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BPHC Intergovernmental Relations

The mission of the Intergovernmental Relations and Policy Development Office is to promote a strong, effective advocacy voice and presence for public health policy at all levels of government.

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They also work to accomplish BPHC strategies for good health and health equity through laws and regulations. Staff, clients, and community members should have the skills and opportunities to take part in the policymaking process. They should also work for policy changes that benefit the health of residents, especially the most vulnerable.

What We Do

  • Track information on health policy and major priority issues.
  • Improve public health through laws, regulations and public budgets at the local, state and federal level.
  • Support programs to develop policy priorities and advocate for them.
  • Provide training and support for staff, clients/constituents, and community partners. Develop advocacy skills to speak up for issues they care about.
  • Educate and mobilize voters to support neighborhood health with Coordinate Voting for Health.

Legislative Priorities

Priority State Legislation for 2019-2020 Session are the following bills.​

  • HB1173/SB678 An Act improving public health through a common application for core food, health and safety-net programs
  • HB2005 An Act to Prevent Gun Violence
  • HB2006/SB1218 An Act Establishing A Sharps Stewardship Program
  • HB1971 An Act Relative to Conducting Fetal Infant Mortality Review
  • HB2623 An Act Relative to Lead Abatement
  • HB2360/SB1583 An Act Relative to Surviving Family of Emergency Medical Technicians
  • SB1339 An Act Relative to Public Safety and Public Health Worker Protections

Voting and Advocacy Tips

Voting for Health

The Commission has a strong commitment to supporting the involvement of all Boston residents. BPHC believes in Boston residents shaping policies that affect their lives.  During election seasons, our non-partisan Voting for Health initiative aims to increase voter awareness and turnout for all city residents.

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Health Impact Assessments

Health impact assessments (HIA) are an internationally-recognized tool. They check the impacts of a proposed project or policy change on the health of affected populations. It's a chance to apply a Health in All Policies (HiAP) lens to decision-making processes. 

BPHC completed a development-oriented HIA in 2012 on a large development project located at 35 Northampton Square in Roxbury.  We have also participated on many advisory boards for completed HIAs in Boston. 

In October 2014, BPHC received a grant from the Health Impact Project to conduct a HIA of proposed updates to the City of Boston’s Living Wage Ordinance. The Living Wage Ordinance was first passed in 1998. It requires city-contracted employers to pay at least $13.89 per hour.  Our HIA informed public debate about how proposed changes to enforce and expand the ordinance might affect the health of low income workers.

Beyond changes to the ordinance, we hope the HIA informs future debates on the links between economic policy and the health of the city’s low income residents and neighborhoods. We hope it builds stronger connections between efforts to build health equity and economic justice in the city.

Support for this project comes from the Health Impact Project grant.

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