students | Bristol Community College staff | Number of participants and frequency of sessions | Count of sessions and participants | ||
| 21 | Run a weekly fitness program for seniors designed to increase balance, flexibility and strength | Run two groups at the Niagara Senior Center on a weekly basis | Senior Center staff and YMCA instructor | Number of participants and frequency of sessions | Count of sessions and participants | ||
| 22 | Create a walking map of Central Fall River showing distances between points and walking times | Increase knowledge of walkability of Central Fall River | Print and distribute maps widely; hold promotional events to encourage walking | Mass In Motion Coordinator and BikeFall River volunteers | Numbers of maps printed and distributed | Count of number of maps printed and distributed | |
| 23 | Promote increased safe use of bicycles by children | Organize programs to teach bicycle safety | Offer bicycle safety training classes; distribute free helmets | Mass In Motion Coordinator and BikeFall River volunteers | Numbers of participants and helmets distributed | Count of participants and helmets | |
| 24 | Promote personal engagement in fitness through a community campaign | Plan, organize, and promote a personal “Get Fit” program for the community | Plan, organize, and promote a personal “Get Fit” program for the community | Healthy City Fall River Coordinator’s time | Numbers of events and participants | Count of events and attendees |
| Health Factor II: | Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use Prevention |
| Problem: | Smoking, prescription and illegal drug use |
| Goal: | Reduced smoking rates, less drug or alcohol addiction, fewer overdoses |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Marilyn Edge Mike Aguiar |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 25 | Opiod overdose deaths are rising | Reduce opiod overdoses and deaths resulting by making Narcan more readily available | Permit law enforcement officers to carry Narcan kits and train in its administration | Equip and train local law enforement officers | State funding provided through Seven Hills | State funding provided through Seven Hills | Count of officers trained |
| 26 | Expand drug courts in Fall River | Fund and authorize a drug court in Fall River | Secure funding and authorization | State funding for a local drug court | Drug court operational | Evidence of drug court operations | |
| 27 | Expand substance abuse prevention efforts in Somerset, Swansea and Westport | Offer additional programs to reach youth in Somerset, Swansea and Westport | Arrange and provide educational presentations in youth agencies and schools | BSAS funding through a variety of local grants | Number of educational presentation | Count of presentations | |
| 28 | Track substance abuse related problems in surrounding towns | Administer the YRBS in Somerset, Swansea and Westport | Work with local school committees and town councils to ensure funding and administration | Run a YRBS and Youth Health Survey in all public schools | Grant funding and support from Partners if needed | Offer YRBS and YHS in each school at least every other year | Evidence of surveys offered |
| 29 | Tobacco use is high among youth | Tobacco use is high among youth | Provide ongoing “stings” in each of the four towns | Provide random compliance checks of all area tobacco vendors | BSAS funding through a variety of local grants | Compliance checks administered among local tobacco vendors | Number of compliance checks; number of violations and Board of Health sanctions |
| 31 | Increase educational offerings to youth | Establish The84.org chapters in all four towns | Work with local schools to create organizations | BSAS funding through a variety of local grants; Partners funding if needed; Life together fellows | BSAS funding through a variety of local grants; Partners funding if needed; Life together fellows | Count of The84.org chapters |
| Health Factor III: | Sexual Activity and Infectious Diseases |
| Problem: | Problems with STDs, HIV, teen pregnancy |
| Goal: | Less infertility, AIDS, premature parenting |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Lynda Sampson Bob Hitt |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 32 | Teen pregnancy rates are higher than state averages | Continue after-school, peer-led programs in all area schools | Permit law enforcement officers to carry Narcan kits and train in its administration | Equip and train local law enforement officers | State funding provided through Seven Hills | State funding provided through Seven Hills | Count of officers trained |
| 33 | STDs (Clamidia, Syphilis, Gonnoreha) rates continue to rise | Increase screenings for STDs at all medical facilities | Incentivize both patients and physicians to perform screenings on a routine basis | Provide educational programs for both professionals and patients | DPH funding for teen pregnancy prevention | The number of educational offerings | Count of educational offerings |
| 34 | HIV/AIDs rates continue at a steady rate | Ensure continuation of educational efforts | Advocate for continued funding after expiration of Ryan White funding | Advocate for continued funding through DPH | Organize local advocacy efforts | Evidence of advocacy for continued funding | Descriptions of advocacy efforts |
| Health Factor IV: | Access to quality dental, health, mental health, and substance abuse care |
| Problem: | Problems with insurance coverage, waiting times, lack of support outside medical settings |
| Goal: | Less delayed or inappropriate treatment, oral pain, stress, depression and other mental health disorders |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Betty Nunes Steve Merrill |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 35 | Population experiences high rates of chronic depression and other mental health disorders | Increase access to behavioral health resources throughout the region | Increase the availability of mental health services and providers | Advocate for improved reimbursement rates and coverage of wrap-around services | Southcoast Hospitals PACT program employees to organize advocacy effort | Numbers of persons involved in the advocacy process; increase in reimbursement rates; expansion of coverage to include wrap-around | Count of persons; documentation of rate increase and coverage expansion |
| 36 | Development of a single intake and screening tool to identify needs for services that could be universally used by multiple agencies and service providers | Develop prototype of an inter-agency referral tool to be used by multiple service providers | Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund SHIFT Project for two zip codes each in Fall River and New Bedford | Development of electronic referral system | Documentation of electronic referral system developed in conjunction with MA DPH | ||
| 37 | Population experiences high rate of poor dental hygiene | Provide education, especially to parents and children to teach dental hygiene | Increase the numbers of presentations on dental health at public venues | Include dental hygiene education in all Partners tabling events | HealthFirst Dental Hygiene Program | Numbers of presentations to parents and children in public venues | Count of presentations |
| 38 | Public transportation system makes accessing medical, dental and behavioral health services difficult | Reform current SRTA bus system to make it more responsive to consumer needs | Make route and schedule changes and add Saturday and Sunday hours; eliminate language barriers | Advocate for improved transportation system through local groups | Coalition for Social Justice; United Interfaith Action | Improvements in bus schedule and routes | Documentation of schedule and route changes |
| Health Factor V: | Education, Employment, Income and Disability |
| Problem: | Problems due to low graduation rates, job creation, adult education |
| Goal: | Lower employment, health illiteracy, economic stress |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Lynn Creamer Kate Politono |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 39 | Population experiences high rates of school drop-out and unemployment | Provide opportunities to engage youth who are at-risk of dropping out in meaningful and engaging work | Provide an after-school project at the Resiliency Preparatory School that connects local artists with youth | Offer after-school YEAH! program for 18 weeks for up to twenty students | Grants from local banks and the Donaldson Trust; staff of the RPS | Number of after-school sessions offered; number of students involved | Count of persons; documentation of rate increase and coverage expansion |
| 40 | Training workshops to fill the gap of skills possessed by individuals seeking employment | Training workshops to fill the gap of skills possessed by individuals seeking employment | Number of workshops offered | Count of workshops offered | |||
| 41 | Workforce exhibits levels of poor overall nutrition, fitness and smoking rates | Provide information and resources available to employers to promote wellness | Workshops and/or informational collateral for employers regarding corporate programs available to promote wellness | Annual Worksite Wellness conference; monthly meetings on relevant topics for employers | South Coast Worksite Wellness Collaborative; Partners staff | Number of sessions held | Count of sessions held |
| Health Factor VI: | Community Safety and Violence Prevention |
| Problem: | Problems with crime, abuse, bullying |
| Goal: | Less PTSD, premature death |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Christian McCloskey Michaela Hetzler |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 42 | Mental health issues and trauma histories, including their impact on violence toward self and others, are of a major concern in this city | Reduce rates of psychological trauma and self-harm | Increase trauma-informed care training | Increase trauma-informed care training | Local agencies who provide relationship training programs | Number of trainings held | Count of trainings |
| 43 | Provide training in Search Institute Developmental Assets to all adults who have contact with youth | New Bedford Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention Program | Number of trainings held | Count of trainings | |||
| 44 | Increase teacher and parent involvement in parent cafes and facilitated training | Children’s Trust Fund and United Neighbors of Fall River | Number of parent cafes held | Count of parent cafes | |||
| 45 | Increase conflict resolution and social skills | Extend Peace by Piece efforts beyond a one-day event | Grant funding and support from Partners if needed | Number of Peace By Piece extended activities held | Count of activities | ||
| 46 | Hold an annual meeting with school and community personnel to develop a strategy | School -Community Partnership Task Force | Annual meeting held | Documentation of meeting held |
| Health Factor VII: | Family, Cultural and Social Support, and Housing |
| Problem: | Problems with language, race, ethnicity, cultural values, maternal care, single parent households, homelessness |
| Goal: | Decreased racism, stress, disconnection from community resources |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Wendy Garf-Lipp Tim Burke |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 47 | The number of people experiencing homelessness is continuing to rise as is the population of homeless families in local motels. | Increase the availability of resources to homeless individuals and families | Develop and maintain a listing of locally-available resources for homeless individuals and families | Create and distribute resource listing | Life Together Fellow and SCI interns at United Neighbors and United Way | Listing created and distributed | Number of listings distributed |
| 48 | Educate landlords about housing resources | Provide information to local landlords | Life Together Fellow and SCI interns at United Neighbors and United Way | Information provided | Documentation of information provided | ||
| 49 | Continue job support with SER-Jobs and Community Health Worker Training projects | Create job and job training opportunities to homeless individuals | SER-Jobs and United Interfaith Action CHW job development and training projects | Number of jobs and job training slots provided | Count of jobs and job training slots | ||
| 50 | Increase transportation opportunities to families in local motels | Organize regular bus transportation to Fall River resources to families in Somerset and Swansea | People Incorporated transportation grant; Vela Foundation grant | Number of bus trips provided | Count of bus trips to Fall River | ||
| 51 | Establish a food bank warehouse accessible to all Fall River food pantries | Identify suitable location and fund renovations needed | Fall River Food Pantry, Project Bread, and donated location | Food Bank warehouse opened and operational | Food bank opened | ||
| 52 | Hire a full-time “food guru” at United Way to organized food resources on a 24/7 basis | Write grant application, recruit and hire person, supervise and link with existing resources | United Way of Greater Fall River with Social Capital Inc providing funding and recruiting interns | Position funded and person hired | Funding in place a person hired |
| Health Factor VIII: | Environment and Infrastructure |
| Problem: | Problems with non-vehicular transportation |
| Goal: | Increased physical activity and access to recreational resources |
| Task Force Co-Chairs: | Julie Kelly Al Lima |
| Problem Area | Strategic Goal | Strategy | Activity | Resources | Measures | Achieved | |
| 53 | Improved access to public transportation and its connectivity to schools, jobs, parks, medical centers and shopping needed | Develop a Bicycle Master Plan for the City of Fall River | Map routes to key destinations (school, work, shopping, recreation) to ensure bicycle access | Create maps designating bicycle routes throughout the Area | Mass in Motion and Fall River Bicycle Committee | Map created and distributed | Number of maps distributed |
| 54 | Create a bicycle culture that recruits new cyclists and addresses bicycle safety in a vehicle-oriented community | Plan and implement a comprehensive bicycle safety program; Trips for Kids, Bike Fall River | Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, MASSBIKE, Safe Routes to School | Number of safety sessions offered, number of organized bicycle trips offered for children and adults | Count of safety sessions and bicycle trips | ||
| 55 | Standardize Physical Education Curriculum to include Safe Walking and Cycling | Review and revise School Wellness Plan to address safe walking and cycling | Standardize the PE curriculum for the FR Public Schools to include walking and cycling | Partners School Wellness Coordinator’s time and Mass In Motion participation on the Wellness Committee | Partners School Wellness Coordinator’s time and Mass In Motion participation on the Wellness Committee | Wellness Policy language included | |
| 56 | Increase physical access to healthy food, especially to low-income areas and people who lack automobile transportaion | Create a Five-Minute Walk to a Healthy Market Program | Identify potential markets that agree to upgrades using the Healthy Market Toolkit | Expand shelf space and improve locations of healthier food options | Expand shelf space and improve locations of healthier food options | Five markets with interest and potential to expand availability of healthier food options identified | Number of participating markets |
| 57 | Create map of the 1/2 mile radius of all markets offering healthy food options | Locations plotted and analyzed; healthy market locations plotted; map produced and publicized | MIM staff; Cancer prevention project staff; Healthy City Coordinator | Map created and distributed | Number of maps distributed | ||
| 58 | Brand a Five-Minute Walk to a Healthy Market program and advertise using English and non-English messages | Five-minute walk program created in multiple languages and widely publicized | MIM staff; Cancer prevention project staff; Healthy City Coordinator | Branding project completed | Branding advertisement count | ||
| 59 | Improve and increase resources and awareness of active living resources | Improve and expand parks and open spaces and awareness of and access to both | Search and identify funding sources for park and open space improvements; complete planning and apply for funding | Grant opportunity search; coordination with Mayor’s Office and Grantwriter | City grant writer; Parks and Recreation Department; Department of Community Maintenance | Grants identified and secured; projects underway and completed | Number of grants; number of improved and expanded parks and open spaces |