January 2024 Newsletter

Significant funding is coming to New York State to improve health outcomes.

Redesigned 1115 Medicaid waiver is approved

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) approved major changes to New York’s $7.5 billion 1115 Medicaid waiver.

The redesigned waiver aims to help the state improve health equity; reduce health disparities; support the delivery of health related social needs services such as nutrition, housing and transportation for high-risk populations; and promote workforce development. The waiver also gives the state Substance Use Disorder demonstration authority. The waiver period will begin April 1, 2024, and will cover three years.

A Jan. 25 webinar from the Finger Lakes Waiver Planning team offering an overview of the waiver and what it could mean for the Finger Lakes region is available here.

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Global School Play Day- February 7, 2024

Healthi Kids brings international play event to City of Rochester

On Wednesday, February 7, nearly 60 education and childcare sites across the City of Rochester will participate in Global School Play Day together for the first time, thanks to the efforts of the Healthi Kids team.

A celebration of the power of unstructured play, Global School Play Day is observed in over 75 countries. Healthi Kids has brought together schools, libraries, R-Centers, childcare providers and out-of-school time programs to participate in all four quadrants of the City.

Learn more and find the site nearest you »

Common Ground Health awarded Mother Cabrini grant for infant and early childhood mental health

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has awarded Common Ground Health a grant of $150,000 to improve infant and early childhood mental and relational health in the Finger Lakes region.

"Nurturing and responsive early relationships, especially with primary caregivers, are essential for an infant/toddler's healthy brain development," said Stephanie David, JD, MPH, IMH-E^®, Early Childhood Policy Director at Common Ground Health, "Babies' brains are wired for relationships, and, with this grant, we will be able to positively impact the relational health of infants and young children across our region."

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