August 2020 Common Ground Newsletter

August 2020

Regional task force supports K-12 schools reopening

As schools in 13 Finger Lakes counties navigate the unprecedented process of reopening in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new task force convened by Common Ground Health is working to ensure the physical and emotional health and safety of students and their families, education professionals and the community.

The Finger Lakes Reopening Schools Safely Task Force will ensure that local decisions are guided by the latest scientific findings about COVID-19. The task force is committed to continuity of learning for all students, including those who live in poverty, lack internet access or have special needs.

Learn more.

$100K "Healthiest Cities" grant aims to advance health equity in Rochester

Common Ground’s Healthi Kids initiative is teaming up with Foodlink and the City of Rochester to establish Rochester’s first food policy council, thanks to a new $100,000 Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge grant.

The council will identify gaps and opportunities to expand equitable access to quality food. The team will work with city residents to lead efforts to improve the overall health of the community.

“As a community, we can come together to ensure our food system empowers people to live healthy and fulfilling lives,” said Mike Bulger, healthy communities coordinator for Common Ground Health.

Read more.

Rochester wins 2020 All-America City Award

It’s official: The National Civic League recognized our region’s hard work and collaboration around health by naming Rochester a 2020 All-America City following a three-day virtual competition with communities across the country.
 
Rochester was recognized for its collaboration around the High Blood Pressure Collaborative, Project HOPE and the El Camino Neighborhood, and the Community Task Force on School Climate.

“[Rochester] showed us through their application and presentation that they do a great job of engaging the whole city in enhancing health and well-being,” said National Civic League President Doug Linkhart.

Read more about the award.

Partner spotlight:
Groups preventing evictions

We salute groups helping families avoid evictions and homelessness. New York's evictions moratorium was extended through Oct. 1, and the City of Rochester dedicated federal CARES Act funding to eviction-prevention programs. Catholic Family Center will use $2.1 million for rent payments and security deposits. Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, the Legal Aid Society of Rochester and Legal Assistance of Western New York will use $460,000 to pilot free legal help and an evictions hotline.

"These supports will help reduce housing insecurity for Monroe County families while promoting health equity,” said Nadine Hylton, senior research associate at Common Ground.

Learn more.

Practice maintains impressive blood pressure control

More than 40% of patients at Bay Creek Medical Group in Webster are over age 65, the age at which half the U.S. population is hypertensive.

Even so, the practice has been able to maintain an impressive blood pressure control rate that fluctuates between 80% and 82%—reducing chances of major health conditions including heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Find out how.

Shown above: From May through early September, Healthi Kids staff will have distributed more than 5,000 PlayROCs kits to encourage play during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We're hiring

Do you believe in the power of active, unstructured play? Do you have a background in public health or community involvement? Healthi Kids is looking for a PlayROCs Project Coordinator. See more.

In the headlines

News 10NBC 1M take ROC COVID survey, symptoms at 1% but major gaps with the young, poor and rural

13 WHAM Local group pushes to declare racism a public health crisis

WXXI News Coronavirus vaccine researchers are trying to recruit people of color for tests. It’s not easy. Related: WXXI News: Connections

Correction: In the July Common Ground Health newsletter, the wrong photo was used to illustrate a story about Finger Lakes Medical Associates. The correct photo can be viewed here with the story about the practice's blood pressure control success. We regret the error.