Health New England Awards Grants to Four Local Non-Profits

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Health New England has awarded $100,000 in grants to non-profit organizations that address inequities to improve maternal and infant health, with four going to groups in Berkshire County.

The company’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Grants went to 18 organizations in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. The recipients in Berkshire County were Berkshire Family YMCA, Berkshire Health Systems, Hilltown Village Inc, DBA It Takes a Village and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires.

"Health New England is committed and proud to partner with local organizations working to advance the full spectrum of maternal and infant health. We value the work being done locally and community partners who are invested and care in the health and longevity the families in our community," said Katie Bruno, Health New England’s public health and wellness program manager.

Health New England focused the grants on maternal and infant health after its Community Health Needs Assessment showed that Black women in Berkshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties are more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care compared to White women. The same holds for Latinas in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

The company’s DEIB grants were designed to fund local non-profit organizations that focus on health equity and engaging around at least one social determinant of health (SDOH). SDOHs are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that affect health, quality of life and life expectancy. These may include socioeconomic status, food insecurity, education, access to health care, safe housing, discrimination, violence, and trauma, etc.

Berkshire County:

• Berkshire Family YMCA, Tumbling Tots Playground
• Berkshire Health System/Operation Better Start, Healthy Eating Matters
• Hilltown Village Inc, DBA It Takes a Village, The Village Closet
• Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, Gathering for Health

Hampden County      

• Christina's House, Healthy Living Program
• Douglas Thom Clinic, Thom Infant and Toddler Services
• Educare Springfield, Healthcare access and healthy lifestyle education including visits from an Early Child Educator, nurse services, and nutritious food
• Holyoke Health Center, Community-Based Lactation Counseling
• The Care Center, Bard Microcollege Holyoke
• Indian Orchard Citizens Council, HEAP - IO Healthcare Equity and Access Program
• Valley Opportunity Council, Early Education and Care

Hampshire County

• Early Childhood Center at the Northampton Public Schools, Early Childhood Center

Franklin County

• Franklin County Community Meals Program, Building Food Security in Franklin County

Worcester County

• North Star Family Services, North Star - family homeless shelter

Multiple Counties

• Pioneer Valley Waldorf Association - The Hartsbrook School (Hampden and Hampshire counties), Dig In!
• Empty Arms Bereavement Support (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties), Understanding the Infant Loss Experience Among Marginalized
• International Language Institute of MA, (Berkshire Franklin Hampshire Hampden Counties), Free English Program for Immigrants and Refugees
• Just Roots, (Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire counties), Food Access and Equity Program

Dalton Fire District Community Meeting Works to Find Solutions Various Problems

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:40PM / Monday, June 03, 2024

Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin established the monthly meetings for input on how to address the department's challenges and to foster collaboration with other town entities. 

DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District held its first community meeting on Thursday, starting the process in navigating the next steps in addressing problems the district is facing. 

 

The district's new Fire Chief Christian Tobin, established the monthly meeting to get different perspectives from residents to develop solutions to the town's problems and work together to solve them. 

 

During the meeting each attendee introduced themselves, providing background on their expertise. 

 

The nine residents had diverse backgrounds and expertise in finance, environmental, traffic and fire safety, local government, and more. 

 

Attendees included Finance Committee and Traffic Commissioner William Drosehn, Finance Committee clerk Karen Schmidt, Green Committee member Todd Logan, Prudential Committee member Daniel Filiault, former Select Board member William "Bill" Chabot, Water Commissioner Camillus Cachat, Assistant Fire Chief Chris Cachat, retired fire chief Rich Kardasen, and Dalton Democratic Committee Chair Michele Marantz. 

 

Tobin also mentioned that he had received more comments from other residents who could not attend on Thursday but expressed an interest in attending future meetings. 

 

During the meeting, attendees touched on problems the district is facing, including funding, building improvements to make the firehouse Americans with Disabilities Act accessible, building reorganization to optimize space utilization, and making the most of and expanding on tax dollars and emergency medical services fees.