December 2022

Thousands respond to My Health Story 2022 health equity survey

Common Ground Health would like to say THANK YOU to the thousands of community members who responded to the My Health Story 2022 survey in English, Spanish, and ASL.

We had the pleasure to meet many wonderful folks at festivals and events, while we heard still more individuals' stories online. Our data team has begun analyzing responses, and we look forward to the next steps of engaging with and sharing the data.

Your stories will help us focus on what is most important to address in order to improve the health of our region—for all of us. Thank you.

Learn more about the survey »

CEO Wade Norwood and Common Ground staff pictured with award recipient and Chief Program Officer Dina Faticone

Faticone honored at ROC the Future State of Our Children 2022

Common Ground Health Chief Program Officer Dina Faticone was honored during ROC the Future's 10th Annual State of Our Children event.

Faticone received the Jacque Cady Annual Advocacy for Children Award. This award recognizes an individual for extraordinary accomplishment in advancing public policy or funding decisions for the benefit of our community’s children, in furtherance of ROC the Future’s mission to improve cradle-to-career outcomes for Rochester’s children.

Congratulations, Dina! We are so proud of you.

Learn more about the ROC the Future Alliance »

"You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children." Dolly Parton

Photo courtesy of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Partner Spotlight: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library brings free books to Rochester children

Philanthropist and country music superstar Dolly Parton has expanded her Imagination Library program to include the City of Rochester. This "books from birth" program provides a free book each month to all children aged 0-5.

The Rochester chapter began with the efforts of physician Matt Present, chief pediatrics resident at Golisano Children's Hospital, who observed Rochester families struggling to engage with their young children without the usual supports of in-person education.

"We learned that while caretakers have remained remarkably resilient and resourceful during these challenging times, many of our families had no books at home and few reliable methods of accessing them." — Matt Present, MD

Parents can register their child for free today at the Rochester chapter's website.

Partner Spotlight: National Alliance on Mental Illness

The winter holidays can be a challenging and lonely season for some. The Rochester chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has curated a list of trusted community resources to support better mental health during this time.

"NAMI is a major support of mental health in our community," Common Ground Health's Phyllis Jackson, RN, stated. "Under the leadership of Executive Director, Heather Newton, NAMI is making giant steps in bringing their offerings into the brown and Black communities. Newton has made DEI a pillar of the work she and the NAMI team are engaging in."

As NAMI states on their website, "Suicide is preventable. Mental illness is treatable. Addiction recovery is possible. YOU ARE NOT ALONE."

Learn more on the NAMI website »