Critical MASS

We are envisioning a pyramid structure (in an inverted position) with the general membership at the top, next layer will be the regional coalitions, next the proposed four statewide committees made up of members from the regions. The Regions and the Committees will elect members to the Board of Directors, who will in turn elect an Executive Committee to manage the work of Critical MASS. This structure can change as we recruit members and become an empowered statewide coalition.

Organizational Membership Roles from bottom of pyramid up:

Executive Committee: Responsible for the day-to-day operations of Critical MASS and shared supervision of the employed Coordinator. The Board of Directors will elect committee members. Number and roles to be determined but will initially include Founding Members and a representative of Fiscal conduit.

Responsibilities:

Sets the agenda for the Board of Directors meetings.
Implements grant and vision requirements.
Meets monthly.

Fiscal Conduit: The role of the fiscal conduit is to serve as an agent to administer funds for Critical MASS. This includes:

Sitting the statewide coordinator for Critical MASS and providing administrative support.
Assist in reviewing funding opportunities.
Reviewing grants proposals.
Assure grant compliance.
Serve as member of the Executive Committee.

Founding Members: Each of the founding organizations will have a voting member of the Executive Committee, to help shape the growth of the organization and insure maintaining its vision and goals.

Advisors: The advisors group is individuals from academic institutions, business industry, non-profit Corporations, grant makers and political leaders. These individuals are charged with advising the organization on how to connect with the Business, advocacy and political community for Critical MASS.

Board of Directors: The Board elects the Officers and Co-chairs (one from the private and other from the public sectors). The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to insure organization continuity. The Board of Directors will approve members of the Executive Committee.

The Board will:

Develop goals and objectives.
Recruit funders.
Expand membership and communicate through its selecting representatives as Board Members to Regions and Committees.

Each of the six regions will send two voting representatives to the Board. Each Statewide Committee will elect a chairperson to sit on the Board. The Board of Directors will meet quarterly.

State Government Ex-Officio Representative: This person will serve as advisor to the group, it will be from the state government Executive Office of Health and Human Services or from the Office of Multicultural Health. Voting power to be determined.

Statewide Committees (4 Committees)
Each Committee will elect a chair that will also be a member of the Board of Directors.

Proposed Revised Committee Structure

Ad-Hoc Committees: These are formed as a result of new membership and increased complexity of special tasks. With approval of the Executive Committee and Board these can become standing committees.

Membership and Development:
This committee will:

Work on recruitment and retention of members;
Would be responsible for identifying organizations that have the fiscal and organization capacity to support and endorse Critical MASS.
Develop a marketing plan to include a web site and newsletter

Public Relations/Communications:
The Committee will:

Work with all sections of the organization on marketing;
Ensure statewide visibility for Critical MASS activities;
Will publicize Critical MASS events;
Will work on developing a Speaker’s Bureau.

Data/ Research:
This Committee will:

Work on defining racial disparities and identifying best practices/ promising practices in the state of Massachusetts;
Will work to coordinate and disseminate statewide data;
Will work with Education and Policy Committee in establishing a resource library on health disparities that will be consumer and provider focused (e.g. to model after the National Office of Minority Health Resource Center).

Education and Policy:
The Committee will:

Develop evaluation tools that can address health disparities;
Help to identify best practices on multicultural health and reduction of health disparities;
This group will identify where gaps exist;
Will provide training to develop culturally competent and assertive multicultural health professionals and consumers;
The policy section of this Committee will provide information on how to improve existing polices to reduce health disparities.

General Membership Organizations and individuals recruited to carry out the goals of Critical MASS. Each member would be in a regional coalition and/or a member of one of the statewide committees.

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