Bronx Health Reach

The Partnership for a Healthier Bronx at Bronx Health REACH/Institute for Family Health is partnering with Everyday Democracy and coalition members on a new initiative called “Bronx Community Conversations for Change.”  The initiative aims to identify concerns and opportunities for healthy living in the Bronx and increase community participation and leadership in public health programs. The initiative includes: a facilitator’s training, structured, action-oriented conversations with community members, and community residents and organizations taking action in their communities. To launch the initiative, Everyday Democracy held a facilitator’s training on February 21^st at Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CUCE) in the South Bronx.  Twenty-nine people attended from all areas of the Bronx, including community members and representatives from community-based organizations, health and housing providers, and city agencies.  The training was co-sponsored by Bronx Health REACH, Everyday Democracy, the Partnership for a Healthier NYC, CUCE and the American Lung Association of the Northeast.  To get involved, please contact Emma Rodgers at 212-633-0800 x1249 or erodgers@institute2000.org

On December 18^th, Charmaine Ruddock, Carlos Devia and Diana Johnson presented at the 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit in Maryland on the role of insurance in access to specialty care at New York State teaching hospitals, changing the food environment in childcare settings, and community-academic collaborations on obesity prevention programs in elementary schools.  The Summit, hosted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health from December 17-19, focused on the intersection between science, practice and policy in eliminating health disparities.  Three-thousand people attended the exciting three day conference, including professionals and leaders from government agencies, community organizations, academia and medical institutions.

The Fund for Public Health in New York (The Fund), on behalf of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Partnership for Healthier New York City, has announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for community organizations and residents to work with Borough Lead Coalitions to advance the work of NYC’s Community Transformation Grant (CTG).  The Bronx Health REACH Coalition led by the Institute for Family Health is the Bronx Borough Lead Coalition. Bronx Health REACH, the Partnership and neighborhood contractors selected in the RFP will work together to support the development and implementation of environmental, infrastructure and systems changes around healthy eating, active living, alcohol and tobacco in the Bronx.  The Fund will award 6 grants to work in the Bronx.  Each grant will be up $10,000.  The Fund would like to award at least one grant per health issue (healthy eating, active living, tobacco, alcohol).  Details about the project and the RFP can be found online at http://fphny.org/whatsnew/rfps The deadline for receipt of proposals is December 17th.  Please feel free to contact Emma Rodgers at erodgers@institute2000.org or (212) 633-0800 x1249 if you have any questions.