CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Health and Human Services Committee Meeting | Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:07 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:00 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
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj | | | | | Also: | Commissioner of Health and Human Services Matilde Castiel
Acting Director of Public Health Zach Dyer
Professor of Community Development and Planning Laurie Ross
Coordinator of Community Initiatives Leah Serafin
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 June 24, 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 an update on youth violence prevention.
# 10.18A CM July 19, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and recognized the Coordinator of Community Initiatives and the Professor of Community Development and Planning, who provided an overview of the youth violence prevention program.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera discussed whether the youth violence prevention program also provides trauma responses to youths who have faced violence as they immigrated to the U.S. and what the administration can do to support the program with the Professor of Community Development and Planning.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, who discussed the Community Advisory Board and the importance of receiving feedback directly from the youths and people with lived experiences.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed how young people will be mentored and supported in the Community Advisory Board and the funding allocated to this plan with the Professor of Community Development and Planning.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the numbers of opioid fatalities in Worcester between 2020 and 2021.
# 8.19A CM February 8, 2022
In Committee June 21, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, who provided an overview of data relative to opioid fatalities in the city.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the changes in numbers of opioid fatalities between 2011 and 2016, the relationship between school suspension and drug-use, the regional differences of drugs use and how Narcane usage is categorized with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera discussed the rise in cocaine and crack cocaine usage and the impact of mental health accessibility and incarceration on drugs use with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Acting Director of Public Health, who discussed multi-reinforcement system and the factors that contribute to opioid use and fatalities and the needs for the administration to invest in communities.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3c. | 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
In Committee March 29, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 23, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and recognized the Acting Director of Public Health, who discussed how the CHIP program supports the youth violence prevention plan.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 3d. | 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
In Committee March 29, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 23, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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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
In Committee March 29, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 23, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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