Community Health Improvement Plan

Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), New Bedford Health Department, New Bedford, MA

The City of New Bedford, located in southeastern Massachusetts, is situated 54 miles south of Boston and 33 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. According to the New Bedford Housing & Community Development Office, New Bedford has a population of nearly 94,000 and is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic city with a high proportion of foreign-born residents. Thirty-eight percent of residents over the age of five speak a language other than English at home.

New Bedford is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own character, parks, and housing options. The economy is also diverse, with the deep-water port serving as an important industry while trade, manufacturing, government, and services also contribute to the city’s economy.

The College of Nursing & Health Sciences (CNHS) at UMass Dartmouth partnered with the New Bedford Health Department to develop a 2019 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

The CHIP was created by CNHS faculty and doctor of nursing practice students through a Community Health Needs Assessment (CNHA) that explored city data based on health indicators along with social determinants of health. Based on this data, interviews and focus groups were conducted with key informants and community members. Some of the significant health issues facing the city include opioid dependence, higher than average obesity rates and lack of physical activity, and a crime rate that is 28% higher than the national average.

The current health priorities in New Bedford identified in CHIP are:

  • Substance abuse
  • Mental Health
  • Access to Care
  • Economic Opportunity
  • Housing
  • Education
  • Physical Activity and Nutrition
  • Safety
  • Cultural Responsiveness

Recommendations from the CHIP include interventions that encompass education, policy implementation, and collaboration with local organizations for the promotion of health throughout the community. This plan will be ongoing for the residents of New Bedford and will provide realistic plans with achievable outcomes and goals for the betterment of the entire community.

New Bedford Community Health Improvement Plan