Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Western Massachusetts Public Health Association (WMPHA) is to assist and support staff of local health departments and other groups related to public health, in meeting their statutory responsibilities to the public through programs of education, technical assistance, representation and resource development and by providing educational and informational programs to the general public on public health topics.
As a major part of its operations WMPHA has sponsored educational training for the past 7 years. Prior to this the groups were known as the Mass. Milk and Food Association and Hampshire/Franklin Boards of Health Association which have operated some 25 plus years. WMPHA also coordinates and offers its members a variety of educational trainings throughout the year in multiple locations across the Western Region of Massachusetts. It should be noted that the Berkshire Boards of Health are considered members of the Western Region, but because of distances they have retained their name and function. The combined Region 1 consists of some 40% of the land mass of the Commonwealth. Some of the recent trainings WMPHA has offered include: Foodborne Illness Investigation Training, Infectious Disease Surveillance Reporting, Protective Clothing and Decontamination, Housing Codes, Wildlife and Health Effects: Solutions and Recommendations for Health Departments, and West Nile Virus and SARS in Massachusetts and how Health Agents can disseminate information.