New York Health Foundation

Enter your search

Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt

Top searches

Year: 2023

Newburgh Urban Food and Farm, Inc.

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement policies and practices that shape how local or regional food systems operate. Benefits of food planning include improving food procurement at public institutions, supporting local retail food businesses, and strengthening outreach and enrollment in benefits programs. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored food system plans. With a 2021 NYHealth grant, Newburgh Urban Farm and Food, Inc. (NUFFI) conducted the first in-depth study of Newburgh’s food system, which included 72 community meetings and events and surveys with 600 local leaders and residents. In 2024, NYHealth awarded NUFFI a grant to operationalize its plan to make healthy, local food more available to Newburgh residents.  

Under this grant, NUFFI will enhance the city’s emergency food system by reducing overlap and gaps in food availability, building capacity among providers, supporting language access, and facilitating a workgroup of food pantry managers. NUFFI will develop and publish a map of food resources and assets for residents, including food retail locations that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), emergency food schedules and contact information, farmers market programs and schedules, culturally relevant food access points, and food and nutrition education materials. NUFFI will also increase market opportunities for local growers through capacity building, formalize the structure for its task force and working groups, and implement additional programs to increase access to healthy, affordable, local foods.  

Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (fiscal sponsor: Syracuse Grows)

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement policies and practices that shape how local or regional food systems operate. Benefits of food planning include improving food procurement at public institutions, supporting local retail food businesses, and strengthening outreach and enrollment in benefits programs. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored food system plans. With a 2023 NYHealth grant, the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) created a five-year strategic plan to define the next chapter of its work. In 2024, NYHealth awarded SOFSA a grant to operationalize its strategic plan to make healthy, local food more available in Syracuse, surrounding Onondaga County and Onondaga Nation. 

Under this grant, SOFSA will improve transportation to food access points regionally; expand farm-to-institution purchasing; collaborate on efforts to increase lead testing and develop multilingual testing resources for home gardeners; support community-identified solutions to food access issues with mini-grants; and pursue an advocacy and civic engagement strategy.  

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (fiscal sponsor: Farm to Table, Inc.)

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement practices that shape how regional food systems operate.

It can result in improvements like changes in food procurement at public institutions, revisions to urban gardening codes, and better access to local food, which in turn have a positive impact on food security and health. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored regional food systems plans. The funding enables these alliances to put plans into action by hiring dedicated staff, speeding up coalition building, seeking community and resident input, and communicating to stakeholders about the positive impact of food planning on local food systems. In 2023, NYHealth awarded The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future a grant to provide capacity building and technical assistance to the eight food planning groups.

Under this grant, Johns Hopkins accelerated the development of local food system plans, supported the regional planning groups to secure funding for sustainability, and positioned the cohort as a collective voice to influence statewide policy change. It provided individual and group technical assistance to the eight regional food planning groups to ensure planning and strategies are action-oriented. Johns Hopkins matched each food planning group to a peer food policy council and facilitate discussions, site visits, and sharing of best practices. It also supported the cohort in developing a shared policy agenda to advocate for State and federal policy changes and made recommendations for a statewide food plan.

 

Rochester Food Policy Council (fiscal sponsor: Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, dba Common Ground Health)

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement practices that shape how regional food systems operate.

It can result in improvements like changes in food procurement at public institutions, revisions to urban gardening codes, and better access to local food, which in turn have a positive impact on food security and health. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored regional food systems plans. The funding enables these alliances to put plans into action by hiring dedicated staff, speeding up coalition building, seeking community and resident input, and communicating to stakeholders about the positive impact of food planning on local food systems. Two of these eight groups are now ready to put their plans into action. In 2023, NYHealth awarded Rochester Food Policy Council (ROC) a grant to support the implementation of local food systems plans to make healthy, local food more available. NYHealth is also supporting a complementary initiative with the Adirondack Food Systems Network.

Under this grant, ROC will undertake a range of activities to implement its plan. It will form a partnership with the City of Rochester to launch a healthy food grant and loan program to fund retail food businesses. Together with the City, ROC will also create a community food system plan that prioritizes healthy food access and nutrition-centered food procurement goals in public institutions. Additionally, ROC will work to expand public gardens and support a youth-led advocacy campaign for healthier food options at recreation centers.

Adirondack Food Systems Network (fiscal sponsor: AdkAction.org, Inc.)

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement practices that shape how regional food systems operate.

It can result in improvements like changes in food procurement at public institutions, revisions to urban gardening codes, and better access to local food, which in turn have a positive impact on food security and health. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored regional food systems plans. The funding enables these alliances to put plans into action by hiring dedicated staff, speeding up coalition building, seeking community and resident input, and communicating to stakeholders about the positive impact of food planning on local food systems. Two of these eight groups are now ready to put their plans into action. In 2023, NYHealth awarded Adirondack Food Systems Network (AFSN) a grant to support the implementation of local food systems plans to make healthy, local food more available. NYHealth is also supporting a complementary initiative with the Rochester Food Policy Council.

Under this grant, AFSN will work to make it easier for rural areas with smaller populations to compete for funds and implement local programs. AFSN will also implement a regional outreach and enrollment plan for nutrition incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks and Fresh Connect to maximize enrollment and efficiency. It will partner with local food producers to secure contracts with and supply food to local schools and health care institutions. In addition, AFSN will consolidate regional data from food system producers and distributors, retail locations, composters, nutrition programs, and health and funding information into an online repository to identify patterns and benchmarks and to evaluate progress.

Healthcare Association of New York State, Inc. Healthcare Educational and Research Fund

Our health systems are not prepared for the complex health needs of patients ages 60 and older, who will make up 25% of New York State’s total population by 2040.

Older adults encounter barriers to care and experience avoidable harm from overmedication, preventable falls, and treatable cognitive concerns. The Age-Friendly model provides a standardized approach for providing high-quality care to older adults centered on the “4Ms”: What Matters, Medication, Mentation (i.e., care for delirium), and Mobility. When implemented together, the 4Ms result in significant improvements in patient experience and quality outcomes. In 2019, New York State set an ambitious goal to designate 50% of its health care sites as Age-Friendly. Recently, the Governor issued an executive order that mandates the establishment of a New York State Master Plan on Aging where the Age-Friendly Health Systems model is recognized as a cornerstone of the effort. In 2020, NYHealth awarded the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) a grant to support the launch of the initial phase of a New York State Age-Friendly action community. In 2021, NYHealth awarded HANYS a second grant to build upon and continue this initiative. New York State is now more than halfway toward reaching its goal of achieving Age-Friendly recognition among 50% of health systems; however, under-resourced hospitals in upstate and rural regions have faced barriers to participation. In 2023, NYHealth awarded HANYS a third grant to continue scaling and operating the Age-Friendly Health Systems action community while laying the groundwork for statewide scaling and sustainability.

Under this grant, HANYS will work with at least 50 new and returning hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and skilled nursing facilities across the State to achieve Age-Friendly recognition. HANYS will provide individualized technical assistance, group coaching sessions, and tools to put the 4Ms into practice. Sites will test out changes like prescription modifications, care coordination, and end-of-life conversations; use data to monitor outcomes; and submit required documentation to achieve recognition. HANYS will also facilitate partnerships among health care sites, area agencies on aging, and community-based organizations and establish a well-built referral network, including social services options, for older adults. Partners will craft joint strategic plans to improve care transitions and workflows. Finally, HANYS will work with sites to make the business case for sustained investment in the 4M framework. It will disseminate findings among health system leaders and policymakers to advocate for widespread adoption of Age-Friendly care across the State, including as part of forthcoming initiatives like the State’s Master Plan on Aging, Medicaid waiver, and value-based payment models.

caret-down