Join us Friday October 16, 2020 at noon to learn about the Springfield Youth Health Survey Initiative Findings. The Public Health Institute of Western MA and Gándara Center will share findings from the most recent Youth Health Survey and Prevention Needs Assessment Survey conducted among middle and high school students in the Springfield Public Schools. These surveys are conducted through a collaborative effort of the Public Health Institute of Western MA, Gándara Center, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission which is aimed at collecting data to understand needs and inform decision-making and action. An overview of findings from the surveys will be discussed, along with how these data are being used for collaborative efforts to support the health and well-being of Springfield youth. The event will be moderated by Nikki Burnett, and speakers will include Dr. Kathleen Szedga, Sharon Hall-Smith, and Michelle Balch.
Moderator and Speaker Bios
- Nikki Burnett is the Executive Director at Educare Springfield and serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Health Institute of Western MA.
- Kathleen Szegda, PhD is the Director of Community Research and Evaluation at the Public Health Institute of Western MA.
- Sharon Hall-Smith, MA is the Director of Prevention & Community Services at the Ga̒ndara Center which includes the Stop Access Drug Free Communities Coalition.
- Michelle Balch is the Senior Administrator of Performance and Evaluation at Springfield Public Schools, and she is the K-12 district leader of the health and physical education department and district-wide wellness initiatives.
