Mount Auburn Hospital Awards $10,000 to the Somerville Department of Health

Mount Auburn Hospital has awarded the Somerville Department of Health a $10,000 grant to increase the department’s capacity to help families of Opioid users. In addition, the funds will support a Networking Meeting and Community Needs Focus Groups to guide the launch of two new resources. The first, a Stamp Out Stigma Week in April and October to change perceptions and reduce the stigma of mental illness and substance use disorders. The second, to create a One-Stop Resource Page on the City’s website that will connect families with services and supports vetted during the Networking Meeting and Focus Groups. This grant is a part of Mount Auburn Hospital’s Community Health mission of commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of community members by collaborating with community partners to reduce barriers to health, increase prevention and/or self-management of chronic diseases and increase the early detection of illnesses.

“Realizing that local health departments have unique perspectives on the needs of the communities they serve, Mount Auburn Hospital designed these funds to support local department of health efforts. The funds may be used for capacity building and/or direct programming and must be used to address one or more of the top health concerns identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment. The main health concerns include: obesity and inactive living, self-management of chronic disease, mental health issues, substance abuse, and access to health care services, ” explains Mary Hunt Johnson, RN, OCN, Director of Community Health at Mount Auburn Hospital.

The Somerville Department of Health is one of six departments of health recipients that have been awarded grants to address one or more of the top health concerns to positively impact each community. The other communities include Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge, Waltham and Watertown.

Mount Auburn Hospital was founded in 1886. A teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, its mission is to deliver healthcare services in a personable, convenient and compassionate manner, with respect for the dignity of patients and their families.