tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72161164010579641602024-03-09T21:45:53.337-05:00Making Health Equality a RealityBronx Health REACH is a National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities and a community-based coalition working to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-86099291502332049022023-10-02T16:47:00.002-04:002024-02-07T15:39:58.155-05:00Food Education Roadmap: Building a Healthier Relationship with Food in Schools<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXiqX9hVzpEKRZEvGjx-ruAtXjVfDXiWjBXijQt7Y7fMnTHwPz84ZjFOY1sJ0L_SS6UBsWccoJsyxe-4mR-YPX01qLy1Iw8XSpGCS5LGYoAIAAWK5NSKPamfeliXwXCK6TqJFOvYezuI6Xn1n928X0G_6YQZ8YVRtw7UVGWE_obTJCEGMA5H5TODYC_tEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="618" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXiqX9hVzpEKRZEvGjx-ruAtXjVfDXiWjBXijQt7Y7fMnTHwPz84ZjFOY1sJ0L_SS6UBsWccoJsyxe-4mR-YPX01qLy1Iw8XSpGCS5LGYoAIAAWK5NSKPamfeliXwXCK6TqJFOvYezuI6Xn1n928X0G_6YQZ8YVRtw7UVGWE_obTJCEGMA5H5TODYC_tEw" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><i>This blog post was written by Diana Bernal, Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program at Bronx Health REACH.</i></p><p>When it comes to health outcomes, nearly 40% of New York City public school children are overweight or obese and this disproportionately affects Black and Latino students. Children living in the Bronx have the highest prevalence of being overweight at 43% compared to 38% in Manhattan, 39% in Queens, 40% in Staten Island, and 41% in Brooklyn. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing chronic diet-related disease, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. </p><p>Through our Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program, Bronx Health REACH works with Bronx schools to help improve their school wellness, nutrition, and physical activity. In doing so we learn the struggles schools face when it comes to the students’ health and nutrition. School leadership and teachers have told us that their students do not like the food being served to them during their school lunch period, and that many would rather eat chips, like Takis (spicy corn chips made of rolled tortillas, similar to taquitos), and other unhealthy foods. These are known as “competitive foods”, which includes all food and beverages outside of the reimbursed meals provided by schools. New good nutritious food changes, like <a href="https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/school-meals/plant-powered" target="_blank">Plant Powered Fridays</a>, which is when students are served meatless meals, have been made in an effort to introduce more plant-based foods to children. Bronx Health REACH, through its CHSC work with schools, have discussed with school leadership how to improve nutrition in schools. The leaders shared, that Plant Powered Fridays has not been well received in schools and that the kids do not eat the food. Teachers pointed out that students are more likely to try new things when they are being engaged and taught about it, thus highlighting the need for food education. According to the Food Ed report: </p><p>“Food education describes any combination of educational strategies, accompanied by environmental supports, designed to motivate and facilitate voluntary adoption of food choices and other food and nutrition-related behaviors that are conducive to the health and well-being of individuals, community, and the planet.” </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJUeNfKMeg8Lw0Jnynu5kc8NxVEcDXkC04hOxLEqGqpmH8D5rcOZ0yLh3ICkSX9b46Qc_o1rAZYD5iv44fUyfLD0mSGTRVVX93me9xLcLIvsZe8K5exYcea5LShvXCyeH4_CMMTcfjm4X4L8ZNhOVU4UOhUbBYNyDLosBqKk8Wn4d-7pOn3m8A6qk5zR3X" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="435" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJUeNfKMeg8Lw0Jnynu5kc8NxVEcDXkC04hOxLEqGqpmH8D5rcOZ0yLh3ICkSX9b46Qc_o1rAZYD5iv44fUyfLD0mSGTRVVX93me9xLcLIvsZe8K5exYcea5LShvXCyeH4_CMMTcfjm4X4L8ZNhOVU4UOhUbBYNyDLosBqKk8Wn4d-7pOn3m8A6qk5zR3X" width="184" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>On June 6, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, along with New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Chancellor David Banks, and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy’s Executive Director, Kate MacKenzie, announced the <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/388-23/mayor-adams-food-education-roadmap-promote-healthier-school-communities-across-new-york#/0" target="_blank">Food Education Roadmap to promote healthier school communities across New York City</a>. “<a href="FoodEdReport_010.pdf " target="_blank">Prioritizing Food Education in Our Public Schools: A Path to Developing a Healthy Next Generation</a>” provides goals, strategies and key performance indicators to ensure that students have the tools and knowledge to lead healthy lifestyles. The Roadmap Goals and Strategies focus on building on the knowledge and accessibility of healthy eating and wellness among students, as well as for those in the community who serve as advocates. </p><p>Food education takes a wider approach and focuses on more than what healthy and non-healthy foods are. It focuses on our relationship with food and how this relationship is connected to, and affected by, other influences such as culture, economy, and communities. By implementing food education in schools, students will be able to understand why certain foods are healthier than others which will enable them to form a better relationship with food, and in turn help to guide them to making healthier choices. </p><p>Bronx Health REACH’s many years of experience working to change the food culture of schools helping children embrace new healthy food underscores the need for food and nutrition education in making such a change happen. There are many resources and organizations getting kids to try new foods that are introduced in the schools through the<a href="https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/food-programs" target="_blank"> Farm to School program that the NYCDOE Office of Food and Nutrition Services</a> participates in. </p><p>References:</p><p>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="FoodEdReport_010.pdf " target="_blank">FoodEdReport_010.pdf (nyc.gov) </a></p><p>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://databrief1.pdf" target="_blank">databrief1.pdf (nyc.gov) </a></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-34278702256724587872023-09-08T18:51:00.006-04:002023-09-12T18:55:03.496-04:00Join us this FRIDAY SEPT 15 for Racism and Our Families’ Health: Connecting the Dots…Why the Conversation Matters from 10AM to 12PM<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0NKQCBCJSBjZuDysTZSnmvovE4HyrvS6ORX6jeXZRb-6yMgqKj_bXpyYWETx5b1-OvupMrceDTMXT9jdNNV7sT-mop7uB2SgPY45SSAd3c4gfo70navyBB_OFQXaO7oG1zKloVQt9L6jVW0c8RZwUutyNQucYUtiM_tZkk3_edNY5ZWoU0eHy7121Plu/s704/sept15panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0NKQCBCJSBjZuDysTZSnmvovE4HyrvS6ORX6jeXZRb-6yMgqKj_bXpyYWETx5b1-OvupMrceDTMXT9jdNNV7sT-mop7uB2SgPY45SSAd3c4gfo70navyBB_OFQXaO7oG1zKloVQt9L6jVW0c8RZwUutyNQucYUtiM_tZkk3_edNY5ZWoU0eHy7121Plu/s320/sept15panel.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Join us this FRIDAY SEPT 15 for Racism and Our Families’ Health: Connecting the Dots…Why the Conversation Matters from 10AM to 12PM. The presentations and discussions will offer lessons in how to effectively respond to our most pressing social issues employing a lens of anti-racism. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://rebrand.ly/mham16n" target="_blank">Click HERE to Register</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Questions? imoronta@institute.org.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPtQRkzSIL0" target="_blank">Click here to view Part 1 of a recent discussion</a> with Stay Alive with Church Alive (hosted by Bishop Timothy Birkett) featuring Immaculada Moronta from The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Rev. Dr. Calvin R. Kendrick, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Bronx, and Father David Powers from RC St. Helena Church as they discuss the Racism and Our Families Health series of webinars as they discuss: What is racism? What are the types of racism? Where do we find racism? Why does the conversation about race matters to all?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g-qUCc0E8I" target="_blank">Click here to view Part 2 of a recent discussion</a> with Stay Alive with Church Alive (hosted by Bishop Timothy Birkett) featuring Immaculada Moronta from The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Rev. Dr. Calvin R. Kendrick, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Bronx, and Father David Powers from RC St. Helena Church as they discuss the Racism and Our Families Health series of webinars as they discuss the following: How is racism making us sick? How is racism affecting our wellbeing? How do you achieve equity goals as an organization and/or individuals?</div></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-58739761055711755102023-09-08T18:28:00.006-04:002023-09-12T18:38:30.668-04:00Join Us 9/14 for The Bronx Responds: One Year After the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health from Local to National Policies and Back<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrqvuomRx2mEuWudDwRz5t-GN6jtqS56SBKVBaBn-Jh4vzkLmVvIzhV9ERV8sKw6MWkK-Y6kaOSv5XFNSAPSspoSKXc1RDJXIfw_2J8ztU042Mn71gEm078ZqimRfEd2j2CutWb0tj2Uy7tWYZ76G5kn6afxA2ZyYLiRCCrVt1-hEPqS0-Dk8Q_vR4nXE/s650/foodsummit2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrqvuomRx2mEuWudDwRz5t-GN6jtqS56SBKVBaBn-Jh4vzkLmVvIzhV9ERV8sKw6MWkK-Y6kaOSv5XFNSAPSspoSKXc1RDJXIfw_2J8ztU042Mn71gEm078ZqimRfEd2j2CutWb0tj2Uy7tWYZ76G5kn6afxA2ZyYLiRCCrVt1-hEPqS0-Dk8Q_vR4nXE/s320/foodsummit2023.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>You are invited to join us on Thursday, September 14th (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for a virtual conference with thought provoking and action oriented discussions about food and nutrition-related work happening in the Bronx and the policy implications of this work. In 2022, the White House held the first Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in over 50 years and as an outcome, earlier this year, a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health was released. The priorities of our national government and policymakers have implications for food access, affordability, and nutrition education in the Bronx and similar communities impacted by diet-related health disparities.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Topics include:</b></p><p><b>• Nutrition and Health Equity in the Bronx </b></p><p><b>• Overview of the Farm Bill and Its Effects on Local Communities </b></p><p><b>• Improving Food Access in Community Settings </b></p><p><b>• Integrating Nutrition and Healthcare: Food as Medicine and Food insecurity screenings </b></p><p><b>• Knowing What’s in Your Food: Bringing Nutrition Education to the Community</b></p><p><b>• Eating Soulfully </b></p><p><b>• Reimagining your Local Bodega with Better Food </b></p><p><b>• Envisioning the Food System of the Future </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtf-2qqjIjG9UH6K9TKPeE16uKW8GIXT1y#/registration" target="_blank">Click Here to Register.</a></p><p>After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting via Zoom.</p><p><b>Speakers include:</b></p><p>Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson</p><p>Christina Badaracco, Healthcare Consultant, Registered Dietitian, and Co-Author of The Farm Bill: A Citizens’ Guide</p><p>Dr. Jen Cadenhead, Executive Director, Teachers College Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy </p><p>Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, Author of The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, & Food Justice </p><p>Ribka Getachew, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, Community Food Advocates </p><p>Norma Gonzalez, Farm Share Manager, Corbin Hill Food Project </p><p>Theresa Landau, Program Director, Morrisania WIC</p><p>Francisco Marte, President, Bodega and Small Business Group </p><p>LaToya Meaders, Co-Founder and CEO, Collective Fare </p><p>Dr. DeAnna Nara, Senior Policy Associate, Center for Science in the Public Interest </p><p>Aleyna Rodriguez, Executive Director, Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center</p><p>Gladys Roman, Executive Director, Manna of Life Ministries</p><p>Ismail Samad, Interim Executive Director, Corbin Hill Food Project </p><p>Chet Van Wert, Associate Research Scientist, NYU Stern School of Business</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-81145331984988814932023-08-31T16:59:00.015-04:002023-09-01T17:41:22.864-04:00Bronx Breastfeeding Reconvening 2023 - Strengthening the Community for a Successful Breastfeeding Journey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSjTw77R24v0ym6mw5DU9EGu_Pksg6GZa13R726KnkU-0CgOwpRnZZqpBvVVIbpLU9BSr3Ihey-Yxm44gH16sXIGKsbLhQdxyLQYAMAFosoc-saEI1YxJEKnoOIR50D-AIcL7NUE19M-eSdJ2uP88pCft3A0bHyfX3g_5-pFE5Ksvdd-9gMQavdbZYqVe/s600/Aug2023Post1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSjTw77R24v0ym6mw5DU9EGu_Pksg6GZa13R726KnkU-0CgOwpRnZZqpBvVVIbpLU9BSr3Ihey-Yxm44gH16sXIGKsbLhQdxyLQYAMAFosoc-saEI1YxJEKnoOIR50D-AIcL7NUE19M-eSdJ2uP88pCft3A0bHyfX3g_5-pFE5Ksvdd-9gMQavdbZYqVe/s320/Aug2023Post1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>On May 19th, Bronx Healthy Start Partnership along with Morrisania Diagnostic & Treatment Center WIC Program (Morrisania WIC), Bronx Health REACH and other Bronx-based supporters hosted the Second Annual Virtual Bronx Breastfeeding Reconvening 2023. Approximately one hundred participants including mothers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, came together to promote and advocate for breastfeeding within the Bronx community.</p><p>The Breastfeeding Reconvening serves as a forum for open dialogue and collaboration, with mothers at the center of the conversation, providing their firsthand experiences, challenges, and successes to inform the direction of the initiative, and most important, to normalize breastfeeding in the Bronx. Presenters at this year’s Reconvening included breastfeeding advocates; Karla Lewis, BA, IBCLC; Allison Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE, LLLL; Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC-RLC, ALC; Katie Kelter MD, IBCLC; Chelsea Thompson, JD among others from across the borough. </p><p>The morning began with a warm welcome and overview of the day from Alma Idehen of <a href="https://www.einsteinmed.edu/departments/family-social-medicine/community-health/bronx-healthy-start/" target="_blank">Bronx Healthy Start Partnership</a>. Bronx Healthy Start is a collaboration led by <a href="https://www.einsteinmed.edu/" target="_blank">Albert Einstein College of Medicine</a> that works towards reducing infant mortality and improving women's health among women and mothers through outreach and enrollment in health insurance coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and connects families to <a href="https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/medical-home/medical-home-overview/what-is-medical-home/ and other community based social supports and resources. " target="_blank">medical homes</a>.</p><p>Carla Lewis, facilitator of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WICMorrisania10452/posts/1888865724547228/" target="_blank">Morrisania WIC Baby Café</a>, kicked off the event with a conversation with Bronx mothers about their breastfeeding experiences including their challenges, successes, and needs. Carla asked each of the moms participating in the panel the following: ”What did you wish you had before and throughout your time breastfeeding” Three breastfeeding mothers shared that having a support system made a difference in their breastfeeding journey. It was an open and heartfelt conversation that allowed other mothers to connect and share their own individual breastfeeding experiences. </p><p>Dianne Cassidy, a lactation consultant, discussed research on how increased support for a breastfeeding mother leads to a longer duration of breastfeeding. Participants were asked to share positive ways someone can support a breastfeeding mother including family support, work accommodations, and high quality services from the prenatal period up to and beyond birth. A list was generated for supporters to use with their clients in the future. Allison Walsh’s presentation discussed communication to help families succeed during the lactation period. This included addressing conflicting information that hospitals, obstetrics, clinics, pediatricians, social workers, other Community Based Organizations and family members may provide, and how to communicate different norms, culture, and supports. The ultimate goal is to create a common language around breastfeeding that everyone can use to best support lactating mothers. Katie Kelter, MD, IBCLC discussed from a medical perspective how she is advocating for breastfeeding in the community. She provided recommendations such as starting breastfeeding education early by including it in K-12 school curriculums, providing more resources to families and supporters, increasing trainings for healthcare providers, offering more education on New York State Labor Laws in the workforce, and expanding funding for breastfeeding services. </p><p><a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/bios/chelsea-thompson/" target="_blank">Chelsea Thompson from A Better Balance</a> presented on back to work readiness for nursing mothers in NYC. She discussed the various work leaves for pregnant and lactating women and non-birthing partners such as the provisions of the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work" target="_blank">Pump Act</a>, the pending passage of the <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-pregnant-workers-fairness-act" target="_blank">Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)</a>, and the effect they will have on families. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an "undue hardship."</p><p>Bronx Health REACH’s Rachel Ingram led the final session of the day by highlighting resources that would be beneficial to families and new mothers. <a href="https://institute.org/bronx-health-reach/about/" target="_blank">Bronx Health REACH</a> (BHR) provides trainings to help worksites and community spaces become breastfeeding friendly spaces. BHR also provides funding for two baby cafes in the Bronx: Morrisania WIC Baby Café and Bronx Healthy Start’s Breastfeeding Support Group. <a href="https://chocolatemilkcafe.org/about-us/" target="_blank">The Chocolate Milk Café</a> is a national network developed by Black breastfeeding advocates and professionals to provide culturally congruent care to families of the African diaspora through peer-led lactation support and professional development programming. Professional support mentioned included WIC Peer Counselors and Doulas. WIC Peer Counselors are mothers in the community with personal breastfeeding experience who are trained to provide support to new mothers/parents. Doulas are trained to advise, inform, and offer emotional and physical comfort to parents, before, during, and after childbirth. Finally, there is virtual support available through NYC Warmline and the <a href="https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/compassbymarchofdimes" target="_blank">Compass App</a>. The <a href="https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02588" target="_blank">NYC Breastfeeding Warmline</a> provides FREE virtual breastfeeding support from a Certified Lactation Consultant. Compass is a new app that supports parents from pregnancy through postpartum. The Reconvening wrapped up with participants joining breakout rooms to discuss ways in which the resources could be used in promoting breastfeeding and for community members and families to access and use. </p><p>Closing remarks were made by Theresa Landau, MS, RDN, CDN, Program Director for Morrisania WIC, who thanked everyone for their input and attendance and encouraged all to join the next Bronx Breastfeeding Coalition meeting to continue the conversation. A Lactation Resource Guide with contact information and types of services offered was shared with participants and is listed below.</p><p>We look forward to seeing breastfeeding work in action at next year’s Reconvening!</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>LACTATION RESOURCES</u></b>:</p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c5d5f504-34d8-3cdc-b125-d137fff621d9" target="_blank">Bronx Healthy Start Go To Lactation Resource Guide</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:23fa342e-2589-3a42-8f8f-797552f7e8c1" target="_blank">Breastfeeding Disparities Qualitative Research Study</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:05f2425f-55c4-30bb-8326-da15cf9d33a4" target="_blank">Paying it Forward – Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC,-RLC, ALC</a></p><p><a href="https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/doula-care.page" target="_blank">NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Doula Care</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bronxhealthlink.org/bronx-doula-access-project" target="_blank">Bronx Doula Access Project</a></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-43988046579214707302023-07-28T18:32:00.001-04:002023-07-28T18:32:40.724-04:00Improving School Physical Activity Access Through Open Streets<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6mmfC7h3lJU5jBBE-lVe1p9n1zWuH9n68j_9aSo-siowHKRSnMaEesv2B9ldwZwrJy7GJpYQqj8dBSsYrCI5r8jd1CKm-QPvpxVdc3VOZgLT5pQA7waHZO8EearY2ruFQs5ADX6J0yx2vYAJK8p55lvOaJb-Nvb1tGfMpOF0Qon2Nz19LEh6acSHDShV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="961" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6mmfC7h3lJU5jBBE-lVe1p9n1zWuH9n68j_9aSo-siowHKRSnMaEesv2B9ldwZwrJy7GJpYQqj8dBSsYrCI5r8jd1CKm-QPvpxVdc3VOZgLT5pQA7waHZO8EearY2ruFQs5ADX6J0yx2vYAJK8p55lvOaJb-Nvb1tGfMpOF0Qon2Nz19LEh6acSHDShV=w424-h269" width="424" /></a></div><p><i><b>P.S. 32 teachers and students jumping rope at their Open Street event. Photo credit: Street Lab</b></i></p><p><i>This blog post was written by Kelly Moltzen and Diana Bernal.</i></p><p>As part of the <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/obesity/prevention_activities/chsc/" target="_blank">New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program</a>, Bronx Health REACH worked with <a href="https://www.equitydesigninc.com/" target="_blank">Equity Design</a>, Street Lab, <a href="https://ps32belmont.com/" target="_blank">P.S. 32 The Belmont School (P.S. 32)</a> and <a href="https://www.schools.nyc.gov/schools/X018" target="_blank">P.S. 18 The John Peter Zenger School</a> (P.S. 18) to activate the schools’ surrounding spaces to increase students’ physical activity and create spaces known as “Open Streets” that can be utilized by the schools and their surrounding communities, for movement and fitness.</p><p>For many children school is where they receive the majority of their meals and physical activity to keep them healthy. School-based physical activity, included as part of a <a href="https://www.shapeamerica.org/MemberPortal/cspap/what.aspx" target="_blank">Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program</a> (CSPAP), can increase the physical activity that students receive at school. However, for many students in the Bronx this is not the case. Too many do not get enough physical activity because of limited indoor space, lack of open space/safe streets, and underutilization of nearby parks, many of which are in disrepair. Even though the Bronx is the greenest Borough with one quarter of its land area made up of parks, it is also a fitness desert. There are many inequities seen throughout the Bronx that limit the access and utilization of all this green space, contributing to the high rates of chronic illnesses in the Bronx.</p><p>In response to these challenges, Bronx Health REACH has been working with P.S. 32 to make the school a fitness hub for the community; and with P.S. 18 to expose the community to different forms of physical activity. The goals of these schools is to provide physical activity opportunities before and after school and in doing so improve the school spirit and to engage more of the community in physical activity.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfhQjChEUv2Um6yWyTUGDF092y7l3CYhBvczaw4GACihbst3jGflBvBnS-EaMTH0BGDWK2vTmzFP1BIp6QzVp49qmLx5KwVXkge5OUuI4mCMu3UGN1IKut93bu3F4769acYqGNljy7zA6mNdJaLkIiZdP6kEdW-5dY_WsyIejxo9n5nyHsAl1-rMNz32x4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="880" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfhQjChEUv2Um6yWyTUGDF092y7l3CYhBvczaw4GACihbst3jGflBvBnS-EaMTH0BGDWK2vTmzFP1BIp6QzVp49qmLx5KwVXkge5OUuI4mCMu3UGN1IKut93bu3F4769acYqGNljy7zA6mNdJaLkIiZdP6kEdW-5dY_WsyIejxo9n5nyHsAl1-rMNz32x4=w424-h262" width="424" /></a></div><br /><b><i>P.S. 32 students utilized equipment provided by Street Lab to create their own soccer arena to play. Photo: StreetLab</i></b>.<p></p><p>Bronx Health REACH partnered with Equity Design and Street Lab to assist P.S. 32 and P.S. 18 in hosting their own Open Street events during the 2022-2023 school year. In preparation for these events, P.S. 32 closed down Beaumont Avenue, between 183rd Street and Grote Street, and hosted Open Street events after school on two consecutive Tuesdays in October 2022, and on three consecutive Tuesdays in May 2023. Seven “WalkShops” were held with P.S. 32 second grade students, where they learned about what makes an Open Street. Students shared their themes of World Cup (soccer), Celebration of the Arts, and a Beaumont Avenue Waterpark at P.S. 32’s Spring Open Streets. Equity Design also led a walking group of students that would walk around the outside perimeter of the school. At P.S. 32's Open Streets events, school and community participation increased every week through word of mouth. During the 3 consecutive Tuesdays in May 2023, participation increased from about 100 participants on the first Tuesday to 200 by the third Tuesday. Parents and community members participated in the Open Street events and everyone expressed how great it was to see a safe place where students can have fun. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFgZI7bS0-nBrqsoWwAK1Db6b3pftKsqylN8leB6is5r9rKqZmS4jgrjaImNtROruCg7QWC7xM0LQsVSJrr1xaotRzaPBQ7ldBtrwiYf5vqT4HFD1XMPvozuOI7vm3dc1k7bKMCJV2XQpBxdgS4nciyYzaHwwhGdHEdQecUlwNHBGttiSEWVoaq_pBh2RC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="464" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFgZI7bS0-nBrqsoWwAK1Db6b3pftKsqylN8leB6is5r9rKqZmS4jgrjaImNtROruCg7QWC7xM0LQsVSJrr1xaotRzaPBQ7ldBtrwiYf5vqT4HFD1XMPvozuOI7vm3dc1k7bKMCJV2XQpBxdgS4nciyYzaHwwhGdHEdQecUlwNHBGttiSEWVoaq_pBh2RC=w332-h276" width="332" /></a></div><p></p><p><i><b>Cyclists from Major Taylor joined P.S. 18’s Open Street events teaching community residents how to ride a bike. Photo: Equity Design.</b></i></p><p><br /></p><p>P.S. 18 closed down 148th Street between Morris Avenue and College Avenue, and hosted Open Street events on 3 consecutive Saturdays in October 2022 and one in May 2023. P.S. 18 was gifted 65 bikes and helmets by USA Cycling and Major Taylor Development, an inclusive national cycling club. Thanks to this partnership, P.S. 18 was able to realize their vision of introducing students to other forms of physical activity, starting with biking. Major Taylor Development also provided a biking clinic during P.S. 18’s Open Street events. Students learned how to ride a bike safely at the Open Street events. In the Spring P.S. 18 held a Teachers’ Appreciation Open Street event providing teachers with an opportunity to experience the Open Street and connecting with one another through games and bike riding. P.S. 18 students and community members from the nearby NYC Housing Authority development who had never been on a bike were able to learn how to ride and practice on the closed street. During their 3 consecutive Saturdays in October 2022, registration on the first Saturday had only 15 students, but by the third Saturday over 90 students registered to ride a bike.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bronx Health REACH will continue working with P.S. 32 and P.S. 18 providing the necessary support so that each school’s Wellness Council takes ownership of the planning and organization of Open Streets with the goal of sustainability. Our hope is that these Open Street events demonstrates the need for cleaner and safer streets for the schools and the community so elected officials and other community leaders become more active partners so community members have increasing access to physical activity. By supporting the schools in implementing Open Streets, this is a step towards implementing permanent infrastructure changes and “Complete Streets” - thereby realizing the vision of the schools and meeting the needs of the community.</p><div><br /></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-88985956355473103112023-06-30T15:37:00.008-04:002023-07-12T15:41:07.661-04:00Health Disparities Workgroup Roundtable Discussion with Fordham University Faculty<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCEvKhxLLEP5LTkO1dFPmytcH1n5WRAVwHT7xb8EM9hY6jbdwzZE7X0YEAdse2uX1ytN7qdVych1Pbp6FgdScIY-zB_GpKMy2Xqa11kGFoHajbulyEGYPw9T3lImLDqHuP713lnw3cTrJ7c6gEz5dTrY4iPUM7IPf-toepLlATK8qiorhV4pbjhwGx1Ij/s650/fordham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="650" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCEvKhxLLEP5LTkO1dFPmytcH1n5WRAVwHT7xb8EM9hY6jbdwzZE7X0YEAdse2uX1ytN7qdVych1Pbp6FgdScIY-zB_GpKMy2Xqa11kGFoHajbulyEGYPw9T3lImLDqHuP713lnw3cTrJ7c6gEz5dTrY4iPUM7IPf-toepLlATK8qiorhV4pbjhwGx1Ij/s320/fordham.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup members had a roundtable discussion with several Fordham University faculty to get expertise and feedback on the HDWG’s Asks. </i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the Spring, Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup members had a roundtable discussion with several Fordham University faculty to elicit their expert feedback on the HDWG’s Asks. This was the first of several roundtables being planned to focus on different sections of the HDWG Asks. The particular focus of this meeting was on the economic Ask. Robert J. Brent, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Janis Barry, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, and H. Shellae Versey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology were the participating faculty members. We are excited to continue working with Fordham University and their faculty and staff on the HDWG Asks and creating opportunities for students to engage with the community on the #Not62 campaign. Thank you to Fordham’s Keisha Shay, Ph.D., Associate Director of Academic Development and Administration and Surey Miranda-Alarcon, Director of Campus and Community Engagement, who are helping to organize the roundtables.</p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-78928856369964516912023-06-30T15:27:00.006-04:002023-07-12T15:37:15.586-04:00Bronx Health REACH Meets with Bronx Borough President<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72kcD_BzhZKOOjtPJBtuK4RDk1bJY7D0HmiZBM38V_W5MNuQbpD4lD8TqMBZ4X_ftmksis-iKh-U-O5tSLDymGyO3lnmNUnuaHjhhi35sy6xGtokDUrJEJimquOwkkeyD86TMP_6tR6prbVnTVPIxnnAiWRPGxpvFpmByepVISMDkbVikreq3_UMqQucl/s650/gibsonmeetmarch2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="650" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72kcD_BzhZKOOjtPJBtuK4RDk1bJY7D0HmiZBM38V_W5MNuQbpD4lD8TqMBZ4X_ftmksis-iKh-U-O5tSLDymGyO3lnmNUnuaHjhhi35sy6xGtokDUrJEJimquOwkkeyD86TMP_6tR6prbVnTVPIxnnAiWRPGxpvFpmByepVISMDkbVikreq3_UMqQucl/s320/gibsonmeetmarch2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Members of the Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup (HDWG) met with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.</i></p><div><div><br /></div><div><div>In March, members of the Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup (HDWG) met with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and Dr. Nancy Kheck, Director of Health and Human Services for the Bronx Borough President’s Office. The meeting was held to discuss the findings of the 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings report and the policy Asks of the HDWG. </div><div><br /></div><div>In January, during her State of the Bronx address, the Borough President indicated that improving the health of the Bronx was a priority. At the meeting with her, the group discussed with her how the recently announced work of her office fits into these Asks. A follow up meeting will be scheduled with the Borough President in the upcoming months.</div></div></div><div><br /></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-80423426315422275942023-06-30T15:19:00.004-04:002023-07-12T15:23:16.991-04:00#NOT62: The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx. Coalition of Bronx Organizations Continues It's Mission of Advocating for the Health of The Bronx Despite Long Standing Ranking as the Unhealthiest County in NY State<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxRr7o_KuTcV1aJCsz8WQRoCRwttrpl1nIJjHWJorjSdaze2zjB2Rc4yFBAu-abby0rolzEjLbyUdelKokMJs3eB9M8kzquB_rYb1i7WSz52FfgkHNRoI-kXJZrkwFSvCT3EVkEzrhrDS2j6f48Lfoauf3Uy2z3U3EioH1gEmnN06x4oC5gvqUjlvzldj/s650/not62rallyriverdalepressresize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="650" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxRr7o_KuTcV1aJCsz8WQRoCRwttrpl1nIJjHWJorjSdaze2zjB2Rc4yFBAu-abby0rolzEjLbyUdelKokMJs3eB9M8kzquB_rYb1i7WSz52FfgkHNRoI-kXJZrkwFSvCT3EVkEzrhrDS2j6f48Lfoauf3Uy2z3U3EioH1gEmnN06x4oC5gvqUjlvzldj/s320/not62rallyriverdalepressresize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Members of the Bronx Health REACH Health Disparities Workgroup at our last in person rally before the COVID pandemic shut down holding a #Not62 rally in December 2019.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released its <a href="https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/reports/2023-county-health-rankings-national-findings-report" target="_blank">2023 County Health Rankings Report</a> earlier this year, and we saw that some of the positive changes that happened from 2010 to 2020, namely, improvement in the quality of life and health behavior of residents have been reversed. Especially concerning is the noted worsening food environment (6.8% compared to 7.6% in 2022), food insecurity (20% compared to 16% in 2022) and an increase in children poverty (34% compared to 31% in 2022).</p><p>Earlier this month at our quarterly Coalition meeting, Bronx Health REACH welcomed researchers from the University of Wisconsin who are responsible for determining the county health rankings. They discussed the findings for the Bronx, to help us better understand why we continue to rank last and to offer some insight in what we should be addressing to improve our ranking.</p><p>Since 2015, The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Montefiore Health Systems, Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center, the Office of the Bronx Borough President and others have served as the backbone organizations for a growing coalition of partners that are a part of #Not62: The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx. This #Not62 Steering Committee is dedicated to improving health outcomes and addressing longstanding health inequities in the borough. The Campaign, leveraging the power of community partnerships, contributed to improved health outcomes between 2016-2021, demonstrating the value of community investments to foster a healthier Bronx.</p><p>The #Not62 Coalition partners will be expanding to a larger group bringing in more experts from the Bronx as they move forward with a new five-year plan that provides a roadmap for recovery to help Bronx residents respond to the challenges, traumas, and health burdens they continue to face. The Campaign will tackle these challenges by connecting people, resources, and systems with public health partners to foster community wellbeing and a future Bronx no longer ranked last.</p><div><br /></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-37288382728236776152023-06-30T15:16:00.014-04:002023-07-12T15:19:08.685-04:00Vaccinate for Family Ad Campaign Launches in The Bronx<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjINNuki9_rS43sz6QvALXrcu-TXOdt2hf7YoiUbuf84L1KY3UMVSUbruLAqf0bW1XY9hTURUnmEZYcc4YzdieNREhmILUo5JvFWWU-ZGY8UPhtekWaYBl3TtnHF6NNL5mYNC-jjHg0ZEv9nCrYa9lq_SNk5MGUnwD7JrEpYJSsAR15DO8G_xhwKCdXFRE/s650/HRSAads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="650" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjINNuki9_rS43sz6QvALXrcu-TXOdt2hf7YoiUbuf84L1KY3UMVSUbruLAqf0bW1XY9hTURUnmEZYcc4YzdieNREhmILUo5JvFWWU-ZGY8UPhtekWaYBl3TtnHF6NNL5mYNC-jjHg0ZEv9nCrYa9lq_SNk5MGUnwD7JrEpYJSsAR15DO8G_xhwKCdXFRE/s320/HRSAads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>The Vaccinate for Family ad campaign can be seen at various subway platforms and LinkNYC kiosks in the Bronx.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">The next time you are walking in the Bronx, or waiting on the subway platform in the Bronx, be sure to check out our Vaccinate for Family ad campaign promoting COVID-19 vaccination. Working with media agency CauseLab, with funding provided by Health Resources and Administration's (HRSA) Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination program, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, ads in English and Spanish are running on urban panels (aboveground subway signs), along with signs on the platforms and on LinkNYC kiosks.</p><p>The ads which feature six Bronx residents have as the themes: One Brother to Another, One Mother to Another, One Father to Another and are focused on encouraging parents of children age 12 and under to get them vaccinated, as well as pregnant women. If you see any of our advertisements, take a photo and post on social media with the hashtag #vaccinateforfamily.</p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-61266787844068351082023-06-30T15:08:00.026-04:002023-07-12T15:14:14.212-04:00‘Men, Let’s Talk’ - A Men's Only Health Forum for Men of Color in the Bronx<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU2IgPrtqVMKiq3SZN0JllvWPmmxK31Y7wOvywrDKDDp7sMORenqSC9hse4ON8TVTUUuwA4oBw2R8CJ-qWzi2Yhq02G4gg72yPhUtCyY-FyX6ldwjyqkOnz7OavCRZvu4-AGRzPWmsNnBo5sioP87gHDRJ0foxrutUk7Dx2E9UvJhTrY4gjTZuM5Z4Hcp/s600/mmwioct8eblast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU2IgPrtqVMKiq3SZN0JllvWPmmxK31Y7wOvywrDKDDp7sMORenqSC9hse4ON8TVTUUuwA4oBw2R8CJ-qWzi2Yhq02G4gg72yPhUtCyY-FyX6ldwjyqkOnz7OavCRZvu4-AGRzPWmsNnBo5sioP87gHDRJ0foxrutUk7Dx2E9UvJhTrY4gjTZuM5Z4Hcp/s320/mmwioct8eblast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Debut of Bronx Health REACH's 'Men, Let's Talk' series at the Institute for Family Health's Stevenson Health center. </i></p><p><br /></p><p>June is Men’s Mental Health Month but for Bronx Health REACH each of the past 8 months we have been holding conversations with men in the Bronx on their mental health and wellbeing. It has been well reported how much the COVID pandemic inflicted mental stresses on everyone. This was brought home strongly to Bronx Health REACH by many leaders of our faith based outreach initiative and our community outreach team. We heard from many that they were especially concerned about the mental wellbeing of the men in our community.</p><p>To address these concerns, Bronx Health REACH created, ‘Men, Let's Talk’, an ongoing series of monthly Saturday morning meetings that were part of the Minority Mens Wellness Initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health. These meetings provide a forum where men discuss with each other and with experts, issues that impact their mental health and wellbeing. The first meeting was held in person in October 2022 at the Stevenson Family Health Center, but with the increase, at that time, of COVID cases, subsequent meetings have been held virtually. Participants have shared that the forum has been a safe space to discuss topics that they previously were unable or uncomfortable discussing and sharing.</p><p>To date 157 men have attended the monthly Men, Let's Talk meetings. If you are interested in participating, please contact: Joseph Ellis (917)293-4247; Cheikhou Oumar Ann at (929)215-9506; Felix Rojas (Spanish speaker), at (917)650-0987.</p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-42130275893412463812022-08-31T12:09:00.003-04:002022-08-31T12:09:21.965-04:00Expanding Breastfeeding Friendly Sites in the Bronx<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT4D3O7T3NTcxsoqQkBmZzOPfm5aP-WJe1IWAoZjSao58HasUxfIrYcRkIb52gDe_-pJwGmnQW-83SD1AsbDpfka4rmFfSO_qiMBsXzlkpYUqbV85R1vuV7eCNOOhDw0M4oCyCO3tWr9z1EO2d4m1nPgb08zqDA59duUU25abJRP_i0pMJvxK1D2M-A/s680/breastfeedimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="680" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT4D3O7T3NTcxsoqQkBmZzOPfm5aP-WJe1IWAoZjSao58HasUxfIrYcRkIb52gDe_-pJwGmnQW-83SD1AsbDpfka4rmFfSO_qiMBsXzlkpYUqbV85R1vuV7eCNOOhDw0M4oCyCO3tWr9z1EO2d4m1nPgb08zqDA59duUU25abJRP_i0pMJvxK1D2M-A/s320/breastfeedimage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;">Image: NYCDOHMH</div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><i>This post was written by Immaculada Moronta.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Agatha House Foundation is a food pantry serving more than 1,000 families each month in the north-west Bronx, the organization opened their doors in January 2014, and have dedicated themselves to feeding low-income individuals and offer childcare services. Their goal is to provide for the basic needs of thousands of people in their communities. In December 2021, Bronx Health REACH connected with Agatha House Foundation in the hopes of working with them in our Healthy Pantry Initiative which focuses on the nuts and bolts of running a food pantry and the procurement of healthier food to create a healthier food environment. During our initial site visit with Jeannette Joseph, CEO and Founder of Agatha Joseph Foundation, I noticed that they had a daycare. My first question to Ms. Joseph was, do you have any breastfeeding mothers? Ms. Joseph nodded, explaining that aside from the daycare they had staff who also breastfed. As a result of this added information, we started to plan how the daycare at the Agatha House Foundation could become a more breastfeeding friendly site.</p><p>After my initial visit, our team met with the staff to begin planning the next steps to improve the site for breastfeeding moms. The site completed an initial survey to better understand the state of their support for breastfeeding. This past March, Ms. Joseph and two other staff members who help run the daycare center participated in a virtual training led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine on the positive outcomes of being a breastfeeding friendly site, familiarizing them with the pertinent <a href="https://www.ny.gov/programs/pregnant-or-breastfeeding-workplace-know-your-rights">New York State law on breastfeeding in the workplace</a>, and what’s needed to create a breastfeeding friendly workplace. The training highlighting the benefits to employers of promoting breastfeeding at the worksite pointed to lower employee health care costs due to healthier moms and babies, reduced rates of absenteeism and lower turnover rates for the breastfeeding staff, and the relatively simple low cost accommodations needed to offer a private and quiet space for staff or the public to use.</p><p>To provide for an appropriate breastfeeding space our team helped the daycare identify what they needed including adding pillows, a comfortable chair, and a room divider if private office space is not available. The site currently has designated and outfitted a breastfeeding friendly space. We look forward to seeing how the breastfeeding mothers continue to use the space.</p><div><br /></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-17980324740027212082022-06-01T17:40:00.002-04:002022-12-23T16:19:53.147-05:008 Participants Complete Program led by BCA Global to bring More Sustainable Food Demo Programming to Their Food Pantries<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-fKDME4Xe9ZvdQ0kZtnkSAhox402Q_gaxEwDKsKWC94orGFsrs8eQW9nqxNvZ0saUEyU2t8ZHiQO8VwAz-7qAs22SHp7ELl9nmRuU53wHETprCs1d6Te4c5mLpaq-iGbVz2c33hydLpqRsl0WFW63mxS9MUSAL4uADLyRYSB90Gx1CI6H0CLUJZ9/s1298/BCAGlobal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1298" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-fKDME4Xe9ZvdQ0kZtnkSAhox402Q_gaxEwDKsKWC94orGFsrs8eQW9nqxNvZ0saUEyU2t8ZHiQO8VwAz-7qAs22SHp7ELl9nmRuU53wHETprCs1d6Te4c5mLpaq-iGbVz2c33hydLpqRsl0WFW63mxS9MUSAL4uADLyRYSB90Gx1CI6H0CLUJZ9/w451-h217/BCAGlobal.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>2022 Food Demo Training Workshop Graduates with Chef Alex Askew.</i></div><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>This article was written by Bronx Health REACH partner BCAGlobal</i>.</p><p>In April 2022, BCAGlobal completed its hybrid Food Demonstration Workshop training program, elevating eight Food Security Leaders’ ability to prepare donated healthy food and developed the skills to create food demonstrations to be shared with their communities. </p><p>We cannot overstate that the success of our program was due in part to our collaboration with The Institute for Family Health and the Bronx Health REACH Coalition, which has worked tirelessly to address health disparities in The Bronx. Since 2009, The Bronx has ranked as having the lowest health index of any of the other 61 counties in New York State. The Institute for Family Health has been a founding member of the #Not62 campaign and has helped lead this grassroots movement in the Bronx by addressing health inequalities, promoting health education, and advancing systems and policy change that center on health and wellness. </p><p>Food banks throughout the Bronx are doing the difficult work of sourcing food to provide for their communities. Our Food Demonstration Workshop targeted the need to train food-system leaders on how to prepare these foods in a nutritious way and how to present these recipes to their wider community. Leaders in our program learned how to prepare and perform demonstrations on how vegetables such as butternut squash, asparagus, and kale can be prepared in a nutritious and satisfying way. We believe engaging communication and education are essential to getting these nutritious foods integrated into people’s daily lives. </p><p>Graduates of our program took food items they often see donated to their organizations and created healthy and accessible recipes that community members can use to feed their families. We are inspired by all the recipes that were created, like the Southwest Collard Green Wrap, Curried Chickpea and Avocado Salad, and the Fresh Salsa Crudo over Toasted Italian Bread. The workshop’s mission was to encourage participants to present their recipe demonstrations with love, excitement, and encouragement to try something new and healthy. </p><p>We are incredibly grateful to have worked with all of the participants of the Food Demonstration Workshop and we are looking forward to following their continued journey of supporting the health and wellness of their communities. Workshop graduate Stephanie Cataquet, Assistant Director of Community Health Initiatives at New Settlement shared with us her main takeaway from the course, “Food can lead to community connections. Breaking bread over a good healthy meal is a great way to grow community and grow food independence.” </p><p>A special thank you to our Food Demonstration Workshop Graduates: Mary Ikpali from RCCG Chapel of Restoration, Henrietta Osagie from RCCG Chapel of The Great Restorer, Gladys Roman from Manna of Life Ministries, Kassandra Campbell from Jamaica Benevolent Arm & Cultural Center, Jewel Webber from Be Soaked in Prayer, Stephanie Cataquet from New Settlement Community Center, Iraida De Jesus from Jardin de la Familia Community Garden Green Thumb, and Fatima Cabrera from St. Helena Catholic Church. </p><p>A big thank you as well to our partners and collaborators: Lenise Lee-Streeter, The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH especially Kelly Moltzen, Chef Tania Lopez, and Diana Bernal, as well as St. Helena Catholic Church.</p>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115859155981785321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-48811679141698455042022-05-20T17:56:00.000-04:002022-08-10T10:50:30.292-04:00Bronx Health REACH Partners with Corbin Hill Food Project and Mount Sinai Health System to Bring Farm Fresh Produce to Bronx Residents through the Food As Medicine Project<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfjE63iPlSv_zUredU0BEB4EA1XMVq8MGCRe4Ni_P4WVsNZxiSGGbTeodZeuRBhn1sr8tSCQZM9M28dNkm7qXaPOFvG1glE6GhDOFaTxxxgKh821N4cm3ZJ-VFNzD07xhTZCAuIyK-6Q47I7jvS4q3re4w2oSuG5xfmpSgvh8FXf_YRjfMbu6o5j7/s650/foodasmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="650" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfjE63iPlSv_zUredU0BEB4EA1XMVq8MGCRe4Ni_P4WVsNZxiSGGbTeodZeuRBhn1sr8tSCQZM9M28dNkm7qXaPOFvG1glE6GhDOFaTxxxgKh821N4cm3ZJ-VFNzD07xhTZCAuIyK-6Q47I7jvS4q3re4w2oSuG5xfmpSgvh8FXf_YRjfMbu6o5j7/s320/foodasmed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Food as Medicine project (FAM), led by Harlem-based
Corbin Hill Food Project, will measure the impact of a produce prescription
program to reduce food insecurity and improve health. Corbin Hill Food Project,
a BIPOC-led, community-based organization, is the first in New York State to
receive a significant USDA food as medicine grant. In partnership with Mount
Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the
Institute for Family Health's Bronx Health REACH Project, FAM will collect data
on dietary health and behavior and reduction of household food insecurity with
the long term goal to reduce healthcare use and associated costs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Food As Medicine project, supported by a Gus Schumacher
Nutrition Incentive Program, Produce Prescription grant from USDA’s National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), builds upon Corbin Hill Food
Project’s decade of experience bringing farm fresh produce to New York City
residents.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Project Director of Bronx Health REACH Charmaine Ruddock
said, "The Food as Medicine Project recognizes that the more patients hear
from their health providers about the importance of daily eating more fruits
and vegetables, and then have ready access to affordable fruits and vegetables
the likelier they will be to improve their health. As we have done with our
previous initiative, the Vegetable and Fruit Prescription program, partnership
with Corbin Hill Food Project, will allow us to increase the opportunity for
more Bronx residents to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their
everyday meals."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">President and CEO of the Institute for Family Health,
co-founder of Bronx Health REACH, and Chair of the Department of Family
Medicine and Community Health at Icahn Mount Sinai Neil Calman, MD said, “As a
family physician who practiced in the South Bronx for 35 years, I am proud to
participate in this effort to provide healthier food to members of the
community. People want to do what’s best for themselves and their families and
this program will help overcome some of the barriers that stand in their way in
neighborhoods that have been historically neglected.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“We design all aspects of the farm share to be as inclusive
as possible to meet the needs of low-income, BIPOC, and immigrant communities,”
says Dennis Derryck, Co-founder and Co-Executive Director of Corbin Hill Food
Project, “and more critically, we get the buy-in from participants.”
Participants buy-in for $2.50 weekly using either SNAP dollars or cash. For
greater accessibility, FAM will be developing a home delivery model to serve
participants 65 years and older and those who may be unable to travel.
Additionally, the program is exploring options for providing tokens to cover a
portion transportation costs, another barrier to accessing fresh food.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball
said, “Corbin Hill Food Project sets a great example of connecting the dots
between farmers and consumers as they work to bring local, fresh, nutritious
foods to residents in their community. I send my sincere congratulations to our
partners on the Corbin Hill team on receiving this USDA funding, and look
forward to seeing the future of their Food as Medicine project and continued
expansion.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The program expands on prior efforts of partners, Mount
Sinai and the Tisch Illumination Fund, to prescribe food as medicine and pave
the way for larger initiatives that address health disparities linked to
nutrition security and inequitable access to fresh foods. The FAM project will
serve 260 families with bi-monthly produce boxes over 12 months across three
sites in Harlem and the South Bronx.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Food as Medicine project is timely, as New
York State Department of Health is currently soliciting comments for a new
Medicaid 1115 Waiver Demonstration proposal through May 20th, 2022. The
proposal addresses the link between health disparities and systemic health care
delivery issues that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and
requests $13 billion in new Medicaid funding over five years. With social
determinants of health like nutrition insecurity in low-income communities at
the forefront of the 1115 Waiver Demonstration proposal, the FAM project could
serve as a pilot model for future produce prescription programs, especially in
urban settings.</span></p>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115859155981785321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-75257289768997538932022-05-01T10:54:00.001-04:002022-08-10T11:02:04.075-04:00A Women’s Ride Through the Bronx<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFFJd8trIMdo9xD0Tb3EXx1wFN4m5kFZfaDfn3RjB6o-uovbIe6rHe-AE_xPWxg8huNN1IlG09FvcwUyI7rOi6yo73luaQniHArJAs2KEA9Iu0eBJgkL2EfAInjUPSbIOG4bljL6XD1eRjyxpWdXhodD6PMJ9x8WWNZHNAOEZkc43W2C6uijm757I/s740/dianabikeride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFFJd8trIMdo9xD0Tb3EXx1wFN4m5kFZfaDfn3RjB6o-uovbIe6rHe-AE_xPWxg8huNN1IlG09FvcwUyI7rOi6yo73luaQniHArJAs2KEA9Iu0eBJgkL2EfAInjUPSbIOG4bljL6XD1eRjyxpWdXhodD6PMJ9x8WWNZHNAOEZkc43W2C6uijm757I/s320/dianabikeride.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">When
it comes to fitness in our lives, there are structured and unstructured forms
of physical activity. Structured physical activity refers to fitness that is
intentional and planned, such as lifting weights or taking a fitness class.
Unstructured physical activity refers to unplanned activities that we do but
that keep our bodies in motion, such as walking or biking. Our physical
environment is a factor that can influence the amount of fitness we receive,
from access to safety when seeking out physical activity opportunities, and it
affects people differently based on gender.</span></div><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Biking,
whether for recreational purposes or as a form of transportation, is a great
form of unstructured physical activity. During the pandemic, there was an
increase in biking as a form of transportation that avoided crowding and
provided social distancing. “In 2021, in New York City, there was a 147%
increase in women biking compared to 68% increase among men, however, only 33%
of bikers in the city are women. In the Bronx we observe the greatest gender
disparity among people biking to work, where men make up 85% of bike commuters,”
according to Transportation Alternatives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“How can we fix this? One solution is building safe
streets that protect bike riders from cars and trucks. Study after study shows
that safe streets are the number one thing that encourages more women to bike.
In </span><a href="http://go.pardot.com/e/495251/2022-03-31/jjjcgs/634450199?h=Tmkx9yG-Li5whB2TSbebUVEHvkx-lKdESS0Bm3aTNsA" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">NYC 25x25</span></i></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">, we’ve called for building
hundreds of miles of safe, protected bike lanes and car-free open space as ways
to close the gap.”- Transportation Alternatives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
response to this gender disparity among cyclists in New York City,
Transportation Alternatives hosted a Women’s Ride on Saturday, April 2<sup>nd</sup>,
in the Bronx. This free, family-friendly event, was open to everyone regardless
of biking experience.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The 6.2 mile ride began at Joyce
Kilmer Park, East 164<sup>th</sup> Street and Grand Concourse. On that day I
joined the ride along with my sister, cousin, and two friends, and we were
provided bikes and helmets. Led guides, we started our ride at Joyce Kilmer
Park, to Soundview Park, where we looped around to then end our ride at
Starlight Park. This ride was my first time on a bike since 2016 and my first
time using a Citi Bike. While I did struggle going up the hills, riding downhill
made that struggle worth it and I really appreciate the beautiful parks found
within the Bronx. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEgcUlG4aL9Vfi-_4Gk9KbjnaWH2ekR-HI7-usUkoJxZWe_iLn_Jb2voIhoMXB6tme36agnlHckhTn7xDaAsghk-2zL-XyrrTprlorYF8hBpcgWk6pLaN3xXq6IgGiV_EbPAh7eC1LuG1XZk5DOKEhS10bHfBwrNxaVTLrUeJl-VoWHmMG9YsG_c3/s1920/mapdianablog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEgcUlG4aL9Vfi-_4Gk9KbjnaWH2ekR-HI7-usUkoJxZWe_iLn_Jb2voIhoMXB6tme36agnlHckhTn7xDaAsghk-2zL-XyrrTprlorYF8hBpcgWk6pLaN3xXq6IgGiV_EbPAh7eC1LuG1XZk5DOKEhS10bHfBwrNxaVTLrUeJl-VoWHmMG9YsG_c3/s320/mapdianablog.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When
venturing out we were all together as a big group, which attracted the
attention of everyone we passed, who waved at us and smiled at the site of all
the bicyclists. Overall the 6.2 mile ride was not too difficult and it allowed
me to see parks like Soundview and Starlight for the first time, as someone who
isn’t a Bronx native. While we did use the bike paths, they weren’t all
connected, on the streets that didn’t have a bike path there were a lot of
potholes, and on the streets that did have a bike path, there were double
parked cars blocking the path. If it weren’t for the guides, this experience
would not have been as enjoyable. If I were to redo this ride on my own, I
wouldn’t feel as comfortable as I did that day because of the surrounding
traffic and lack of signage directing me to the different parks. While
necessary changes, like additions of bike paths, are being made to promote
physical activity, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">there is still work to be done
to make the necessary infrastructural changes needed to make physical activity
accessible and safe for everyone regardless of gender.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
event was made possible and presented </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">partnership
with </span><a href="https://citibikenyc.com/homepage" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Citi Bike</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="https://council.nyc.gov/district-18/"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">New York
City Council Member Amanda Farías</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="https://council.nyc.gov/caucuses/womens-caucus/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">the New York City Council’s Women’s Caucus</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and </span><a href="http://www.transalt.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Transportation Alternatives</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and co-sponsored by Bronx Health REACH. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115859155981785321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-9781912255583054632022-04-01T11:06:00.001-04:002022-08-10T11:11:07.285-04:00Continuing the Work on Reducing Health Disparities through Fresh Food<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1YBYThNog_oTIQz8jOrQ7B5zR2detyhacPYqkxksydYmWHh7pbIrzR19Yx3rpzAmC-02rjl1Riyamj4hcC8gniNhQv35hTmoF7iswz9Q2lWrJR2M1Ewcxu87OS_yTyoYfNFPRGife_qYmYvOjTw2aF4CDfebAorN9KMP6knS7ciY6kPmWzNAYEMm/s3641/crop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="3641" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1YBYThNog_oTIQz8jOrQ7B5zR2detyhacPYqkxksydYmWHh7pbIrzR19Yx3rpzAmC-02rjl1Riyamj4hcC8gniNhQv35hTmoF7iswz9Q2lWrJR2M1Ewcxu87OS_yTyoYfNFPRGife_qYmYvOjTw2aF4CDfebAorN9KMP6knS7ciY6kPmWzNAYEMm/s320/crop1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Corbin Hill Staff Member Interacting with a Farm Share Customer</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>As the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coordinator for Bronx Health REACH, I get a firsthand perspective on how biological, social, and ecological factors can negatively affect a community’s quality of life. Such issues, which have existed in communities throughout the nation including in neighborhoods like the Bronx, New York for many years, have led to devastating health disparities for minority groups . It is up to various community groups and organizations to make a difference in order to improve the health of these individuals. At Bronx Health REACH, we are determined to eliminate health disparities throughout the Bronx.</p><p><br /></p><p>National Minority Health Month, April, created by the Office of Minority Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is meant to be a high visibility, health promotion and disease prevention campaign specifically aimed at minority communities. This year, the focus was on highlighting the important role individuals and organizations play in helping to reduce health disparities and improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities.</p><p><br /></p><p>At Bronx Health REACH, there are two initiatives associated with this year’s Minority Health Month focus. Every other week, in conjunction with the staff of the Corbin Hill Food Project, we have a farm share distribution at NYC Health + Hospital Gotham Health Morrisania site at 1220 Gerard Avenue in the Bronx. Families who live in the neighborhood are able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at a reduced cost. Along with the fresh produce, participants are given recipes that enable them to learn different ways to prepare the fruits and vegetables they receive. Our hope is that they incorporate these fruits and vegetables regularly into their diets leading to better health outcomes and ultimately helping to reduce health disparities.</p><p><br /></p><p> Another initiative being planned is a Food as Medicine program in conjunction with the Corbin Hill Food Project and our Institute for Family Health centers. This program is directed at racial and ethnic minorities who are patients at our health centers. Those patients that are screened to be food insecure by their providers will be asked to participate in the program. Participants will receive a biweekly bag of local, high quality produce at low cost over a six-month period. Their eating habits will be documented at the beginning and end of the program. Our hope is that these individuals incorporate fresh, healthy produce into their diets to improve their health and ultimately their overall health outcomes.</p><p><br /></p><p>The basis of both of these initiatives is to increase access to healthy food in those communities overburdened by health disparities with the hope that they become less food insecure and have better health outcomes. </p><div><br /></div>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115859155981785321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-91644036004901299322021-10-13T11:24:00.004-04:002021-10-13T11:24:50.242-04:00Bronx Health REACH Test & Trace Team (T2) Continue with COVID-19 Outreach<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkW4npVYapFl5J7fNC2k6GTrsy-7Mv_x5vjLPvfSQo4R5O2xrOmgjMyR6G9f6eIdfb80qI-n-8PyGSJAO3KJKWyG9Ja93NN4W-VYYpT3PzVw-DbruIETHf83r8ue_E2NMR6Lp1rCXAO92/s600/t2teammay2021Resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkW4npVYapFl5J7fNC2k6GTrsy-7Mv_x5vjLPvfSQo4R5O2xrOmgjMyR6G9f6eIdfb80qI-n-8PyGSJAO3KJKWyG9Ja93NN4W-VYYpT3PzVw-DbruIETHf83r8ue_E2NMR6Lp1rCXAO92/s320/t2teammay2021Resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>T2 team members Cheikhou Ann and Felix Rojas (far right above) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. at a COVID-19 outreach event in the Bronx. </i></p><p>Bronx Health REACH's Test & Trace (T2) team has been distributing signage and information about where people can go to get a COVID-19 test and/or COVID-19 vaccination. The Bronx Health REACH T2 team has distributed over 96,000 masks and hundreds of posters and palm cards to over 400 Bronx churches, mosques, schools, bodegas, barber shops, supermarkets, nail salons and other Bronx businesses. COVID-19 webinars have been held with schools and community organizations.</p><p>To date, the Bronx Health REACH T2 team has assisted in getting over 5,000 vaccinations administered through community vaccine events in the Bronx. There were events held at the Institute for Family Health's Stevenson Family Health Center, the Dominican Food Festival, Darou Salam Islamic center, University Spanish Seventh Day Adventist and Fatima African Braiding Salon to name a few. These amazing efforts have been accomplished through the T2 outreach team consisting of Cheikhou Ann, Joseph Ellis and Felix Rojas and the recent team additions Barbara Toledano and Abigail Baah. </p><p>This success has happened in the face of the challenges of misinformation and disinformation as shared here by one of our outreach team members. "We were doing an outreach event in Castle Hill. There was a mobile vaccination bus and the Mayor was there as well," says Cheikhou Oumar Ann, T2 team member. "As I was doing outreach two women came up to me and asked, 'Why are you bringing this (the COVID-19 vaccination) here? They pulled the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and now you are bringing it to our neighborhood to kill the Black people.'</p><p>As a trusted messenger within the Latino community, community outreach worker and T2 team member Felix Rojas provides support for those he has scheduled for COVID-19 vaccinations. "I have a responsibility to those I refer to vaccination sites, so I provide my phone number, and after someone gets their vaccine I make sure they are okay."</p><p>Even though there can be some challenges, many organizations and community members appreciate the work our T2 team has done. Here was an email T2 team member Joseph Ellis received from a Bronx Day care after delivering palm cards and masks: "This is a friendly thank you for the supplies you have provided us today. We thought it was a very kind gesture that will help the community a lot, especially now in pandemic time."</p><p>Focus groups and street surveys have been held to identify concerns community members may have in getting the COVID-10 vaccine. A Vaccine Community Advisory Board created in May, has been providing strategic guidance and direction on outreach to the unvaccinated. Training and support for ten community partners to increase our community outreach and engagement is underway.</p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-25097728573195618382021-10-07T11:18:00.001-04:002021-10-13T11:21:34.353-04:00Bronx Health REACH and Others Call for Expansion of the Healthy Bodega Program<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb48_qEBImY35y5lNkJ724BIlYaoHkFHjtxOZbor12QwZxBWZTKnf_298kLa02VcmcyGkKlq5TTg14PMl2tJREHF7yBigDZ7EtVu9ljD3mVJ-YTpCwnTQBiGzXVEATpcS77h-LJR9376Jb/s600/crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb48_qEBImY35y5lNkJ724BIlYaoHkFHjtxOZbor12QwZxBWZTKnf_298kLa02VcmcyGkKlq5TTg14PMl2tJREHF7yBigDZ7EtVu9ljD3mVJ-YTpCwnTQBiGzXVEATpcS77h-LJR9376Jb/s320/crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson and others call for an expansion of the Healthy Bodega Program.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p>We were encouraged when in April, Bronx Health REACH, BronxWorks, the Bodega and Small Business Group joined Councilmember Vanessa L. Gibson calling for an expansion of the Healthy Bodega program. This call came on the heels of an understanding at the time that proposed legislation was being drafted that would create a license for bodega owners who attended trainings on best practices to become a H.E.R.O. bodega (healthy, educated, responsive, and operational). </p><p>We have subsequently learned that the proposed legislation has hit a roadblock and there is currently no sponsor nor continued drafting. Disappointed? We certainly are. Have we given up hope? Absolutely not. We will continue to work with the Bodega and Small Business Group, food advocates and our legislators to create a business environment that will support the selling of healthy foods in bodegas in the Bronx and across the city. </p><p>In 2015 Bronx Health REACH partnered with the Bodega Association of the United States (renamed the Bodega and Small Business Group) and its ally, the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Inc. (HITN) to launch its revamped Healthy Bodega Initiative which had been initially created more than a decade before to address the obesity epidemic plaguing the Bronx’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.</p><p>The revised Healthy Bodega Initiative provided bodega owners with the tools and information to make offering healthy food and drink options a successful business in the high need, low income Bronx communities. 56 partner bodegas participated in the initiative.</p><p>“There’s no denying that there’s a strong correlation between the lack of access to healthy foods and increased health risks in our community,” said Councilmember Gibson. “I fully support an expansion of this program because it empowers and enriches our bodega owners, many of who are immigrant entrepreneurs who have disproportionately been affected by COVID-19.”</p><p>“We need our leaders to come together to support this initiative and help our community,” said Frank Marte of the Bodega and Small Business Group. “One day we can say the Bronx is one of the healthiest counties in New York State.”</p><p>Other organizations supporting the Bodega program expansion include Bronx Community Health Network, #Not62 Steering Committee, the New York State Hispanic Coalition, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Hispanic Coalition Chamber of Commerce.</p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-55383748417489888092021-09-30T11:15:00.011-04:002021-10-13T11:17:57.047-04:00Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MgxcOsLCJJ4ExHAbaJhYaQk90O6fofgRJHgBdiJ2ChzUcXlKSWPU8DbslsX8I-ISL53abPp8HmVkxD0jfcM0XVkriPNKNnaUIJj5sMgkDMvun5dB7pPSTffkqhNuG5TwvqpV2Bc4yWra/s600/mindfuleatingeblastresize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MgxcOsLCJJ4ExHAbaJhYaQk90O6fofgRJHgBdiJ2ChzUcXlKSWPU8DbslsX8I-ISL53abPp8HmVkxD0jfcM0XVkriPNKNnaUIJj5sMgkDMvun5dB7pPSTffkqhNuG5TwvqpV2Bc4yWra/s320/mindfuleatingeblastresize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Chef Alex Askew leads a cooking session for Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></p><p>Members of Bronx Health REACH’s Faith-Based Outreach Initiative: St. Helena Catholic Church, Word of Life International, Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Church of God of Prophecy, and Sacred Heart Church have been participating in the first cohort of Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community, a program put together in partnership with BCA Global and the Interfaith Public Health Network. The program is based on the book Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community, a collection of essays compiled by BCA Global President and CEO, Alex Askew.</p><p>The program began with an interview Chef Alex conducted with Fr. David Powers from St. Helena Catholic Church about what it means to build the Beloved Community through mindful eating, and why it’s particularly important for lifting the Bronx out of its rank of 62/62 in health factors and health outcomes in New York State. The nine-session program includes skill-building in mindful eating, and cooking demonstrations by Chef Alex Askew featuring healthy ways of preparing traditional favorites (including power shakes, turkey lasagna, black beans and corn, and desserts).</p><p>Also included is the opportunity for personal reflection to enable healthier lives, social change and a deeper connection between body, mind, and spirit. The fourth session delved into the history of sugar, going back to its origins in sugar plantations, colonization and the slave trade. After learning about these ugly historical origins to our current food system, in the remaining sessions participants will learn ways to become involved in building the Beloved Community envisioned by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through creating a food system that is rooted in health and food justice. </p><div><br /></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-72322250690193364202021-09-16T11:10:00.001-04:002021-10-13T11:14:01.145-04:00Webinar Marks The Fifth Anniversary of #Not62<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe1IveRMUEktZPJs3dFd84bMCc7Jsif2nhmMgMx_jSQLltKgRT-3PLD1FigrYR-m00c6THJfvve9jRvc26ZQGpQ1WFvNxhnAvHvFYVPSpTJppK4_yapUkbDuu95-h4ScchGv1sj_UCL82/s600/AprilNot62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe1IveRMUEktZPJs3dFd84bMCc7Jsif2nhmMgMx_jSQLltKgRT-3PLD1FigrYR-m00c6THJfvve9jRvc26ZQGpQ1WFvNxhnAvHvFYVPSpTJppK4_yapUkbDuu95-h4ScchGv1sj_UCL82/s320/AprilNot62.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A webinar was held to mark the fifth anniversary of #Not62: The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2020 would have marked the 5th anniversary of #Not62: The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx, but like everything else, COVID-19 shut down the plans to mark this milestone. This Spring we were finally able to mark this occasion with an exciting virtual gathering to celebrate this milestone. As we gathered, Bronx elected officials, community based organizations, residents, farmers, community organizers, food justice advocates, and health care organizations among others, we took a look back at what we had done over the past 5 years. When the first County Health Rankings Report was released on February 17, 2010, the Bronx was ranked as the unhealthiest county of the 62 counties in New York State. Shortly after, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. launched the Bronx Change Attitudes Now (CAN) Health Initiative. Other community based organizations came together to expand efforts to help the entire borough, and in 2015 the Bronx was awarded the Culture of Health prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Winning the Culture of Health prize was a big deal for us," says Borough President Diaz Jr. "Since then we have been working and making progress, offering more Health Bucks at more farmers markets in the Bronx." Oliva Little from RWJF shared, "The Bronx is one of the largest communities to receive the Prize. We were impressed with the New Settlement campus and how elected officials and community organizations worked together to create green spaces, access to the waterfront, and using data as a call to action." Senator Gustavo Rivera and Dr. Jane Bedell spoke about their first meeting and how Senator Rivera was unable to find a healthy snack at a local bodega. "We should be angry that we are the unhealthiest county, and I would like the Bronx to be #1, not #62," said Dr. Bedell.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bronx Health REACH's Mickelder Kercy presented key elements of the Bronx's ranking in the 2021 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Report. He pointed to the improvements of the ranking of Healthy Behaviors, going from 52 to 28 and improvement in Life Expectancy, from 58 to 39. And, more importantly, we looked forward to the future. Dr. Nick Freudenberg, Distinguished Professor of Public Health at CUNY and Director of CUNY's Urban Food Policy Institute and the keynote speaker, asked the virtual audience to time travel with him to the Bronx in 2026 where diabetes and obesity rates were significantly reduced and more Bronx residents were living healthier lives. He implored us to believe that strategies in place now and strategies we can design and implement for the future can result in a new, healthier, no longer ranked 62, Bronx.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz, Jr. seemingly also envisioned that 2026 Bronx because he remarked, "Like the Little Engine, we can make a difference and be a model for other cities in improving their health."</div></div></div><p><br /></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-36005118596468102972021-09-09T11:06:00.001-04:002021-10-13T11:08:22.399-04:00Street Renaming in Honor of Pastor Robert Lewis Foley, Sr.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLAKnTzzB6Hs_p2J-GPmMQOSNkuFmEYtsMXAk9T6lkg4IGOwZIDfGRivG35vWtNXdQkZj5p0eSpVCz4OdCBYxGKSULmvM__LErhnleEVOyUheWG4enVdreq_R5-QeWF2uCzmeo-DeGYE4/s600/pastorfoleystreeteblast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLAKnTzzB6Hs_p2J-GPmMQOSNkuFmEYtsMXAk9T6lkg4IGOwZIDfGRivG35vWtNXdQkZj5p0eSpVCz4OdCBYxGKSULmvM__LErhnleEVOyUheWG4enVdreq_R5-QeWF2uCzmeo-DeGYE4/s320/pastorfoleystreeteblast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Grand Avenue and 190th Street in the Bronx has been renamed Pastor Robert Lewis Foley Sr Way.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On July 24 a portion of Grand Avenue near the corner of 190th Street in the Bronx, opposite the Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, was renamed Pastor Robert Lewis Foley, Sr. Way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pastor Robert L. Foley, Sr., D. Min, D.D. Pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus in the Bronx, was a leader of the Bronx Health REACH coalition for almost twenty years, since its start as a community coalition led by the Institute for Family Health with the goal of eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in the South Bronx. It is an honor richly deserved in the memory of a man who also had a vision of a new Bronx and who worked hard to make that vision a reality. This quote of his, which was printed at the bottom of the program, speaks volume of that commitment, “The clearest evidence of the greater love is seen whenever a person is willing to sacrifice their convenience, their comfort, and their own security for the well-being of another person.” </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Maxine Golub, Senior Vice President, Planning and Development for the Institute for Family Health (IFH) represented IFH and Bronx Health REACH at the street co-naming event dedicated in his memory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Below are Maxine's remarks: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">Good morning. Let me start by saying that my colleagues Charmaine Ruddock and Neil Calman were both so sorry that they couldn’t be here today. I know I speak for both of them, as well as for my colleagues at the Institute for Family Health and Bronx Health REACH. We were so fortunate to have had Reverend Foley as a leader in our work for almost 20 years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">For those of you who don’t know, in 1999, the Institute received funding from the Centers for Disease Control to lead a project to eliminate racial disparities in health outcomes, with an initial focus on diabetes. We owe Reverend Foley’s involvement to my dear friend Joyce Davis. When I told her about the grant we had just received, and that we wanted to have a faith-based component, she told me we needed to meet with Reverend Foley. I remember it well – breakfast at the Riverdale Diner, telling him what we were thinking, and listening to him tell us what we needed to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">And later on, when we met again, this time with Charmaine, our newly hired director, he pulled out a directory of churches of diverse denominations, ethnic and racial groups, and told us who to invite to the very first meeting, a pastor’s breakfast held at Cosmopolitan. Those discussions changed my life, and I believe, ultimately changed the lives of thousands of Bronx residents, as the pastors took up the call to teach their congregants about nutrition, exercise, disease management, and navigating the health care system. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">Of course, under Reverend Foley’s leadership, in partnership with Pastor Joe Bush and Deacon Davis, Bronx Health REACH ultimately became a grassroots effort committed to demanding a truly equitable health care system. He understood that to achieve that we needed to engage both the community and our elected representatives. Together he and Pastor Bush talked the Pastors into providing buses to carry 500 Bronx residents to Albany to talk about segregated care. He then urged us to file a complaint with the Attorney General, and instigated an effort to have legislation sponsored in the State Assembly. But when Charmaine and I reminisced to plan these remarks, the thing we both remembered most fondly from that very first breakfast was the grits – the best either of us have ever had, before or since!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">Over the years, Reverend Foley participated in numerous committees and events, always lending his unique perspective on economic and political realities mixed with history and faith. As far back as 2003, in a video that we made called Voices of Health Equality, he spoke about the browning of America and the impact on white majority culture. He gave our work a historical context, naming the movement to eliminate racial disparities in health the “civil rights movement” of our time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">Reverend Foley remained committed to the work of Bronx Health REACH from the day we met to his untimely death. He never said no when we asked him to participate in a meeting or a panel, and he often leveraged his personal, political and professional connections to support our work. He invited, then challenged and cajoled others to become actively involved, reminding his colleagues that efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities were long overdue, and that resources provided by grant funding could disappear at any time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic;">We were so lucky to have Reverend Foley in our corner for as long as we did. His words and actions changed our lives, and the lives of countless others, and we miss him dearly. We are so proud to have shared in his work and now, the dedication of this street in his name.</div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-54319010372292682662021-09-01T10:59:00.001-04:002021-10-13T11:02:30.811-04:00WNBC Covers Bronx Health REACH Test and Trace team work in the Bronx<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLLgyQFQAIFp3uMKYk6VD-gi2O5wAbbnp8sdwaX2r8XRr5xfyWjAprgSZWGDOwkpO7IOkiydj3OLQ7j7waZ4DSEhuTRhdmdEWv24CVZcGB6QHaed9KRwA1BpGWghO6tG9wtgK3skCSvLb/s600/FelixWNBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLLgyQFQAIFp3uMKYk6VD-gi2O5wAbbnp8sdwaX2r8XRr5xfyWjAprgSZWGDOwkpO7IOkiydj3OLQ7j7waZ4DSEhuTRhdmdEWv24CVZcGB6QHaed9KRwA1BpGWghO6tG9wtgK3skCSvLb/s320/FelixWNBC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>WNBC spoke with Bronx Health REACH's Test and Trace Community Health Worker Felix Rojas and the outreach work he is doing distributing signage and information about where people can go to get a COVID-19 test and/or COVID-19 vaccination. The Bronx Health REACH T2 team has distributed over 96,000 masks and hundreds of posters and palm cards to over 400 Bronx churches, mosques, schools, bodegas, barber shops, supermarkets, nail salons and other Bronx businesses. COVID-19 webinars have been held with schools and community organizations.</p><p><a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/our-voices/news-4-latino-vaccine-misinformation/3245975/" target="_blank">Click here to view the story.</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-39541208819194188822021-04-20T10:54:00.001-04:002021-10-13T10:57:16.897-04:00NY1 Coverage of Test and Trace (T2) work in the Bronx<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-a-8GUk0a0RpiiIotajWHOtoG5Em2AufNEk5NMktQPPsVsUpzm-3xkDSvEO1Htqte_v-esbyXFQqei9m1-C9SbG7hmxHhupDvViGUR5M8FQCmltqpwYKdoAc_EnKLSWJmEuEEaoJS2XT/s600/cc62166c-8fdf-4157-9c05-f4b163d019ec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="600" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-a-8GUk0a0RpiiIotajWHOtoG5Em2AufNEk5NMktQPPsVsUpzm-3xkDSvEO1Htqte_v-esbyXFQqei9m1-C9SbG7hmxHhupDvViGUR5M8FQCmltqpwYKdoAc_EnKLSWJmEuEEaoJS2XT/s320/cc62166c-8fdf-4157-9c05-f4b163d019ec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">NY1 did a story about REACH grantee Bronx Health REACH's work in the Bronx as part of the Test & Trace Corps, New York City’s comprehensive effort to test, trace, and treat every case of COVID-19 and schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for Bronx residents. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Corps allows the City to immediately isolate and care for those who test positive for the virus and then rapidly track, assess, and quarantine anyone they may have been infected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Institute for Family Health's Bronx Health REACH is one of 38 community-based organizations (CBOs) that have been selected to distribute signage and information about where people can go to get a COVID-19 test and/or COVID-19 vaccination. As one of the Bronx organizations since August 2020, the Bronx Health REACH T2 team has distributed over 96,000 masks and hundreds of posters, palm cards to over 400 Bronx churches, mosques, schools as well as bodegas, barber shops, supermarkets, nail salons and other Bronx businesses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/coronavirus/2021/04/17/despite-sites-set-up-in-black-and-hispanic-communities--vaccination-rates-fall-short" target="_blank">Click here to view.</a></div></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-40994005006378062082020-11-05T11:46:00.005-05:002020-11-05T11:46:54.421-05:00Bronx Health REACH Welcomes Our New FoodCorps Member<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc46bv1-CrsoL7EV-77EUqA7B0CYHyNRf_fiRLHsZUXZuZ1wB5bGHkkyCeJ06558rLA5VLAQ5_Wi6-SdfW-dkr6PR1-pWXpvdZoFtExLfpyD1LKSQE0QuL-8Yne5mnAfFPvzpu4ysa655/s1080/FB_IMG_1598893823103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc46bv1-CrsoL7EV-77EUqA7B0CYHyNRf_fiRLHsZUXZuZ1wB5bGHkkyCeJ06558rLA5VLAQ5_Wi6-SdfW-dkr6PR1-pWXpvdZoFtExLfpyD1LKSQE0QuL-8Yne5mnAfFPvzpu4ysa655/w400-h400/FB_IMG_1598893823103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Welcome Kadijah Spence, our new FoodCorps member! </i></div><p>We welcome Kadijah Spence, our new FoodCorps member. Kadijah will dedicate a year of service to engaging students and teachers in creating a school wide culture of health through experiential learning. Her education background is in environmental education and environmental studies. Her current research focused on Jewish values within Jewish environmental education curricula and/or programs. During her research, Kadijah connected with Jews of color, queer Jews and female-identifying Jews who are thriving in the environmental field. While connecting with these individuals, she began to comprehend that the overlap of social identities of community members influence the values and concerns within the community. Kadijah looks forward to using this knowledge as a tool to build community, communicate with community members, and fulfill community needs.</p><p>When she’s not researching the environment, she can be found in the outdoors, usually by a body of water. As a New Yorker, the Hudson River and its tributaries teaches her so much and offers her a place to daydream. She looks forward to learning about the strong values that bring the PSX443/The Family School and PS114/Luis Llorens Torres School communities together as well as the social and economic challenges they are working to overcome. Kadijah wants her students to understand the outdoors through hands-on activities and transformative learning discussions. She is proud to continue to serve her community as an educator. </p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-72393338839200336442020-11-02T18:26:00.003-05:002020-11-02T18:26:31.697-05:00Men's Health a Priority for Bronx Health REACH<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uAnnojkqJH6lF7pvyutNPV_mMlb9t-z3huyE9BMaVhnv2Ay7hMNaXzPDlF3S8rmEYBbsYtM3NseU15RA02mP28QNfT57IFXXyHCWx0qjBVGTmOTx4gRVDvfIykJ2dRVghmjW0Z96vtCr/s870/grouppiccrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="870" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uAnnojkqJH6lF7pvyutNPV_mMlb9t-z3huyE9BMaVhnv2Ay7hMNaXzPDlF3S8rmEYBbsYtM3NseU15RA02mP28QNfT57IFXXyHCWx0qjBVGTmOTx4gRVDvfIykJ2dRVghmjW0Z96vtCr/w400-h258/grouppiccrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>In January, a Men's Health Workshop was held at the Institute for Family Health's Stevenson Family Health Center. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><div>The untimely death of actor Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) to colon cancer puts a spotlight on the American Cancer Society point that African Americans are 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from it than other groups (with Black men having the highest incidence). Mr. Boseman’s death at the young age of 43 makes it clear that it is vital that Black men have regular health checkups.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Recognizing the importance of encouraging men to make their health a priority, in January, the first Men’s Health Workshop was held at the Institute for Family Health's Stevenson Family Health Center. Launching such a workshop has been the vision of Bronx Health REACH Community Health Worker Joseph Ellis for some time. "Over the years, many of the men I have spoken with mentioned having struggles with health concerns like diabetes, being overweight, heart disease and being stressed about work and providing for their families. I wanted to do something to address these concerns," said Joseph. "If I could get them all together in a workshop and have their health concerns addressed by a doctor, maybe they would be more receptive to opening up about the challenges they have as men regarding being healthy." Men’s health has also been the concern of Dr. Eric Gayle, Vice President, Medical Services for the Institute for Family Health, who has been a long time doctor to many of the Institute’s Bronx patients.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the workshop, Joseph and Dr. Gayle came up with several topics that encouraged an open discussion between the men attending. Attendees asked about diabetes, family history, discussing health concerns with your doctor, sexual health, prostate growth and cancer and more. The interaction between the men and Dr. Gayle was dynamic. The questions just kept on coming. The workshop hit home for the men and they were glad to have been given this forum to voice their health issues and concerns in the company of other men. "We had accomplished what we set out to do, which was to have a forum where men can have an open discussion about their health," said Dr. Gayle.</div><div><br /></div><div>COVID-19 halted the holding of these Men’s Health Workshops. We hope to resume them as soon as it is safe to hold in person gatherings.</div></div>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216116401057964160.post-91685605254795480462020-11-02T18:23:00.002-05:002020-11-02T18:23:24.288-05:00Kelly Moltzen Recognized as One of NYC Food Policy Center's 40 Under 40<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kT6v4gLskYGPGdQJ7vIZhzBC2Gcc-RGPnHMVfoi8JbRGJipJXWMApRMr9_2LOtmQ234lyYNoqj9wv1cn7SjRAFX8sSFVVEDY_7kHwN2zZXx9YitsNYIv1DZn0QgmtCeHAIxpXb5nm3Dt/s412/kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kT6v4gLskYGPGdQJ7vIZhzBC2Gcc-RGPnHMVfoi8JbRGJipJXWMApRMr9_2LOtmQ234lyYNoqj9wv1cn7SjRAFX8sSFVVEDY_7kHwN2zZXx9YitsNYIv1DZn0QgmtCeHAIxpXb5nm3Dt/s320/kelly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program at Bronx Health REACH, has been recognized by Hunter College's New York City Food Policy Center's as one of 40 individuals under 40 years old who are working to transform the food system.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bronx Health REACH's Kelly Moltzen was recognized by <a href="https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/40-under-40/" target="_blank">Hunter College's New York City Food Policy Center as one of the 2020 class of 40 individuals under 40 years old</a> who are working to transform the food system. The Center’s honorees include policymakers, educators, community advocates, farmers and innovators who are making significant strides to create healthier, more sustainable food environments and to use food to promote community and economic development. Kelly is the Program Manager for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program at Bronx Health REACH. Congratulations Kelly! We are honored to have you as part of the Bronx Health REACH team.</div><p></p>Bronx Health REACHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029906228684673773noreply@blogger.com0