CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Health and Human Services Committee Meeting | Tuesday, March 29, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:04 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:27 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Sarai Rivera | | Vice Chairperson Morris A Bergman | | Councilor Etel Haxhiaj |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Sarai Rivera
Councilor Morris A Bergman, who arrived at 5:05 P.M.
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj | | | | | Also: | Director of Public Health Karyn Clark
Director of the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester Casey Burns
Strategic Manager Karina Scott
REACH Program Manager Ydalia Heimann
Assistant City Clerk Clare Robbins, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Health and Human Services Committee Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92440181651
Public Health and Human Services Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Health and Human Services Committee Zoom Access Code: 924 4018 1651 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order- That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Health and Human Services hereby approves the minutes of the Public Health and Human Services Committee meeting on March 1, 2022. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved to adopt the order. Order adopted. | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the upcoming launch of the 2021 Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
# 9.18A CM October 19, 2021
In Committee January 25, 2022 - Held
In Committee March 1, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved to take the item up with Items #3b and #4a.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Public Health, who discussed how the CHIP addresses issues concerning racial equity in the city.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the REACH Program Manager, who discussed REACH grant strategies to address health disparities in the Latino community, the needs to understand the terminologies and training services provided by the organization.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the process for identifying and training organizations with the REACH Program Manager.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed accessibility of glossary for frequently used terminologies with the Director of Public Health, Director of Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester and the REACH Program Manager.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Public Health, who spoke concerning National Public Health week in April.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed inviting the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity to the meeting.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a presentation of a video from the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Terry O’Toole concerning the REACH program and; 2) Request City Manager request Director of Public Health coordinate with the Mayor to invite the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity to the meeting for the purposes of presenting him with a Key to City.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Strategic Manager, who discussed the REACH flu and COVID-19 supplement program, partnership with the Worcester State University Latino Education Institute (LEI) including COVID-19 kits distribution and public health informational campaign on social media, and data collection and analysis.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the relationship with low booster rate and neighborhoods with low home ownership rate with the Strategic Manager.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Public Health, who discussed the importance of developing the public health workforce for the next generation.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester, who discussed CHIP strategy, including adopting municipal racial equity policies, community-wide policy change campaigns and prioritized strategy and action agenda, the Equity Audit process and opportunities relative to the Foundational Training Course offered by the Worcester Trauma, Resiliency & Racial Equity Training Institute with the Director of Public Health.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed how the municipal racial equity policies align with departmental racial equity goals with the Director of Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager consider providing cabinet members with opportunities to enroll in the Foundational Training Course offered by the Worcester Trauma, Resiliency and Racial Equity Training Institute.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Director of Public Health coordinate with the Mayor to invite the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity to the meeting for the purposes of presenting him with a Key to City. | | | | Request City Manager consider providing cabinet members with opportunities to enroll in the Foundational Training Course offered by the Worcester Trauma, Resiliency and Racial Equity Training Institute. | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a presentation of a video from the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Terry O’Toole concerning the REACH program. | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Division of Public Health's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Project.
# 9.18B CM October 19, 2021
In Committee January 25, 2022 - Held
In Committee March 1, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #3b) | |
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| | | 4a. | Order of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request Standing Committee on Public Health and Human Services meet quarterly with the Department of Public Health and the Board of Health in an effort to discuss public health issues within the city, including but not limited to the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Project.
# 10f CC March 1, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #3b) | |
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