7. Eligibility

In Massachusetts, the risk for suicide mortality and morbidity varies significantly by region, so the project targets the eight (8) CHNAs (out of 27) with youth suicide rates or rates of non-fatal self-inflicted injury higher than those in the state and nation.

Applications will be accepted from eligible Community Health Network Areas (CHNAs). Only one application may be submitted from each eligible CHNA.

The CHNA will designate a lead agency that will also be the fiscal agent with the responsibility for managing the funds and providing reports to MDPH. The agency must have the fiscal and administrative capacity to manage the grant on behalf of the CHNA. The CHNA membership will need to include some or all of the following: youth-serving or family-serving agencies including schools, institutions of higher learning, hospitals and health centers, municipal government, social service agencies, first responders, police, substance abuse and mental health agencies, survivor organizations, neighborhood groups, advocacy agencies, the Centers for Healthy Communities, and faith-based organizations. The Department of Youth Services, the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health and/or agencies that have contracts to work with the populations those agencies serve, should also be included even if they have not been part of the CHNA in the past.

The following eight Community Health Network Areas (CHNAs) are eligible to apply. The lead agency designated by the CHNA must be located or have a local office within and serving the populations in the following areas:

CHNA 1: Community Health Network of Berkshire County, including the cities/towns of: Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, North Adams, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown and Windsor.

CHNA 5: Southern Worcester County, including the cities/towns of: Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Dudley, East Brookfield, Holland, North Brookfield, Oxford, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster and West Brookfield.

CHNA 9: Community Health Network of Central Massachusetts, including the cities/towns of: Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Barre, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, Oakham, Pepperell, Princeton, Rutland, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.

CHNA 12: Greater Haverhill Community Health Network, including the cities/towns of: Amesbury, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.

CHNA 15: NorthWest Suburban Health Alliance, including the cities/towns of: Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn.

CHNA 24: Greater Attleboro-Taunton Health Education, including the cities/towns of: Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Lakeville, Mansfield, Middleborough, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Taunton.

CHNA 25: Partners for Healthier Communities, including the cities/towns of: Fall River, Somerset, Swansea and Westport.

CHNA 27: Cape Cod and Islands Health Network, including the cities/towns of: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gay Head, Gosnold, Harwich, Mashpee, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Yarmouth.