Mission   The Institute for Community Health is a unique collaboration of three Massachusetts health care systems to improve the health of Cambridge; Somerville, and surrounding cities and towns. Founding members are the Cambridge Health Alliance, the Mount Auburn Hospital of CareGroup, and the Massachusetts General Hospital of Partners HealthCare. The ICH will stimulate the creation of innovative programs and health policies through a community-based approach that will promote long term healthy lifestyles. In order to accomplish this, the ICH will:

• Collaborate with community health partnerships to identify health needs and concerns.
• Conduct community-based participatory health research that links academic institutions to community partners.
• Pursue research and assessment initiatives that link clinical care to public health.
• Provide community education and training by offering community-based learning opportunities for health professionals, students, and community members.
• Evaluate the efficacy of programs and policy to build sustainable models of community health.
• Assist community groups in using health information to effect change and develop action programs.
• Disseminate community-specific assessment and research results to community members and local/national audiences to guide program and policy development.

• Understanding and respecting diverse populations as well as the uniqueness of communities
• Safeguarding privacy
• Supporting and building lasting partnerships
• Improving the health status of communities

The Institute for Community Health (ICH) is providing important support for the citizenry of Cambridge and Somerville and surrounding communities. Its ability to assess, evaluate, and research emerging health concerns identified by communities has lead to health improvement and program development. With key stakeholders that include local hospitals, health departments, city agencies and community based agencies, the ICH is well positioned to provide needed information and technical assistance to Cambridge and Somerville.

Important projects that are leading the way to health improvement include:

• The recent completion of a study of the mental health needs of children in Cambridge in collaboration with the Harvard Children’s Initiative. Now the ICH is leading a major effort of more than 50 individuals/organizations to improve child mental health in Cambridge.
• Collaboration on a study of the mental health and substance abuse services in Somerville High School in an effort to refocus school-based mental health efforts.
• In tandem with the Cambridge Public Schools providing fitness and overweight screening for thousands of children. Additionally, the ICH works with city departments to develop programs, policies and local infrastructure that promote physical activity. Recent projects include the Cambridge Walks campaign, TV Turnoff Week, and a guidebook of physical activities in Cambridge.
• Bringing together a broad-based coalition of child health advocates as the Healthy Children Task Force to move the child health agenda forward.
• Improving dental care for children in Cambridge.
• Leading efforts on child physical activity improvement.
• Developing a successful federal grant supporting elementary school counseling.
• Providing opportunities for graduate students at the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, and other local universities to engage in community-based service learning.
• Conducting community needs assessments to address information gaps, analyze data for local health departments and recently conducted the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey in Cambridge and Somerville to identify links between personal health behaviors and chronic disease.