Evaluation of the City of Worcester REACH Project

The UMass Chan Prevention Research Center is the evaluation partner for the Worcester Division of Public Health REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) project. Worcester REACH is funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Members of the Latino/Latinox community in Worcester face many challenges to health. According to the US Census American Community Survey, approximately 21% of Worcester residents identify as Hispanic/Latino, 36% of whom live below poverty. As a group, they face higher rates chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. 

The Worcester REACH project is seeking to impact the health of the Latino community in Worcester over the course of 5 years. The project is promoting changes to local systems that focus on nutrition, physical activity, breasfeeding and clinical-community referrals. Worcester REACH is implemented in partnership by the Worcester Division of Public Health, the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester and other partners.

UMass Chan PRC Investigators: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD and Milagros C. Rosal, PhD
Funder: Subcontract with the Worcester Division of Public Health, funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention