New York City Health Justice Network Continues to Make Progress

[Update: January 2025 – FPHNYC been awarded $600,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation on behalf of the NYC Health Department and the New York City Health Justice Network (NYC HJN). The funding will be used by NYC HJN to support and improve the health and well-being of justice-involved individuals during the reentry process. This generous funding is part of a major grantmaking announcement by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation at the start of 2025. The following text was originally published November 2024]

Involvement with the criminal legal system intersects with racism, poverty, trauma, and physical and behavioral health conditions that perpetuate health disparities, including increased disease and mortality risks in Black and Latino communities. To address these challenges, the New York City Health Justice Network (NYC HJN) links people recently released from incarceration with primary health care services. 

A program of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC HJN pairs community health workers (CHWs) who have lived experience of reentry with participants to help meet their essential social, health and material needs as they reenter their communities. NYC HJN helps participants set and meet their own priorities and goals for improving their health and well-being. These can include access to and enhanced primary health, behavioral health, chronic disease care, and care and community-based reentry social services.  

FPHNYC has partnered with the NYC HJN since its inception in 2019, helping secure grant funding from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to pilot the program and expand its impact.  Also partnering with NYC HJN are two federally qualified primary healthcare clinics, the Institute for Family Health and Community Healthcare Network. Additionally, the program works with three community-based reentry organizations, the Fortune Society, Osborne Association, and the Harlem Community Justice Center. All partners have proven experience working with people involved with the criminal legal system and partner appreciation of the NYC HJN has steadily grown. 

“Over the past four years, we have referred hundreds of court-involved people to the Health Justice Network for assistance with needs such as enrolling in health insurance, finding a primary care physician, obtaining vital documents, applying for benefits, seeking employment, and more. In each instance, the community health workers have engaged participants with respect and compassion, both assisting with identified needs and forming supportive and ongoing relationships.”

Joseph Barrett, Program Director at the Center for Court Innovation

“Over the past four years, we have referred hundreds of court-involved people to the Health Justice Network for assistance with needs such as enrolling in health insurance, finding a primary care physician, obtaining vital documents, applying for benefits, and seeking employment among others,” said Joseph Barrett, Program Director at the Center for Court Innovation. “In each instance, the community health workers have engaged our participants with respect and compassion, both assisting with the identified needs and forming supportive and ongoing relationships.” 

The New York University Population Center recently concluded a five-year, CDC-funded Medicaid match evaluation of the NYC HJN to compare its participants with comparable groups on a wide range of outcomes. Preliminary findings show significant impacts, including that compared to a control group NYC HJN participants had more engagement with primary care providers and were likely to receive medication for asthma, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes; they were significantly more likely to receive mental health care in the months following enrollment; received more substance use treatment; and were more likely to receive methadone treatment. 

In the last five years, NYC HJN has received almost 1,900 referrals from partner sites and community organizations. The great majority of these referrals – more than 1,400 people – have received peer support and linkages to services from the program’s NYC HJN CHWs. With continued public and private funding, the NYC HJN will be able to improve the health and well-being of more New Yorkers whose involvement with the criminal legal system perpetuates health disparities.  

“The Health Justice Network is an excellent collaborator,” said Christina Green, Director of Supportive Housing at the Osborne Association. “Partnering with them is pivotal to achieving the goal of successful reentry for our shared participants.” 

 [Read about an evaluation of the HJN by The City University of New York Institute for State & Local Governance]

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Launched in August 2023, the CSN has played a crucial role in supporting New Yorkers by removing the stigma around mental health. Community health workers (CHWs) from CSN partner organizations NHS Brooklyn, VIP Community Services, and BronxWorks have been a regular presence in neighborhoods greatly impacted by COVID-19 and various health disparities. The CHWs initiated guided, compassionate conversations with people to address a wide range of concerns, including psychosocial, emotional, substance use, physical health, housing, career, education, and food-access stressors. By being out in public and accessible to people in areas with high foot traffic, the CHWs were able to connect to individuals and refer them to resources before their needs became acute or chronic.

With the arrival of spring this year the CSN program took to one of New York’s great greenspaces, Prospect Park, for the pilot Open Air Care Connections program. As NYC Health Commissioner and FPHNYC Board Chair, Dr. Ashwin Vasan explained to Gothamist, “We know the front door to our mental health system can be hard to find and hard to access…New Yorkers are busy people, so we’re bringing the conversation to them.”

Grant and Timal, CHWs from Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn, in Prospect Park. photo: Shola Thompson, DOHMH

The CSN was made possible with a grant FPHNYC secured from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. With this support, between August 2023 and June 2024, CHWs provided individuals with 6,981 referrals to health and social services (individuals on average received more than one service referral at a time).

Asked by CHWs what their chief concerns were, the most frequent response from individuals was “Safety in the Community,” with 46% of respondents indicating this as an issue.  “Daily Needs of Food, Water, Housing,” was cited by 41% of individuals, underscoring the persistent issue of accessing essential resources. “Physical Health” is another significant concern, mentioned by 34% of respondents. “Coping with Emotions” and “Coping with Anger” were cited by 31 and 30 percent of people, respectively. Other notable concerns include “High Blood Pressure or Heart Disease” (26%), “Function in Daily Tasks” (23%), and issues related to “Safety at Home” (25%), “Substance Use” (21%), and “Racism” (21%). 

The partner CBOS and CHWs involved with the CSN were recognized by the Health Department and the Prospect Park Alliance at a luncheon and awards ceremony in July. FPHNYC is actively seeking to engage additional funders to support this important work shown to foster healthier and more resilient communities around New York City.

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Mars Estudillo, a 21-year-old NYCTC youth leader alum and current Senior Youth Coordinator with NYCTC, shares some insights on what being involved with the program has meant to them.

I was first introduced to the NYCTC Youth Leadership Team (YLT) through one of their community partners. They were the program leader for Curtis High School Teen Health Promoters Club. They encouraged us to apply as a way to build on our knowledge and interest in teen sexual health. I was 14 when I interviewed and unaware of the stipend. I just applied because I was passionate about helping youth my age understand more about sexual health than what we were taught in school.

As a YLT, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced as much growth in myself before. Being a YLT felt empowering, and it helped lead to so many opportunities when it came to working with my community on issues I felt were important. As a YLT, I felt safe and encouraged enough to voice my opinions in both our small meetings and the community events we went to. A highlight of being a part of the program would be the sense of community that was built through the years with both the coordinators and the other youth leaders. We had opportunities to go on retreats together and have all-borough meetings that led to a lot of amazing friendships.

To date, NYCTC has reached 78,261 youth through 389 partner organizations.
With this new funding, the program expects to reach 128,261 youth by June 2028.

During my time as a YLT member, I got the chance to work with my community. We gathered community members to discuss topics we believed youth wanted and needed more information on. This led to a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project that allowed me to serve as a co-researcher and facilitator alongside my fellow YLT members and then build a campaign from the research we had gathered.

After my time as a YLT, I was offered the opportunity to be a senior youth coordinator to support the coordinators in any way that I could. I was given the chance to help interview potential YLT candidates, facilitate workshops with/for some of the YLT, moderate panels, as well as participate in conferences presenting our “Ask Before You Act” campaign and Youth Engagement Guide on sexual consent communication.

For this new grant cycle, I hope the new incoming YLT members get to participate in some sort of research or help launch a new campaign for Youth by Youth. NYCTC has done an amazing job helping youth be heard through the work we do, and I’m excited to see how they continue to move this work forward.

Thank you, Mars, and all of the Youth Leadership Team, for helping New York City Teens Connection grow and have a meaningful impact on the lives of NYC youth.

Mars is a Staten Island native dedicated to advocating for equitable reproductive rights. Outside of their reproductive justice work, Mars is a multi-medium artist who enjoys going to concerts and watching movies.

The post New York City Teens Connection: a Personal Reflection on Positive Youth Development appeared first on Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc..

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene supports the primary care system in the city through NYC REACH. Launched in 2010, NYC REACH is a partnership of the Health Department’s Bureau of Equitable Healthy Systems and the Fund for Public Health NYC. Primary care practices, pharmacies, and community-based organizations can join NYC REACH for free and receive support with incentive programs, training, and resources to help better serve their patients and communities.

Primary care providers and their patients benefit from NYC REACH’s wide range of programs, including workflow improvement, chronic disease prevention and management, healthcare worker capacity building, patient education, behavioral health integration, payment reform, and more. Members also receive regular email newsletters, events and webinars, and technical assistance.

NYC REACH advances the Health Department’s commitment to anti-racism by promoting health equity and addressing structural racism. Many NYC REACH members are located in and provide services to neighborhoods that are part of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity. 

Because health systems in New York City have dynamic needs, NYC REACH regularly conducts evaluations of its programs to continue bringing value to providers and their patients. The result is improved patient outcomes, including better management of chronic diseases such as hypertension.

NYC REACH is a trusted partner for 1,800 primary care sites, more than 100 Community Health Centers and Community-Based Organizations, 250 pharmacies, and over 30 hospitals — serving more than 2 million New Yorkers.

Visit NYC REACH to learn more, including career opportunities, and follow on Twitter for updates.  

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To get COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots in more arms this winter, members of Red de Pueblos Trasnacionales (RPT) have spent hundreds of hours doing outreach inside Bronx subway stations. In the gaps between the noisy arrival and departure of trains, RPT’s volunteers answer people’s questions and provide reliable information about COVID-19 vaccinations in Quechua, Me’phaa, and the Mixtec languages of South America. Their frequent presence at subway stations is part of an initiative by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Fund for Public Health NYC (FPHNYC), the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement Project, to support the capacity of community partners to be trusted messengers for advancing public health.

Over the course of the COVD-19 pandemic, government agencies, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and philanthropy in New York City have been working together with a degree of collaboration that stands in notable contrast to the polarization characterizing too much of today’s civic discourse. Moreover, city-affiliated nonprofits like FPHNYC are a proven force multiplier for leveraging resources and expertise through cross-sector partnerships.

For the Vaccine Equity Project, FPHNYC quickly raised $9 million for the project from a combination of public sources and private New York-based philanthropy, then worked closely with the Health Department to identify and select 33 community and faith-based organizations, including RPT, as outreach partners. Partner organizations encourage conversation about vaccination within their communities, gather feedback, and use these learnings to develop tailored and culturally relevant vaccine messaging—often through one-on-one assistance—to boost vaccine confidence.

These organizations have earned the trust of the communities they serve and are essential partners for reaching people in neighborhoods with a history of disinvestment and other disparities impacting health and wellbeing, including inadequate housing and a lack of economic development. Since launching in August of 2021, the Vaccine Equity Project has engaged 664,000 people through 4,272 in-person events to increase confidence in and access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Providing resources and opportunities for these community-rooted organizations is an integral part of the City’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Community partners in the Vaccine Equity Project can also take part in the City University of New York’s Vaccine for All Community Health Worker Training and Apprenticeship Program. This program is helping build the community-based workforce we needed before the pandemic hit NYC, and that will benefit New Yorkers for long after.

Community health workers address a broad spectrum of public health needs—from helping people get vaccinated to counseling residents about diabetes and depression. They are the backbone of the City’s newly formed Public Health Corps, a nation-leading investment in the public health workforce and a just recovery from COVID-19.

Cross-sector collaborations like these provide scalable and high-impact solutions to some of our most pressing public health issues and can also serve as models for further public and private sector partnerships here in NYC and in other cities. For 20 years, FPHNYC has served as a catalyst for partnerships that bolster and advance the Health Department’s response to public health concerns such as chronic diseases, the opioid epidemic, and maternal health outcomes which have been exacerbated during the last two years of the pandemic.

Health emergencies are stark reminders of how we need investment in public health to reopen our economy and our schools and to be able to prepare for what comes next. The community partnerships which have helped us turn the corner on COVID-19 must be sustained and built upon by continued investment in the public, private, and nonprofit collaborative model. The current and future health of New York City and that of our nation depends on it.

Learn more about FPHNYC’s impact on the health and wellness of New Yorkers and how you can support essential public health work.

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UPDATE: In 2021 FPHNYC was awarded additional grants from the USDA to continue and expand Get the Good Stuff and related programs targeting food insecurity. New Yorkers quickly benefitted from an increase in the value of Health Bucks incentives received by SNAP participants to spend at farmers markets, as well as the launch of a discounted food box program. The additional funding will also help expand the number of supermarkets where shoppers can use their Get the Good Stuff incentive card on eligible foods. The number of New Yorkers participating in Get the Good Stuff is expected to rise from 4,700 in 2020 to 14,000 in 2024. The following text was originally published July 2020.

Cost is a major barrier to fresh fruit and vegetable consumption among  families with low incomes. In 2019, the NYC Health Department announced the launch of Get the Good Stuff, offering New Yorkers with  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits additional purchasing power for eligible fruits, vegetables, and beans at participating supermarkets.

An innovative approach to providing healthy food

Funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant administered by FPHNYC, Get the Good Stuff is one of the only fully electronic nutrition incentive programs in the nation to include frozen, canned and dried fruits, vegetables, and beans in addition to fresh produce.  The program launched to public excitement and widespread media coverage, including by local outlets serving Spanish and Chinese speakers. FPHNYC is proud to have put in place the systems that made it possible.

Doubling the impact to help benefits go further

Nearly 1 in 5 New Yorkers relies on SNAP to purchase food. Through Get the Good Stuff, for every $1 spent in SNAP benefits on eligible fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits, vegetables, and beans, shoppers get $1 added to a program  loyalty card to spend on eligible foods at their next purchase. Shoppers can earn up to $50 in incentives on their Get the Good Stuff card per day.

The program is currently available at 6 supermarkets located in in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx with the hope to expand to more as funding allows. Since the program launched at the first store in June 2019, over 4,700 households with SNAP have enrolled in the program and have redeemed more than $325,000 worth of fruit and vegetable incentives. Participants are predominantly Latino/Hispanic (48%) and Black (19%). One-third of participants report having hypertension and one in five reports having diabetes.

While shoppers experience a user-friendly loyalty card system, getting the program off the ground required extensive changes to stores’ checkout technology. FPHNYC worked with the Health Department to develop new partnerships with supermarkets and their point-of-sales (POS) vendors – which support the software used at the checkout counter – to create a fully electronic system to distribute and redeem points.

Health Department staff identified products in the stores’ inventories eligible for the incentive, and the POS vendors programmed the systems to recognize when participants use SNAP to purchase eligible items and add value to their Get the Good Stuff loyalty card. FPHNYC is continuing to provide administrative support to this program.

An inspiring start, but facing challenges ahead

In a city of 8.5 million people, six supermarkets is just a start. The program increases access to healthy food and is helping thousands of New Yorkers  put more fruits and vegetables on the table.

“There was a time I couldn’t provide a healthy meal for my family because of financial needs, but ever since this program [Get the Good Stuff] came, there’s not one night that we don’t have fruits and vegetables in my house.”

Get the Good Stuff participant

All six supermarkets implementing Get the Good Stuff are located in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and inequitable distribution of resources, including access to affordable, healthy food. Four of the stores are in priority neighborhoods based on high rates of COVID-related deaths, hospitalizations, and positive cases and high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.

As the COVID-19 epidemic has placed a spotlight on food insecurity in our city, the program is looking to expand to additional supermarkets and reach more individuals, including New Yorkers with low incomes who do not qualify for SNAP.

To learn more about Get the Good Stuff and how you can support this program please contact us. If you’d like to contribute to our work, please consider donating to support innovative projects that make New York City healthier and safer for all.

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Since the beginning of this crisis, FPHNYC has worked closely with our partners at the Health Department to test and implement creative strategies to decrease the rate of opioid overdose deaths in our city. As we now face COVID-19, we must develop and adapt strategies to serve individuals with opioid use disorder.

Adapting to Deliver Methadone to New Yorkers in Need

Nearly 30,000 New Yorkers receive methadone, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, at 68 treatment programs across the city. As social distancing rules due to COVID-19 came into effect, it became clear that many people taking methadone would now struggle with access. Some patients are isolated older adults, have tested positive for COVID-19, or are homeless. These added risk factors may make it dangerous for these patients to pick up their methadone at the centers that remain open.

Thanks in part to a recent Overdose Data to Action grant awarded to FPHNYC by the CDC, our partners at the Health Department have been able to adapt to ensure patients can still get life-saving methadone while staying safe from dangers presented by COVID-19. This new methadone delivery program is implemented in collaboration with the NYC Health Department and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In support, FPHNYC is securing protective equipment and cleaning supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer and wipes, for the 20 Health Department staff making curbside deliveries and coordinating logistics for this program.

“It’s been an incredible experience making these deliveries to people in need,” says Lili Warren, Research and Surveillance Coordinator at the Health Department and one of the volunteers who deliver methadone to participants in the program. “ It’s not easy, but knowing that we can make a difference and help people with urgent needs during this pandemic, while also having the equipment we need to stay safe, is such a privilege.“

Methadone Saves Lives

Although an effective and safe treatment for opioid use disorder, methadone is still one of the most heavily federally regulated medications in the US. Thankfully, federal regulations were recently relaxed in response to COVID-19, allowing local governments to start methadone delivery to high-risk patients and increasing the minimum number of doses that can be provided to patients at home.

Now, anyone who is unable to travel to a treatment center (or who does not have a household member who can pick up the methadone for them), can be referred by the medical director of their opioid treatment program for curbside methadone delivery.

“Methadone is a life-saving medication,” said Health Commissioner and FPHNYC Board Chair Dr. Oxiris Barbot in a recent press release announcing the expansion of the Methadone Delivery Program. “New Yorkers who take methadone and get sick from COVID-19 should not have to choose between getting their medication and protecting their health or the health of others.”

Expanding a Life-Saving Program

After a successful soft launch in mid-April delivering methadone to patients 65 years or older at select “isolation hotels” across the city, the program has grown. The methadone home delivery program now accepts patients from isolation hotels run by NYC Health + Hospitals, NYC Emergency Management, and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. It is also providing home deliveries to anyone over 50 who is referred to the program. Approximately 1,300 deliveries can be made per month to high-risk patients who have been diagnosed with or have symptoms of COVID-19 or have an underlying health condition.

FPHNYC remains committed to fighting epidemics of all kinds and protecting the public health of all New Yorkers. We’re proud to partner with the Health Department to serve New York’s most vulnerable populations. We fight to ensure that even in the face of a global pandemic, they receive access to support and dignity of respectful, accessible care.

The work of fighting ongoing epidemics such as opioid overdoses does not stop when faced with a new health threat. To support our life-saving work combating epidemics, donate to our Epidemics Fund.

The post Fighting Two Epidemics at Once: Addressing the Opioid Crisis During COVID appeared first on Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc..

Before this pandemic, Black women in NYC were 8 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. We also know that the coronavirus is impacting Black people at disproportionate rates, adding another layer of complication and fear for expectant mothers of color. They must navigate increasingly stressful and dangerous situations while giving birth, as hospitals fight to contain the spread of the virus.

Coronavirus Complications

The added complications of shortened and more isolated hospital stays, limitations on visitors and birth supports like doulas, and misinformation about the coronavirus means that some mothers are unable to get the care and support they need. 

FPHNYC is committed to creating a city where every mother and child has the support they need to thrive, even during a pandemic. As COVID-19 has transformed NYC, we continue to pilot innovative ways to address inequities and adapt existing programs to support mothers and babies in our most vulnerable communities.

Empowering Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both mothers and babies, a Health Department report shows that rates of breastfeeding are lower among Black, Latinx, and Asian/Pacific Islander mothers compared with White mothers in NYC. In response, FPHNYC worked with the Health Department to set up Baby Cafés® prior to the pandemic in East Harlem, Brownsville, and the Bronx, based on the Baby Café USA© model. These spaces provide emotional, educational, and social support for women who are breastfeeding, intending to breastfeed, or want to learn more. [See our August 2022 blog post on Breastfeeding Awareness Month and Baby Cafés®].

Advocating for Mothers’ Rights

Staff have adapted programming to provide trainings on pregnant people’s rights during COVID-19. They are also countering misinformation with facts from trusted sources like the Health Department, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and A Better Balance, a national advocacy group that aims to improve quality of life for pregnant and parenting families.

When in-person sessions were put on pause in March, I was really glad we were able to move to a virtual setting so quickly. Even though we can’t meet in person right now, I look forward to seeing everyone’s faces on the screen. East Harlem Baby Cafe is so great for the community and I wish every mom could attend!

Zoya

Providing Support from Afar

The support provided by the Baby Café’s® communities is empowering new moms. One mother, who had recently delivered twins at 34 weeks, was only allowed to see and nurse one baby per day because of hospital restrictions due to the virus. Frustrated and concerned, she contacted her Baby Café® group seeking support. The group was able to help her advocate for her rights, connect her with a social worker and doula, and petition the hospital so she could see both of her babies each day during her stay.

“Without the support of my Baby Café group, I don’t know what I would have done. I was alone at the hospital and really concerned for my babies’ health, especially at such a crucial moment. Thanks to my group, I was able to advocate for my rights and my babies’ rights so I could breastfeed them and help give them a healthier start.” 

The Baby Cafés® continue to provide vital support to participants, some of whom are overwhelmed at home, live in shelters, or are struggling with social isolation. Staff are working tirelessly to link participants to online resources and programs that can support their mental health, assist with breastfeeding skills, provide food, and empower them to advocate for themselves and practice self care. By coordinating and securing funds for these programs, FPHNYC ensures they have the resources to continue serving people who rely on these services. 

Our Work Continues

The hard work of ensuring the health and safety of mothers and babies doesn’t stop during a pandemic. In fact, it is even more critical in this moment. Protecting and improving the health of mothers and babies will always be core priority of FPHNYC and our partners at the Health Department. We won’t stop until every family in NYC has the support they need to thrive.

If you are interested in supporting our work, consider donating to our Healthy Mothers and Babies Fund.

The post Protecting Mothers and Babies Can’t Stop During a Pandemic appeared first on Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc..

From Climate Change to Social Isolation

The Heat Wave by Eric Klinenberg illuminated the health benefits of social cohesion – our social connectedness and sense of responsibility for our community. The book describes the Chicago heat wave of 1995, which claimed 739 lives in five days, mainly of elderly, low income residents. Klinenberg showed how neighborhoods with similar demographics fared differently depending on the degree of social cohesion.

Inspired by Klinenberg’s work, the Health Department created the Be a Buddy (BAB) program to improve social cohesion and reduce illness and death in three low-income communities with poor health outcomes: Brownsville, East Harlem, and Hunts Point. Community organizations in these neighborhoods work with volunteers who develop relationships with their vulnerable older neighbors. In emergencies, volunteers check on their “buddies,” and help them get what they need.  

Adapting to COVID-19

BAB has quickly adapted its ready-made system of interpersonal and community connections to support the health of New Yorkers isolated at home. Volunteers are now checking on their buddies via calls, texts, and virtual visits. In addition to social connection, they link residents with vital services, such as grocery, meal and pharmaceutical delivery, as well as mental health counseling. The program currently serves over 1,000 New Yorkers.

“The community-based volunteers are so dedicated, going above and beyond to support their buddies in the BAB program. Check in calls are lasting longer and longer; people are thankful for the social engagement, especially now”

Hannah Siegel, Project Manager and Program Evaluator

Looking Ahead – A New Future

During this crisis, BAB is in a unique position to provide a critical service. However, the program needs more support to sustain itself and reach more people. We’re proud to share that we’ve received a donation from the New York City Foundation for Eldercare to support this essential work. And thankfully, FPHNYC  has received significant support for our Epidemics Fund, from those eager to support our public health system.

“The participants are incredibly grateful to receive wellness checks from familiar people or organizations in their communities, and call their local volunteers just to tell them so.“

As the nonprofit partner to the Health Department, FPHNYC is directing donations to its Epidemics Fund to the COVID-19 response.

The post Why Social Cohesion is Key During COVID-19 appeared first on Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc..

FPHNYC worked with the Health Department to raise support for this innovative program. ¡Buen Provecho! provides nutrition education, promotes healthier habits, boosts parent engagement and secures access to fresh fruits and vegetables for East Harlem residents. Together, we successfully won a three-year grant for $1,536,000 through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Building healthy habits with kids and parents

¡Buen Provecho! — Eat Well’s unique feature is a nutrition education program focused on both students and caregivers. It consists of two parts:

1. The Breakfast Club, which is led by school staff and parent association leadership at parent breakfasts, and
2. Eating Healthy for Success, a Department of Education-approved, common core-integrated curriculum for pre-K through first graders that is led by teachers. Students are taught about healthy eating while caregivers are empowered to make smart dietary choices for their families.

With Buen Provecho, every time I get new information, I love putting in practice with my son what I learned that day

Parent participant

¡Buen Provecho! — Eat Well also helps with efforts to reduce diet-related diseases within the community. The program started in 2015 and is still going strong, with marked growth in parent attendance. Both student and parent lessons strengthen family connections and highlight the importance of healthy eating. The program prides itself on empowering and engaging community members while creating a sustainable model.

Working together to support healthy choices

FPHNYC serves as grant manager, overseeing subcontracts with GrowNYC and reports to the funder. We also help with program operations planning, financial reporting, hiring, and evaluating yearly budgets to ensure the program stays on track.

Looking ahead, ¡Buen Provecho! — Eat Well will focus on making sure both students and families keep learning about the foods they need to be healthy, strong, and ready to learn each school year.

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