Shrewsbury Renews Public Health Agreement With Grafton

SHREWSBURY, MA — Shrewsbury is continuing a regional public health partnership that town officials say gives the town more local control over health services.

The Select Board renewed the town’s FY27 intermunicipal agreement with Grafton for public health services, continuing Grafton’s participation in the Central MA Regional Health Department. The renewal was acted on at the board's May 12 meeting.

Shrewsbury was previously regionalized with Worcester for public health services, an arrangement town officials said reduced Shrewsbury’s ability to shape its own public health programs and outcomes. After ending that agreement, Shrewsbury formed the Central Massachusetts Regional Health Department with Shrewsbury serving as the host agency, according to town officials.

The Central MA Regional Health Department serves Shrewsbury, Grafton and West Boylston, handling local public health inquiries and activities related to health and the environment, according to the Shrewsbury Health Department

Grafton’s Board of Health also lists Grafton as part of the Central Massachusetts Regional Health Department with Shrewsbury and West Boylston. The department is hosted by Shrewsbury and funded in part by the Public Health Excellence Grant distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The renewal keeps the Shrewsbury-Grafton partnership in place under the regional model, which town officials said is focused on more localized public health programs, services and outcomes.

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