Hockomock YMCA Director of Youth and Family Wellness Named as a 2012 Health Leader

Ten community health providers have been selected to participate in the seventh class of MetroWest Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Program, including Caitlin Hurley, Director of Youth and Family Wellness at the Hockomock Area YMCA.

Established by the Foundation in 2005, the goal of the Health Leadership Program is to strengthen and improve leadership within health and social service organizations. The Foundation believes that by grooming emerging and seasoned leaders through education, training and networking it will improve the health of area organizations and ultimately, the community.

“The program has been instrumental in building key leadership skills of emerging senior leaders as well as providing a chance for peer learning and networking that has led to organizational collaborations,” said Rebecca Donham, senior program officer and director of the leadership program.

The Health Leadership program was also designed to retain strong leaders within the nonprofit sector to ensure that the quality of care these agencies provide remains high. The program provides participants with resources and a local support network they can tap into at any time.

“This leadership course in my view wasn’t just work skills, it was life skills,” said Mark Oram, board of health director and program alumni.

The monthly program runs from January to June and is taught by experts in the field. Topics include cultural competency, data decision making, strategic thinking, coalition building, negotiation and communication strategies. At the end of the program, leaders make a group presentation to the Foundation’s board of trustees.

This year’s Health Leaders work at agencies across the region developing, overseeing and implementing programs to help prevent teen pregnancy, promote health and wellness, provide psychiatric rehabilitation services, protect public health and improve health insurance access.

Members of the Class of 2012 Health Leadership Program:

Cheryl Aglio-Girelli – Framingham Public Schools, Co-Director of Strengthening Youth in a United Way.

Craig Gaudette – Advocates, Inc., Senior Operations Director.

Amanda Holm – United Way of Tri-County, Director of Community Impact.

Caitlin Hurley – Hockomock Area YMCA, Director of Youth and Family Wellness.

Amy Morgan – Advocates, Inc., Assistant Director of Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Kelly Pawluczonek – Framingham Board of Health, Sanitarian.

Sarah Price – The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Assistant Program Manager.

Maria Rosado – Pelham Apartments, Resident Services Manager

Erika Schlegel – Advocates, Inc., Assistant Director of Residential Services

Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham – Community Legal Aid, Managing Attorney.