In response to COVID-19, FRCOG offices are closed. Staff are working remotely. Email is likely the most efficient way to reach us. You can find our contact information on the Staff page under the About link below.

Building, plumbing and wiring inspectors are responding to emergencies only.

All meetings, workshops and forums are cancelled or have been changed to a call-in or video format.  Please look for emails from FRCOG staff about specific meetings or on our calendar at the Meetings and Events link below.

Archive | September, 2015

Disability Preparedness Planning Guide

The Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPEM) has created a resource guide to assist in public health preparedness planning for individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. The resource guide will be updated quarterly and can be found on the DPH website: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/emergency-prep/additional-access-needs/.

Children in Disasters Conference Presentations

This groundbreaking conference is designed for all emergency response professionals, planners and other professionals in western Massachusetts, who need to consider the safety and well-being of children as they plan for, respond to and recover from any all-hazard incident, disaster or event.

The workshop presentations are available on the WRHSAC website.

Tobacco-21 progress in Franklin County

Charlemont, Shelburne, Montague, Leverett, Greenfield, Gill and Whately have passed measures to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21. The Tobacco-21 effort to reduce youth smoking is gaining traction in Massachusetts, with 72 towns signed on by summer’s end. Raising access to age 21 not only restricts teens’ ability to buy tobacco, but decreases social access by putting legal purchasers outside the social circle of most high school students.

CTC at National Collaborative on Education & Health

On August 19th, the Franklin County/North Quabbin Communities That Care Coalition was represented at the National Collaborative on Education and Health’s Substance Use Working Group.  Coalition Co-Chair Kat Allen presented as part of a panel and participated in the day-long discussion leading to policy recommendations for the nation on how to best integrate substance use prevention into the schools.