October 2020 Common Ground Newsletter

October 2020

Updated county profiles now available online

Common Ground Health is launching its popular County Health Profiles in a new digital format that will make updates easier and more frequent.

The profiles share county-specific data on measures ranging from health outcomes by ZIP code to indicators of stress and mental and emotional health.

“The County Health Profiles have long provided a snapshot of how counties are doing on chronic disease and early death, but thanks to our My Health Story survey, we have been able to dig in to some of the forces driving those outcomes,” said Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground.

Learn more.

COVID Community Challenge gives RCSD parent-teacher groups a chance to win $15,000

Finally, a fundraiser that can be done from home, takes only seconds a day, and can earn a parent-teacher group from your favorite Rochester City School District (RCSD) school up to $15,000.

The COVID Community Challenge rewards RCSD parent-teacher groups for recruiting adults to participate daily in ROC COVID, an online health screening tool for COVID-19 symptoms.

Administered by the University of Rochester, the COVID Community Challenge is made possible through grants from private foundations. Participation in the challenge contributes to a region-wide effort to control the spread of COVID-19 and return RCSD schools to in-class learning.

Read more.

Participation in ROC COVID symptom tracker doubles

Participation in the region’s innovative COVID-19 symptom tracking tool doubled to more than 50,000 in September thanks in large part to employees from the University of Rochester and Rochester Regional Health opting to share their responses to workplace screenings.

The addition of employer-based data to ROC COVID provides a more robust ability to spot ZIP codes with potential COVID-19 outbreaks. With more than 3 million screenings logged since June, the daily symptom rate remains below 1% of responses, but should they increase, officials can direct public health resources to ZIP codes in need.

Learn more.

Find it online

COVID Mythbusters: Skin and hair myths featuring Dr. Nana Duffy, a dermatologist with Rochester Regional Health

COVID Mythbusters: COVID and flu and vaccines - Oh my! featuring Dr. Angela Branche, assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and an expert in infectious diseases

COVID Mythbusters: Schools reopening and COVID myths featuring Kathleen Graupman, superintendent of Greece schools and Lawrence Bo Wright, superintendent of Rush-Henrietta schools.

Healthi Kids infographic on helping your child adjust to wearing a mask

Upcoming trainings for health care employees in the latest health care workforce newsletter

No-cost COVID-19 testing and flu shots offered at select Rochester churches

A coalition of nonprofits, government, business and hospital systems teamed up to bring COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations to four Rochester churches in October. The initiative focused on Black and Latino neighborhoods that are experiencing higher COVID-19 rates.

Testing and flu shots were offered at Aenon Baptist Church, Greater Harvest Church, Memorial AME Zion Church and House of Prayer and Restoration. A similar coalition has provided testing in September at Jordan Health’s Brown Square Center.

Details here.

Partner spotlight:
Flu fighters

Kudos to the Monroe County Public Health Department, UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health for coming together to urge local residents to get their influenza vaccinations in the next six weeks.

“Outside of Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, cooperation among competing medical providers would be unheard of, but in our area, providers stay focused on the best interests of the community,” said Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health. “We join them in urging people to get their flu shot early this year to reduce load on hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Learn about local flu clinics.

In the headlines

Rochester Business Journal Rochester Black Agenda Group leads charge on racism as a public health crisis

Network for Regional Health Improvement Health Literacy Empowers Individuals and Communities

Democrat and Chronicle Report ties redlining in Rochester city neighborhoods to susceptibility to COVID

Patch Rochester To Continue To Provide Free Meals For Children Related: Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester Beacon Mendoza’s moment

Campus Times Rochester community members hold forum to explore healthier food policies