The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Reliant Foundation and RIZE Massachusetts, in partnership with the UMass Memorial Health Road to Care team and UMass Chan Medical School, will offer a free continuing medical education (CME) conference on April 29 for providers to fulfill new federal training requirements and improve access to opioid use disorder treatment in the region.

The daylong training session, “Transforming Care: Harm Reduction, Overdose Prevention and Management of Opioid Use Disorder,” gives providers from different health systems and private practices the opportunity to immerse themselves in a comprehensive learning experience led by experts in the field.  The conference can be attended in person or remotely.

This is the second training conference sponsored by the foundations, which provided more than $150,000 in total grant funding to advance prescriber education and opioid use disorder treatment in primary care settings throughout Central Massachusetts.  The project aims to reduce barriers to access to treatment in the region, especially in underserved rural communities.

“We are pleased to partner on this training opportunity that will increase the number of providers who are equipped with the latest tools to tackle the ongoing overdose epidemic and the number of residents who will benefit from expanded access to opioid use disorder treatment in the region,” said Dr. Amie Shei, President and CEO of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts.

The first session held in December was attended by more than 100 doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners from primary care and medical specialties.  “Providers across the region are eager for more information and tools; this training gives them the confidence, ability and support to deliver evidence-based care and effective treatment for individuals with substance use disorder,” said Dr. Kavita Babu, Chief Opioid Officer at UMass Memorial Health and professor of emergency medicine at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.

These training opportunities follow passage of the federal Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, which aims to standardize substance use disorder training to ensure that providers possess baseline knowledge in evidence-based treatments and to normalize substance use disorder treatment in the primary care setting.  All DEA-registered providers are required to receive at least eight hours of training in pain management, prescribing practices and medications for addiction treatment for substance use disorders.

The conference will be held on April 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Wellsworth Hotel, 14 Mechanic St., Southbridge, with breakfast and lunch provided.  The session will also be offered via Zoom.  Register here.

LUK, Inc. recently received funding from Brake the Silence Foundation to provide Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention trainings.

LUK will host these Mental Health and Suicide Prevention trainings to promote the health and well-being of Worcester County residents. Participants will learn how to identify potential mental health concerns, where they can receive support, and skills to interrupt harm.

The funding from Brake the Silence will allow LUK to offer a variety of trainings that vary in length, intensity, and scope. The overall goal of the project is to raise awareness of mental health challenges, prevent suicide, and connect people in need to supportive services. By raising awareness, LUK may strengthen mental/behavioral health services for Central Massachusetts residents, encourage individuals to strive for recovery, or support a loved one in their recovery journey.

LUK, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, health, and well-being of youth, families, and adults in Central Massachusetts. As a community-based organization, LUK’s mission is to challenge and inspire youth, adults, and families to realize their unique potential through community-based prevention, intervention, education, and support services.

3rd Consecutive Year on Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America List

Berkshire Bank, a relationship-driven, community-focused bank in New England and New York, has been recognized as one of the top 10 most trusted banks in America by Newsweek magazine.

It’s the third consecutive year Berkshire Bank has been on the list of Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America. It is the only bank recognized this year that is headquartered in Massachusetts.

Newsweek’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 includes 700 companies across 23 industries that were evaluated by U.S. customers, employees, and investors. Results were based on an independent survey from a sample of about 25,000 people who evaluated publicly and privately held companies based in the United States with revenues over $500 million. Respondents rated companies on customer, employee, and investor trust. Results also reflect a survey of what was said about a company in various media online.

Newsweek partnered with Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and provider of industry rankings, to issue its ranking of America’s most trustworthy companies.

The MA SBA will have two cohorts for the Emerging Leaders Thrive program  – one in Greater Worcester/surrounding communities and also Greater Boston. They need 25 businesses for each for a total of 50 businesses. SBA underwrites 100% of the cost of this program and it is free to the entrepreneur. To be eligible, the business must be at least 2-3 years old, have one employee, and have revenues in excess of $250K. The program is not for start ups and is for businesses that are committed to the growth of their business.

Over the course of six months, there will be 8 in person sessions but the in person is augmented with virtual sessions and small group discussions. Modules during the curriculum cover all aspects of successfully running a small business and a number of SME’s will be introduced to the participants, both nationally and locally. Both cohorts will be covered by the same instructor from last year who is the reason why the MA office decided to up our commitment to two cohorts and bring the program back to central MA again this year. The end product the small business achieves as a result of their participation is a growth and action plan that they develop.

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