Brookline Health Department Recognized For Innovation Amid COVID

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Department of Public Health was among 48 local health departments recognized as a department that showed innovation in response to the pandemic by the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

While it didn't win the gold or silver, Brookline's department did get an honorable mention for its quick response to the pandemic, and becoming one of the first communities in the state to require masks.

The national association recognized 48 local health departments, including eight gold awardees, five silver, 20 bronze and 15 honorable mentions.

Of the departments recognized, only two were from Massachusetts. Northampton Health Department won a silver award for its Regional Face Mask Distribution Program.

Each health department submitted applications outlining their achievements amid the year, and those went through a peer-reviewed process. The winners were added to NACCHO’s Innovative Practice searchable online database, to be shared with other communities.

The association recognized departments for demonstrating effective community partnerships and collaboration, adaptability, program resilience and innovation.

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Town of Brookline has worked to ensure the safety of the community through the implementation of weekly COVID-19 updates, a dedicated COVID-19 news website, virtual town hall meetings, efforts to limit large gatherings and an eviction moratorium," said Brookline Health Commissioner Dr. Swanni Jett in a news release Friday.

"It was one of the first towns in the U.S. to put in place contact tracing efforts and mandatory face-coverings requirements in public," he said. "To normalize mask-wearing, the department invested in the communication of the mandate through posters, advertisements and social media campaigns."