City of Malden Launches “Outdoor Rx” Pilot Program for Massachusetts Residents and Individuals with Disabilities

January 27, 2026

MALDEN Mass., Jan. 27, 2026 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The City of Malden, in partnership with First Seed Sown and Molina Healthcare (“Molina”), announced the launch of The Great Malden Outdoors Rx, a first-in-the-nation pilot program that connects a city-owned asset, a state’s OREC office, and health care for the well-being of people with disabilities at no cost.

Launching in Spring 2026, the four-week pilot program will offer participants a choice of four professionally led outdoor activities: outdoor art, forest bathing, birding, and adaptive hiking. All activities will take place in and around Malden, with all necessary equipment, specialized adaptive gear, and instruction provided.

The program is made possible through a $25,000 grant from The Molina Healthcare Foundation – in collaboration with Molina– and the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR), as part of a growing movement to treat outdoor recreation as a form of preventive healthcare. The initiative follows in the footsteps of nationally recognized models such as Art Rx, Food as Medicine, and Social Prescribing.

“Cities and states across the country are still figuring out how to meaningfully connect outdoor recreation to healthcare,” said Darren “DJ” Josey, creator of The Great Malden Outdoors and CEO of First Seed Sown. “This program removes cost, equipment, and access barriers so people can experience the proven mental health benefits of being outside, together.”

“Molina believes in a holistic approach to health, by connecting members with high-quality care as well as community resources which address overall well-being,” said Bill Graham, plan president for Molina Healthcare. “This initiative aligns with that approach, and we are proud to support it.”

Each activity was selected based on research demonstrating its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Participants will be asked to anonymously complete the World Health Organization’s WHO-5 Mental Wellbeing Survey, helping contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting outdoor recreation as an effective public health intervention.

“Time recreating in nature is critical for our mental, physical, and emotional health, and Massachusetts is striving to be a national example of how cities and states can partner with the private sector to improve the well-being of their residents,” said Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Paul Jahnige “The Great Malden Outdoors Rx Program demonstrates how collaboration between healthcare providers, government at state and local levels, and nonprofits can result in imaginative approaches to health equity and outdoor access that serve communities.”

To further expand access, local healthcare providers will partner with The Great Malden Outdoors to offer zero-cost “Outdoor Rx prescriptions,” helping individuals enroll directly in the program. One local community healthcare partner is Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), with locations in: Malden, Everett, Revere, Medford, and Somerville. “CHA is pleased to partner with the Great Malden Outdoors to connect our patients to GMO’s exciting outdoor activities and help further our patients’ health goals,” says Roberta Turri Vise, Deputy Chief Community Officer. “CHA community health workers and providers will share these resources which complement and align with our efforts to support patients’ mental health, hypertension control, and overall well-being.”

To ensure the program is trauma-informed, equitable, and grounded in mental health best practices, First Seed Sown has partnered with And Still We Rise (ASWR), a liberation-focused mental health and consulting collective. ASWR will provide on-call clinical consultation throughout the pilot and lead the synthesis of participants’ well-being data into an insights and learning report to inform future Outdoor Rx models. “This program recognizes something mental health providers have long known—healing doesn’t only happen in clinical settings,” said Dr. Natasha Holmes, Founder and CEO of ASWR. “By pairing outdoor access with trauma-informed support, this pilot models what equitable, preventive mental healthcare can look like at the community level.”

The pilot is open to participants with disabilities from across Massachusetts. Malden residents will receive a two-week priority registration window before enrollment opens statewide.

For more information or to follow program updates, visit TheGreatMaldenOutdoors.com.

About the Great Malden Outdoors

Launched in 2024, The Great Malden Outdoors (TGMO) is a city-owned outdoor enablement campaign created and managed by First Seed Sown. Its mission is to get all Malden residents outside for the benefit of their health while also supporting local economic development through outdoor recreation. To date, TGMO has enabled more than 1,400 people to participate in no-cost and low-cost outdoor programs ranging from biking and fly fishing to birding, outdoor art, and rock climbing. TheGreatMaldenOutdoors.com serves as a free outdoor recreation resource and is available in the top eight languages spoken in Malden.

About Molina Healthcare

Senior Whole Health, LLC, dba Molina Healthcare provides government-funded, quality health care under the Senior Care Options (SCO) and One Care programs serving dual eligibles enrolled in Medicare and MassHealth. Senior Whole Health is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company that provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces.  For more information, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.   

About The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation:
The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation was created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities.

About The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation

The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR)’s mission is to promote the health, economic, and social benefits of outdoor recreation in the Commonwealth. MOOR aims to make Massachusetts one of the most accessible, inclusive, welcoming, and safe states for all forms of outdoor recreation. Whether you are visiting or living here, discover all that Massachusetts’s outdoors has to offer.

About And Still We Rise

And Still We Rise (ASWR) is a liberation-focused mental health and consulting collective supporting individuals and the systems that shape their lives. Founded in 2018, ASWR blends clinical expertise, lived experience, and systems-level strategy to advance equity, healing, and collective care. ASWR partners with healthcare providers, public agencies, and community organizations to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services and learning initiatives grounded in real-world impact.