This Week from OCHE & Partners
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Some updates and opportunities below, with an ongoing invitation for all to complete our new Community Partner Contact + Feedback Form as we transition to a new relationship management system and implement additional ways of understanding community priorities.
With appreciation,
The OCHE Team
Andi + Dan
From OCHE & BSAS
🗓️ Refreshers of previous events we shared in case you missed them:
July Community Office Hours are Monday, July 27 from 10am-12pm featuring BSAS’ Trans & Gender Expansive Community Advisory Board (TGE CAB) – register here to join us.
Procurement Community Academy 101: Intro to BSAS Funding will take place on August 12 from 10-11:30am – register here.
Procurement Community Academy 201: Community Reviewer Training will take place on August will take place on August 19 from 10-11:30am – register here.
BSAS, City of Boston, and Boston Medical Center’s International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial will take place August 31 – September 3 – volunteer to help plant flags here, and find or share other IOAD events statewide here.
Contracts 101: Contracting with DPH on September 9 from 10-11am – register here
Procurement Academy 102: Supplier Diversity Office on September 14 from 10:30am-12pm – Register here.
🤝 BSAS recently created a new safety planning resource for service providers that may also be useful to adapt for community settings:
The “Take Steps to Lower Your Overdose Risk” document provides practical tips about different ways to lower risk when using drugs. People may decide to use substances whether support is provided or not. By acknowledging this reality and offering tools for safer use, programs can reduce harm, improve safety, and help prevent overdose deaths.
🗣️ BSAS’ Living Expertise Advisory Pool (LEAP) now represents 549 members – and the more, the merrier! Recent community consulting projects involving LEAP members include finalizing practice guidance documents and informational websites, providing feedback to shape early-stage BSAS projects, and engaging communities to share vital public health materials. We invite you to share or print the attached flyer to encourage individuals and organizational staff to join if they’re interested.
🤝 The deadline to apply to the 2026-2027 cohort of Collective UpLIFT fellows is July 27 at 12pm. This capacity building opportunity for BIPOC-identifying leaders includes a stipend of up to $15,000. Answer any last-minute questions at a drop-in office hours on July 27 from 9-10am by registering here.
From our partners
💰 The City of Boston announced $600,000 in new funding for Community Overdose Response Grants. Funding will be allocated to community-based organizations working to prevent overdose deaths and provide substance use treatment in neighborhoods seeing the highest overdose rates, with a focus on serving Black and Latinx communities that are at increased risk. Learn more and apply here by August 25.
🤝 We are so excited to introduce SCORE as a new OCHE partner and capacity building resource that offers free professional mentorship, live and on-demand educational opportunities, and organizational development templates for businesses and nonprofits at all stages. Check out SCORE’s website to learn more or request support, and stay tuned for a Community Office Hours presentation later this year.
🗣️ The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is required to submit a mini application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as recipients of the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG). A critical component of this application process is receiving feedback from members of the public. You can view the draft application and instructions for providing comment by July 30 here.
🗓️ DPH’s Community Health Equity Survey (CHES) will open in late July! Join the CHEI team and Health Resources in Action (HRiA) for 2 CHES webinars to share resources, make connections, and get excited about the survey launch:
August 4, 10:30-12:00: Launch Celebration and CHES Resources for You
August 13, 2:00-3:00: CHES Outreach Strategies and Regional Connections
🗓️ New Beginnings Re-Entry Services will hold their 5th annual Community Resource Fair on August 15 from 11am-4pm in Dorchester, featuring a range resources, live music with food, family activities, and more. See the attached flyer for additional details, including opportunities to host a table.
🗓️ Plymouth Cope and local partners will host the 3rd annual We Remember, We Recover event on August 22 from 12-4pm at Plymouth Public Library. The event will feature a special guest performance, music, tribute speakers, family-friendly activities, and community members coming together in remembrance and hope. See the attached flyer for details, and register to host a free resource table here.
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