Regional Health Offices

Welcome to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Regional Health Office (RHO) web pages. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) uses a regional structure to administer programs and services. There are six EOHHS geographic regions which include the 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.

For Maps and List of Cities and Towns by EOHHS Region please visit the Regional Health Office webpages.

The Office of Healthy Communities is an integral part of the Commissioner John Auerbach's five strategic priorities.

DPH Priorities

• Promote quality and cost containment in health care reform;
• Eliminate racial and ethnic disparities;
• Manage chronic disease and promote wellness in the workplace, school, community, and home;
• Reduce and prevent youth violence;
• Build public health capacity at the local and state levels.

An important component in meeting these priorities is to strengthen partnerships and coordination at the local and regional level. DPH staff from several programs including substance abuse services, health promotion and maternal and child health work in the six DPH Regional Health Offices. These staff serve as liaisons between the Department's central office programs and resources, programs and services at the local level. Program staff at the Regional Health Offices maintain partnerships with a wide range of community-based health and human services organizations that form the regional public health system.

An important component in meeting that priority is to strengthen coordination at the local and regional level. DPH staff from a variety of content areas work in the six DPH Regional Offices. They often serve as liaisons between the state and local communities. Program staff at the regional level partner with many community based organizations. Staff may live and work in the community and are critical links in communicating local needs.

DPH Regional Health Office Priorities

• Help implement DPH strategic priorities at the local and regional levels;
• Improve communication with and support for municipal health officials;
• Improve coordination among various DPH programs operating at the regional level;
• Improve regional integration of other DPH systems and providers, including Community Health Networks and Regional Centers for Healthy Communities;
• Help people navigate the complex array of DPH services and resources;
• Help coordinate response to local public health emergencies in concert with appropriate bureaus; and
• Strengthen the organized constituency for public health through improved education, marketing, advocacy, and cooperation with multiple stakeholders.

Regional Directors

Each Regional Office is staffed by a Regional Director who provides leadership in connecting the programs, initiatives and services within the Department as well as external programs when appropriate. Working within the Office of Healthy Communities, the Regional Directors assist communities, coalitions, and organizations within their region in identifying, communicating and addressing existing and emerging public health needs and trends. They participate in the CHNAs within their regions. As senior managers for the Department, they work with public health professionals at a wide range of levels as well as with EOHHS area and Regional Directors.

The Regional Directors report through the Office of Healthy Communities to the Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Commissioner. In order to promote the administration's public health goals, Regional Directors are responsible for planning and coordinating:

• regional office activities to support MDPH priorities;
• staff communication across Bureaus at the regional level;
• regional administrative operations; and
• communications involving municipal health authorities and MDPH programs and systems operating at the regional level.