Community-Based Organization Task Force

Origin Story: A Community-Based Organization (CBO) Task Force was established by the Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan to create a forum for Food is Medicine program leaders to come to consensus on intervention standards and definitions and to engage with health care payers, providers, and policymakers to encourage widespread adoption of these standards. CBO Task Force members worked on developing Food is Medicine definitions and standards from February 2019 to October 2020. Since completion of the project, the scope of work of the CBO Task Force has expanded. See below to learn more.

Mission Statement: The CBO Task Force will lead a statewide effort to establish standards for Food is Medicine interventions in the Commonwealth and provide support for organizations to meet those definitions and standards (Recommendation #7 of The Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan).

Leaders: Sonia Carter (Boston Public Health Commission) & Jessica O’Neill (Just Roots) with support from Jean Terranova and Kate Mangiaratti from Community Servings. Rachel Caty from the Greater Boston Food Bank was a previous leader from August 2018- June 2021.

Goals:

  • Create a forum for Food is Medicine program leaders to come to consensus on intervention standards and definitions

  • Encourage and support the growth of the full spectrum of Food is Medicine interventions and services across Massachusetts

  • Engage with health care payers, providers, and policymakers to encourage widespread adoption of these standards in the Massachusetts health care system.

  • Maintain up-to-date inventory of Food is Medicine programs across Massachusetts

  • Create tools and materials that support the growth of Food is Medicine interventions and that assist interventions to scale up

  • Create community of practice groups for medically tailored meal organizations, medically tailored food organizations, and produce prescription programs

Current Projects:

  • Coordinating Technical assistance webinars

  • Developing a Community Advisory Board to enhance community participation in FIMMA

  • Improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within FIMMA

Past Projects:

For more information about the CBO Task Force, please contact Jean Terranova (jterranova@servings.org).