BHR Journal Article Nominated for CDC Award

 

Bronx Health REACH Project Director Charmaine Ruddock and Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, Program Manager of the CDC-sponsored COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Initiative, were two of eleven co-authors of a peer reviewed journal article that has been nominated for a CDC award. "Design and Implementation of Federal Program to Engage Community Partners to Reduce Disparities in Adult COVID-19 Immunization Uptake, United States, 2021–2022," has been nominated for the 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Charles C. Shepard Science Award. The award is given by the CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to scientists for the best original research manuscript published in a peer-reviewed journal. Congratulations Charmaine and Moria on your outstanding work!

Bronx Health REACH Awarded Two Grants

 Bronx Health REACH has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Food for Living, Access to Systems and Supportive Strategies for Health Equity (FLASH) grant, and from the NYC Civic Engagement Commission for the project, Slashing Bronx Hunger and Boosting Knowledge About Healthy Eating. 

The 3 year NIH FLASH grant focuses on improving health and wellness for residents of the Morrisania neighborhood by: Improving the physical and food environment (starting community gardens and offering affordable local food options); enhancing the social environment (encouraging people to connect and stay active together through walking groups); and building community skills for healthier lifestyles (teaching simple, culturally relevant activities to improve health). Manna of Life Ministries, New Covenant Development Corporation and Reconciliacion Families in Christ will be our partners on this project.

For the Slashing Bronx Hunger and Boosting Knowledge About Healthy Eating project, Bronx Health REACH will focus on enhancing health and wellness in the 10452, 10456, and 10453 Bronx zip codes. To make healthy foods more accessible for residents, BHR will promote Health Bucks (paper vouchers worth $2 each to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets), and expand the Healthy Pantry Initiative by collaborating with partner food pantries to provide nutrition education and training at partner sites to encourage informed food choices. This grant runs through October 2025.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Recognize BHR Community Health Workers

Left to right: Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas, and Joseph Ellis. 

On Saturday, October 14, Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas and Joseph Ellis, Community Health Workers with the Institute for Family Health’s Bronx Health REACH (BHR), were recognized at a ceremony hosted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) for their outreach work with men in the community. The award was for their outstanding work during NYCDOHMH’s Harlem Family Wellness Suite Day for Dads’ event in June; and for their leadership of the Men, Let’s Talk initiative.

Since 2020, they have led Men, Let’s Talk, a monthly forum for Black and Latino men to engage in open and honest discussions about their mental health concerns. Cheikhou, Felix and Joseph have also served as the Community Outreach and Engagement Team for the CDC Covid and Flu initiative through which more than 12,000 vaccines have been administered to Bronx community residents. They also lead the Immigrant Health initiative, providing information to community members who are new immigrants in the Bronx, and referring those who need healthcare to the Institute’s health centers.