BACH and its members and partners have been busy taking action on the strategic issues that the community identified through the Mobilizing for Action Through Partnership and Planning process we completed in 2014. Some highlights include:
The  Health Planning and Improvement Committee reconvened the working groups for each strategic issue on June 12th, which is focused on continuous assessment of a range of initiatives from numerous organizations who are working on these issues:
Strategic Issues#1 and #5: Racial and ethnnic health equity, and increasing the number of immigrants and people of color in community leadership positions and decision-making processes

• BACH’s new video Making the Connections Boston: Race, Place, and Your Health. Click here to see the 7 minute video;
  
• East Boston’s Social Center’s initiative to mentor Latinas community leaders funded by BACH;
• Boston Racial Justice and Equity Initiative’s advocacy to create a city Racial Justice and Equity Committee that would guide every city department in addressing racial and ethnic equity in all their work. Click here to sign the petition;
• Initiation of BACH’s Healthy Community Champions program – 12 community-based groups who have recruited 75 residents who are being trained in health and advocacy skills to push for policy and environment changes that promote health in their neighborhoods.
• Center for Community Health, Education, and Research’s trainings of youth, community development corporation staff and residents, and other community residents in equity, social determinants of health and advocacy skills, funded by BACH.

Strategic Issue #2: Better integration and coordination of clinical care and community-based prevention

• Multiple organizations advocating for the implementation of reimbursable community health worker services;
• Project AHEAD (Aligning health Equity and Development) a cross-sector planning process convened and funded by BACH in Codman Square, Dorchester that involves, hospitals, health centers, community development corporations, city departments, and funders;
• BACH working with the Boston Public Health Commission through a federal grant to increase the number of smoke-free housing units, improve access to healthy food and beverages, and better access to safe walking and biking including a Safe Routes to School initiative with Boston Public Schools and charter schools.

Strategic Issue #3: Building resilience in communities impacted by trauma

• The development of the All Hazards Psychological Trauma Network led by the BPHC’s Office of Emergency Preparedness that links community-based trauma responders such as those from South Boston Collaborative Advisory Committee;
• Violence intervention and prevention work such as the North Dorchester Coalition’s Peace Makers initiative which is training youth in mediation skills to be used at social events, funded by BACH;

Stategic Issue #4: Improving health outcomes by focusing on education, employment, and transportation policy and practice

• A BACH-funded initiative based in Jamaica Plain to enlist community health centers to advocate for bus transit equity;
• Youth Hub’s employment mentoring program to increase neighborhood employment in Dorchester, funded by BACH;

These are just a few of the many efforts around the city that are helping to implement the Action Steps. You can see the full MAPP report here where you can see ideas about how you and your community can contribute to improving the health of your neighborhood. You can also join us at monthly “Making Healthy Connections” events that address health concerns in your neighborhood. For more information, click here.