As part of the process of developing an Action Plan for the 2014-2019 period, Partners for a Healthier Community organized eight Task Forces to review pertinent data and make recommendations for future action. Participants in each of eight Community Needs and Assets Assessment Task Forces began meeting in late September 2013 to begin putting together preliminary recommendations for the 2014-2019 Action Plan for Partners for a Healthier Community, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health designated Community Health Network Area of Fall River, Somerset, Swansea and Westport. In order to enhance those recommendations, members of special populations who are known to be at greater risk for some health conditions were surveyed between February and March prior to the final Action Planning process. These groups included 1) youth, 2) seniors, 3) persons whose native language is not English, 4) persons with behavioral health diagnoses, and 5) members of racial and ethnic groups in Fall River. Summarized results from those surveys were made available to the members of the Action Planning Team. For more information, contact Dr. Weed at 508-324-2405. (Center right photo courtesy of Annemarie Holly)

(Top row) African-American members of the First Baptist Church agreed to participate in the survey. (Middle row, left) Seniors at the Niagara Senior Center completed surveys. (Middle row, center) Members of the Towne House Psychosocial Clubhouse for persons with mental illness were surveyed. (Middle row, right) Life Together Fellow Philip York and SCI Vista Intern Brian Moses surveyed a group of teens at B.M.C. Durfee High School. (Bottom row) Spanish-speaking parishioners at St. Mary's Cathedral and Portuguese-speaking parishioners at St. Michael's Church were surveyed with the assistance of Fr. German and Deacon Medeiros..