Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy home. It’s important for people of all ages; especially children, adults and senior, because their health can be most affected by their environment. Most people spend 70 percent or more of their time inside their home. Millions of homes, however, have hidden hazards that can affect the health of the family and their visitors. Specific research has revealed that many homes contain one of more hazards that adversely affect human health.
Teen birth rates have dropped precipitously in Massachusetts and MetroWest during the past few decades, a decline many experts and advocates attribute to increased access to birth control and comprehensive sexual education.
In 1990, there were 7,258 teen births in the state, a rate of 35.4 births per 1,000 females age 15 to 19. A quarter-century later, in 2014, there were just 2,402 teen births, a rate of 10.6.
The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is launching the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), a new, statewide program designed to improve affordability and access to locally grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP households.
The Mayor’s Health Task Force is a multi-sector coalition that promotes health equity for all through advocacy, education, capacity-building, and networking.