The Town of Framingham, Massachusetts has a population of 68,318 within its 26.4 square mile area. Steven J. Ward is the Director of Public Health. Key health issues identified through the community health assessment include high rates of youth obesity (41% of 10th graders) and asthma (8.8% of adults) compared to state averages. Current initiatives aim to lower childhood obesity through the MetroWest Moves program and prepare for emergencies. Future initiatives will use home inspections to prevent childhood asthma, falls in elderly, tobacco use, and hypertension.

1. Town of Framingham, Massachusetts
Middlesex County
Steven J. Ward, MPH, CHO
Director of Public Health
150 Concord St. Rm 221. Phone: (508) 532-5470
Framingham, MA 01701 Fax: (508) 620-4833
Total Area: 26.4 sq mi
Population: 68,318
Median Age: 36
Total Households: 27,529
Household Median Income: $54,288
Demographic Information
Community Health Assessment:
Youth Obesity – 41% of Grade 10 youth are obese, compared to a state average of 32.1%
Asthma – 8.8% among adults in Framingham, compared to 10.1% in Massachusetts
Cardiovascular Risk – 393.2 visits to the emergency room per 100,000 people compared to 389.6 in Massachusetts
Current Initiatives:
MetroWest Moves - Community Transformation Grant program to lower childhood obesity and related illness rates
Public Health Emergency Preparedness – CDC grant used to ascertain awareness and ability for regional public health
departments to respond in an emergency
Future Initiatives:
Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund – Through pre-rental inspections, Healthy Homes criteria will be used to provide
upstream prevention of Childhood Asthma, Elderly Falls, Tobacco Use Prevention, and Hypertension
Academic Health Department – Through municipal agreements with academic partners and healthcare organizations, the
Health Department can expand working capacity and workforce development to guarantee a properly trained
public health workforce
PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY

2. Obesity – Among Adults, the MetroWest region was found to have an obesity rate of
18.1%. The obesity rate among adults for the entire state of Massachusetts is 21.8%
Current Obesity Rates Among Youth:
Cancer Incidence per 100,000 2004-2008
Asthma – Among adults in the MetroWest region, asthma rates were 8.5%, 8.8% among adults in Framingham,
and 10.1% among adults in Massachusetts
Cardiovascular Risk – Framingham had 393.2 visits to the emergency room per 100,000 people
from 2005-2009, compared to 371 in the MetroWest Region, and 389.6 in the state of
Massachusetts
Geographic Location Grade 1 Grade 4 Grade 7 Grade 10
Massachusetts 28.3% 34.9% 34.1% 32.1%
MetroWest Region 21.5% 27.2% 28.8% 23.0%
Framingham 32.5% 40.6% 40.5% 41.0%
0 50 100 150 200
Breast
Colorectal
Lung
Prostate
Framingham
MetroWest
Massachusetts
MetroWest Region Community Health
Assessment, 2013