Hunger Solutions New York

A key goal of NYHealth’s Building Healthy Communities priority area is to create healthy communities that lead to more New Yorkers of all ages eating healthy foods, being physically active, and having access to a range of programs that encourage healthy life choices.

Many organizations across the State are doing smart, innovative work that is relevant to NYHealth’s work to improve health in New York neighborhoods. These organizations should be elevating their work and informing key stakeholders at conferences and other convenings in New York and nationally. Yet, because of a lack of resources, they are often unable to do so. To address this issue, NYHealth awarded grants through its Sponsoring Conference Participation in Support of Healthy Communities Request for Proposals (RFP). Through this RFP, NYHealth sponsored community-based organizations, health departments, and other low-resource organizations to attend and present at local, State, and national conferences related to building healthy communities. In 2016, NYHealth awarded Hunger Solutions New York (HSNY) a grant to participate in this initiative.

With NYHealth funding, HSNY sent its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy specialist to attend the 2016 American Association of SNAP Directors/National Association of TANF Administrators annual conference. The HSNY staff member attended SNAP-focused workshops and panels and learned how other states have implemented policy options to improve their SNAP programs, as well as learned about the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutritional Services’ policy priorities for 2017. By attending this conference, HSNY was able to increase its capacity in ensuring that SNAP is accessible, streamlined, and simplified for vulnerable families and individuals in New York State.

View a complete list of conference participation grantees.