December 2019 Common Ground Newsletter

December 2019

Study aims to encourage diversity in trail users 

What exactly is keeping some residents—particularly those from communities of color—from hiking, biking and jogging along a three-county section of the Erie Canal?

Is it lack of promotion or access? Safety concerns? Something else?

To find out, Common Ground Health is bringing together more than 20 partners from state, county and local governments and organizations for the Health Impact Assessment of this section of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile network of state trails in development. Learn more.

Economic development funding includes health-promoting awards

Several health-promoting grants were part of the millions in economic development funding Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Dec. 19 for the Finger Lakes and South Tier regions.

Many of the funding awards in the 2019 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative awards workforce growth were in arts organizations and municipal wastewater treatment projects. Additional awards were in community development, trails and complete streets funding, play and wellness funding and service expansion funding. Get details on the grants.

Members of the African American Health Coalition, Latino Health Coalition and Partnership for Access to Healthcare paused during the holiday season to celebrate their collaborative efforts to promote health equity.

State proposal would cap insulin co-payments

A proposal to lower prescription drug prices for New Yorkers is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2020 State of the State address to be delivered Jan. 8, 2020.

The plan would cap co-payments for insulin, the costly and critical diabetes medication, which has tripled in price over the past decade. It would also empower the state Department of Financial Services to investigate skyrocketing prescription drug prices and establish a commission to study feasibility and the benefits of a Canadian drug importation program.

Learn more about the proposal.

Partner spotlight:
Sue Steele Landscape Architecture PLLC

SmarterTravel website just named Rochester a top place to visit in 2020, citing downtown revitalization. One of the unsung heroes of that renewal is the firm Sue Steele Landscape Architecture, whose principal guided the development of Rochester’s new activity-promoting Play Walk.

“Sue Steele was amazing to work with,” said Dina Faticone, Common Ground’s director of community health and engagement. “Sue created the Play Walk website, laid out the project’s design, sourced equipment from all over the globe, and coordinated a youth design team at the Central Library. Her work proves that healthy surroundings can be beautiful.” Learn more about Play Walk.

In the headlines

Rochester Beacon Poverty is killing us

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Fixing the caregiver shortage: Why these health aides are twice as likely to stay on the job Related video

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle This unique program is helping people who care for their loved ones with dementia and more

Canandaigua Daily Messenger  New drug treatment center to open in Canandaigua

The Evening Tribune Steuben Public Health sets 2019-2021 priorities

Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative blog Q&A - Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health