Health Department Makes Community Support Easier to Access

The Resilient Danvers Climate Action, Sustainability, Preservation, and Resiliency (CASPR) Plan lays out specific steps the Town can take to build a healthier, safer, and more prepared community. Under the plan’s Public Health and Safety focus area, one of those steps is Action 1.2.A: Pilot a neighborhood resilience hub that provides everyday resources and emergency response services. Danvers has now put that action into practice with its new online Neighborhood Resilience Hub, bringing important local and regional resources together in one place.

The hub is designed to serve as both an everyday resource and a central source of information during emergencies. Residents can use it to find mental health resources; medical services, including urgent and emergency care; housing assistance; food resources and storage information; and evacuation and transportation resources. The hub also provides links to emergency alert systems and information about hurricane evacuation zones and FEMA alerts, helping residents stay informed before, during, and after an emergency. 

Bringing Resources Together Before They Are Needed

The hub answers the key question: What kinds of challenges might Danvers residents face during an emergency, and how can the Town make it easier to find help?

The Danvers Health Department identified several areas where residents may need additional support, including mental and physical health, housing displacement, food insecurity, and transportation. Staff then researched resources available in Danvers and across the North Shore and contacted organizations to confirm the services they provide and their inclusion in the hub. 

That work revealed just how many resources are already available locally and regionally, particularly for mental health, medical care, and food assistance. By organizing those services in one place, the hub makes it easier for residents to know what support is available before they may need them under the added stress of an emergency. That approach directly supports the CASPR Plan’s strategy to prepare for climate change impacts at the neighborhood level.

Supporting a Healthier, More Prepared Danvers

The Neighborhood Resilience Hub is intended for the entire community, while helping strengthen access for residents who may face greater challenges during emergencies, including seniors and people with disabilities. The hub’s resources also address needs that can affect resilience well before a disaster occurs, such as food insecurity, access to health and wellness services, transportation barriers, and temporary or longer-term housing needs. 

Creating the Hub also required the Town to think practically about how these resources could be made accessible. Limited staff capacity and available space made establishing a physical hub difficult, so the Health Department started by developing an online resource that residents can access through the Town website. 

What Comes Next

The hub demonstrates what CASPR implementation looks like: taking an action of the plan and turning it into a resource residents can use. The Town is now exploring ways to track how the Neighborhood Resilience Hub is being used for further improvements, including website visits and information from participating resource providers.

By making existing resources easier to find before they are urgently needed, the Neighborhood Resilience Hub strengthens the network of support Danvers residents can rely on every day and during emergencies—and moves the Town another step forward on its Resilient Danvers commitments. 

Explore the Neighborhood Resilience Hub to find local and regional resources and learn how you can stay informed and prepared.