#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

 

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.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released its 2023 County Health Rankings Report 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).

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.

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.

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.