We Are All Public Health: Public Health Month Event Series
April 1, 2024
National Public Health Week is the first week of April. One week just isn't enough to celebrate public health, so we've joined the City of Springfield Department of Health and Human Services in celebrating all month long! Public health is so much more than access to health care. It's about creating healthy communities where everyone can thrive! This means having strong support systems, access to mental health resources for youth, promoting gender equity, addressing climate change's impact on health, and fostering healthy relationships. Join us for an event series to explore these topics and see how we can all work together for a healthier Western Massachusetts!
- (Webinar) Using 413Cares to Strengthen the Local Safety Net, April 11, 2024, from 12:00-1:00 pm: Learn about the 413Cares online resource database and how local organizations are using 413Cares to build relationships with other organizations and the community to ensure they are getting connected to services. Speakers will include Liv Anna Homstead & Francheska Bermudez (Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts), Alan Dallman & Johanna Farrell (Food Bank of Western MA), Jodi Smith (Way Finders), and Jasarah Burgos (New North Citizens Council).
- (Webinar) Overview of Youth Mental Health, April 11, 2024, from 5:30-7:00 pm: In this training facilitated by the Behavioral Health Network, participants will learn how to identify and support mental health needs for children and youth. It will cover common mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and PTSD. It is appropriate for both adults and youth in high school. This webinar is sponsored by the Youth Mental Health Coalition (convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts).
- (Webinar) The State of Gender Equity in Western MA: New Findings & Local Action, April 23, 2024, from 1:00-2:00 pm: This webinar will share the latest findings from a recent report on gender equity in Western Massachusetts. In collaboration, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) gathered extensive data, including listening to local communities, to create a report rich with information and insights. Come learn how women, girls, transgender, and gender-diverse residents are doing in our region. Hear about the WFWM's strategies to advance gender equity and what you can do to make a difference.
- This webinar will showcase two coalition efforts led by the Public Health Institute of Western Mass to bring together community residents and partner organizations to advance climate justice and health equity. Live Well Springfield Climate Change Health & Equity Initiative: Samantha Hamilton, Director of Community Engagement and Coalition Building, will share Live Well’s journey to successfully advocate for Community Choice Energy in Springfield. Healthy Air Network: Francheska Bermudez, Healthy Air Project Coordinator, and Dr. Krystal Pollitt, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health will share about the Healthy Air Network, a network of hyperlocal air sensors measuring air quality at the neighborhood level.
- (In-Person training for Teens) Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationship, April 25, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services located at 3 Rutland Street, Springfield, MA, 01109: This training, facilitated by Tools for Success Counseling, teaches youth what to look out for in healthy vs unhealthy relationships and friendships. It seeks to inform young people of just how common domestic violence is in our community and help make all individuals more trauma-informed. For youth in grades 6-12. This event is sponsored by the Youth Mental Health Coalition (convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts).
- (In Person) Intergenerational Trauma / Ask a Therapist, April 29, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 pm at New North Citizens' Council located at 4 Birnie Avenue, Springfield, MA 01107: In this training facilitated by the Behavioral Health Network, attendees will learn evidence about how many current mental health issues and needs can reside in the traumas of our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents and how we can build off the work of experts in neuroscience and posttraumatic stress. This event is sponsored by the Youth Mental Health Coalition (convened by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts).
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On February 9, 2026, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts convened partners and legislators to celebrate the FY26 earmark for 413Cares.org and to share updates on major regional initiatives. PHIWM extends deep appreciation to Representative Michael Finn, Senator Adam Gomez, and the entire Western Massachusetts legislative delegation for their continued partnership and support for 413Cares.org , which remains a critical tool for connecting Western MA residents to help when they need it most. 413Cares.org saw major growth in 2025, with searches doubling and the number of users increasing more than fourfold. Check out photos from the gathering below!
Learn more about our work in 2025 bringing communities together, advocating for policy change, engaging community, and using data to drive change.
In 1996, courageous and visionary leaders from competing healthcare institutions created a public health organization to bring people together, secure resources, and convene multiple sectors to focus on community health issues that were not being addressed. That collective vision and action manifested in Partners for a Healthier Community, now the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Over the past 30 year s, we have strengthened partnerships and uplifted community voices. We are more committed than ever to ensure everyone has what they need to lead a healthy life. Thank you for your decades of partnership and lifetime of active hope.
