Bronx Health REACH Vaccine Initiative Updates

 Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" 

"What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Webinar

Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Panelists included Dr. Ani Bodoutchian from the NY State Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Bindy Crouch from NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene, Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits from the Institute of Family Health (IFH) Cadman Health Center, and Dr. Eugene Schiff from IFH Stevenson Health Center. The webinar was moderated by BHR's Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, Program Manager for the Community Vaccine Initiative.

Dr. Ani Budhachan expressed alarm at the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision changing vaccine guidance, especially around COVID-19, because of the confusion and undermining of public trust that may result. “If vaccines move from being recommended to being optional, will insurance companies continue to cover them?” asked Dr. Budhachan.

Dr. Bindi Crouch was also concerned about whether insurance will cover all vaccinations bringing into question vaccine future affordability. She was able to at least reassure attendees that the vaccine supply of flu, COVID-19, and RSV for the fall is stable. “We're not expecting vaccine shortages,” said Dr. Crouch.

Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits shared that safety and the need for vaccines during pregnancy are the most common concerns she hears from patients. “Patients often say they’ll wait until after pregnancy to get vaccinated, but vaccines like COVID-19 and flu are essential because they protect both the pregnant person and the baby from serious illness or complications,” said Dr. Gervits.

Dr. Eugene Schiff pointed out that he believes the flu vaccine remains underutilized as many of his patients are asking if vaccines are safe and necessary as they hear conflicting messages from social media and the news. He responds by educating his patients about the benefits of vaccines, as well as the risks of skipping vaccinations. “Vaccines aren’t just about the individual, vaccines protect our families, and our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Dr. Schiff.

Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education Pilot

To increase vaccinations for pregnant and breastfeeding women, Bronx Health REACH, in collaboration with the Institute for Family Health’s Perinatal Care Program and Bronx ReBirth and Progress, launched a Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education project. The doulas and perinatal navigators received training and a toolkit of culturally-responsive approaches to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccinations. Rooted LLC, a company providing culturally-empowering, holistic doula pre and post-natal physical and mental health services to pregnant and breastfeeding people, developed the training module and toolkit.

Twelve doulas and three care navigators were trained using a person-centered approach that respects patients’ diverse experiences. The doulas, in turn, educated 27 pregnant and breastfeeding women through open, judgment-free conversations during their appointments with their doula. Some doulas voiced initial concerns—especially around high-risk pregnancies—but found that their trusted relationships helped patients better understand vaccine safety.

Clients appreciated the safe space doulas created for them to feel free to discuss their vaccine concerns. Some expressed that they feared judgement from family or felt pressured by providers, but doulas helped them feel heard and empowered to make their own informed choices about vaccinations. Many were surprised to learn that choosing not to vaccinate could jeopardize not only their own health, but that of their their baby’s as well.

Adult Vaccine Communications Campaign

BHR is planning two adult vaccine media campaigns. The first will be launched in the next few days and will provide the needed facts to counter much of the common vaccine misinformation. In the fall, BHR will be rolling out the second which will focus  on adults 50 years and older encouraging them to receive their Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis), Shingles, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and Pneumococcal vaccines. Surveys completed by BHR revealed that Bronx adults 50+ had the lowest rates of vaccines. CauseLab, a media agency that produced previous BHR vaccine campaigns will produce a video and printed material including palm cards and posters, and other media to run on LinkNYC kiosks and social media.

Bronx Health REACH Calls for MTA to Reinstate Alcohol Ad Ban

Photo above from October 20217. 

In 2017 the NYC MTA voted to ban alcohol ads on subways, buses and trains, a result of a city wide grassroots campaign of Building Alcohol Ad-Free Transit (BAAFT) and Bronx Health REACH coalition members who gathered petition signatures, held rallies, and provided testimonies at various MTA public hearings prior to the Board's voting. But this was recently reversed by the MTA board. Citing a $7 million annual loss in revenue attributed to the ban, the Board voted to bring the alcohol ads back. In response to this vote, Bronx Health REACH, Interfaith Public Health Network and other medical and faith leaders held a rally about the public health risks of alcohol marketing on public transit, particularly its impact on youth, people in recovery, and communities of color, and called for the MTA board to reinstate its 2017 ban on alcohol advertising across subways, buses, and train stations.

"BHR was proud to have been part of the grassroots effort that successfully advocated with the MTA to ban alcohol advertising from its transit system several years ago. It was true then and is true now, that alcohol advertisers specifically target susceptible communities like the Bronx. That MTA win meant one less battle for the Bronx and similar communities in the fight for a healthy environment. We cannot go back," said Charmaine Ruddock in a press release prior to the MTA's vote to reverse the ban.

Fox5 NY spoke with BHR's Charmaine Ruddock about the MTA reversing the ban. 

Bronx Health REACH Leads Voter Engagement Efforts for the People's Money

 

BHR community health workers Joseph Ellis, Felix Rojas and Cheikhou Oumar Ann doing voter outreach for "The People's Money." 

In May to June, BHR was one of 80 New York City community partners doing voter outreach as part of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission’s (CEC) “The People’s Money.” The People’s Money empowers New Yorkers to fund solutions addressing community needs ranging from education, mental health needs, or food access. All NYC residents ages 11 and older, regardless of immigration status, were eligible to vote on how to spend $4M of the city budget to address their community needs. Some of the Bronx ballot ideas included: Multi-Lingual Community Mental Health, STEM Enrichment for Bronx Youth & Teens and Support People with Housing Advocacy Groups. BHR's community health workers Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Joseph Ellis and Felix Rojas successfully outreached to Bronx residents resulting in 685 votes.

Bronx Health REACH and the #Not62: Campaign for a Healthy Bronx Steering Committee Talks About Strategic Plan for a Healthier Bronx on Open TV Show

 Left to Right: Dr. Bob Lee, Charmaine Ruddock, Rev. Dr. Wendy Kelly-Carter, and Liz Spurrell-Huss.

Members of the Bronx Health REACH (BHR) Health Disparities Workgroup and the steering committee for #Not62 - The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx, Rev. Dr. Wendy Kelly-Carter, BHR's Charmaine Ruddock and Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore Health System, appeared on the Bronxnet show, Open, to discuss their five-year plan to reverse the Bronx’s last place health ranking among New York State counties by addressing systemic health disparities. They spoke about the 2025 Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Report, and the continuing poor health outcomes of the Bronx.

To address these poor health outcomes, the #Not62 Steering Committee has begun work on a five year strategic plan, with an initial focus on food and nutrition, and mental health. This plan advocates for the following policies:

 

• Support NYC Council INT-0641, which sets nutrition standards for children’s meals at restaurants.

• Permanently fund Health Bucks in the New York City budget.

• Restrict the content and placement of sugary drink advertisements directed towards youth on all media including television, radio, internet, outdoor displays, etc. through state laws, local ordinances, industry self-regulation, or a combination thereof. 

• Fund “Healthy Destinations” that use a place-based approach to identify barriers to health and identify and promote the local solutions. 

• A seven point mental health component has also been prioritized as part of the five year strategic plan. 

Click here to watch the full interview.

9 Bronx Bodegas Sell Healthy, Affordable Snacks as Part of a Healthy Bodega Pilot

 Nine Bronx bodegas have been selling healthy, delicious snacks as part of the Healthy Bodega pilot. 

Nine Bronx bodegas have been selling Healthy Bodega/Bodega Fresca, a line of healthy, delicious and affordable Latin-Caribbean-inspired Grab-and-Go meals, as part of a Healthy Bodega pilot. Bronx Health REACH received funding from the New York Health Foundation to collaborate with Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), Collective Fare, Shen’naque Sean Butler of FRESCH, and others to pilot a sustainable business model for bodegas to sell healthy, culturally relevant grab-and-go items, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

The pilot builds on BHR's more than two decades of grassroots food justice advocacy in the South Bronx to encourage bodegas to sell healthier food. Over the last decade, collaborating with the Bodega and Small Business Group (the bodega trade association), and, more recently with the FRESCH Initiative, founded and led by Shen’naque Sean Butler, and NYU's Stern School of Business, we have worked to identify and address the barriers bodegas face to selling healthy food. With this current effort, involving the creation of eight healthy food offerings by Collective Fare, customer and store-owner feedback was solicited and confirmed that these products are not just welcomed but highly desired, reinforcing the need for healthier, more affordable options in local bodegas. 

 A media event was held in May with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L Gibson, Bronx Health REACH/The Institute for Family Health, Francisco Marte (President of the Bodega and Small Business Group/BSBG), LaToya Meaders (CEO of Collective Fare Kitchen and Market), and Shen’naque Sean Butler (Founder of FRESCH Initiative) attending. 

  

Click to view News12 The Bronx story about the launch.

The Triple R Mindset

This post was written by Diana Bernal,  Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools & Communities program at Bronx Health REACH. 

As part of the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities program, Bronx Health REACH is working with Equity Design, a longtime Bronx Health REACH partner whose goal is to design sustainable programs and services that translate to the specific social, cultural and physical health disparities, and schools in the Bronx to help improve school wellness. One way used to help schools is by providing their school wellness councils with technical assistance and help them implement local wellness policies. 

Bronx Health REACH, Equity Design and IS 584’s school wellness council went through team building and mind mapping sessions to identify areas of improvement for their students, teachers, and community. One area that the school wanted to prioritize was the teacher well-being. Given that teachers play many roles and are the backbone of a school, the need to support their wellness is paramount. “Nationally, there are reports of increased teacher burnout and subsequent turnover in recent years.”

For this reason, IS 584’s school wellness council came up with a Triple R Policy for their school: Relax, Recharge, and Renew. The school’s leadership considers implementing this policy as necessary for teacher relaxation and mental health with the aim to foster a supportive environment for staff, and improve teacher retention and morale. An outcome of this teacher focus was the creation of the Triple R Mindset Teacher Lounge, a room that school leadership designated as a teachers only space for them to unwind and recharge before, during, and after school.

  

                                                       

Based on this policy and vision, Equity Design connected IS 584 with Metropolitan Bank  who offered to provide the school funding to revamp their teachers’ lounge. This allowed for an inviting teachers’ lounge that included comfortable seating, a walking pad, stationary bicycles for physical activity, a refrigerator, water/coffee station, and an inviting décor, all to create a positive and peaceful space. The Triple R Mindset Teacher Lounge will help teachers experience time for reflection, team-building, engagement in physical activity, wellness and emotional stability while in a workplace setting. This is a great example of what can happen through a school wellness council and community partnerships working together to create healthier environments! 

Black History Month: Creating Healthy Food Environments in the Bronx

 

Shen’naque Sean Butler and Francisco Marte, Founder of Bodega and Small Business Group

This article was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH, Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director at Bronx Health REACH, and Bronx Health REACH Coalition member Shen’naque Sean Butler.

 

African Americans have faced injustices in the food system ever since the days of enslavement, when Africans brought to America lost the food sovereignty they had in their native lands, and as slaves, were forced to subsist on meager food rations of poor dietary quality such as pig intestines, lard and cornmeal. But resistance to these injustices has existed for just as long, with enslaved people cultivating crops from Africa such as okra, yams, black-eyed peas, and creating dishes using ingredients that were native to Africa when they could.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s founding of the Freedom Farm Cooperative in 1967 as a rural economic development and political organizing project was a later action in the Black food justice movement. The Freedom Farm Cooperative sought to uplift Black families through food provisions, such as vegetable gardens and pig-raising, and through community support for housing development and education. By providing food and financial services, the Cooperative allowed Black families to be self-sufficient. This Cooperative is seen by many as a foundation for the modern food security and food justice movements.

In the Bronx, a leader that continued this fight for food justice is Karen Washington, a Black urban farmer, and co-founder of the Black Farmer Fund. A James Beard 2014 Leadership Award Honoree, she worked to dismantle what she so aptly termed “food apartheid” in Black communities.

Recognizing the historical injustices and the power of grassroots community advocacy to address those injustices, Bronx Health REACH, since its inception, has been working with community partners to advance food justice. This has been done through efforts such as encouraging policy makers and elected officials to increase access to affordable fresh produce at farmers markets, promoting farmers and farmers markets to community members, and supporting faith-based organizations’ establishment of gardens.

For more than a decade, Bronx Health REACH has been involved in supporting local business owners selling healthy food, collaborating with the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG) to train bodega owners to sell healthier food, and promoting those healthier options through the creation of the “Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh” consumer campaign. In 2019, Bronx Health REACH supported Bronx community member and food justice advocate Shen’naque Sean Butler to implement his vision for a healthy bodega initiative.

Shen’naque Sean Butler’s family migrated from Savannah, Georgia, to New York during the Great Migration, seeking economic opportunities and escaping racial violence. Unfortunately, the racial injustices they sought to escape followed them in one form or the other, one of which was redlining—a government policy that systematically removed resources from Black communities. Redlining has had a lasting impact, contributing to the creation of food deserts in areas like the Bronx, where access to fresh and affordable food is severely limited.

 

As a descendant of American chattel slavery, Shen’naque Sean Butler carries not only the legacy of pain but also the resilience of his ancestors. In 2019, inspired by his late mother, Jocelyn Butler, Shen’naque founded FRESCH (Food Revolution Empowering Sustainable Community Health), to address food insecurity and promote healthier eating habits in the Bronx by connecting local food systems. He implemented a pilot group purchasing model where healthy grab-and-go food items were sold at bodegas for customers to purchase at affordable prices. This initiative included bodegas both within and outside the BSBG network.

The initiative delivers plant-based meals to local bodegas, providing nutritious options in areas where fresh food is scarce. FRESCH also hosts workshops and seminars to educate the community about healthy eating and advocates for policy changes to improve food transparency and marketing practices.

In 2024, building on FRESCH and the previous work with BSBG, Bronx Health REACH received funding from the New York Health Foundation to collaborate with BSBG, Collective Fare, Shen’naque Sean Butler, and others to pilot a sustainable business model for bodegas to sell healthy, culturally relevant grab-and-go items, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

The effort to establish a healthy food retail environment with culturally relevant, affordable options for communities of color has continued, gaining momentum to counter the injustices that have gotten worse in the food system over the past several decades. Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a professor of African American history and author of the book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America explains an association between the food retail environment and being “Black.” Dr. Chatelain points out that in the 1960’s, the federal government, through a series of efforts, encouraged the creation of Black businesses as an opportunity to build wealth and create badly needed jobs.  During this time, the fast food industry lobbied government and convinced civil rights organizations that fast food franchising could be good for building Black wealth. Yet, the low-wage jobs created through the franchising model, coupled with the creation of unhealthy food environments in Black communities, turned out to have detrimental economic and health consequences in these communities. Exacerbating the problem was the practice of many food companies associating Black culture with their industrialized food through targeted predatory marketing of fast food and other unhealthy food products. This has had disastrous effects on the health of consumers, with disproportionate impacts especially seen in Black communities.

Despite all of this, the movement that has long embraced the narrative of cultural pride focused on an entrepreneurial model of building Black owned food businesses promoting healthy food, establishing a new cadre of Black farmers, and farmers markets, and securing new retail outlets for those foods continues. The goal of such a movement is still to improve the health and lives of Black communities.

Bronx Health REACH 2024 in Pictures

 

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Bronx Health REACH and 25 years of our commitment to making health equity in the Bronx a reality. What has sustained, motivated and emboldened us to do this work over 25 years? The community. Bronx Health REACH is first and foremost, a community coalition.

We are thankful and appreciative of our partners, allies and staff who have been critical to this work and all that makes this possible. Many thanks to the following who have generously provided funding for our work:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Initiative

• CDC – COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Initiative

• Health Resources and Services Administration - COVID-19 Bridge Funding

• New York State Department of Health's Creating Healthy Schools & Communities Initiative

• New York State Department of Health/National Association of Chronic Disease Directors - Building Resilient & Inclusive Communities

• New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

• NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene 

• New York Health Foundation

• New York City Council (Immigrant Health)

• The NYC Civic Engagement Commission

• National Institutes of Health/NYC Community Engagement Alliance (NYCEAL) To End Covid-19 Disparities

• The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)/Natl Institute of Food and Agriculture

• Silicon Valley Foundation

Bronx Health REACH 2024 Initiatives

Bible Church of Christ, Every Day is a Miracle, Manna of Life Ministries and Thorpe Family Residence Nazareth Housing implemented Healthy Pantry Initiative strategies to increase access to healthier foods. 

 

A series of Healthy Pantry Initiative Training videos were created to promote healthy food choices and cultural food preferences for our food pantry partners. Bronx Health REACH partnered with The CUNY Food Policy Institute to assess the quality of the foods in the three cafes at the Lehman College campus.

11 sites participated in the Health Bucks Best Practices Training and received Health Bucks (HB) coupons. They distributed 5,900 HB coupons with an average redemption rate of 83.14% and led 27 farmers’ market tours with 270 participants.

The Food as Medicine Produce Prescription Program, in collaboration with Corbin Hill Food Project, had 69 distributions with 53 participants picking up 2,346 shares, and hosted 28 food demonstrations.

9 bodegas will participate in selling healthy grab-and-go items as Bronx Health REACH received funding from the NY Health Foundation to pilot a healthy bodega initiative in partnership with the Bodega and Small Business Group, Collective Fare, and others.

 

The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Coalition worked to pass the Good Food NY Bill. Bronx Health REACH endorsed INT 641, a NYC Council bill requiring that at least two meals on restaurant children’s menus meet certain nutrition standards. Several Bronx Health REACH partners provided testimony during a NYC Council Health Committee meeting in December. 

BHR partnered with Morrisania WIC to host 8 monthly Lactation Discussion sessions with 71 individuals attending. NY Presbyterian, BronxCare, Lincoln Hospital, Albert Einstein, Jacobi, and Montefiore referred 50 individuals to the Baby Café. 27 breastfeeding moms, along with their families and children participated in a Mothers Breastfeeding Fashion show in June. 

Six doulas were trained and completed surveys on how to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccines.

BHR partnered with Bronx River Alliance advocating for safer entry to the Bronx River Greenway from  E Tremont/E 177th Street by collecting 263 signatures, exceeding their original goal of 125 signatures. The Bronx River Open House at Starlight Park kicked off their program season in April, bringing in over 1000 community members to Starlight Park.

Transportation Alternatives completed walk audits and made recommendations to the NYC Dept of Transportation for improvement of the Grand Concourse Phase 5. They include: improving bike lane markings, bollards for raised bike lanes, raised crosswalks and speed bumps. 

Equity Design, BronxWorks, Greater Faith Cathedral, Bible Christ Church, and Christian Bible Temple completed the Active Communities Tool Assessment, a walk audit, and held a number of town hall meeting to identify complete street redesign projects that will lead to more pedestrian-friendly routes and increased physical activity.

PS18 hosted 7 open streets programs and held their 2nd annual bike fest; PS32 hosted 10 Open Street programs;  PS/MS5 hosted 7 open streets programs and; PS59, a new school partner, hosted 2 events.  

NY State Division of Criminal Justice Service provided funding for CS300 to build a school garden. CS300, Bronx Health REACH, the Mary Mitchell Center and the NY Botanical Garden collaborated with students and teachers to build 8 garden beds, planting vegetables and herbs.

2024 marked the return of Boogie on the Boulevard as a live, in person event that, for the first time, was officially part of the NYC DOT’s Summer Streets program. 21 organizations participated in immersing the public in fitness programs, art, music, and more.

In partnership with Bronx Health REACH and Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC, MARC Academy and Family Center provided nutrition and physical activity training to 15 home-based childcare providers.

For our Flu and COVID-19 vaccination Initiative, BHR hosted 15 vaccines events where 240 flu vaccinations and 161 COVID vaccinations were given, distributed 13,960 handouts; gave 26 presentations to 1,028 people; and hosted 8 partner training events for 79 people.

The BHR Health Disparities Workgroup designated April as #Not62 month and appeared on the Bronxnet show, Stay Alive with Church Alive. In May, "Creation of a Movement: #Not62 Campaign for a Healthier Bronx" was showcased at the Institute for Family Health's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. In October, Eve Plotka attended the RWJF Culture of Health Prize Alumni lunch with other #Not62 steering committee members from Montefiore and the NYC Department of Health.

BHR worked with Dr. Roger Ball to bring in experts, resources and materials to better understand the problems being addressed by the BHR Health Disparities Workgroup to develop goals focused on #Not62 - The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx.

For our Immigrant Health Initiative, our Bronx Health REACH Community Health Outreach Team of Joseph Ellis, Cheikhou Ann and Felix Rojas, completed 73 outreach events, made 130 patient referrals, and participated in 6 podcasts.

October 2024 marked two years of ‘Men Let’s Talk,’ a forum for Black and Latino men to engage in open and honest discussions about concerns regarding their mental and/or sexual health and wellbeing. To date, 323 people have participated in discussions on a variety of topics listed above. 

BHR showcased projects at IFH's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. Presentations included: “Food as Medicine: Designing and Implementing a Produce Prescription Program at Federally Qualified Health Centers"; "Doula and Perinatal Care Navigator's Impact on COVID19 and Flu Vaccine Decision Making in Bronx Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women"; “Immigrant Health Initiative - Efforts to Support Underserved Immigrant Groups by Improving their Access to Health Care." In October, Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas and Joseph Ellis were recognized for their outstanding work during NYCDOHMH’s Harlem Family Wellness Suite Day for Dads event.