EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Health Department has hired Elizabeth Plouffe as the agency’s first community social worker.

According to the public announcement of Plouffe’s hire, this is a position that Easthampton has been trying to fill for “several years,” and the coronavirus pandemic increased the need for the position.
According to Bri Eichstaedt, the city’s health director, the position will focus on outreach, education, referrals, substance use, and mental health for all ages and populations in the city.

“This position has always been a goal of mine after seeing a community in central Massachusetts create a similar position several years ago,” Eichstaedt said. “As code enforcement inspectors, we come across many situations where a social worker could help connect someone to local resources, such as helping them find stable housing or bringing a current housing situation to a safe, clean, and habitable state. We often rely on outside agencies to assist us, and we’re excited to have a city employee dedicated to this work.”

Plouffe told Reminder Publishing that she has already had meetings with area teams and resources including, the Easthampton Police Department, Fire Department and Council on Aging.

“We are discussing ways I can collaborate with them to support the individuals and families who reside in Easthampton,” said Plouffe. “We are also currently working on a needs assessment to get out to the community, in order for city residents to inform the Health Department how we can be most helpful to them.”

Plouffe attended the University of Connecticut for undergraduate studies, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in human development and family studies in 2012, in addition to two minor certificates in Spanish, and Puerto Rican and Latino studies. She later returned to graduate school and earned a Master of Social Work degree from Springfield College in 2018. Plouffe has been employed as a medical social worker with Baystate Health for the past four years, working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Emergency Department. It is here where she saw COVID-19’s exponential impact on society.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on every aspect of daily life for the last two, going on three, years,” Plouffe told Reminder Publishing. “I think every agency in Massachusetts would say they could use additional support staff right now. By adding this role to the Health Department, we are encouraging residents that the challenges they are facing and the concerns they have are being heard.

“I spent the last two years working in a packed Emergency Department and saw the short- and long-term impact of the [coronavirus] pandemic on area families,” she continued. “I think a friendly face and someone to talk to about what you need, or what would be helpful to you, can make all the difference in the world sometimes. I am really looking forward to spending time with community members.”

Plouffe added that the “possibilities are endless” when referencing her role within the community. “This role can add so much to the community,” she said. “I will be working with existing initiatives and introducing new resources, as well as applying feedback from community members about what they would like the Health Department and other city teams to address.”

The Health Department will conduct a community needs assessment as soon as possible to get an idea of what specific needs the community has and where to focus attention. The survey will be posted on the Health Department website at https://easthamptonma.gov/167/Health and Facebook page @Easthampton, MA Health Department.