SPRINGFIELD — Health District Program Manager Randy Crochier has been recognized by the Massachusetts Health Officers Association for his service and leadership with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ Cooperative Public Health Service.
Crochier, a 30-year member of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, earned the Michael D. Saraco Award, which is awarded once a year to honor members who have contributed to the association’s “growth and success through outstanding leadership and extraordinary service.” Saraco founded the association, which was originally referred to as the Metropolitan Health Officers Association.
According to the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, Crochier has a “steadfast commitment, leadership and passion for the importance of local public health.”
The association also noted Crochier’s leadership at the Cooperative Public Health Service, which serves 15 rural towns in Franklin County. The organization, established in September 2013, offers help to the boards of health in the member towns, providing assistance with permitting, health code compliance, public health nurse services and more.
Crochier, a Gill resident, was also recognized for his time serving on a committee that guided the creation of the Metrik local public health data portal and for hiring a leader for the local public health staff training hub, the Franklin-Hampshire Training Hub.
“He makes himself available to board of health members, other town officials and residents at all times,” a statement from the Massachusetts Health Officers Association reads. “He goes out of his way to assist and educate people, meeting people where they are. He excels in his dedication to public health, willingness to collaborate, his loyalty to residents and employees, and his leadership.”
Crochier said he was surprised to receive the call that he would be honored with the Michael D. Saraco Award, which was presented to him during the association’s annual conference in Springfield.
“It was very moving,” he said. “A few of my staff are the ones that nominated me and they wrote very nice things.”
To him, the award honors not just his work, but the work of the entire Cooperative Public Health Service staff of eight people.
Crochier said that before the Cooperative Public Health Service, the quality of public health services available to someone depended on a person’s ZIP code and whether that community had a professional health department to help. With the Cooperative Public Health Service, the staff members serve around 20,000 people in their coverage area.
In reflecting on the value of rural public health, it’s Crochier’s opinion that the people of Franklin County deserve these services to help ensure they are healthy and to make sure the rural communities have safe food, air and water.
“I think the fact that all 26 towns in Franklin County are now served by some type of shared service agreement,” Crochier said, “has been extremely beneficial and will continue to be, and I think it will only get stronger in the coming years.”
