The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) supports communities in their efforts to become measurably healthier and more equitable through community engagement, convening collaborative partnerships, communications, data analysis, research and evaluation, and policy advocacy. PHIWM was founded in 1996 by the two hospital healthcare systems with the vision of serving as a neutral convener. Going on 30 years, we continue to work very closely with many different sectors in our region and bring our expertise to municipalities, healthcare, community-based organizations, and regional entities like the Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals/Insurer and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since our beginning, we have received generous, unrestricted support from Baystate Health and Health New England, enabling us to leverage other funding to do our collaborative work.
Read our latest annual report to learn more.
Our 2024 coalition work brought together 132 organizations, underscoring the fundamental importance of partnership and collaboration in all that we do. We partner with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local and state government, community-based organizations, educational institutions, healthcare, social services, community organizing groups, coalitions, residents, and more.
To support our youth’s mental health, we need to target the full spectrum of support: promotion, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Throughout 2023, PHIWM convened a range of stakeholders to create a roadmap that prioritizes promotion and prevention efforts, building off the important findings from the Commonwealth’s Promote and Prevent Commission’s 2018 report, as well as the 2021 Massachusetts Behavioral Health Roadmap.
We specialize in bringing together diverse stakeholders to work towards a common goal. Our role is nuanced and includes facilitation, coordination, logistical support, strategic planning, relationship management, and other “behind the scenes” work. By building strong coalitions and networks, we amplify our impact, share valuable knowledge and resources, and collectively work towards a healthier Western Massachusetts.
We advocate for policies and resources that Western MA needs to address both long-standing and emerging issues. Our 2025-2026 legislative priorities revolve around combating poverty, reducing asthma and greenhouse gases, and promoting youth mental health.
We partner with organizations and residents to design and implement research and evaluation, creating opportunities for community voices that support action and change. We also work to build skills and knowledge across the region. Efforts include workshops on topics such as health equity or advocacy; one-on-one coaching and technical assistance in areas like evaluation and logic models; peer learning; and support with community engagement processes.
We provide Western Massachusetts communities with information on both longstanding and emerging public health issues through webinars, blog posts, newsletters, social media, dashboards, and more. We are committed to making our reports and data increasingly accessible, ensuring our work translates into meaningful and actionable for all.
