Public Health Institute
of Western Massachusetts
Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
PARTNERS FOR HEALTH EQUITY

Our vision is for all people within our region to have access to what they need to lead healthy lives.

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts builds measurably healthier and more equitable communities through community engagement, collaborative partnerships, research and evaluation, and policy advocacy. We are committed to continuous learning, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the voices of those we serve.

What We Do

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts supports communities in their efforts to become measurably healthier and more equitable through community engagement, convening collaborative partnerships, communications, data analysis, research and evaluation, and policy advocacy. We are committed to continuous learning, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the voices of those we serve.

Reports & Data

Reports & Data

Check out our youth and health equity reports and browse a few of our favorite data sources.
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Youth Mental Health Roadmap for Western MA

Over the past year, PHIWM has been convening a range of stakeholders to create a roadmap that prioritizes promotion and prevention efforts, building off the important findings from the Commonwealth’s Promote and Prevent Commission’s 2018 report, as well as the 2021 Massachusetts Behavioral Health Roadmap.
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Community Health Equity Initiative: Data and Action Support

Do you want support using Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI) survey data for action? As the regional data and action support provider for Western and Central Massachusetts, we are here to help!
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Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition

Working to improve the quality of life for people and communities with asthma in the Pioneer Valley, the coalition focuses on Healthy Homes, Climate Change and Healthy Schools.
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Research

PHIWM's Research team works to help providers, policy makers and communities target and measure the impact of their programs/initiatives.  Learn about our research assessments including the Western Massachusetts Casino Health Impact Assessment, the Springfield Health Equity Report and the Coalition of Western MA Hospitals Community Health Needs Assessments.
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Health Equity

Our Vision: All people have access to what they need to lead healthy lives.
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Health Policy

Where you live, work, & play has a major impact on health.  We support collective & community actions to include health in all policies so it's easier to make healthy choices.
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Coalition Building

We provide expert planning, facilitation, activity tracking, evaluation, and sustainability planning services while prioritizing community ownership, capacity building, and health equity.
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Spotlight on Coalition Building Initiatives.

413Cares.org is an online community resource database for western Massachusetts. It's empowering people to find and connect to local services to get the help they need. It's free and easy to use.

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News

17 Oct, 2024
Debbie DiStefano, PhD, is the Chief People and Equity Officer at Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc. She writes, "I find that helping folks connect to the human story can guide an understanding of racism, what it is, how it developed, and how it is directly impacting the whole health of people of color. Being antiracist is essential to our mission. I turn to the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide for podcasts such as Code Switch, videos such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story, and Beverly Daniel Tatum’s Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? We also partner with organizations such as the Women of Color Health Equity Collective as a way to learn, confront, and grow."

Putting Resources into Practice

17 Oct, 2024
Debbie DiStefano, PhD, is the Chief People and Equity Officer at Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc. She writes, "I find that helping folks connect to the human story can guide an understanding of racism, what it is, how it developed, and how it is directly impacting the whole health of people of color. Being antiracist is essential to our mission. I turn to the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide for podcasts such as Code Switch, videos such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story, and Beverly Daniel Tatum’s Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? We also partner with organizations such as the Women of Color Health Equity Collective as a way to learn, confront, and grow."
Headshot of Dr. Gregory Todd
18 Sep, 2024
Dr. Gregory Todd is the executive director of Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA). He writes, " If you are a self-proclaimed agent of social change like me, you have on more than one occasion made plans to take over the world, wanted to transform your organization, or even aspired to mentor a staff member. Whenever I have had such maniacal thoughts, I have asked myself two important questions. The first question is always: What tools do I have in my toolbox to accomplish these tasks? I then try to be specific regarding which tools I will need. Do I need more leadership skills? Am I transformative enough? How do I inspire others? If my passion is my WHY…my toolbox is my HOW. And, as passionate as I am about being transformative and impactful, I am honest enough with myself to know that the bravery, confidence, and deliberateness to engage can only be supported and justified by what I feel is in my toolbox. The second and equally important question is: If I don’t have these tools where can I get them? One answer that I discovered is the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide . With a bevy of useful information ranging from informative articles to transformative podcasts and books, filling and refilling my professional toolbox has been something that I look forward to doing on a regular basis. And with a toolbox that is responsive to my environment, I feel more confident in my ability to be transformative in my community in a way that is uplifting and empowering."
15 Jul, 2024
Andrea Freeman is the Policy Director at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Learn about her favorite resource in the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide
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