September 2022 Common Ground Newsletter

September 2022

My Health Story 2022 is one of the first efforts in our region to use an ASL-accessibility module in a broad public health surveillance project.

My Health Story 2022 makes survey accessibility a top priority

In July, Common Ground Health launched the My Health Story 2022 Survey to provide a way for residents in our region to share important information about their health and the life circumstances that impact their well-being. 

This year, Common Ground Health is partnering with Empire Justice Center, Monroe County Language Access Coalition, the National Center for Deaf Health Research at the University of Rochester, and a team at Vanderbilt University to strengthen inclusion of community members with diverse language needs.

In addition to the English and Spanish versions, respondents who prefer to listen to the survey can use a text-to-speech format in both languages, which is ideal for individuals with lower reading levels or a visual impairment Common Ground Health has also added an American Sign Language (ASL) version featuring certified Deaf interpreters sharing each question and answer in ASL. 

Continue reading in our newsroom »

Dr. Linda Clark, Chief Medical Officer for Common Ground Health, receives her booster

Area residents urged to get updated COVID-19 booster shot

Public health officials are encouraging eligible residents in the Finger Lakes region to get vaccinated with the updated booster shot against COVID-19. The CDC recently approved reformulated booster shots to further protect against the disease.

According to CDC guidelines, people ages 12 and older now are eligible to receive an updated booster two months after their last COVID-19 dose — either since their last booster shot or since completing their initial two vaccine doses.

Continue reading in our newsroom »

All smiles at A Call to Women of Color 2022

View the full gallery!

BIPOC seniors' contributions highlighted

Highlighting the ongoing advocacy of Common Ground Health’s Senior Adult Community Engagement project, local officials proclaimed September BIPOC/Black and Brown Senior Month during a ceremony Sept. 16 at City Hall.

“Ordinary BIPOC/Black and Brown seniors are doing extraordinary work every day,” said Phyllis Jackson, R.N., who leads the SACE project for Common Ground Health. “However, their contributions and voices are rarely recognized. SACE is determined to change that.”

Continue reading in our newsroom »

Photo credit: Alejandro Granadillo / AP

Partner Spotlight: Help Ibero with Hurricane Fiona relief efforts

Our partners at the Ibero-American Action League are collecting donations to support disaster relief after Hurricane Fiona ravaged Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Thousands are without power, clean water, and housing.

According to the Center for a New Economy, Puerto Rican infrastructure already was extremely vulnerable prior to Hurricane Fiona because only 30% of permanent reconstruction work had started in the aftermath of 2017′s Hurricane Maria.

Learn more about supporting the hurricane relief efforts.

Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Medical Society

Monroe County Medical Society honors Common Ground reps

The Monroe County Medical Society honored several Common Ground representatives during its 2022 gala. The event served to present awards for 2022, as well as 2020 and 2021 awards postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Thomas Mahoney, formerly Common Ground’s Chief Medical Officer, received one of the 2022 Edward Mott Moore Awards, along with home care pioneer Louise Woerner. Phyllis Jackson, RN, Common Ground’s community wellness project manager, and Dr. Michael Mendoza, a Common Ground board member, received the 2021 Edward Mott Moore Awards.

Nominations for 2023 awards are open at https://www.mcms.org/Awards.

Visit the full photo gallery on the MCMS website.

What we're reading

Many children are regularly exposed to gun violence. Here's how to help them heal. (WXXI News / NPR)

Noelle E. C. Evans wrote this nationally distributed piece earlier this month on healing from community gun violence. It resonates for us yet again today in light of Wednesday's N. Clinton Ave. shooting, which left a 3-year-old boy in critical condition.

In the headlines

Finger Lakes 1 Healthcare workers hanging on during staffing shortage: 'Look for other opportunities within the healthcare system' (Sept. 19)

News10 NBC Common Ground hosts event to promote healthy living (Sept. 17)

Rochester First ‘A Call to Women of Color’ health event held in Rochester (Sept. 17)

Genesee Sun Monroe County to open bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccination clinics this week (Sept. 16)

Minority Reporter Women and girls of color are invited to gather for health and empowerment (Sept. 16)

News10 NBC City proclaims September ‘BIPOC/Black and Brown Senior Month’ (Sept. 16)

Finger Lakes 1 'A Call to Women of Color’ happening September 17 at Genesee Valley Park (Sept. 15)

News10 NBC Monroe County will hold clinics to distribute Omicron specific boosters starting Wednesday (Sept. 14)

Spectrum News 1 Appointments available for bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters in Monroe County (Sept. 12)

13 WHAM Monroe County to hold COVID-19 booster clinics (Sept. 12)

WXXI News Monroe County opens omicron booster clinics to target underserved residents (Sept. 12)

Finger Lakes 1 Healthcare staffing shortages will continue until training, other barriers addressed: Local systems currently in ‘critical condition’ (Sept. 5)

Genesee Sun Ability to attract and retain staff threatens the health care delivery system (Sept. 2)

Finger Lakes Times Dire situation: Healthcare workforce shortage called 'critical' (Sept. 2)

Rochester Business Journal Survey reveals biggest threat to health care delivery system (Sept. 1)