Community Based Programs & Health Education

Under Community Based Programs and Health Education, we address a number of public health issues including Substance and Alcohol abuse in Youth & Young Adults, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Geriatric Mental Health issues, Domestic Violence, Youth and Community Violence and Behavioral issues in School Age Children and Teens. Neponset Health Center and Geiger Gibson Community Health Center provide behavioral health counseling services to Public and Private Schools in the Metro Boston area and the South Shore. Our clinical staff developed age appropriate Health Education Curricula covering several subjects including Nutrition Education, Human Development, Sex Education, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Substance Abuse Prevention and Education, Alcohol Abuse Prevention, Bullying, Dating Violence and The Effects of Domestic Violence in Children and Teens.There are currently a number of grant funded projects which, in collaboration and active participation by community members, are staffed by professionals from the Geiger Gibson Community and Neponset Health Centers.

Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition

The Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition (DSAC) is a grass roots organization dedicated to preventing, reducing and eliminating substance use and abuse among youth in the community. DSAC brings together members of the community to address the risk factors leading to substance use and abuse, and educate parents and others about prevention and treatment. Click here to download our brochure.

DSAC members include youth, parents, organizations and individuals from all sectors of the community, including the Mayor’s Office-City of Boston, the Boston Police Department-Area C 11, the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Public Schools and local businesses.

For more information visit DSAC’s web site, call the DSAC Coordinator at (617) 282-3200 extension 3172 or email us at dsac2@hhsi.us.

Underage Drinking Project

For more information regarding the Underage Drinking project call the Director of Community Programs at 617-533-2213.

HIV Program

Harbor Health Services specializes in providing primary and dental care to patients living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV services provided at Geiger Gibson Community Health Center and Neponset Health Center include Free and Anonymous HIV testing, available to patients and non patients of the health centers. For more information regarding the Harbor Health Services-HIV program, visit our web site or call the HIV services department at 617-533-2236.

Domestic Violence

All Harbor Health Community Health Center divisions provide free and confidential services to domestic and dating violence survivors and their families. Neponset Health Center and Geiger Gibson Community Health Center in collaboration with the Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service Inc. (CCHERS) provide crisis intervention, safety and assessment planning, advocacy, referrals to housing and shelters, accompanies clients to court, support and referral to behavioral health, social services, housing and shelters.

The CCHERS family advocates run support groups in the health centers and the community. The Geiger Gibson Community Health Center-Family Advocate has an active role in the Boston Public School System providing health education classes to Teens regarding Dating Violence, Bullying, and Violence and the Media. Mid Upper Cape Community Health Center provides clients with support and referrals to Independence House, a comprehensive agency in Cape Cod providing full range of services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence and their children. For more information call the health centers directly:

For more information call the health centers directly:

• Geiger Gibson Community Health Center at 617-288-1140-ask to speak with the Family Advocate
• Mid Upper Cape Community Health Center at 508-778-0300-ask to speak with the Social Worker
• Neponset Health Center at 617-282-3200-ask to speak with the Family Advocate

Youth Violence Prevention Project

The Youth Violence Prevention Project is a joined effort by Neponset Health Center and St. Mark’s Area Main Streets to address and prevent youth violence at the St. Mark’s Area Main Street district. Through generous funding provided by Tufts Medical Center, the project provides for the development of a Youth Peer Leadership program, a Life Skills and Youth Empowerment module and the creation of a Youth Council where youth gets a chance to discuss the issue of violence in the community with local business owners, and law enforcement officials.

For more information regarding the Youth Violence Prevention Project call the Prevention Specialist at 617-533-2228.

Health Education Speakers Bureau

Harbor Health providers are available to present on health and social issues, nutrition and health care coverage to most community settings including schools, civic and faith based organizations, and the commercial sector. Topics can be customized to fit the specific needs of the audience. If you have a subject in mind but it is not included in the list below, we urge you to call us. We have been in the community for over 40 years and our network of providers and health organizations are truly endless, so is our Speaker’s Bureau. The Health Education Speakers Bureau is offered free of charge.

Topics include: Medication Adherence, Immunizations-Focus on the high risk patient, Chronic Disease Management; Diabetes, Cholesterol, Pediatric Asthma, Hypertension, Cardiovascular Health, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Women’s Health, Depression, Stress Management, Substance Abuse, Teen Dating Violence, Violence and the Media, Bullying, Nutrition, Health Care Coverage Under the New Health Care Law.

For more information regarding the Health Education Speaker’s Bureau, call the Director of Marketing at 617-533-2212 or email marketing@hhsi.us.

Community Based Health Screenings

Harbor Health Services, Inc. participates in numerous venues every year providing free health screenings including Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol, HIV and dental hygiene assessments.

For more information or request a health screening at your next event call the Director of Marketing at 617-533-2212 or email marketing@hhsi.us.

Harbor Health Services Clinical Pharmacy

The Harbor Health Clinical Pharmacy team provides health center patients with ongoing education regarding safe and effective use of prescription and over the counter medication. In collaboration with the patient and the patient’s primary care provider, it develops culturally appropriate plans in treating chronic conditions while encouraging the patient to become an active participant in self management and care of chronic diseases.

The Harbor Health Clinical Pharmacy team provides services at the following Dorchester based facilities: Elder Service Plan, Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, Neponset Health Center. For more information, download the brochure.

Breast Health Program of Harbor Health Services, Inc.

This program has been designed to reach under served women and expand mammography screenings at each community health center site including the Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, the Neponset Health Center and the Mid Upper Cape Community Health Center. Bilingual Patient Navigation services are available to all participants requiring annual mammography screenings. This project is in partnership with The Avon Foundation, the Massachusetts – Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Mammography Van.

For additional information contact the Project Director at 617-282-3200 extension 3142 or read the press release: MA Susan G. Komen Award to HHSI June 2009.