Regional Leaders Working Together to Advance Rural Health
One region. Many strengths. One shared commitment to rural health.
A region in transition
Rural Central Massachusetts Is Changing
As rising housing costs push more lower-income households and diverse populations beyond urban centers, more residents are living farther from healthcare, transportation, food, social services, and other resources that influence health and well-being.
Rural health in Central MA
The Challenge
As populations shift beyond urban centers, residents can face greater distances from healthcare and essential services. At the same time, rural Central Massachusetts is becoming increasingly diverse. The Coalition’s analysis estimates that minority and underserved residents may now represent as much as 33.7% of its combined service region, compared with 25.9% in the 2020 Census.
Minority and underserved residents
33.7
%
Bars scaled to 40%.
Central Massachusetts
889,751
residents across the 60-community region
25.9%
minority population
29.3%
of residents age 5+ speak a language other than English at home
16.6%
of residents are age 65 or older
10.8%
of the population is below the federal poverty level
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census and Census QuickFacts. Regional figures were calculated by aggregating data for the 61 Central Massachusetts communities.
Rural gaps in care
Nationally
20%
fewer primary-care providers in rural areas than in urban areas
65%
of rural counties lack a psychiatrist
40%
higher preventable hospitalization rates for rural Medicare beneficiaries with complex chronic conditions
23%
higher mortality rates than their urban counterparts
Sources: Mental Health America, Rural Mental Health Crisis. Johnston, Wen and Joynt Maddox, “Lack Of Access To Specialists Associated With Mortality And Preventable Hospitalizations Of Rural Medicare Beneficiaries”, Health Affairs 2019 38:12, 1993–2002.
The challenge isn’t simply finding a doctor. It’s ensuring people in rural communities can reach the full network of services they need to stay healthy.
The Central Massachusetts Rural Health Coalition brings together regional community-based organizations with complementary expertise, trusted relationships, and deep experience serving communities across the region.
By working together, we can:
- Elevate the voices and experiences of rural residents
- Develop and scale innovative rural solutions
- Identify shared regional health priorities
- Strengthen partnerships across sectors
- Connect healthcare with community-based services
- Position Central Massachusetts for emerging rural health investment
Local Leaders
Founding Partners
The Central Massachusetts Rural Health Coalition was founded by six community-based organizations that collectively address a broad spectrum of health and community needs of the overlooked rural population.
Co-Chair
David Connell
President & CEO, YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Co-Chair
Joanne L. Calista, MS, LICSW
CEO, Center for Health Impact
Senior Connection
Senior Connection
Area Agency on Aging for Central Mass since 1974; nutrition, transportation, legal assistance, crisis intervention, and mobile health services (Care Express) for older adults, with growing focus on Grandfamilies and underserved elders.
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Youth development, healthy living and social responsibility across Worcester County, with food security, senior support and multilingual programming.
Center for Health Impact
Center for Health Impact
Formerly the Central Mass Area Health Education Center. Focuses on enhancing healthcare access, workforce development, and eliminating health disparities through language access services and CHW training and certification.
Family Health Center of Worcester
Family Health Center of Worcester
Federally Qualified Community Health Center serving Worcester’s diverse, immigrant population for nearly 50 years (60+ languages spoken). Primary care, dental, behavioral health, WIC, and refugee health services, regardless of ability to pay.
MAWOCC
MAWOCC
A mission driven nonprofit, dedicated to eradicating racial and gender inequities affecting women of color and their families. Focuses on leadership development, mentorship, civic engagement, health and wellness, economic mobility and advocacy.
Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust
Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust
Indigenous-led regional agency, providing culturally grounded services across the region, including Food Is Medicine; farm-to-school; farmer technical assistance; Indigenous healthy aging; land stewardship; conservation; and Indigenous culture preservation.
What We Do
The Coalition in Action
- Connecting People to Care
- Growing the Community Health Workforce
- Bringing Services Closer to Home
- Building Healthier Communities
- Creating More Equitable Communities
- Working Together for Greater Impact
Connecting People to Care
- Removing barriers to healthcare and essential services
- Transportation and mobile services
- Language access
- Care coordination
- Connecting residents to community resources
Growing the Community Health Workforce
- Community Health Worker training
- Workforce development
- Professional education
- Building capacity among people who serve local communities
Bringing Services Closer to Home
- Mobile health
- Community-based care
- Outreach
- Prevention and wellness
- Meeting people where they are
Building Healthier Communities
- Food security
- Nutrition
- Transportation
- Housing/home support
- Youth and senior programs
- Social connection
Creating More Equitable Communities
- Equity
- Immigrant and refugee services
- Multilingual access
- Reaching underserved populations
- Reducing disparities
- Leadership and civic engagement
Working Together for Greater Impact
- Cross-sector partnerships
- Sharing expertise
- Connecting organizations
- Coordinating resources
- Identifying community needs
- Developing and expanding solutions
60 Communities
Our Reach
Coalition members have decades of experience serving communities throughout Central Massachusetts. Their collective reach extends across rural communities, connecting residents with healthcare, social services, and community resources.
Video
Rural Health Through the Eyes of Our Community
The Central Massachusetts Rural Health Coalition members are developing and delivering innovative approaches tailored to the communities we serve.
Results across our members
Impact
Together, Coalition members are improving health, well-being, and access to essential services for hundreds of thousands of people.
200,000
+
older adults served across 61 municipalities
30,000
+
patients cared for
in 2025
22,000
+
families served across 6 branches
and 11 program sites
35
M+
meals delivered over 52 years
Senior Connection
Area Agency on Aging for Central Mass since 1974; nutrition, transportation, legal assistance, crisis intervention, and mobile health services (Care Express) for older adults, with growing focus on Grandfamilies and underserved elders.
- 2026 Recipient of the Nonprofit Excellence in Advocacy Award
- 2025 Runner-up for the Hartford Foundation Innovation Award (Care Express)
- 35M+ meals delivered (52 years) in partnership with our nutrition providers
- 12,000+ senior homes repaired
- $125M in Funding secured for senior services
- 200,000+ older adults served across 61 municipalities, MA’s largest AAA
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Cause-driven nonprofit serving Worcester County through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility; afterschool care, food security, senior support, and multilingual community programming.
- 22,000+ families and 15,000+ youth/teens served across 6 branches and 11 program sites
- $5M+ in community benefit provided
- 530,300+ meals and snacks served; 965+ youth received behavioral health support
- 309 teens hired and trained as Y staff
Center for Health Impact
Formerly the Central Mass Area Health Education Center. Focuses on enhancing healthcare access, workforce development, and eliminating health disparities through language access services and CHW training and certification.
- 235 interpreters + 60 translators; 24/7 language access
- 40+ years serving Central Massachusetts
- 80-hour CHW training + 13 continuing education topics
- 1 of 9 national CHW cardiovascular training providers
- 15+ years as MassHealth’s primary translator
- CEO serves in state and national workforce leadership positions
Family Health Center of Worcester
Federally Qualified Community Health Center serving Worcester’s diverse, immigrant population for nearly 50 years (60+ languages spoken). Primary care, dental, behavioral health, WIC, and refugee health services, regardless of ability to pay.
- In 2025, cared for over 30,000 patients
- Provided over 100,000 care visits
- Used interpreters and a multilingual website to serve patients in 90+ languages
- Strengthened partnerships with local leaders, state officials, social services, and community organizations
MAWOCC
A mission driven nonprofit, dedicated to eradicating racial and gender inequities affecting women of color and their families. Focuses on leadership development, mentorship, civic engagement, health and wellness, economic mobility and advocacy.
- 20,000+ individuals reached statewide; 40+ partner organizations
- Membership grew from 450 to 1,000 in three years
- 5 major legislative wins (2018–2024) and 2 ballot question wins
- Intergenerational Leadership Academy now in its 3rd year
Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust
Indigenous-led regional agency, providing culturally grounded services across the region, including Food Is Medicine; farm-to-school; farmer technical assistance; Indigenous healthy aging; land stewardship; conservation; and Indigenous culture preservation.
- Partnerships with 7 tribes across 3 states
- 1,500+ individuals, including 300+ tribal members served by cultural healthy foods program
- 300+ farmers supported with TA across 6 states
- Stewarding 50 acres of tribal lands
- Initiated Indigenous Healthy Aging program in 2025
Details coming soon
Inaugural Central Massachusetts
Rural Health Summit
Connecting Leaders. Sharing Solutions.
April/May 2027
Time TBD
Location TBD
Get involved
Join Our Coalition
Meaningful rural health transformation requires collaboration among community organizations, healthcare providers, government partners and the people who call Central Massachusetts home.
By bringing our voices together, the Central Massachusetts Rural Health Coalition is building the future of rural health.
- Have expertise to share?
- Interested in joining the Coalition?
- Have an innovative rural health program?
- Want to explore a partnership?
We’d like to hear from you.