Caring for the Community during COVID-19: Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP)

“It was so wonderful to hear a friendly voice after our ordeal. And without a delivery, we didn’t know how we were going to get food.”

Fred* and his brother George* share a home in Weymouth and, in their late seventies, are both in frail health. For the past few years, they’ve faithfully visited Quincy Community Action Program’s (QCAP) Southwest Community Food Center. But in 2019, both brothers fell ill and were hospitalized. The toll on their health left them vulnerable during the pandemic. Both Fred and George contracted COVID-19. Fortunately, their friends at QCAP were able to help as the brothers recovered from their long illness.

Caring for the Community during COVID-19: South Shore Health

“Working at the hospital was really eye-opening for me,” says Karen Peterson, Community Benefits Coordinator for South Shore Health. “When things happen, you see the best and worst of people...I was fortunate to see the best of people. From the many donations we received to the appreciation from patients and visitors, there has been so much positive.”

Caring for the Community during COVID-19: South Shore YMCA

Throughout the height of the pandemic, the South Shore YMCA became an extension of other community agencies to help stretch capacity and provide resources to those in need. Although their facilities were closed to the public until early July, they were able to utilize the buildings in other ways to help fill critical service gaps.

Caring for the Community during COVID-19: Father Bill's & MainSpring

As challenging as COVID-19 has been for the average person navigating lock downs, social distancing and concerns about personal and public health, it’s been much more difficult for those who don’t have stable housing. Father Bill’s & MainSpring (FBMS) has been on the front lines with people experiencing homelessness during the crisis, working to adapt their own models to ensure everyone’s safety during a critical time.

Statement on Structural Racism and Public Health

We at the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance believe that the path to sustainable change for the health of our communities lies in multi-sector, collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts that address the roots of health disparities, not the symptoms.

We cannot do this work without acknowledging and speaking out against the systems, policies, and practices that disproportionately and unjustly impact black and brown communities and other people of color. Centuries of structural racism and oppression have resulted in unequal access to the physical, social, and economic environments that impact health and wellbeing. Racism is a public health crisis that cannot be ignored.

Caring for the Community during COVID-19: Wellspring Multi-Service Center

“Our model has completely changed,” says Vinny Harte, President and CEO of the Wellspring Multi-Service Center, a Hull organization providing wraparound services designed to address all of the factors contributing to and/or hindering individuals’ paths to independence. In the face of COVID-19 restrictions, the center has had to totally redesign its service delivery models. In-person activities such as counseling and adult education have been re-imagined as online events; the food pantry has become a food delivery service to minimize the need for clients to leave their homes.

CHNA 20 Annual Report 2018 - 2019

Every year, the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance (CHNA 20) staff creates an annual report that is shared with local hospitals whose Determination of Need (DoN) funds support community health initiatives and build the capacity of CHNA 20 and its members.

Ensuring that these funds are utilized in the most strategic, cost-effective and impactful manner possible is paramount to CHNA 20. During the last two years we have allocated resources to support multi-sector partnerships, taken steps to align with regional public health efforts, and increased our internal capacity, while prioritizing social determinants of health and health equity initiatives.

Learning More from Community Conversations

We’ve been busy! In the past month, we have taken great strides forward in our transportation equity work in the Blue Hills. Our Blue Hills Regional Coordinating Council (BHRCC) convened six more Community Conversations to gather firsthand perspectives and experiences from the communities we serve. Speaking to participants in Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Milton, and Hull -- and gathering follow-up evaluations from many -- has provided us with valuable information that will help to shape the future of our efforts to improve transportation in our region.

January 2020 Highlights

Highlights for January 2020

  • CHNA 20 News: new Facebook page and Blue Hills RCC website; CHNA 20 receives MA Dept. of Transportation grant; CHNA 20 invited to lead interactive station during Quincy 400 event.

  • Community Partner Announcements: MSAPC receives CADCA’s 2019 Chairman Award; Town of Randolph and MAPC collaborate on a Community Wellness Plan; Mental Health Advocacy Program (MHAP) for Kids is Now Located at the Quincy Family Resource Center; South Shore Peer Recovery is offering a unique support opportunity for parents and caregivers.

  • Statewide Announcements: new tobacco law in MA; save the date for MA Dept. of Public Health Ounce of Prevention Conference.

  • Job Announcements: Bay State Community Services grant writer; MA Public Health Association Public Policy Specialist and Development & Communications Manager.

Three Questions with Sara Tan of EACH

We recently asked Sara Tan, a longtime member of CHNA 20, to share a bit about her experiences working with us over the years. Sara talked about the importance of CHNA 20’s support and partnership in expanding the work of EACH. Watch the video to hear more (full transcript provided below).

Why Age-Friendly Communities are Important to Our Work

Within the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance catchment area, three of our thirteen cities and towns -- Quincy, Scituate, and Cohasset --  are currently enrolled in the AARP Age-Friendly Communities network. Their enrollment in the program signals a desire to create communities that will support the needs of an aging population, but what does creating an Age-Friendly Community actually involve? And why are Age-Friendly Communities important to the work of the Blue Hills Community Health Alliance?

Holding Community Conversations to Solve Transportation Challenges

Exactly one year ago, in January 2019, CHNA 20 launched a new program designed to address one of the social determinants that contribute to health disparities in our region. Based on our own data, conversations with partners and stakeholders, and data gathered for the South Shore Hospital Needs Assessment, we chose to focus deeply on solving the problem of transportation equity in our region. Realizing that a lack of reliable transportation is one of our region’s most prevalent social determinants of health led us to create the Blue Hills Regional Coordinating Council (Blue Hills RCC), a voluntary group of stakeholders collaborating to address regional transportation needs. The Blue Hills RCC also supports Metro Quincy’s transition to an Age-Friendly Community by helping to address mobility and transportation access issues for older adults and other populations who would benefit greatly from increased accessibility.