by the Signature Healthcare Communications Team As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, this time of year reminds us how important it is to recognize the people who matter most to us. Most of us intuitively understand that there are rewards to recognizing the good in our lives and being grateful for it. … More A Season of Gratitude and Good Health
by Maria Almeida, Program Coordinator with Greater Brockton Healthy Families Healthy Families was proud to recently host an exciting “Boo at the Zoo” event, bringing together over 23 families for a day filled with adventure, learning, and connection. Families reported having a wonderful time exploring the zoo, participating in festive activities, and creating unforgettable memories with their … More Adventure at the zoo
By Nicole Long, CEO of OCES November is National Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and honor caregivers. According to the “Caregiving in the U.S. 2025” report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, one in four adults provides ongoing care for an older adult, a person with a disability, or someone living with … More Honoring Caregivers
By the Signature Healthcare Communications Team We just set clocks back this weekend, a sure sign the days are growing shorter and the temperatures are dropping. At this time of year, many of us start to feel a little different. You could be less energetic, less motivated, or simply “off.” For some, these seasonal changes … More Caring for Your Mental Health as the Seasons Change
by Signature Marketing and Communications staff One of the shining stars in our organizaion is the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing. As one of the longest standing nursing diploma schools, it continues to graduate professionals dedicated to caring for others. If you are aware of someone interested in nursing as a profession, encourage … More School of Nursing Open House
From: Dena Miller, Family and Community Resources, Inc. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will experience abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and yet there is still so much confusion over what “counts” as abusive. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we went back to DV101 and lay out some truths … More Back to Basics: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
by: The Signature Healthcare Communications Team As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, so does our focus on keeping families healthy. October marks the beginning of flu season and now is the best time to protect yourself and your loved ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), … More Stay healthier this flu season
By: Signature Healthcare Communications Team October is nationally recognized as SIDS Awareness Month—a time to share vital information about infant sleep safety and to help caregivers feel empowered with clear, evidence‑based steps to protect babies. At Signature Healthcare, we’re committed to supporting the families in our community by spreading awareness about what’s known today to … More Sleeping Safely: How Families Can Help Reduce the Risk of SIDS
By: Signature Healthcare Communications Team Every October, communities across the country come together for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to honor survivors, support those in treatment, and importantly, raise awareness about early detection and prevention. At Signature Healthcare, we join this effort wholeheartedly. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers … More Spotlight on Strength: October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
by Maria Almeida, Program Coordinator with Greater Brockton Healthy Families Greater Brockton Healthy Families is proud to celebrate the accomplishments achieved over the past fiscal year. Our mission is rooted in supporting parents, strengthening families, and building brighter futures for children and families in our community. With the dedication of our staff, partners, and participants, we have … More A great year for Healthy Families
by: Katelyn McSweeney – LICSW Center for Healthy Beginnings at Signature Healthcare This week (9/15-9/21) draws attention to the many families who may struggle with diaper needs across the country. Many families often struggle to afford the cost of disposable diapers. In Massachusetts, disposable diapers can cost an average of $70-100 per month, or about … More National Diaper Need Awareness Week
Katelyn McSweeney is proud to serve as a social worker in Signature Healthcare’s Center for Health Beginnings. It’s a program designed to create better outcomes for mothers and their newborns. Get to know Katelyn and the services the Center provides for the community in this enlightening blogger profile.
By Nicole Long, CEO of OCES Every year, on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we celebrate Grandparents Day! It is a special day to honor and connect with grandparents and pay tribute to them for their involvement in our lives. Grandparents often play a key role in supporting families, including grandchildren. Some grandparents live … More Grandparents Day
by: Lindsay Schwartz, RD LDN We need carbohydrates for energy and sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is naturally found in some foods, like fruits and dairy products. Sugar can also be added to foods and fluids, like breakfast cereal and soda. Added sugar is recommended to be consumed in moderation. The American Heart … More The Scoop on Sugar
Dennis P. Carman, President & CEO United Way of Greater Plymouth County If it is okay to “wear our hearts on our sleeves”, then is it also acceptable to “wear our hope around our necks”? I started wearing neckties only because I had to when I transferred from North Haven Public Schools in Connecticut to attend … More Ties for Hope and Health
by Dena Miller Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers – Family and Community Resources Summer is winding down and students across our community are getting ready to go back to school. A new school year comes with exciting opportunities, in new grades, new classes, new friends, and new relationships. While exciting, these transitions naturally create … More Student Wellness for Back to School
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, a national observance calling attention to how vital healthy vision is for a child’s development, learning, and well-being. As kids head back to school and reconnect with friends, this is a great time for families to take proactive steps in protecting young eyes and building lifelong habits. … More Watchful Eyes, Healthy Futures: Observing Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
By Tayla Magerman, MS, RD, LDN Nutrition is an important part of managing diabetes, so here are a few tips to help improve blood sugar control. It is important to first understand which foods have an effect on blood sugar. Carbohydrates, also referred to as carbs, raise our blood sugar. Carbs are the body’s preferred … More Nutrition Tips for Type 2 Diabetes Management
For working families, finding time for medical appointments can feel like solving a puzzle. Between school drop-offs, job responsibilities, after-school activities, and everything else life throws your way, health issues rarely show up when it’s convenient. That’s why Signature Healthcare’s Urgent Care Centers are designed with your busy life in mind. With walk-in availability, evening … More Care that fits your schedule: Signature Healthcare Urgent Care for Busy Families
Summer in Eastern Massachusetts can mean plenty of sundrenched fun, from beach trips to outdoor concerts. It also brings strong UV rays that can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes (CDC, 2024). You or loved one may already have made the mistake of getting burned once this year. But there’s lots of … More Summer Sun Safety: How to Protect Your Skin (Beyond Just SPF)
by: Nicole M. Long, LICSW Disability Pride Month, observed each July, commemorates the 1990 enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law that extended vital civil rights protections to people with disabilities. The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Not all disabilities are visible. The … More Disability Pride Month
By Maria Almeida — Program Coordinator, Greater Brockton Healthy Families At Healthy Families, we’re proud to share the success of our recent six-week group series designed for the families enrolled in our program. This series was created with one goal in mind: to offer meaningful, supportive, and relevant group experiences that help families thrive—individually and … More Healthy Families Wraps Up Successful Six-Week Group Series
(Post contributed by blog editor) This week, we are reflecting on the July 4th holiday and what it means to be patriotic. Patriotism is often defined by love of country and a commitment to its values and well-being. At its core, this means taking care of the people who make up the nation—our families, neighbors, teachers, … More Providing Healthcare is a Patriotic Act
By Holly Brown — Executive Director & Founder, Looking & Feeling FAB Do You Follow a Regular Skincare Routine? Let’s start with the basics—what is a regular skincare routine, and why is it important? A consistent skincare routine involves cleansing your skin twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed—followed by applying a … More SKIN IS IN
By Dennis Carman — President & CEO, United Way of Greater Plymouth County I was inspired by Nicole Long, President & CEO of OCES and her recent article celebrating Older American’s Month to reflect on my grandfathers and (of course) a song comes to mind. My grandfathers were very different from each other. My maternal … More Hello in There…
By Dena Miller — Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers at Family and Community Resources Connections with both parents are so important to the lives and development of children, but some families need a little help to maintain these critical connections. At Family and Community Resources, one of our largest programs is Supervised Visitation, with … More What is Supervised Visitation Really?
As summer temperatures rise in Brockton and surrounding areas, staying hydrated becomes essential for health and well-being. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, but with proper precautions, it’s preventable. Why Hydration Matters Water is vital for regulating body temperature, maintaining energy levels, and supporting overall bodily functions. During hot weather, the body loses fluids … More Staying Hydrated: A Summer Safety Guide
Summer is the season for picnics, barbecues, and outdoor feasts. But as the heat rises, so does the risk of foodborne illness. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remind us that warm weather and outdoor conditions make proper food handling essential for enjoying summer meals safely. Cleanliness Is … More Safe Food Handling While You Enjoy the Wonders of Summer Eating
By Meagan Avery — Senior Program Director, Healthy Living Old Colony YMCA As New Englanders, we know too well how the cold, unpredictable winter weather and short, dark days can make it tough to stay active and eat well. Motivation tends to hibernate right along with us. But with warmer, sunnier days on the horizon, … More Fresh Air, Fresh Start
As spring turns to summer across the Commonwealth, it’s time to get serious about tick prevention. Tick-borne diseases are a significant public health concern in Massachusetts, as documented by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Common Tick Diseases in Massachusetts The blacklegged tick (deer tick) can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, while dog ticks … More Tick Season in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know
By Nicole Long — CEO of Old Colony Elder Services Every day, older adults make a positive difference in the lives of others and their communities through their conversations, contributions, and outreach. The Administration for Community Living (ACL), which leads the nation’s observance of this special month, has announced this year’s theme, “Flip the Script … More Celebrate Older Americans Month this May!
Each May, we observe Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, a vital time to focus attention on bone health and the often silent condition that affects millions of Americans—osteoporosis. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), osteoporosis affects about 10 million Americans, with 44 million more at risk due to … More May Is Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Know the Risk Factors, Prevention, and Symptoms
By Maria Almeida — Program Coordinator Greater Brockton Healthy Families At Greater Brockton Healthy Families, we recognize that fathers play a vital role in a child’s growth and development. A father’s presence can influence everything from emotional stability and academic achievement to social development and long-term well-being. That’s why our program is deeply committed to … More The Importance of Engaging Fathers in Family Life
By Holly Brown — founder of Looking and Feeling Fab Sunscreen is key to preventing painful sunburns. Here are some tips to help you use it correctly and pick the best one. HELPFUL TIPS WHICH DO I CHOOSE? There are two types of sunscreens: mineral and synthetic. Mineral sunscreens are lotions that contain fine minerals … More Sunscreen is in!
By Dennis Carman — President & CEO, United Way of Greater Plymouth County Uncertainty certainly leads to anxiety. And a lot of uncertainty leads to a great deal of worry that can certainly overwhelm us. Regardless of your political leaning, it is hard not to be kept up late at night or wake in the … More A Hopeful Spring
By Dena Miller — Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers at Family and Community Resources As hard as it may be to believe, 1 in 3 US teens experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they turn 18, and nearly half of college-aged women report experiencing abuse in … More Talking with Your Teens About Healthy Relationships
By Kylie Spiro — Communications Coordinator at BAMSI Are you ready to challenge yourself, set new goals, and make a real impact? This April, we’re inviting you to join BAMSI’s 2nd Annual BAMSI in Motion campaign, a month-long celebration of health, wellness, and community. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a casual walker, or someone who … More Get Moving for a Great Cause: Join BAMSI’s 2nd Annual BAMSI in Motion Campaign!
By Nicole Long — CEO of Old Colony Elder Services Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). February is American Heart Month, a time to bring awareness to heart disease and lifestyle … More Taking Care of Your Heart
Megan Libby, one of the newest bloggers to join Community Voices for Health, is the Counselor and Coordinator of Student Services at Brockton Hospital School of Nursing. In today’s video blog post, she discusses growing up in Rockland with a single mom and two siblings and how those experiences help her understand students’ social, emotional, … More Helping People Motivates Megan Libby
By Dennis Carman — President & CEO, United Way of Greater Plymouth County Too many years ago when I was a graduate student at School of Social Work at “The” Ohio State University, I remember being captivated by learning that we could prevent a host of our physical, emotional and social problems simply by having … More One for All and All for Health!
By Dena Miller — Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers at Family and Community Resources Human Trafficking has become a common theme in popular movies and TV shows. But is what we see on TV an accurate representation of the human trafficking we find in our communities? Not really. Because January is National Human Trafficking … More Myth Versus Fact: Human Trafficking
Courtesy of the National Institutes of Health Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Few of us manage to complete them. According to the National Institutes of Health, a few common strategies can help you be one of those few, successful resolution-keepers. “Change is always possible,” says Dr. Linda Nebeling, an expert in behavioral change … More Make Resolutions that Stick
By Kylie Spiro, — Communications Coordinator at BAMSI As we bid farewell to another year and step into 2025, many of us are thinking about our New Year’s resolutions. While the tradition of setting goals is often associated with fitness, finances, and personal achievements, one area that deserves more attention is mental health. After all, … More Set Your Mind Up for Success: Mental Health Habits to Embrace in the New Year
By Kevin Robinson — Guest Blogger For the most part, if an animal has a developed brain, it needs sleep. That sleep doesn’t look the same for every animal, and scientists are still investigating sleep, but birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish all need sleep. During sleep, the body works to restore brain function and health, … More Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
By Nicole Long — CEO of Old Colony Elder Services The holiday season is upon us. Spending time with family and friends, celebrating traditions, and sharing memories make the holidays truly special. Something else that makes holidays special are delicious meals and sweet treats! It can be challenging to avoid overindulging during the holidays, especially … More Healthier Eating During the Holiday Season
By Katelyn McSweeney, LSCW — Social Worker Center for Healthy Beginnings November is caregiver month, a time when family caregivers deserve recognition for the difficult and valuable work they are doing for their families. It is a time dedicated to honoring and recognizing the millions of family caregivers who provide crucial support and care to … More Celebrate National Caregiver Month
By Maria Almeida — Program Coordinator Greater Brockton Healthy Families At the Greater Brockton Healthy Families, we believe connection is at the heart of every thriving community. Whether it’s strengthening bonds between families or fostering collaboration with other local organizations, our mission is to create meaningful opportunities for people to come together. This past October, … More Building Connections Through Community and Celebration
By Megan Libby — Coordinator for Counseling and Student Services Brockton Hospital School of Nursing It’s that time of year again – a time when we are so busy trying to be joyful that we forget to feel joy. According to the American Psychological Association, 35 percent of people report that their stress increases around … More Don’t Forget the Joy
By Dennis Carman — President & CEO, United Way of Greater Plymouth County For some of us, campaign season is over, but not at United Way of Greater Plymouth County. Our United Way campaign is in full swing! Each year we ask local companies and individuals if they would be willing to make a donation so … More Crazy Math & Better Health
By Dena Miller — Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers at Family and Community Resources November is National Gratitude Month, a time to celebrate and thank those who positively impact our lives and communities. We all have so much to be grateful for that some of our greatest gifts get overlooked. This month is the … More November: A Celebration of Gratitude
Community Voices for Health 