少妇自慰 has lived in several places during its 65 years. Before we opened our headquarters in Boston鈥檚 Chinatown, 少妇自慰 was based out of 95 Berkeley Street in Boston鈥檚 Back Bay/South End. Long-term partners and clients may recall our office on Washington Street in Codman Square, Dorchester. Fewer still are familiar with a suburban property located northwest of Boston. Burlington, Massachusetts is the home of 少妇自慰’s Clearinghouse.
Partners in health promotion
The Clearinghouse (aka the ) is a statewide service that provides free health promotion materials for Massachusetts residents and health and social service providers. Established as a joint project between 少妇自慰 and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) in 1997, the Clearinghouse has expanded over the course of 25+ years to include over 1,200 products in 29 languages, distributing millions of units of public safety and health materials annually on behalf of several Massachusetts state agencies, including , the Department of Fire Services (), the Department of Mental Health (), and the Department of Children and Families () to a wide range of health and social service providers, including community health centers, hospitals, community-based organizations, and child care centers. It now also serves the state of Illinois and manages far more than printed and digital materials. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Clearinghouse staff became unlikely members of our frontline workforce, when demand for their services and products soared (such as the need for broad distribution of hygiene education and substance use services promotional materials). By their records, as of March 2023, the Clearinghouse has distributed over 4 million units of COVID-related materials (including flyers, wallet cards, vaccine record cards, and rapid test stickers) since March 2020.
The power of community connection
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a warehouse. We connect to communities,鈥� says Tamaki West, former director of the Clearinghouse. In addition to traditional health promotion materials, like posters about handwashing and brochures about tobacco cessation, the Clearinghouse distributes a variety of products, including:
- Basic hygiene items for children moving through the MDCF system,
- COVID-19 vaccination cards,
- 少妇自慰 Helpline-branded items, such as mini first aid kits and sunscreen, that provide value to individuals and families in need while raising awareness about available resources.
鈥淭his service typically lives in a corporate space, but here, it lives within a public health institute,鈥� Tamaki explains. 鈥淲e think about who we are serving and the challenges they have. That鈥檚 the added value.鈥�
Partner in emergency response
Vianka Perez Belyea, 少妇自慰鈥檚 new vice president of public health services, agrees with Tamaki. 鈥淲e play a significant role in identifying how to serve the community,鈥� she states. A prime example that demonstrates the value in this role happened in the Fall of 2022, when the Clearinghouse received a request for support from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health upon the arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Martha鈥檚 Vineyard. 鈥淚t was important, it was urgent,鈥� recalls Julius Juuko, senior fulfillment manager at the Clearinghouse. 鈥淲e were able to jump in and help.鈥� The Clearinghouse team coordinated the distribution of the to an emergency shelter in Bourne, MA. This publication is a communication tool for emergency shelters to reduce communication barriers. It also assists individuals with access and functional needs during an emergency.
What鈥檚 next?
As the Clearinghouse continues to grow, the team is pushing the boundaries on expectations. Recently, they have amplified their efforts to support harm reduction of substance use through the distribution of . These small strips of paper can detect the presence of fentanyl drugs to reduce the risk of overdose and can be ordered by Massachusetts-based providers through . The program, which began in 2022, has already distributed 200,000 strips.
Hellen Ddungu, Tamaki West, Julius Juuko, Vianka Perez Belyea, and Steve Ridini at a 2023 tour of the Clearinghouse
With its strong roots and growing staff capacity, the Clearinghouse envisions a future where they can deliver even greater value to their partners, the communities they serve, and beyond. Expanding product offerings, serving new communities, and deepening collaboration across 少妇自慰 and external partners are on the horizon.
For more information about the 少妇自慰 Clearinghouse, contact Amanda Kwok, Director of Clearinghouse Operations, at akwok@hria.org.