Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock Selected as CDC's Office of Minority Health Equity Champion

Congratulations to BHR's Project Director Charmaine Ruddock who was selected as the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity Champion. Leandris C. Liburd, Director, Office of Minority Health & Health Equity (OMHHE) commented, "Our Health Equity Champion is one of the pioneers who has contributed significantly to the implementation of REACH and its branding as CDC’s flagship health disparities program.  We are honored to recognize Charmaine Ruddock who leads the Bronx Health REACH program. I can personally attest to her tireless commitment to reducing racial and ethnic health disparities in the Bronx and her sustained efforts to support REACH nationally."

Great job Charmaine. We are proud of your leadership!

Pastor Robert L. Foley Sr. Receives Award for Commitment to Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

At a ceremony commemorating Pastor Robert L. Foley's many years of service as pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock presented Pastor Foley with an award for his exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to making health equality a reality in the Bronx. Pastor Foley has been a partner with Bronx Health REACH for over seventeen years, starting when the Institute for Family Health launched a community coalition whose goal was the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities in the South Bronx.

Pastor Foley Sr. has been a leader in the Bronx advocating for long term sustainable change to the conditions that contribute to Bronx residents living sicker and dying younger than they should. In addition to his work with Bronx Health REACH he had been a leader in the Black United Leadership in the Bronx (BULB). He also serves as a member of the Community Advisory Board of Montefiore Hospital, the Advisory Board of the Bronx Region of the American Cancer Society, the New York Yankees Community Relations Council, and the Police/Clergy Liaison of the NYPD.

He has been a force to be reckoned with in ensuring that Bronx residents live in a Bronx that allows them to have long, healthy lives.

Read about the Bronx Health REACH profile on Pastor Foley.

REACH Grantees Tell Senator Gillibrand’s Staff about Obamacare’s Other Benefits

On Friday, March 17th the Bronx Health REACH Coalition members from Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Church of God of Prophecy, and Christ the King Catholic Church, and representatives from the two other New York REACH grantees, Bronx Community Health Network and New York University School of Medicine REACH FAR project met and spoke with staff members from Senator Kristen Gillibrand's office to showcase the work REACH grantees are doing in several NYC communities. We felt it important to let the Senator know about the community transformation effect of REACH and that support for it comes out of the Prevention Fund in the ACA.

While the staff of the three REACH grantees spoke well of our respective work, it was the testimonials of the community residents present that illustrated the changes happening in the community. Sandra Jenkins, representing Church of God of Prophecy, shared the experience that at past church events soda would always be one of the first things consumed. But over the past year she has noticed that it’s now water that’s consumed first, leaving the soda virtually untouched. Flora Goldston, representing Walker Memorial Baptist Church, shared that there are now many parishioners at her church who are exercising more, visiting farmers markets, having their blood pressure checked. Bronx Health REACH is grateful to Senator Gillibrand’s staff for spending almost 2 hours with the group, learning of the work being done and its impact on the lives of community residents. We hope that with this information the senator will become a huge champion of REACH in the US Senate.

The Atlantic's CityLab Cautions Cutting REACH Funding Would Harm Organizations such as Bronx Health REACH

Bronx Health REACH was featured in The Atlantic's CityLab online story describing how the impact of cutting funding from the REACH program affects not only the work Bronx Health REACH has done in the Bronx, but the other forty-eight local entities across the U.S. that receive REACH grants and funding from the Center for Disease Control. You can read the article, "The Fight to Close the Racial Health Gap Just Got Harder," here. Photo: Laura Bliss.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Disparities

As those of us who work in public health know, improving health outcomes has a lot to do with improving the environment in which people live, work, and learn. Addressing the social determinants of health, such as education and income, is critical in order to create healthier communities.

At the New York REACH US Health Disparities Summit a few weeks ago, Dr. Robert Fullilove gave a keynote address on the social determinants of health disparities, exhorting the audience to look at a variety of factors when working within communities to improve health. Dr. Fullilove, the Associate Dean for Community and Minority Affairs and a Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, has an extensive background working on minority health issues, especially in urban environments. He spoke about rebuilding communities as a way to improve health and referenced the breakdown of family cohesion in crime-blighted neighborhoods as an impediment to public health.

Though Dr. Fullilove touched upon many social determinants of health, one of his major points was the need to engage formerly incarcerated people, especially men, in the public health field. He examined the health needs of the so-called “million dollar blocks”, single city blocks with residents whom the state spends over a million dollars per year to incarcerate. Dr. Fullilove spoke about efforts to engage these men as partners in improving the health of their community upon their reentry into society. He also addressed the plight of at-risk populations, positing that risky behavior is not always a personal decision, but a factor of the environment. He called on the audience to realize that it was necessary to rebuild communities and the social fabric in order to improve health outcomes. As Dr. Fullilove said, “We don’t need a mass movement, we’re looking for people and for communities.”

The push for a community-based solution to eliminate health disparities remains a central component of Bronx Health REACH’s mission. As a number of Bronx Health REACH’s projects have shown, building support within a community to improve health outcomes does lead to positive results. Our work in churches and schools to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity has led to behavior change, as well as changes in the environment. To take one example, Bronx Health REACH’s Culinary Initiative, which aims to introduce healthy options in church meals, has led to less fat and salt being used by church culinary committees in preparing meals. Our efforts to engage all facets of the community also resonate with Dr. Fullilove’s call to action. In the fight to achieve health equity, it’s necessary to reach out to new partners and work with them to improve health outcomes.

Food Day – October 24, 2011

It’s time for America to eat real, healthy, sustainably grown food again. October 24, 2011 will be the first annual Food Day.  Food Day will be a celebration of real food: food that’s grown from the Earth with minimal, if any, processing.  It will bring together all Americans—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and everyone else who cares about food—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. People are encouraged to attend events at their schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals, or host an event at their home. The initiative is being launched by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group started in 1971 that supports policies which make our food healthier and safer.

The Food Day website has many resources, such as a school curriculum, a newspaper, recipes, videos, petitions, and a map of Food Day events happening all over the country. These events aim to educate Americans about the food system and what we can do to change it. Actions we can take range from making healthier choices when buying food for ourselves and our families to asking Congress to support the Food Day goals.

Food Day’s stated goals are:

1)      To reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods.

2)      To support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness.

3)      To expand access to food and alleviate hunger.

4)      To protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms.

5)      To promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.

6)      To support fair conditions for food and farm workers.

New York City will be home to dozens of Food Day events. On Sunday, October 23, there will be a Faith, Food Justice, and the Farm Bill event to highlight the crucial role of the faith community in the food justice movement and the potential to reform local and national food policy. The event is being organized by the Farm Bill Working Group of NY Faith & Justice, one of Bronx Health REACH’s Legacy grantees.  There will be particular emphasis on the Farm Bill and how it affects the choices we make about the food we consume. The event will be held at The Riverside Church (490 Riverside Drive) in the Assembly Hall from 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera is launching the Bronx CAN Family Health Challenge on Food Day. Senator Rivera has been partnering with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and other community partners as part of the Bronx CAN (Change Attitudes Now) Health Initiative. The Bronx CAN Family Health Challenge was designed by the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center and Committee of Interns and Residents. One of the first challenges is to limit consumption of sugary drinks, which coincides with the launch of the NYC Department of Health’s new sugary drink campaign. The Family Health Challenge guidebooks will be distributed to students and their families throughout the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge Heights, East Tremont, Crotona Park, Fordham, and Bedford Park in the Bronx.  The guidebooks will be distributed through Montefiore Medical Center's school-based health clinics, as well as other participating schools.

Find an event to attend or learn more about Food Day at www.foodday.org.

Introducing Bronx Health REACH's 2011-2012 Legacy Grantees!

As a Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEED), Bronx Health REACH provides seed grants to fund new projects which aim to eliminate health disparities related to diabetes prevention, management, and treatment. Grants are made to non-profit organizations on behalf of community coalitions serving primarily African American and/or Latino populations. Funding ranges from $25,000-$30,000 with 3-5 grants made per year. In addition to funding, grantees receive technical assistance from Bronx Health REACH to implement year long projects.

Bronx Health REACH awarded three grants for 2011-2012. Please read about these great organizations - we look forward to seeing their projects move forward!

THE POINT Community Development Corporation, Bronx, NY

THE POINT is a non-profit organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. THE POINT’s Legacy Project aims to reduce the high prevalence of diabetes in Hunts Point by educating youth and community members about health and nutrition and improving community access to affordable and nutritious foods. Teens participating in THE POINT’s community leadership group, A.C.T.I.O.N. (Activists Coming To Inform Our Neighborhood), will take part in education sessions on diabetes prevention and be trained as peer educators. Sessions will include hands-on workshops to construct new bed gardens and will distribute produce to the Hunts Point community through the Corbin Hill Farm Share. To share knowledge throughout the community, A.C.T.I.O.N. will lead education sessions at MS 424’s after-school program to increase awareness of healthy eating for diabetes prevention. THE POINT also plans to produce a Hunts Point gardening manual, do community outreach on healthy eating, and promote the Corbin Hill farm shares to families in the Hunts Point area.

Seeds in the Middle, Brooklyn, NY

Seeds in the Middle fights childhood obesity by taking an integrated approach to health and creating a sustainable infrastructure that engages the entire community: children, parents, and educators. Seeds in the Middle’s Legacy Project will further establish its Hip2B Healthy program in PS 221 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and develop a model for replication to expand to neighboring schools. The Hip2B Healthy program incorporates a school garden, a school-run healthy market, chef’s nights, in-school cooking classes, and fitness opportunities including Zumba, soccer, and track, to create a healthy and nourishing environment for the school community. Seeds in the Middle also works with teachers to develop an integrated curriculum on health and gardening.

Manhattan Middle School for Scientific Inquiry (MS 328), New York, NY

MS 328 is a public school in Washington Heights, a neighborhood with high rates of obesity and diabetes. The middle school’s Legacy Project adds a focus on diabetes and food access to a school wide sustainability curriculum.   MS 328 will expand an organic school garden and greenhouse and create a garden curriculum to make connections between growing and eating healthy food. The school will also develop three units of study focused on diabetes for use in biweekly student advisory classes and will work to change the school food system at MS 328 by increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables and decreasing the processed foods served in the cafeteria.

 

Bronx Health REACH e-blast: June 17, 2011

** Legacy Project Funding Opportunity for Projects Addressing Diabetes Related Health Disparities – proposals due July 8**

Bronx Health REACH, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) designated National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEED), announces a request for proposals for projects which aim to eliminate diabetes related health disparities affecting African American and/or Latino populations. Bronx Health REACH/New York CEED will award 3 grants of $25,000-$30,000 for a period of one year beginning September 30, 2011. Proposals for funding are due by July 8, 2011. For application or if you have any questions regarding this announcement, contact: Jill Linnell, jlinnell@institute2000.org (212) 633-0800 ext. 1305 or Yvette Holland, yholland@institute2000.org (212) 633-0800 ext. 1232.

Good Health Bronx Initiative – June 18^th

The Bronx Multi Faith Advisory Group and NYC Department of Health Office of Minority Health is hosting a full-day Good Health Bronx Initiative on June 18^th in Crotona Park. The event will feature a 3 mile faith walk, health screenings, and information about health concerns affecting Bronx residents. Registration for the faith walk is required and each person will receive a free t-shirt. For information on registering please contact Lisa White at 646-253-5800 or email her at lwhite@health.nyc.gov.

Green Bronx Machine – launch party June 22^nd and help a classroom get computers!

Green Bronx Machine is a new youth initiative focused on generating authentic voices in health, wellness, and academic and vocational career readiness. The United Federation of Teachers is hosting a launch party for the program on June 22^nd from 6 pm to 9 pm at Café Iguana on West 54^th Street in Manhattan. The Green Bronx Machine will receive a set of computers for a school classroom if they receive 1,000 “likes” on Facebook and/or followers on Twitter by June 22^nd, so please visit http://www.facebook.com/green.BX.machine orhttp://twitter.com/greenBXmachine and help out! You can also watch a video starring Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and State Senator Gustavo Rivera about the Green Bronx Machine here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cww_dUh5FUI.

Bronx Health REACH Nutrition and Fitness Committee – June 23^rd

Bronx Health REACH is holding its monthly nutrition and fitness committee on Thursday, June 23^rd from 10 am to noon at Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the Bronx (120 E. 169^thStreet). The topics discussed will be the school health policy work of HEA+LTHY Schools NY and resumption of the three working groups on physical activity, nutrition and tobacco. Also, there will be updates on the Johnson & Johnson initiative and the social marketing project. All are welcome to attend.

Bronx Health REACH Coalition Meeting – June 24^th

Bronx Health REACH is holding its quarterly coalition meeting on Friday, June 24^th at Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the Bronx (120 E. 169^th Street). The meeting will take place from 9:30 am to 12 pm and all are welcome to attend.

Hunts Point Farmer’s Market – Wednesdays and Saturdays starting June 29^th

Starting Wednesday June 29^th, the Hunts Point Farmer’s Market will be open twice a week (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) through November. The market will be open from 8:30 am to 5 pm rain or shine at Msr Raul Del Valle Square at Southern Blvd. and E.163rd St. Alex’s Tomato Farm located in Carlisle, N.Y. will sell fresh and local fruits, vegetables, culinary herbs, and plants. The farmers market will accept state issued Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and there will be nutrition education lessons and cooking demonstrations conducted every Wednesday by NYC Department of Health. Free HealthBucks will be distributed at the workshops for people to spend at the farmers market. Please contact Dagmar Kostkova at dkostkova@communitymarkets.biz for more information.

Bronx CAN Health Initiative

Bronx Health REACH and the Institute for Family Health are proud sponsors and partners of the Bronx CAN Health Initiative, a borough-wide community health initiative promoting healthy behaviors throughout the Bronx community. The Bronx CAN Health Initiative, led by New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera (33^rd District) and Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr.,  is a collaborative effort with community groups, residents, faith-based institutions, health care providers, and others to encourage healthier lifestyles in our communities. For more information about the Bronx CAN Health Initiative and to see a calendar of events, visit: http://www.bronxcan.com/.

Bronx Health REACH featured in UFT-ACTS Spring Newsletter!

The United Federation of Teachers Alliance for Charter Teachers and Staff highlighted Bronx Health REACH’s obesity prevention program at the Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School in its Spring newsletter. The program, funded by the Johnson & Johnson/John Hopkins Community Health Care Scholars Program, is part of a national effort to provide elementary school children with nutrition education. Bronx Health REACH staff member Diana Johnson taught two third grade classes at Bronx Academy of Promise about healthy eating over six sessions and has brought this program to other schools in the Bronx. Bronx Health REACH plans to expand the program to reach 600 students and will also train teachers to teach the whole curriculum on their own.

The Virginia Faith-Based Outreach Initiative featured in local newspaper!

The Virginia Faith-Based Outreach Initiative, a Bronx Health REACH legacy grantee, was featured in the Suffolk News-Herald about its five-week fitness program in local churches. The Virginia program started when a Bronx Health REACH coalition member relocated to Suffolk, Virginia and asked if she could start a fitness program at her church modeled after Bronx Health REACH’s Fine, Fit and Fabulous program. The Virginia-based program combines faith with physical activity and nutrition information and runs for five weeks. Read the article here: http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2011/06/11/faith-%E2%80%94-and-five-weeks-to-fitness/

Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership Newsletter – June 2011

The Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership highlights its partnership with Bronx Health REACH in its June newsletter. Bronx Health REACH staff members Sigrid Aarons and Bernice McFarline have worked closely with the Smoke-Free Partnership on protesting tobacco marketing toward youth in stores and in organizing the World No Tobacco Day held last month in Union Square. 

Excellence in School Wellness Awards

Bronx Health REACH is pleased to announce that four of our HEA⁺LTHY Schools NY partner schools received recognition from the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health for Excellence in School Wellness. PS 218 and Sheridan Academy received Gold Medals, PS 43 received a Silver Medal, and PS 64 received an honorable mention. The award ceremony for schools in the Bronx will take place on Wednesday, June 22^nd at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (1040 Grand Concourse) from 3 pm to 5 pm. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

The Prevention Institute discusses how “overweight is the new normal”

In its weekly e-newsletter, the Prevention Institute explores how changes in our environment, such as larger food portion sizes, have transformed our cultural norms surrounding food and physical activity, and our behavior. The Institute examines how what surrounds us shapes our behavior toward nutrition and fitness and provides tips on how to inform legislators about community prevention and creating healthier environments. Read more here: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5902/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1168072

Women Helping Others Foundation Invites Grant Applications

The Women Helping Others Foundation is inviting grant applications from grassroots organizations for programs that serve the overlooked needs of women and children in the United States. The Foundation is particularly looking for projects or programs that address health or social service needs. The grants will range from $1,000 to $40,000 and are open to 501(c)(3) organizations that have been incorporated for at least three years. To learn more about funding guidelines, eligibility restrictions, and application procedures, please visit: http://www.whofoundation.org/.

BeFitNYC.org

The New York City Departments of Parks & Recreation and Health & Mental Hygiene have launched BeFitNYC.org – a search engine to find FREE and low-cost fitness opportunities in New York City. Visit BeFitNYC.org to find and join free or low-cost fitness activities, such as lunchtime walking groups, after-work runs, yoga meet-ups or zumba classes, as well as organize a fitness activity and invite friends and family to join using Facebook.

Bronx Health REACH e-blast: June 3, 2011

** Legacy Project Funding Opportunity for Projects Addressing Diabetes Related Health Disparities – proposals due July 8**
Bronx Health REACH, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) designated National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEED), announces a request for proposals for projects which aim to eliminate diabetes related health disparities affecting African American and/or Latino populations. Bronx Health REACH/New York CEED will award 3 grants of $25,000-$30,000 for a period of one year beginning September 30, 2011. Proposals for funding are due by July 8, 2011. If you have any questions regarding this announcement or want a copy of the application materials, contact: Jill Linnell, jlinnell@institute2000.org (212) 633-0800 ext. 1305 or Yvette Holland, yholland@institute2000.org (212) 633-0800 ext. 1232.

Excellence in School Wellness Awards
Bronx Health REACH is pleased to announce that four of our HEA+LTHY Schools NY partner schools received recognition from the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health for Excellence in School Wellness. PS 218 and Sheridan Academy received Gold Medals, PS 43 received a Silver Medal, and PS 64 received an honorable mention. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Corbin Hill Road Farm – registration deadline for first delivery week is June 7th
Corbin Hill Road Farm is signing people up for its Farm Share program, which gives communities direct access to high quality, fresh produce grown by local farmers. From mid-June to mid-November, fresh produce will be delivered on a weekly basis at several locations in the Bronx and Harlem. Shareholders pay in advance (several flexible payment plans are available) and will receive a set number of produce items each week. The registration deadline for the first delivery week is June 7th. For more information and to sign up, visit the Corbin Hill Road website at http://www.corbinhillfarm.com/farmshare.html or call (718) 578-3610.

Bronx CAN Initiative – launching June 11th
Join NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera from the 33rd District in the Bronx and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for the launch of the "Bronx CAN Initiative." Senator Rivera is holding himself as the poster boy for a Biggest Loser contest where he vows to eat healthy and exercise more in order to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle. The first weigh-in for the initiative will be held at the Mary Mitchell Center at 2007 Mapes Ave, Bronx NY 10460 on Saturday June 11th from 11:30am-1:30pm. The event will be the start of learning more about where to find fresh food in the Bronx, prepare healthy, delicious meals for yourself and your family, and take advantage opportunities to get some exercise in your neighborhood. If there is a health-related event coming up that you would like to see highlighted on the Bronx CAN Initiative Calendar of Events, please send the information to gomezjim@nysenate.gov.

Walk NYC – June 11th
St. Mary’s Recreation Center is hosting a Walk NYC event on June 11th between 12 pm and 1 pm. The event is free and open to all ages and aims to encourage people to stay fit by walking. The walkers will meet in front of the Center at 450 St. Ann’s Avenue in the Bronx and will walk around St. Mary’s Park. Contact Shawn James at 718- 402-5155 for more details.

Get Your Mind Right, Body Right Health Fair – June 11th
New York Urban League Young Professionals and The Bronx Knows are hosting a free health fair for the Bronx community on June 11th in St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx (146th Street and St. Ann’s Avenue). The event, which will take place between 12 pm and 4 pm, will have free health screenings for HIV and STDs, check glucose levels and provide information on diabetes, discuss how to control asthma, and provide tips on healthy eating and fitness.

Entertaining for Development Community Event – June 11th
The New Covenant Community Development Corporation is hosting an event to promote housing, resource opportunities, and economic empowerment in the Bronx. The event will take place at Dominion Cathedral at 1175 Boston Road from 3:30 pm to 6 pm on Saturday, June 11th. The event will include Educational Scholarship Awards, free health screenings, and special music and dance performances.

Bronx Urban Farm Tours – starting June 11th and monthly through October
On June 11th, Bronx Urban Farm Tours will be hosting a “Taste of the Latin Caribbean: Puerto Rican History in the Bronx” tour which highlights the agricultural contributions of the Puerto Rican community and culture in NYC. The tour costs $30 per person and will begin at 9:30 am at The New York Visitors and Convention Bureau, located on 810 7th Avenue (and 52nd Street) and will return at 3 pm. Bi-lingual tour guides will be provided. Urban farm tours with various themes will take place on a monthly basis through October. To register or for more information, call 718.817.8026 or email bronxfoodsummit@gmail.com.

Free Health Wellness Workshops – starting June 13th
Bronx Shepherds Restoration Corporation is hosting free health wellness workshops on Mondays starting June 13th from 1 pm to 3:30 pm at 1932 Washington Ave, 3rd floor. The workshop will teach participants how to manage their health in an interactive and fun way.

Get Screened + Get Cleaned – June 16th
The Institute for Family Health is hosting a health fair on June 16th from 12 pm to 4 pm. The event will take place at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building at 163 West 125th Street in Harlem and will have free health screenings for diabetes, dental, glaucoma, blood pressure, nutrition, HIV, and cholesterol. The health fair will also include free haircuts for the first 50 attendees and massage therapy.

Good Health Bronx Initiative – June 18th
The Bronx Multi Faith Advisory Group and NYC Department of Health Office of Minority Health is hosting a full-day Good Health Bronx Initiative on June 18th in Crotona Park. The event will feature a 3 mile faith walk, health screenings, and information about health concerns affecting Bronx residents. Registration for the faith walk is required and each person will receive a free t-shirt. For information on registering please contact Lisa White at 646-253-5800 or email her at lwhite@health.nyc.gov.

Grand Avenue Mount Zion Church Health Fair – June 18th
Grand Avenue Mount Zion Church is holding a health fair on June 18th from 12 pm to 6 pm at 1696 Grand Avenue in the Bronx. The community health fair will provide Bronx residents with information about health services available in the borough and have health screenings for community members. Please contact Beverly Salmon (917) 526-3342 or Maud Bailey (914) 664-8528 for more information.

BeFitNYC.org
The New York City Departments of Parks & Recreation and Health & Mental Hygiene have launched BeFitNYC.org – a search engine to find FREE and low-cost fitness opportunities in New York City. From June 6th to June 12th the City will be hosting a week-long celebration of fitness to launch the site. BeFitNYC.org will allow people to find and join free or low-cost fitness activities, such as lunchtime walking groups, after-work runs, yoga meet-ups or zumba classes, as well as organize a fitness activity and invite friends and family to join using Facebook.

e-blast: January 12, 2011

Bronx Health REACH Awarded Tobacco Control Grant

Bronx Health REACH has been awarded a $20,000 mini-grant from Public Health Solutions, Inc. to work with the Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership on tobacco control and prevention in our target schools and surrounding communities.  The focus will be on educating parents and school staff about the problem of tobacco in the south Bronx, especially the many point-of-sale (POS) tobacco outlets near the school buildings.

UFT Unveils Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Initiative

On December 2, 2010, the United Federation of Teachers, a Bronx Health REACH Legacy grantee, unveiled their new “Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities” initiative.  The event kicked off with a humorous and educational skit by UFT staff, who demonstrated a clever way that teachers could integrate nutrition education into the school day.  Through UFT’s new initiative, 13 Bronx schools have committed to bringing the Food Bank for New York City’s Cookshop program to students and their families. Cookshop for Classroom will be implemented in at least five classes in each participating school, and parents at the schools can choose to attend a 6-week Cookshop for Families program. Additionally, at least six classes in each school will also implement Move to Improve, educational physical activity exercises which can be done in the classroom.  The full story is available in the online version of UFT’s newspaper, New York Teacher, here.

Virginia Legacy Project Grantee Awarded Funding for Nationals Women’s Health Week Event

The Virginia REACH Faith Based Outreach Initiative, a Bronx Health REACH Legacy grantee, received an award from John Snow, Inc and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health.  The award will be used to implement Fine, Fit, and Fabulous at churches of the Virginia REACH Faith Based Outreach Initiative in conjunction with National Women’s Health Week next May.  Congratulations to the Virginia REACH Faith Based Outreach Initiative and to former Bronx Health REACH health coordinator Margie Callahan who leads the project!

NY Faith & Justice: Food Justice Working Groups

NY Faith & Justice is beginning to hold meetings for its Food Justice Working Groups.  These include:

Business Outreach – Will focus on getting businesses to support various health promotion programs around New York City

Farm Bill – Will focus on shifting federal subsidies to support the growth of a wider variety of fruit and vegetable crops

Community Engagement – Will develop creative ways to engage faith communities, schools, and community groups in activities to improve the health of NYC neighborhoods, such as helping communities start co-ops, community gardens, or band together to develop centralized CSA's (Community Sponsored Agriculture projects)

Food and Voter Education – Will educate faith communities and community groups on political leaders' positions regarding food and health issues and inform people about how they can take individual and organizational responsibility to make healthy food choices

Incentives to Purchase Healthy Foods – Will call on NYC policy-makers to incentivize the purchase of healthy food for people receiving government assistance

Living Wage for Food Workers – Will join a larger city-wide effort to pass a Living Wage Bill in New York City and ensure that food workers are a part of this bill

-For more information, visit here. To register for a Working Group, please contact Stephen Tickner at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org or (917) 628-5131.

Nutrition & Fitness Workgroup meeting: January 13, 2011

The first Nutrition & Fitness Workgroup meeting of 2011 will be held Thursday, January 13^th.  During the first half of the meeting, we will focus on our school policy work with an open discussion of relevant strategies for bolstering school wellness policies at the building, district, and citywide levels.   There will also be a presentation on organizing and facilitating parent advocacy trainings on school food.  The second half of the meeting will examine next steps for our bodega/social marketing project and the expansion of the afterschool initiative.

Date:  Thursday, January 13, 2011

Time: 1:00-3:00pm

Location: Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Room 214

1225 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

NYC Strategic Alliance for Health- 2011 Excellence in School Wellness Award

The Strategic Alliance for Health has released the 2011 Excellence in School Wellness Award.  Elementary school principals in the Bronx (Districts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12), Northern Manhattan (Districts 3, 4, 5, & 6), and North & Central Brooklyn (13, 14, 16, 19, 23, & 32) have been invited to complete the application. Anyone can access the application at http://www.nycsafh.org/news/2011-excellence-school-wellness-award-application-documentation-guide.  Please contact the Strategic Alliance for Health at info@nycsafh.org if you have any questions.  They will provide technical assistance on the completion of this application until March 31^st, and applications are due April 22. 

NYAM Obesity Prevention Symposium: January 20^th

On January 20^th, local advocates, public health practitioners, and researchers will come together to present to policymakers their best suggestions and specific strategies for how to stop the epidemic of obesity in New York’s low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. One of the speakers will be Steve Ritz, who will describe his successful use of Green Living Technologies to grow organic vegetables within the classroom and the community setting.  This event is open to the public; please find the agenda and registration information at http://www.nyam.org/events/2011/2011-01-20-02.html

Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011

Time: 10:30am-2:00pm

Location: The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103^rd St, New York, NY  10029

Green Living Technologies Training: January 15-17^th

From January 15-17, Green Living Technologies (GLT) will be holding a training session on the use of green roofs and green walls in schools and within communities.  Those who receive the training will become certified to bring the technology to schools/organizations to grow vegetables that can be sold on school campuses during the school year, as well as serve as a professional job opportunity for youth throughout the summer. Steve Ritz and GLT are offering to host and pay for the certification and training of teams of four students, as long as at least one adult advisor registers for the training, which is $750.  For more information, visit the “training” link of www.agreenroof.com, or contact Kelly Moltzen (kmoltzen@institute2000.org) or Steve Ritz (SNL978@aol.com).

NYC Nutrition Education Network General Meeting: January 20^th

On January 20^th, NYCNEN will hold its second general meeting of the year, which will be an informative session on: “Why Aren't You Listening? Promoting Behavior Change in Individuals, Groups & Organizations.”  Speakers will provide insight into the nation-wide Healthy Monday Campaign, discuss techniques to engage people in the topic of nutrition in group settings, and provide attendees with an interactive session on motivational interviewing.

Date:  Thursday, January 20th, 2010

Time:  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Location:  The New School, 66 West 12th Street, 5th Floor, Room 509

Free for NYCNEN members, $5 for non-members. Space is limited!  Please RSVP mindfully by sending your name & organization to:  nycnenadmin@gmail.com

Making Child Nutrition Reauthorization Work for Your Community

The Food Resource and Action Center has created a webinar to explain how the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 will affect groups and individuals at the community level.  This webinar is available here. If you would like a two-page briefing on what this bill means for schools, please email Sigrid Aarons at saarons@institute2000.org.

Employee Wellness & the Institute for Family Health

For the latest edition of the Institute for Family Health’s “Our Health Newsletter,” email Kelly at kmoltzen@institute2000.org. Here you will find personal stories about how several Institute employees successfully implemented change in their lives to improve their health and fitness. The Institute’s Chief Nutritionist, Jaime Schehr, ND, RD, shares some valuable tips on staying healthy during the winter months. There are some healthy recipe choices included in the newsletter as well. The newsletter represents the Institute’s renewed focus on worksite wellness.  Employees are being encouraged to adopt and exemplify a healthy lifestyle for our patients.  One of the Institute for Family Health’s physicians, Linda Prine MD, bikes to work and was recently featured in StreetsBlog.org for a letter she wrote to the City Council requesting more bike lanes so that New Yorkers can attain more physical activity by biking to work safely.

Health Disparity Workgroup Updates

The Bronx Health REACH Health Disparity Workgroup meets every 2^nd Wednesday of the month at 1:30 at the Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus located at 39 West 190^thStreet.  Because of a snow forecast, the next meeting was re-scheduled for January 19^th, 2011. We will be updating people on the City Council Resolution and the recruitment of sponsors for the re-introduction of the Health Equality Bill in Albany, both of which request quality outpatient care for patients of academic medical centers regardless of source of payment.

Upcoming Bronx Health REACH Coalition Meeting

Date: February 18, 2011

Time: 9:30am-12:00pm

Location: Walker Memorial Baptist Church

120 East 169th Street, Bronx, New York 10452

Please RSVP to Yvette Holland at yholland@institute2000.org or (212) 633-0800 ext 1232.

e-blast: Nov. 17

New Study on Fast Food Marketing to Youth

A new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity found the extent to which unhealthy food dominates restaurants: “Out of 3,039 possible kids’ meal combinations, only 12 meet the researchers’ nutrition criteria for preschoolers. Only 15 meet nutrition criteria for older children.” In addition, the study found that fast food marketers specifically target children; that this directed advertising is effective, and that youth exposure to fast food advertisements is increasing. Researchers found that companies are disproportionately targeting African American and Hispanic youth, so that African American children see advertisements for foods with nearly twice as many calories as their white peers. A video about these findings can be found here.

Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization Update

This week, Congress is expected to vote on the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act,” so it is important to tell your Representative to support this bill! This bill (S 3307) will provide $4.5 billion to boost youth nutrition programs over the next ten years. You can find your Representative’s contact information here. For more information about the NYC Alliance for Child Nutrition Reauthorization, visit http://nycforcnr.org/

FoodWorks

On November 22, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn will be announcing her plan to improve NYC’s food system: improve the city’s food infrastructure, create new jobs in the food industry, keep food dollars in the local economy, reduce diet-related diseases, and reduce the environmental impact of the food system. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by November 20^th at this link, by emailing events@council.nyc.gov or calling (212) 788-6871.

Date: Monday, November 22, 2010

Time: 10:00 am (Doors open @ 9:30 AM)

Location: Food and Finance High School

525 West 50th Street, Room 173

New York, NY 10019

Upcoming Nutrition and Fitness Workgroup Meeting Nov. 22 (note – time change!)

At our next meeting we will hear from Melissa Pflugh about the unique social marketing approach to school wellness and nutrition education program used by Healthy Schools Healthy Families. At the meeting, we will discuss the role of the Workgroup regarding the Advisory Committee for Bronx Health REACH’s school wellness initiatives, next steps for our social marketing campaign, and an update from the October 29-30 Food, Faith and Health Disparities Summit.

Date: Monday, November 22

Time: 1:00-3:00pm (time changed due to conflict with FoodWorks event earlier in the day!)

Place: Morrisania Neighborhood Family Health Center, 1225 Gerard Avenue, Room 214

Garden-Based Learning

From the success of Edible Schoolyard to the new “Nourish” curriculum, there is more and more reason to teach children about where their food comes from! As a matter of fact, garden-based learning has been proven to lead to increases in academic achievement and increases in fruit and vegetable consumption. If you work with schools in NYC and would like to learn more about how to integrate garden-based learning into the school curriculum, you may want to join the “NYC School Gardens” Google Group. Bronx Health REACH’s Nutrition and Fitness Workgroup will be discussing these issues further as part of the Curriculum Advisory Committee; please contact Kelly Moltzen at kmoltzen@institute2000.org or (212) 633-0800 x 1328 for more information.

PlaNYC

PlaNYC is the Mayor’s plan for improving sustainability in NYC through the year 2030. It currently covers land, water, transportation, energy, air quality, and climate change issues, but does not include food in the equation! We need a plan to get local, fresh food into the city to feed all New Yorkers. Please submit your ideas and/or vote on other ideas you like at www.allourideas.org/PlaNYC and try to attend one of the Community Conversations happening over the next few weeks. Here are the remaining three:

Upper Manhattan:
Monday, December 6th, 2010
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
State Office Building, 2nd Floor Gallery
163 West 125th Street, (enter on 126th Street)

Eastern Queens:
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Bayside High School
32-24 Corporal Kennedy Street

South Brooklyn:
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
St. Michael’s RC Church, 352 42nd Street
Enter through auditorium on 43rd Street

Discovery High School's Farmers Market (Nov. 18)

Under the guidance of Steve Ritz, a trailblazing teacher who teaches Bronx urban youth about green jobs, Discovery High School will host its first classroom Farmers Market, which will be featured via a live broadcast on CNN! Get great deals on fresh holiday produce while supporting the productive activities of these students.

Date: November 18

Time: 8:00am-12:00pm

Location: Discovery High School, room 279

2780 Reservoir Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468

Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference— Growing Health, Wealth, & Justice in Our Communities (Nov. 19-21)

The 2010 Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference will be held this weekend at Brooklyn College. With workshops on urban agriculture, farm share programs, food policy, and youth creating change, the conference will empower attendees to work towards making healthy, affordable food accessible to all. The keynote speaker will be Will Allen, Founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc., and 2008 MacArthur Fellow.

For more information, please visit http://www.blackfarmersconf.org/

Health Disparities Workshops

In the Bronx and other parts of New York City, racial and ethnic minorities continue to have drastically different health outcomes than their white counterparts. Through our Health Disparity workshops, Bronx Health REACH answers questions about what health disparities and segregated healthcare looks like in NYC today. Workshops help participants learn about patient rights, how to best advocate for themselves, friends or family in a healthcare setting, and who to contact with legal complaints. If your organization, group, or church is interested in holding a health disparities workshop, please contact Bernice McFarline at bmcfarline@institute2000.org or (212) 633-0800 ext. 1344. Group sizes of 30 or less are better as they allow for more discussion. However, workshops can be adjusted for larger groups. Learn about how health disparity affects you and your community and join Bronx Health REACH in our campaign against segregated care!

Health Reform Information in Spanish

Bronx Health REACH is now distributing Health Reform education pamphlets and video in Spanish. (Video in English is originally provided by Kaiser Family Foundation). Please contact Ying Guo at yguo@institute2000.org or (212) 633-0800 ext. 1341 if you’d like Spanish health reform education materials sent to you.

NYFJ Summit Outcome: Working Groups

As an outcome of the Oct. 29-30 Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit at Riverside Church, NY Faith and Justice will be organizing working groups around the issues of: Community Engagement, Food & Voter Education, Incentives to Purchase Healthy Food, Business Outreach, the Farm Bill, and Living Wages. If you would like to join one of these working groups, please contact Stephen Tickner at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org