Registration Now Open for May 30th Coalition Meeting

The Spring Full Coalition meeting will be held on Thursday, May 30th from 2:30-4:30pm at Camp Apex! Here are a few details:

  • Hosted by Franklin County’s YMCA’s fabulous Camp Apex, a 10-minute drive from downtown Greenfield at 45 Peckville Road, Shelburne Falls, MA.
  • Our first-ever OUTDOOR coalition meeting! Dress for the weather: there’s no rain date…if the weather does not allow for an outdoor meeting under a pavilion, we’ll switch over to zoom, and let you know the day before.
  • We’re still working out the details of the agenda, but we’ll have a focus on Youth and Community Engagement and Leadership. 
  • We will be awarding the Sara Cummings Coalition Leadership Award.  It’s not too late to nominate someone amazing!
  • We’re working on a special treat of snacks made by Franklin County Technical School students…stay tuned!

Register now at: https://tinyurl.com/CommunitiesThatCareMay2024

Coalition Releases 2024 Community Action Plan

We released our newly updated Community Action Plan on October 27, 2023, at the Fall Full Coalition Meeting. The plan will guide our work until we formally update it again in 2026. The new plan strengthens the Coalition’s vision, mission, values, and strategies to reflect our commitment to health equity and social justice. Each of our 5 workgroups (Racial Justice, Parent & Family Engagement, Policy and Norms, School Health, and the NEW Community Supports for Young People Workgroup) has updated their goals, their membership, and the strategies they focus on.  The Community Action Plan is constantly evolving, and we always welcome your input! Check out the new 2024 Community Action Plan

Fall Full Coalition Meeting Oct 27, 11-1 at New Greenfield Public Library

Please join us for the Communities That Care Coalition’s Fall Coalition Meeting on Friday, October 27th, from 11am to 1pm at the beautiful new Greenfield Public Library, in their large community room..  Register at https://tinyurl.com/CommunitiesThatCareOct2023 ASAP (by 10/18 if you would like childcare or Spanish translation) and join us! 

We will share the 2023 Student Health Survey Data (with a focus on screen time and social media), vote on our three-year Community Action Plan (check it out in advance HERE and send corrections to kallen@frcog.org), and we will present our Mike Fritz Community Builder Award to the unstoppable Amy McMahan of Mesa Verde!

Lunch will be a combination of Mesa Verde and Chef Tina’s Haitian Food

While the meeting is old-school IN PERSON, masks are of course welcome and to-go boxes will be available for those who want to keep their masks on and bring food home.

WWLP Highlight Coalition’s Family Day Efforts

WWLP Channel 22, the largest news station in Western Mass, covered the Coalition’s efforts at promoting quality family time on the evening news on Family Day! Check out the coverage HERE.

PEER Ambassadors create videos to celebrate Family Day!

In celebration of Family Day, the Coalition’s PEER Ambassadors worked with GCTV to create a video Public Service Announcements – check out the version in English and the one in Spanish! The videos highlight the many benefits of family dinners and quality family time and encourages people to set up routines that include regular time for family connection. National Family Day – which celebrates simple, everyday things parents do to connect with their kids – is the Fourth Monday in September each year. This year Family Day is September 26th. Check out the videos and then celebrate with your Family!!

2022 Parent Guide Released!

The Parent and Family Engagement Workgroup’s 2022 Parent Guide was released on Wednesday, September 21. This 16-page insert is distributed through the Greenfield Recorder and the Athol Daily News, and includes valuable information for local parents on topics including substance use prevention, mental health promotion, health and nutrition, online safety, and more, with an emphasis on local resources. This year’s guide has a great cover article on support systems for transgender young people and their families. It also includes lots of photos and contributions from the Coalition’s PEER Community Ambassadors (PEER=Parent Engagement, Enrichment, and Resources). Take a look and share it widely!