July 2021

Racism drives illness and early death, study finds

Racial bias in housing, education, employment, criminal justice and other domains condemn Black people in Rochester and the Finger Lakes to sicker and shorter lives, according to an extensive new report by Common Ground Health.

“Structural racism is literally stealing the breath from the Black Community,” said Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground, the region’s health research and planning organization.

The Color of Health: The Devastating Toll of Racism on Black Lives connects the dots between the 67% higher premature mortality rate for African Americans and the upstream social constraints Black residents are forced to navigate in our region. Read more here.

Download the report at: commongroundhealth.org/ColorofHealth

Ambassador Camaje Grissom hands out information about the COVID vaccine at the 2021 Lilac Festival. The ambassador program is among the work being sustained by a new grant.

$1M granted for COVID vaccination effort

United Way of Greater Rochester has convened partners to provide $1 million to the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccination Program. ESL Federal Credit Union, Wegmans Food Markets, Paychex, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, United Way of Greater Rochester, and Konar Foundation all contributed to the effort to get COVID-19 vaccine information and vaccinations to historically excluded and hesitant populations throughout the nine-county region.

“When we requested help, without hesitation our business and philanthropic partners stepped up immediately and collectively committed $1 million to meet this moment on behalf of our region,” said Jaime Saunders, president & CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester.

Dina Faticone

Dr. Linda Clark

Common Ground names new chief medical officer and chief program officer

Common Ground Health has announced two updates to its leadership team.

Dr. Linda Clark, a physician specializing in occupational medicine and preventive medicine and public health, has been promoted from senior health advisor to chief medical officer. Dr. Clark will be provide clinical expertise and guidance to our agency's research, data and analysis efforts.

Dina Faticone, who has helped to build Common Ground’s Healthi Kids initiative since 2012 and has become a key part of the agency's leadership team, has been promoted to chief program officer. She will oversee the agency’s health improvement programs, including community outreach, education and advocacy for children and historically underserved populations.

Learn more about their new roles.

Campaign spreads youth mental health resources across Finger Lakes region

Created for teens, by teens, the FLX Teens are Alright campaign helps middle- and high-school students feel less alone and encourages them to seek mental health help. A zine, posters, stickers and bookmarks are now available in 74 libraries across Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming Counties.

“Teens are experts at being teens, so when things are being developed for them, they should have a seat at the table,” says Hannah Shippee, a program coordinator at Common Ground, which partnered with the Monroe County Library System, Pioneer Library System and Rochester Regional Library Council. See more about the campaign.

Convening aims to address shortages at Monroe Community Hospital and other facilities.

Partners to address long term care staffing crisis

Common Ground Health will convene a long-term care task force to identify critical issues contributing to the staff turnover crisis felt in long-term care and nursing home facilities throughout Monroe County.

“While our community’s older-adult population continues to grow significantly, the long-term care system has not kept pace,” Common Ground Health CEO Wade Norwood said. “Common Ground Health looks forward to working with Monroe County and engaging a task force to create a plan to meet the community’s long-term care needs, including recruiting, training and retaining a diverse skilled and home-health-care nursing workforce.”

Find out more.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Common Ground's Phyllis Jackson, Community Wellness Project Manager, and Board of Directors member Michael Mendoza, for winning the Edward Mott Moore Award from the Monroe County Medical Society.