Year: 2016
Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative
Through its Healthy Neighborhoods Fund initiative, NYHealth is supporting six communities across the State in their efforts to increase residents’ access to nutritious food, opportunities for physical activity, and other initiatives that encourage healthy living.
Healthy Neighborhoods Fund grantees and their partners have sought ways to increase community engagement so they can equip residents with the tools they need to advocate for healthy, affordable food and safer parks and public spaces in which to be physically active. Community engagement not only helps shape a neighborhood’s future, but also ensures that improvements are sustainable. To advance community engagement efforts, NYHealth is allocating up to $50,000 to each Healthy Neighborhoods Fund site toward additional training, capacity building, and other activities that lead to deep engagement with neighborhood residents. In 2016, NYHealth awarded Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative (the Collaborative) a grant as part of this effort.
Under this grant, the Collaborative supported the training of participants in a resident leadership program on the elements of urban restoration, part of a curriculum in urbanism based on Dr. Mindy Fullilove’s work, Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America’s Sorted Out Cities. Specifically, the training included instruction from Dr. Fullilove, walking tours, an urban restoration workshop and field guide, and site visits.
Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative
Through its Healthy Neighborhoods Fund initiative, NYHealth is supporting six communities across the State in their efforts to increase residents’ access to nutritious food, opportunities for physical activity, and other initiatives that encourage healthy living.
Healthy Neighborhoods Fund grantees and their partners have sought ways to increase community engagement so they can equip residents with the tools they need to advocate for healthy, affordable food and safer parks and public spaces in which to be physically active. Community engagement not only helps shape a neighborhood’s future, but also ensures that improvements are sustainable. To advance community engagement efforts, NYHealth is allocating up to $50,000 to each Healthy Neighborhoods Fund site toward additional training, capacity building, and other activities that lead to deep engagement with neighborhood residents. In 2016, NYHealth awarded Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative (the Collaborative) a grant as part of this effort.
Under this grant, the Collaborative supported the training of participants in a resident leadership program on the elements of urban restoration, part of a curriculum in urbanism based on Dr. Mindy Fullilove’s work, Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America’s Sorted Out Cities. Specifically, the training included instruction from Dr. Fullilove, walking tours, an urban restoration workshop and field guide, and site visits.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (d.b.a. Niagara University)
To tackle some of the underlying problems that have affected the health of neighborhoods, NYHealth launched the Healthy Neighborhoods Fund to help New York State communities become healthier and more active places.
Through this initiative, NYHealth is investing in six communities across the State in support of their efforts to increase access to healthy, affordable food; improve access to safe places where residents can exercise and be active; and connect children and adults to programs that support healthy behaviors. Although all the communities are working toward the common goal of improving the health of their residents, each community may face particular challenges. In response, NYHealth is supporting these communities with more specialized technical assistance to help them meet their objectives. In 2016, NYHealth awarded a grant to Niagara University to assist the Healthy Food, Healthy People workgroup, a member of the grantee Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative, in developing a local food action plan.
Under this grant, Niagara University helped the workgroup develop a comprehensive plan for food policies and programs to strengthen the local food system and improve the health, economy, and environment of the Niagara Falls community. Specifically, Niagara University assisted the workgroup in gaining residents’ perspectives on food needs and opportunities by developing the overall data collection and analysis strategy; identifying key stakeholders and potential participants; facilitating focus groups; and outlining an outreach plan. In addition, Niagara University used best-practices research to identify food-related policies and programs in similar communities that can be quickly replicated in the Niagara Falls region. Lastly, Niagara University provided guidance and oversight of the planning process; provided subject matter expertise; and supported the action plan’s delivery and implementation.
Oswego County Health Department
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 is sponsoring 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 the Oswego County Health Department (OCHD) a grant to participate in this initiative.
With NYHealth funding, OCHD sent one staff member to attend the fourth annual Population Health Summit, “Working Across Sectors to Address Social Determinants of Health.” The summit sought to deepen and extend the understanding of ongoing efforts in New York State and nationally that demonstrate effective collaboration between health care and other sectors to advance population health. OCHD gave a poster presentation on a program that targeted childhood obesity prevention and reduction, which showcased effective collaboration among the local health department, elementary schools, and a university. OCHD shared information learned from the summit with local researchers and providers, which will help to shape decisions and identify emerging issues at the county level.
New York Immigration Coalition, Inc.
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 New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) a grant to participate in this initiative.
With NYHealth funding, NYIC sent one staff member and a staff member of its member organization, African Services Committee (ASC), to attend the National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC) hosted in Nashville, Tennessee. This year, the conference focused on engaging populations and areas that are not often featured in immigrant integration conversations. Specifically, the conference brought together a panel of immigrant rights advocates, immigrant community leaders, and thought leaders who promote a “health in all policies” framework. The ASC staff member shared its program models and intervention strategies with representatives from African diaspora-serving organizations. The attendees shared what they have learned from the conference with colleagues and partner organizations.