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Uncategorized
June 20, 2025
By David Olson
Updated June 20, 2025 5:12 pm
Read on Newsday
Tens of thousands of Long Islanders would lose Affordable Care Act health insurance coverage or be required to pay much higher premiums under the budget bill the House of Representatives passed, state estimates show.
The state would have to pick up the costs for another half million people statewide, including tens of thousands more on Long Island.
The legislation, which also includes what independent analysts say would be hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts, would represent a massive contraction to health care coverage on Long Island and in the nation, experts say.
"In total, this would be the biggest rollback in federal support for health care ever," said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy for KFF, a San Francisco-based health policy and news nonprofit, during a Wednesday conference call.
The cuts are part of a broader push by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans for major reductions in spending across much of the federal government, with the argument that much of it amounts to waste, fraud and abuse. Democrats rebut that contention and note that the bill's tax cuts would add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit, according to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis.
In addition to changes to tighten eligibility and add more conditions for ACA coverage, the bill, called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," does not fund an extension of federal tax credits enacted in 2021 and set to expire at the end of this year. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, has always offered income-based subsidies, but the 2021 legislation greatly expanded them.
"The enhanced premium tax credits were a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic" and were not meant to be permanent, said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport).
The Republican-backed bill is now before the Senate and likely will face changes, though President Donald Trump strongly supports the measure.
How the ACA runs in New York
Insurance purchased under the ACA provides coverage to more than 1.9 million New Yorkers, including 270,000 Long Islanders. Those with ACA insurance include self-employed people — such as freelancers and entrepreneurs — and workers in jobs that do not offer health insurance.
Consumers choose among insurance companies through ACA "marketplaces," with most receiving tax credits that reduce the cost of a premium.
New York’s system is more generous than almost all other states’ because it offers a federally subsidized $0 premium with low co-payments to residents not on Medicaid with annual incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level, or $66,625 for a family of three. The state runs the program, called the Essential Plan, but insurance is through private companies.
There were 120,000 Suffolk and 105,000 Nassau residents, and nearly 1.7 million people statewide, in the Essential Plan as of May, state health department data shows.
Another 222,000 New Yorkers with incomes above the Essential Plan ceiling — including 22,800 in Suffolk and 22,200 in Nassau — are in an ACA marketplace.
Ending increased tax credits
In 2021, Congress increased the amount of tax credits and the number of people eligible for them, helping double ACA enrollment nationwide from 12 million in 2021 to 24.3 million in 2025, according to a KFF analysis. The bill does not extend them. If the enhanced credits were to be made permanent, they would cost the federal government $335 billion between 2025 and 2034, according to a 2024 estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.
Excluding some immigrants from coverage
The bill would remove hundreds of thousands of "lawfully present" New York immigrants and temporary residents from Essential Plan coverage. They include temporary workers, student exchange visitors, adults brought to the country illegally as children but with a deportation reprieve, refugees and others, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis.
In the four congressional districts that cover Long Island, more than 35,000 immigrants of 224,000 statewide would lose all coverage, state estimates show.
"These are people, families that have been here legally, done everything right, paid taxes, followed all the rules, and now suddenly they're not going to have coverage?" said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives for the Manhattan-based nonprofit Community Service Society, which provides assistance for people signing up for the ACA.
With earnings that are low but not low enough to qualify for Medicaid, "we expect at these income levels they will not be [able] to afford coverage and will become uninsured," health department spokeswoman Danielle De Souza said in an email.
An even larger group of these types of immigrants — more than a half million people, including nearly 80,000 in the four congressional districts — would become ineligible for Essential Plan coverage, but a court order requires the state to provide them Medicaid coverage.
Shifts $10 billion in costs to the state
Medicaid typically is funded by a combination of federal and state money, but federal law prohibits paying for Medicaid for the types of immigrants who would be newly ineligible for ACA coverage, so the state would have to pay all costs, an estimated $2.7 billion.
In addition, subsidies would be significantly decreased for about 960,000 other Essential Plan members. The plan's promise of a $0 premium would mean a $7.5 billion cost to the state to make up for the loss of the tax credits, Danielle Holahan, executive director of NY State of Health, which is the state's health insurance marketplace, told Newsday on Thursday.
"A $7.5 billion reduction is more than the state is prepared to handle," she said. "So I don't know what the future of the Essential Plan is if this goes forward."
The measures would be phased in beginning in 2026 and 2027. The state’s seven Republican members of Congress signed letters urging a delay until 2029, to provide more time for the state, hospitals and others to prepare. But they said they support reducing the number of noncitizen residents eligible for coverage.
"Taxpayer-funded health benefits should go to American citizens and long-term legal residents, not recent arrivals or those here illegally," one of the signatories, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), said in a statement to Newsday.
Higher premiums for Marketplace coverage
About 28,000 of the 45,000 Long Islanders with marketplace coverage receive subsidies, and they will on average face a 32% increase — or $219 a month more for a couple — in premiums, according to state estimates.
They are people who aren’t poor enough for Medicaid or the Essential Plan but don’t earn high salaries, many of them young people who won't pay for full-cost coverage because they view themselves as low-risk for health problems, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the nonprofit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
The exodus of younger, healthier people from the marketplace and the Essential Plan would leave a pool of people with higher health care costs, Benjamin said.
That would lead insurance companies to increase premiums, causing potentially large increases even for ACA recipients without subsidies, Holahan said.
The large number of newly uninsured people would put a strain on hospitals, which are required to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay, Baird-Streeter said.
LaLota, noting that the subsidies were timed to expire this year, said with a ballooning federal deficit, "we simply can’t afford to keep emergency-level spending in place indefinitely."
Shortened enrollment periods, more required documents
There are a number of other changes to the ACA in the bill that together would, according to the Congressional Budget Office, lead to hundreds of thousands more nationwide losing coverage.
They include shortening the period for which people can enroll for ACA coverage — in New York, it would be cut from three months to a month and a half — and requiring additional documentation if reported income can’t be verified with tax records.
Provisions like those would further decrease the number of younger adults with coverage, because they typically wait longer to enroll in health plans and are less likely to search for documents, making the insurance pool even older, said Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage at The Commonwealth Fund, a Manhattan-based nonprofit focusing on health care.
Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the fiscally conservative Empire Center for Public Policy, agreed that one reason for the verification provision is "to layer on levels of hassle and red tape with a view toward discouraging people from signing up."
But, he said, the government has a right to try to ensure only eligible people enroll.
"We’re talking about giving someone potentially thousands of dollars worth of tax credits," he said. "I think it makes sense to be careful about who we give that to."
De Souza, the health department spokeswoman, said New York already has "robust verification requirements."
Uncategorized
June 20, 2025
Struggling with basic expenses, Long Islanders are finding it harder to save for emergencies
By Brianne Ledda
Updated June 20, 2025 5:33 pm
Read on Newsday
When Amanda DiGrazia, 37, put her two young children in private day care, she and her husband had to dip into savings to pay $49,000 for a year at one point.
As their kids have gotten older, those expenses have decreased, the Seaford resident said. But new bills come along, including expenses to lease and buy out a lease on cars for both her and her husband.
Clothes also have gotten more expensive, and so has shopping for Christmas and birthdays.
"It seems like anytime that we're saving money somewhere, there's someplace else that it needs to go to," said DiGrazia, who helps her husband run a business.
DiGrazia is not the only one feeling the squeeze.
As the cost of living continues to rise, more Long Islanders — along with the state at large — are struggling to cover basic expenses, according to new data from United for ALICE, an economic research arm of the nonprofit United Way. That also means fewer families have extra money to save at the end of each month for financial emergencies, like a car repair or medical expenses, experts said. According to a March survey from WalletHub, at least 1 in 5 Americans have no emergency savings account.
“The personal saving rate, which is the percentage of money that you’re saving relative to your income, has been declining for 20 to 30 years,” said Steve Kent, chief economist of the Long Island Association’s Research Institute, referencing data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Harder to save for rainy days
On Long Island especially, it’s become more difficult for households to cover basic expenses, making it harder to save for emergencies, said Theresa Regnante, president and CEO of United Way of Long Island.
People know it’s important to save, but at the end of the day, “the decisions are already made for most families. There is not an opportunity to put back money for a rainy day fund,” she said.
Twenty-seven percent of households in Nassau County were above the federal poverty line but still struggled to pay their bills in 2023, according to a new report from United Way research arm United for ALICE.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents families above the federal poverty level who still cannot make ends meet.
Another 6% of households in Nassau were below the federal poverty line in 2023, according to the report.
Also in 2023, 33% of households in Suffolk were above the federal poverty line but still struggled to pay their bills, and 7% were below the federal poverty line
ALICE research in New York is sponsored by the nonprofit United Way of New York and the Albany-based Business Council of New York State Inc.
In Nassau County, to cover basic expenses in 2023, a household with two adults and two children would need at least $109,452, according to ALICE data. If those two children are in child care, that number rises to $133,380. A single adult would need to make at least $45,672.
In Suffolk County in 2023, a family of four with two children would need to earn at least $110,448 and, if the children are in child care, $141,456, according to ALICE. A single adult would need at least $46,944.
The median household income is $141,568 in Nassau and $124,045 in Suffolk, according to United for ALICE. The nonprofit noted in its report that “certain groups are disproportionately represented due to systemic racism, ageism, gender discrimination, and geographic barriers that limit many families’ access to resources and opportunities for financial stability.”
On Long Island, that includes Black, Hispanic and Indigenous households, as well as homes headed by a single parent, according to United for ALICE.
“We obviously live in a community where there’s a premium to live here,” Regnante said, citing high taxes, rents and housing prices among the factors that make it difficult to afford Long Island.
“More people who are gainfully employed, who are working at what we would call a livable wage, are really struggling,” she said.
Between 2010 and 2023, the total number of households in New York increased 8% and the number of households facing financial instability increased by 31%, according to the ALICE report.
Savings rate trending downward
In April, the most recent month with data available, the personal savings rate in the United States was 4.9%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The savings rate has been trending downward since a peak of 17.3% in 1975, except for a sharp spike in 2020 during lockdown, when people could not go out and spend and many received government checks.
Financial experts recommend that Americans save enough to cover between three and six months of expenses. Kent said this has become more difficult in the face of factors including inflation and more emphasis placed on experience-based spending, like concerts and dining out.
The average American family in 2025 should have $35,218 socked away to cover six months of expenses, according to an Investopedia analysis. That's far from reality for most, though, as that recommendation stands at around four times the $8,000 median in American savings accounts in 2022, equivalent to around $8,787 in 2025.
Post-pandemic, the country has faced some of the highest levels of inflation since 1981, with inflation rates hitting 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022, according to Investopedia. The rate of increase has dropped since then, hitting 2.9% in 2024, but prices have not.
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.1% in May, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the previous year, the index measuring the average change in prices for goods and services increased 2.4%, the report said.
Kings Park resident Alfred Doyle, 73, said he's felt the impact of inflation lately as it's become more difficult to sock away extra money each month, although he still feels good about his ability to save.
“I’d say it’s a little harder,” he said, especially “with the way prices are going up.”
Inflation, Kent said, “does eat away at people’s income so whatever you were making, your expenses have gone up over the past few years, so you have less to save.”
Another reason for the declining savings rate is the growing number of older Americans drawing on their savings in retirement, Kent said.
Additionally, consumers are increasingly spending money on experiences like occasions and trips, and some people, he said, are also spending more than their income through credit cards.
Total household debt in the United States — a number that includes credit card debt, auto loans and student loans — increased by $167 billion to reach $18.2 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Credit card and auto loan balances both dropped from the previous quarter for the second time since 2011, said the New York Fed, while student loan balances grew, with a large uptick in delinquencies.
Mortgage balances and home equity line of credit balances both rose as well from the previous quarter, according to the New York Fed.
Nonprofits a safety net for some
Many local nonprofits, like United Way, offer safety net programs to help out Long Islanders in case of emergency.
United Way of Long Island runs a program called The Compassion Fund meant to help bridge financial gaps, such as fixing a car or covering medications. The nonprofit also offers a nonemergency 211 line for households at or below ALICE thresholds to help with financial emergencies.
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island also offers financial resources by distributing federal funds to community organizations through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
The South Huntington-based nonprofit, which has been around since 1947, has seen a decrease in allotments even as needs for issues like food insecurity or health care assistance have increased, said president and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter.
That need for financial aid has been worsened by federal layoffs, she said, adding the organization has not yet received its federal funding for 2025.
“Usually you need to have three to six months of emergency savings, but I think that’s exacerbated on Long Island because of the high cost of living,” she said. HWCLI has offered financial coaching workshops in the past, but does not provide the service on a regular basis.
The general rule of thumb is to try to put at least 20% of monthly income toward saving and debts, said Millie Nieves, branch manager at M&T Bank in Riverhead, which is among several Long Island banks that offer financial education.
Ideally, money could be deposited into a separate savings account automatically, or a certificate of deposit, she said.
It has become harder for Long Islanders to save, she acknowledged, due to a rising cost of living. But that’s another reason to try to build wealth rather than spending it.
“Start small and pay yourself first,” she said. “Make it a habit to save.”
For someone living paycheck to paycheck, “definitely look to your current employer for options or benefits that they do have to help save money, such as, can they match your 401(k)?” she said. “Is your company helping with HSA contributions?”
Plus, there’s a lot of online resources, including a financial education center at M&T’s website, Nieves pointed out. The bank also regularly hosts financial literacy sessions for community members.
Young people tend to have fewer funds
Younger people are less likely to have financial safety nets. The median emergency fund for Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, is $200, according to GOBankingRates. The personal finance site attributes this to most still attending high school or college, or earning lower salaries as workers early in their careers.
Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are not much better off, with a median emergency fund balance of $500, according to GOBankingRates. Sixty percent don't know how they'd cover an unexpected bill, the site says, with financial pressures from student loan repayments, high rent and rising costs.
Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, have a median $868 in emergency savings and Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, have a median $1,000 in emergency savings.
New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury established a fund to help students stay in school despite unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, when the pandemic hit in 2020.
The program was a direct response to students reaching out when the state went on lockdown because they did not have the money to get home, said Tiffani Hinds, associate provost for student engagement and development.
Full- and part-time students can apply for up to $500 in emergency aid to bridge financial gaps, she said. More than 700 reached out for help during the pandemic, though the number has significantly dropped since then — only 10 students attending the Long Island campus requested funds this year, Hinds said.
“We’re educating our students to go out into the world and to change it in a better way,” she said, noting it’s unlikely that many college students have emergency funds to fall back on.
“A lot of our students are going through life while they’re with us and so for us to be able to assist them through their personal emergencies, through their catastrophes, in some small way, is great for their success,” Hinds said.
Saving not impossible
For Dylan Pacer, 35, an analyst for Northwell, as difficult as it may be, building up savings is not impossible. He's been able to save enough, although it's been "slightly harder" because of inflation and expensive day care bills.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Lake Ronkonkoma resident has embraced healthier personal finance habits, which has made it much easier to put money away. He's aware of price increases, but it hasn't impacted him as much because he shops sales and usually buys store brand products.
His family is also higher income, he acknowledged, and has just one child in the house.
An increasing cost of living has been "driving people off of Long Island," he said. "I'm in a fortunate position; I can afford it ... But I understand" that, for a "younger person trying to start a life here ... it's very difficult."
Oscar Garcia, 33, of Miller Place, said it's actually been easier to save money lately than it has been in the past.
“We budget more,” he said. “We also have better jobs.”
At the end of the day, he’s focused on being mindful about where he spends his money, and that has been enough.
Tips for saving
Ryan Derousseau, a certified financial planner at United Financial Planning Group in Hauppauge, offers these tips for saving:
An emergency fund typically covers three to six months of expenses, he said. Determine what you're spending and how much you'd need to cover bills during that time period.
Three months might be enough for someone with steady employment, he said, while six months offers more protection for those concerned about layoffs or who are self-employed.
When managing expenses, examine "what you need, what is actually bringing your family value and you're getting use out of," Derousseau said. There might be expenses, such as subscriptions, that could be "culled" and free up money for savings.
It's also a good idea to budget for non-monthly expenses, such as car insurance and vet bills, he said.
Derousseau recommends storing emergency funds in a high-yield savings account, which offers a higher interest rate and remains accessible.
Prioritize paying off credit cards before building more than a month of emergency savings, he said. It also might be a good idea to automate savings deposits each month.
Uncategorized
June 20, 2025
By LIBN Staff
Posted on June 20, 2025
Read on LIBN
Vanessa Baird-Streeter
President and Chief Executive Officer
Health & Welfare Council of Long Island
Vanessa Baird-Streeter is president and chief executive officer of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, an organization dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by Long Island’s at-risk and vulnerable populations through collaboration with nonprofit agencies, individuals and corporations.
Before joining the Health & Welfare Council, Baird-Streeter spent more than a decade in Suffolk County government, most recently serving as deputy county executive. In this role, she oversaw various county agencies, projects and initiatives. She co-chaired the Suffolk County Police Reform and Reinvention Task Force and led the county’s MWBE/SDVOB Disparity Study, which aimed to establish legal frameworks for requiring inclusion of businesses owned by women, minorities and service-disabled veterans in the county’s procurement process. Additionally, she played a crucial role in the county’s COVID-19 response, setting up hot-spot testing sites in underserved communities and ensuring equitable vaccine distribution.
Baird-Streeter began her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. She has also held positions as director of the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry, director of communications for the Town of Babylon and executive director of communications for the Long Island Power Authority.
Her extensive community involvement has earned her numerous awards for her philanthropic, business and community-based efforts. She is the director of the Venettes Cultural Workshop, a performing arts company that provides technical training and academic motivation through the arts. The organization offers post-secondary scholarships to graduating seniors and scholarships for performing arts classes at local, regional and national levels.
Baird-Streeter holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and education from Dartmouth College.
Uncategorized
June 10, 2025
Long Island job fair connects seekers with nonprofits
Read on LIBN
Adina Genn//June 9, 2025//
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is hosting its third annual job fair on Wednesday, from 5-8 p.m. at Farmingdale State College.
At the event, job seekers will have the opportunity to meet recruiters from nonprofit, health and human service organizations across Long Island.
Based in Huntington Station, HWCLI is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers who are dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents by responding to their needs through the promotion and development of public policies and direct services.
Wednesday’s job fair is geared for those who are seeking full-time positions, internships and even volunteer opportunities.
Registered attendees will receive resume and cover letter preparation resources, interview tips and best practices, information on accessing business attire in advance of the fair and more.
Registration is required and attendance is free for all job seekers. More information about the job fair and registration is available here.
Uncategorized
June 3, 2025
Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Press Release
Hurricane season is here: Time to prepare
Hurricane season is officially underway—and now is the time for Long Islanders to get prepared. From now through November 30, Long Island faces the potential for hurricanes and tropical storms—let’s make sure our communities are ready.
While major storms may not strike every year, even a single hurricane can cause widespread damage across Long Island. Here are some key tips and local resources to help you and your loved ones stay safe and ready, courtesy of Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (LIVOAD), a program of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI).
Prepare Now with These Simple Steps:
Make an Emergency Plan – Know your evacuation zone and how you’ll communicate with family. Click here for information on how to make a plan today.
Pack a Go-Bag – Include bottled water, shelf-stable food, medications, chargers, important documents, and a flashlight. Click here for information on how to build a go-bag.
Stay Alert – Sign up for real-time weather updates through NY Alert.
Check In On Others – Make sure elderly neighbors or those with disabilities are also prepared.
Take action now, and help protect your family, neighbors, and community.
To report an outage to PSEG:
Text OUT to PSEGLI at 773454 or visit: https://www.psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/contactus
To Report a Downed Power Line to PSEG call: 1-800-490-0075
American Red Cross: How to Get Help:
https://www.redcross.org/local/new-york/ or call: 1-877-733-2767
American Red Cross Preparedness Guide: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/
Hurricane Resources:
Learn More about Hurricane Season and How to Prepare
Start Preparing: Determine Your Risk
Make an Emergency Plan
Make an Emergency Plan for Your Office, Kid’s Day Care or Anywhere You Frequent
Create a Continuity Plan for Your Business
Review Important Documents
Get Tech-Ready
Build an Emergency Kit
Learn Your Evacuation Zone
Download the FEMA App
Sign up for Alerts
Hurricane Season Preparedness Digital Social Media Kit
Download the Hurricane Preparedness Flyer
Nassau Emergency Resources
Suffolk Emergency Resources
Nassau County OEM:
https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/1620/Emergency-Management
Click here to sign up for Nassau County Emergency Alerts
Suffolk County OEM:
https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/FRES/
Click here to sign up for Suffolk County Emergency Alerts
HWCLI
May 6, 2025
Taxing Long Island: Nassau & Suffolk’s low poverty rate percentages may not show complete picture
Former State Sen. John Brooks (D-Seaford) says many state lawmakers refer to the percentages rather than the real number of people in need.
By Rich Barbarri
Posted on May 1st, 2025
Read on News 12
Watch the Interview on News 12
More people are living below the poverty line in Nassau and Suffolk counties than most of the rest of the counties in New York state. That's despite state-leading low percentage rates, which experts say are misleading.
Data from the National Institutes of Health shows that just 5.3% of Nassau County residents are living below the poverty line. That's the lowest percentage in the state. And 6.4% of Suffolk residents are living below the poverty line. However those percentages still translate to Nassau having more than 72,000 people living below the poverty line. Suffolk has more than 95,000 people in the same situation.
Former State Sen. John Brooks (D-Seaford) says many state lawmakers refer to the percentages rather than the real number of people in need when determining where to allocate state funds to aid those who are struggling to make ends meet.
"This ability for some people in Albany to use numbers and paint a picture ignored the difference in sizes," Brooks said.
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island President & CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter says the situation is even more dire on Long Island than the federal data suggests.
"A family of four making the federal poverty level cannot sustain itself," Baird-Streeter said. "That is due to the cost of housing, that is due to child care costs...the cost of groceries, transportation, much higher on Long Island."
The same NIH data set finds that Nassau County ranks 60th out of 3,143 counties across the United States in the number of people living below the poverty line. Suffolk ranks 128th.
HWCLI Uncategorized
April 18, 2025
Medicaid-enrolled doulas get new way to keep notes on the women they serve
By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith
Read on Newsday
Updated April 18, 2025 12:32 pm
Medicaid-enrolled doulas assisting Long Island women during pregnancy and after birth now have access to a new platform that aims to alleviate administrative hurdles and lead to better outcomes for their babies, officials said.
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and Soter Technologies on Thursday launched a client management platform called Doula Notes, which provides the birth assistants with one place to document information like appointments, notes and births.
"It is about equitable access," said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. "It's about removing barriers for doulas."
The launch of the client management platform, which is free, comes after New York State allowed doula services to be covered under Medicaid in 2024. Today, pregnant women who are on Medicaid can get doula services that include "eight perinatal visits before or after the birth and continuous support during labor and birth," according to the state Department of Health’s website.
About 45 doulas serve Long Island, according to the DOH’s doula directory.
By easing administrative burdens, health officials hope more people will have access to doula services, which can include birthing plans and labor support, and become Medicaid-enrolled doulas to help combat the nation’s maternal mortality crisis.
Between 2018 and 2020, roughly 120 pregnancy-related deaths took place in New York, according to the state Department of Health. There were stark racial disparities, with Black women having a "a pregnancy-related mortality ratio five times higher than" white women, the DOH said.
Research has shown that having a doula may improve some birth outcomes.
Yet, many doulas had not become Medicaid-enrolled providers, citing concerns about the long reimbursement times and paperwork, Baird-Streeter said. Health insurance may cover part of the cost of a doula.
Doula Notes, which cost about $100,000 to develop, is designed to bridge the gap in a way that is compliant with health care privacy laws. The platform allows doulas to code prenatal visits, whether the person had a C-section and other key information that might be audited by Medicaid. The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island said they convened bimonthly meetings with doulas on Long Island to ensure the platform was geared toward their needs.
Chanel Jones, a birth doula who founded Chanel's Comforting Doula Care, has used the platform.
Doula Notes, she said, simplifies an often difficult and cumbersome Medicaid billing process by allowing documentation to be in one place.
In the future, she hopes it will encourage more doulas to accept patients who are enrolled in Medicaid, allowing them to be able to "help the community where it matters the most," Jones said.
HWCLI
April 18, 2025
HWCLI and Soter Technologies Launch “Doula Notes” Platform to Support Medicaid-Enrolled Doulas During Black Maternal Health WeekA Groundbreaking Tool to Support Medicaid-Enrolled Doulas, Reduce Administrative Burden, and Improve Maternal Health Outcomes
Ronkonkoma, NY. (April 17th, 2025) As Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17) comes to an end, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) and Soter Technologies proudly announced the launch of Doula Notes, a groundbreaking client management platform designed specifically for Medicaid-enrolled doulas, at a press conference earlier today.Doula Notes is the first-of-its-kind digital platform tackles one of the most pressing, yet overlooked, challenges doulas face: the heavy administrative burden of tracking client information, services rendered, and outcomes. It offers a secure, user-friendly system to track appointments, birth outcomes, and demographic data—all in one centralized location. By simplifying documentation, the platform allows doulas to dedicate more time and energy to their core mission: providing compassionate, continuous care to birthing people.“Doula Notes is not just a digital solution; it’s a tangible investment in equity, efficiency, and maternal justice.” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, President and CEO of HWCLI."The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island is dedicated to improving maternal health and birth outcomes for expecting parents. With the launch of this new platform, Doula Notes, we aim to alleviate the administrative burdens faced by doulas, especially concerning Medicaid reimbursement. This will allow doulas to devote more time and energy to caring for mothers and their babies. The launch of this new platform underscores the power of collaboration between the nonprofit sector, private industry, and community members in creating initiatives that enhance the health of our communities"The launch of Doula Notes comes at a critical time. According to the New York State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force (March 2024), pregnancy-related deaths among Black, non-Hispanic women are five times higher than those of white, non-Hispanic women. Research consistently shows that doulas and midwives significantly improve birth outcomes, particularly for Black and Brown birthing people. Doula Notes is designed to empower these providers by reducing the barriers that stand in the way of effective care."As a mother of two and currently pregnant with my third, I know firsthand that doulas and midwives are not a luxury—they are life-saving partners in care. The launch of this platform isn’t just about technology, it’s about building real infrastructure for equity and ensuring Black and Brown families have access to the culturally competent support they deserve,” said Randalle Lewis, Advocacy and Coalitions Manager at HWCLI.Doulas are already seeing the difference Doula Notes can make."Doula Notes has replaced my cluttered toolbox of apps and paper forms with one simple, streamlined platform. It’s a one-stop shop for all my doula administrative needs,” said Chanel Jones, a Medicaid-enrolled doula, birth doula trainer, and founder of Chanel’s Comforting Doula Care. “Doula Notes makes it easy for doulas to lead with H.E.A.R.T.—to Hold space, Educate, Advocate, Reassure, and Track our clients throughout their birthing journeys. It’s a platform created by doulas, for doulas, to enhance the essential work we do.” Doula Notes is more than just a tech solution—it’s a step toward health equity, maternal justice, and systemic change. The data collected through the platform will also help inform future policy and advocacy work to expand and strengthen maternal health services across New York State.“Technology should be a bridge to better care—not a barrier." said Derek Peterson, CEO and Founder of Soter Technologies. “Our goal with Doula Notes was to create a tool that truly meets doulas where they are, and empowers them to work more effectively.”In addition to easing the day-to-day workload for doulas, the data collected through Doula Notes will help inform future policy and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening maternal health systems statewide.The Health and Welfare Council extends our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated Doulas who participated in our learning and training collaborative, helping to ensure that the Doula Notes platform truly reflects and supports their needs. We also extend a special thank you to Dr. Heather Findletar Hines, CNM, FACNM, Founder of One Love Midwifery, for generously sharing her expertise and insight in the development and creation of Doula Notes. Doulas who are interested in learning more about the Doula Notes platform and how it can support their work are encouraged to visit www.tinyurl.com/DoulaNotes. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to explore its features more deeply, Doula Notes offers tools designed to streamline documentation, enhance client communication, and support your Doula work.For media inquiries or further information, please contact Angela Porwick at Aporwick@hwcli.com or 631-935-5214.
Uncategorized
April 3, 2025
Forum on the impact of Medicaid cuts on LI set for April 7
By Adina Genn
April 3rd, 2025
Read on LIBN
Federal policymakers are considering an $880 billion cut in government spending through 2034. One program that appears to be in the crosshairs is Medicaid, which provides healthcare coverage to low-income people.
To address concerns about how those cuts would affect Long Island, Nonprofit Resource Hub (NRH) is hosting a forum, “The Potential Impact of Medicaid Cuts.” The event is slated for Monday, April 7, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at EPIC (Extraordinary People in Care) Long Island in East Meadow.
The event will bring together nonprofit executives, healthcare leaders, policymakers and advocates.
“The numbers are staggering and the consequences for our communities would be devastating,” Alison La Ferlita, NRH executive director, said in a news release about the event. “This is why every nonprofit leader and healthcare advocate should be in the room.”
The proposed cuts could lead to a 16 percent reduction in federal Medicaid funding across the country, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report released last month. Those cuts could lead states to raise taxes, reduce other essential programs such as education, or cut Medicaid coverage, according to the study.
The possibilities are concerning to those who help the vulnerable gain access to healthcare and other services.
“Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans, providing essential health care services to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities,” Vanessa Baird-Streeter, President & CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, said in the news release.“As a nonprofit sector we need to do all we can to advocate for sustaining Medicaid funding,” she added. “Drastic cuts would not only jeopardize the health and well-being of our community members but also place immense financial strain on state budgets and local economies.”Lisa Burch, president and CEO of EPIC Family of Human Services, shared similar concerns.“Long Island’s most vulnerable communities rely on a strong Medicaid safety net,” Burch said in the news release.“If our recent experience with the Suffolk County Legislature taught us anything, it’s that when the Long Island nonprofit community stands together, we can make a real difference. You don’t have to be directly impacted by federal contract terminations or the looming Medicaid cuts to be part of the solution. We need a collective strategy now—not after decisions are made in Washington. This forum is our opportunity to be proactive,” she said.Registration is required. Admission is $10 for NRH members, and $15 for non-members.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Uncategorized
March 27, 2025
Long Islanders skipping some medical procedures due to high cost, survey says
By David Olson
Updated March 22, 2025
Read on Newsday
Nearly 6 in 10 Long Islanders went without health care at least once in the prior year because they could not afford it, and nearly 2 in 10 did not fill a prescription or rationed medicine to save money, a newly released survey found.
Twenty-two percent of Long Islanders experienced medical debt or another "medical cost burden," such as borrowing money or cutting down on food or other necessities, according to the survey, released Wednesday by the Manhattan-based nonprofit Community Service Society of New York.
Long Island is a primarily middle-class region, but that doesn’t protect residents from the effects of burgeoning medical costs, said Elisabeth Benjamin, the society’s vice president of health initiatives.
"This survey shows an incredible burden on middle-income people," she said.
The statewide survey of 1,397 residents of Long Island, New York City and upstate was conducted in late December and early January
Median household income in Nassau, $141,568, and Suffolk, $124,045, were far above the $82,095 statewide median, according to 2023 Census Bureau estimates.
But the region also has the highest hospital costs in the state, and New York has the second-highest health care costs and insurance premiums in the country, Benjamin said. That, combined with the increasing number of high-deductible insurance plans with large co-payments, makes it difficult even for people solidly in the middle class to afford health care, she said.
The high cost of living on Long Island means money doesn’t go as far, and a medical emergency can be financially "devastating" to a family, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
Residents often skip mammograms, colonoscopies and other procedures that can prevent serious illness or death, she said.
Those with medical debt in particular are less likely to seek additional care, Benjamin said.
"If you have diabetes and you have medical debt and your toes start feeling numb, you may not go back and get the treatment you need to prevent having a full leg amputation," she said.
Benjamin traces many of the problems to state health care deregulation in the 1990s that ended price controls.
Large health systems generally charge more than smaller ones, so the trend toward more hospital acquisitions and mergers is helping drive up prices, she said. A service society analysis of data from the California-based research organization RAND found that commercial insurance companies paid much more to hospitals that are part of the six largest health systems in New York than to other hospitals. The insurance payments are a reflection of how much those systems' hospitals charge patients.
That especially affects Long Island, where New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health, the state’s largest health system, dominates, Benjamin said. Three of the other largest health systems also have hospitals on Long Island: Catholic Health Long Island, Mount Sinai and NYU Langone Health.
Wendy Darwell, president and CEO of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, said last year’s state budget increased the amount of free or discounted care that hospitals must provide and took other steps to reduce financial burdens on patients.
"You need to give them a chance to be implemented," she said.
Darwell said a key problem for hospitals, which in New York are required by law to be nonprofit, is that Medicare and especially Medicaid reimbursements are far below hospitals’ costs to care for patients. That shifts more of the burden to people with private insurance, she said.
A Republican proposal that narrowly passed the House Feb. 25 to cut $880 billion in Medicaid, Medicare or child-health funding, or a combination, over 10 years would shift even more costs to commercial insurance, Darwell said.
Northwell spokeswoman Barbara Osborn said in a statement that the health system had provided $287 million in charity care in 2024 and touted an agreement with Attorney General Leticia James reached in June in which, James’ office said, Northwell increased eligibility for free or discounted care to families with annual household incomes of up to five times the poverty level. But Osborn Friday claimed that eligibility had been in place "for more than a decade."
Northwell, Osborn said, believes "health care should be affordable for all regardless of their ability to pay."
Darwell said hospitals try to help patients who have trouble paying their bills.
Baird-Streeter, whose organization partners with the society to help consumers navigate the health care system, recalled how the council recently worked with a hospital to reduce a Nassau client’s medical debt from $38,000 to $5,000. The client was avoiding medical care for fear of more debt but now is back to seeing the doctor, she said.
Baird-Streeter said patients also should not accept an insurance company decision they think is unfair as final.
"If you receive a denial, don’t just accept that denial," she said.
HWCLI
March 20, 2025
By Olivia Winslow and Maureen Mullarkey
Updated March 20, 2025 6:31 am
Read on Newsday
The Social Security Administration is ending most phone service for those applying for benefits or changing banking information, requiring residents instead to go online or in person to an office — a move the agency said is designed to combat fraud.
People can start a benefits claim over the phone but will have to go to a field office to verify their identity and complete the claim, the agency said on Tuesday.
The move, effective at the end of the month, was criticized by national and local advocates. They said it could potentially put up barriers for seniors and people with disabilities who may not have access to or feel comfortable with computers or smartphone technology.
"The Social Security Administration's move to force people to visit offices in-person for services that they have sought by phone will result in more headaches and longer wait times to resolve routine customer service needs," Nancy LeaMond, AARP's executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a statement.
"Requiring rural Americans to go into an office can mean taking a day off from work and drive for hours merely to fill out paperwork," LeaMond said, adding that "any delay in Social Security caused by this change can mean real economic hardship."
In announcing the policy change, the agency said in a news release: "Over the next two weeks, SSA will carefully transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
"Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal 'my Social Security' account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a Social Security office to prove their identity in person," the release said, adding that Social Security will process direct deposit change requests, in person and online, in one business day. Under the old policy, those changes took 30 days.
The agency said individuals can either visit an office or call 800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.
Transportation barriers were also highlighted by Robyn Berger-Gaston, division director of the Huntington-based nonprofit Family Service League.
"Suffolk County is very widespread and transportation for a lot of the people that we work with is very difficult. So getting to a Social Security office might not be an option," she said.
A case in point was the 97-year-old mother of Laura Leitner, 72, of East Northport. Leitner had an appointment on behalf of her mother, who she said had recently fallen, at the Social Security Administration office in Melville Wednesday morning, to help her mother obtain the Social Security benefits of her late husband.
Standing outside the office, Leitner called the agency's new policy "outrageous."
"Disabled, elderly people don't have transportation," she said. "The phone line was critical for them. Even though it takes two hours to reach someone, it's still a critical aspect for people that need to speak to somebody at Social Security."
Those long waits over the phone were a source of frustration for Charlie Nitti, 63, of Deer Park, a military veteran. He said dealing with Social Security over the phone was a "horror show," with waits of usually two hours, while an in-person visit would go faster.
"You're in and out of there," he said.
Nitti said he had come to the Melville office Wednesday, but was frustrated after being turned away since he didn't have an appointment. He said he was told to call to make one.
"It’s impossible to call on the phone and get something done," he said.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, an umbrella advocacy agency based in Huntington Station for some 200 nonprofit human service agencies, said Social Security's new policy would "likely exacerbate" a "digital divide," referring to people who cannot easily access the internet.
"I think many ... will be compelled to visit the Social Security office, yet that ability remains unclear and uncertain because we do know the administration has talked about closing Social Security Administration offices," Baird-Streeter said.
A Feb. 28 Social Security announcement noted plans to "implement agencywide organizational restructuring that will include significant workforce reductions."
Uncategorized
March 20, 2025
Dr. James McDonald Highlighted Healthcare and Public Health Proposals in Governor Kathy Hochul's FY 2025 Executive Budget
ALBANY, N.Y. ( March 20, 2025) – The New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald today discussed health care and public health proposals in Governor Kathy Hochul's FY 2025 Executive Budget at a public event held in partnership with the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
"This presentation on Governor Hochul's budget gave me an opportunity to outline her new initiatives to make New York the most affordable place to start a family, while giving Long Island residents the chance to provide valuable input and ask us questions about critical issues that impact their families," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "We are committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have the support, programs and services they need to live an affordable, healthy and quality life."
The FY 2025 Executive Budget makes targeted investments in initiatives to strengthen efforts to keep New Yorkers healthy and safe.
During his presentation, Commissioner McDonald outlined New York's priorities for children and families, such as Universal School Meals and free diapers.
"We appreciate the New York State Department of Health for collaborating with Health and Welfare Council of Long Island to provide an in-depth briefing of the New York State fiscal year budget," Health and Welfare Council of Long Island President and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter said. "Commissioner McDonald provided keen insight into budget initiatives and expanded upon programmatic elements in an effort to provide a comprehensive understanding of Governor Hochul's priorities for New York State residents. Offering Long Island health and human services organizations the opportunity to engage directly with state leadership demonstrates the commitment of the Governor to educate the public on new policies and initiatives for 2025 and beyond."
In January, Governor Hochul announced on Long Island a historic initiative to ensure every single one of New York's over 2.7 million students can receive breakfast and lunch for free at school. The program will help save parents money, address food insecurity among New York kids, and create more opportunities for students to succeed. Free school meals are estimated to save families $165 per child in monthly grocery spending support learning, boost test scores, and improve attendance and classroom behavior.
Governor Hochul announced new initiatives to make New York the most affordable place to start a family. She will partner with Baby2Baby — a national nonprofit that provides essential items to one million children living in poverty annually — to provide maternal health and newborn supply boxes to all expectant mothers enrolled in Medicaid and those reached through community-based organizations and hospitals serving lower-income areas. The boxes will provide resources, educational materials, self-care products, and diapers. This proposal is estimated to reach the families of approximately 100,000 babies at full implementation.
In addition, during his presentation, Dr. McDonald also highlighted nutrition assistance programs, maternal and women's health, minimum wage increases, and upcoming health projects.
To meet growing needs, Governor Hochul will expand the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to reach 475,000 people, ensuring they receive nutritious foods and essential services. These investments will improve the health and well-being of tens of thousands more New Yorkers and make significant progress toward the State's goal of becoming a national leader in WIC enrollment.
Governor Hochul will also introduce new legislation to provide coverage for fertility preservation services for Medicaid members undergoing medical treatments that may lead to infertility, and to broaden eligibility for the State's Infertility Reimbursement Program, ensuring that more New Yorkers can pursue their dreams of starting a family, regardless of their income or medical background.
Commissioner McDonald also updated attendees on the Department's ongoing efforts to control avian influenza and measles.
The 2025 State of the State Executive Budget Book can be found here.
HWCLI
March 20, 2025
Losing a lifeline: Nonprofits panic over proposed federal cuts
By Jared Scot LIBN Contributing
Read on LIBN
Date: March 20th, 2025
A sudden and draconian freeze on a bevy of federal aid programs, ordered by the Trump administration in a since-rescinded January memorandum, sent a shockwave through nonprofits across the country. But even though the order has been temporarily halted in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, Long Island’s nonprofit leaders are feeling the looming threat of losing such crucial funding, and are speaking out about the cuts’ dire consequences.
About 2.7 percent of Long Islanders are food insecure—almost 300,000 people—according to data provided by Feeding America. Paule Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares in Hauppauge, says the proposed cuts would be particularly painful for those people, since their food pantry relies on federal money to carry out its mission.
“Long Island Cares administers The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) through a contract with the USDA which provides us with 4.5 million pounds of USDA foods that we distribute to many of our 336 member agencies to assist Long Islanders in need of emergency food assistance,” explains Pachter. “If there are cuts to TEFAP, we would have to make up the loss of USDA foods in part or completely. It could cost us up to $5.4 million to replace 4.5 million pounds of food.”
This shortfall, along with the elimination of other widely-used federal programs, would put increased pressure on people facing food insecurity. “If programs like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other USDA programs are cut, it could possibly result in an additional 20% increase in the number of people visiting food banks and food pantries,” Pachter says. “We could see an additional 56,000 people facing food insecurity above the current 280,000 people.”
Connecting underserved communities with food assistance is one of the many services provided by the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), a Huntington Station-based umbrella organization for health and human service providers. The agencies depend on funding that comes through various channels, many of which are administered by the federal government.
“The network of Long Island nonprofits relies on myriad of federal funding resources to provide essential services to community members,” explains Vanessa Baird-Streeter, the organization’s CEO. “Federal funding streams can flow directly to Long Island nonprofit organizations or be distributed to New York State governmental agencies, which then contract with organizations to deliver these services.”
For many of these providers, the loss of federal funding threatens their very existence. “Many essential programs, such as mental health services, substance abuse treatment and housing assistance, would face cutbacks or complete elimination due to the loss of federal grants and contracts,” Baird-Streeter says. “Without federal funding, organizations would need to rely more heavily on alternative funding sources like private donations, state and local grants, and fundraising events.This shift could lead to financial instability and increased competition for limited resources.”
Struggling Long Islanders aren’t the only ones affected by the cuts, notes Baird-Streeter. “The loss of federal funding could severely affect the Long Island workforce, resulting in staff layoffs or reduced hours, impacting the ability of organizations to deliver services effectively,” she says. “Long Island nonprofits employ tens of thousands of individuals who would be adversely affected by significant reductions in federal funding.”
Across many sectors, the consequences of a federal funding freeze threaten to disproportionately affect groups that often endure more hardships than most. “The arts sector we support would experience serious disruptions,” says Lauren Wagner, executive director of Long Island Arts Alliance in Patchogue. “Federal grants provide stability for many arts nonprofits, and without them, organizations would be forced to make difficult choices—reducing programming, laying off staff, and limiting public access to the arts. The loss would be particularly devastating for organizations that serve historically marginalized communities, where access to arts education and cultural programming is already limited.”
Moreover, the impact of the proposed cuts would extend beyond the arts sector itself.
“Long Island’s creative economy is a significant driver of tourism, job creation, and local business activity,” Wagner points out. “Less funding for the arts means fewer cultural events, fewer opportunities for artists, and a weakened economic and social fabric across the region.”
While arts and cultural organizations can pursue other ways to raise funds, Wagner explains that federal programs offer more than just money for arts nonprofits, and therefore can’t be easily replaced. “Federal grants don’t just provide funding; they validate the importance of the arts and often serve as a catalyst for additional investment through matching requirements,” she says. “Without them, organizations will be competing for a shrinking pool of resources, making it even more challenging to sustain long-term programming.”
The panic has prompted nonprofit leaders to appeal to the public with calls to action. “People can advocate by meeting with their members of Congress, they can raise public awareness by writing letters to the editors of various publications, they can host press conferences to put a face on the issue, and we can mobilize by holding public demonstrations,” suggests Pachter. “Food insecurity on Long Island increased by 30% in 2024, and if the proposed cuts in federal funding are approved by Congress and we see a significant increase in unemployment, this problem will be exacerbated.”
Elected officials, Baird-Streeter says, should be held accountable by their communities to ensure their needs are met. “Nonprofits must urgently raise awareness and collaborate with their federal representatives to highlight the severe consequences of significant reductions in federal spending,” she warns. “It is imperative that nonprofits and all community members underscore the interconnectedness of the essential services nonprofits provide and the vital role they play in maintaining a healthy, thriving society.”
HWCLI
March 17, 2025
At Farmingdale State College, a leadership roundtable
By Adina Glenn
March 14th, 2025
Read on Long Island Business News
A leadership roundtable discussion is slated for April 8 at 11 a.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom at Farmingdale State College (FSC).
The discussion is part of the college’s inauguration of Robert Prezant, the 10th president of FSC, who began his tenure in August of 2024. The celebration focuses on education, discovery and service.
Prezant will moderate the roundtable discussion, featuring Chris Rosa, president and CEO of The Viscardi Center; Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Catholic Health; Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island; Laura Curran, political analyst and former Nassau County executive; and Kara Cannon, CEO of Enzo Biochem.
HWCLI
March 2, 2025
Stony Brook Medicine, healthcare providers host health fair
Michelle Grisales, Assistant News Editor
March 2, 2025
Read on The Statesman
Stony Brook Medicine, alongside numerous healthcare providers, partnered with Suffolk County Medical Society and Suffolk Academy of Medicine to create a “free event for the community focusing on the women in your life.” The event took place in early February at the Long Island Aquarium and provided valuable resources and information from medical professionals on women’s health.
Upon entry, attendees were greeted by high school student volunteers from the Doctors of Tomorrow program, which is run by the Suffolk Academy of Medicine and provides personal and firsthand information on what it takes to be a doctor. The volunteers handed out pamphlets that included an itinerary of the evening and listed the names and credentials of special guest speakers.
The fair had 22 different tables, with each table representing a partner of the event and providing pamphlets with information about their services. During the first hour, attendees explored the room to inquire about the resources each table provided.
There were a wide range of medical groups, health insurance companies and numerous specialty care centers such as oncology and cardiology. Some of the groups in attendance were the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and Spine Medicine and Surgery of Long Island.
There were two tables dedicated to Stony Brook’s medical care. Specifically, Stony Brook Medicine and the LGBTQ* Care at Stony Brook. Cristina Witzke, a healthcare provider at the Edie Windsor Healthcare Center and Rose Walton Care Services, represented the LGBTQ medical care provided by Stony Brook.
Toward the end of the event, Nicole Gerberg, the executive director of Suffolk County Medical and the event coordinator, spoke about how much this event meant to her.
“Suffolk County medicine is something that is extremely near and dear to my heart. Being a community member in Suffolk County, being somebody who is very involved in medicine, who is very involved in women’s health, as a mom, as a wife, as a friend … everything about it [feels right],” she said.
Following her speech, 11 other female speakers all shared their credentials, experiences and medical advice pertaining to their field of medicine to the audience. Each speech focused on a particular topic concerning women’s health, such as breast cancer, domestic violence, heart disease in women and myths in menopause.
Cate Carbonaro, the executive director of The Retreat, a domestic violence organization, discussed what she described as an often-overlooked women’s health issue. She gave a speech detailing the services they offer to help victims of domestic violence, addressing both their physical and mental health needs.
“Here in this room of mostly women, I’m sure you all agree that we need to do better as a society, helping people that are vulnerable,” she said. “We have counseling, we have legal advocacy and we have prevention education too … The prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault [and] human trafficking is something we all can do by educating people [correctly], educating young children, educating fathers [and] educating the community.”
Carbonaro then introduced the final speaker, Genesis, a 19-year-old survivor of sexual abuse who did not feel comfortable disclosing her last name. She shared her experience of starting therapy at The Retreat at 15 and her fear of having to testify against her abuser in front of a jury.
“It was scary to stand in front of everybody, [especially] in front of a person who hurt me. But, sometimes you have to face your fears in order to be proud of yourself and thank yourself,” Genesis said. “I did get to a point in my life … where I started to not trust anyone who tried to talk to me.”
She thanked her mother, therapist, lawyer and advocates who guided her. Genesis urged those going through something similar not to suffer in silence and encouraged them to seek necessary help.
Gerberg thanked Genesis for her moving speech and the other speakers for their medical and personal advice. She then thanked attendees, volunteers and those who helped coordinate the event for their support.
“From all of us in Suffolk County, thank you for coming. Thank you for supporting us [and] thank you for being a part of this. Genesis, thank you for your passion and your story. I know how scary it is to stand up here,” said Gerberg. “To all of our speakers … thank you for your time, your dedication [and] your passion.”
HWCLI
February 21, 2025
Read on Riverhead Local
By Denise Civiletti
Feb 21, 2025, 12:23 pm
Major cuts to Medicaid funding would have devastating impacts on medical services for 680,000 Long Island residents who depend on Medicaid for healthcare, according to healthcare advocates who conducted a “Medicaid Equity Town Hall” at Riverhead Free Library Wednesday night.
Those Long Island residents include 103,400 seniors, four in nine children, four in nine people with disabilities, and 48% of births, according to data presented by the Healthcare Education Project during the session. Medicaid covers over $9 billion in medical services for Long Islanders.
Substantial cuts to Medicaid are a key part of congressional Republicans’ plans to provide $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, extending tax cuts that were part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made sweeping changes to federal tax law that disproportionately benefited the country’s highest-income households.
The 2017 tax cuts expire at the end of 2025. Trump has promised to extend the cuts and House Speaker Mike Johnson has negotiated a budget bill that will do so, in part by cutting about $880 billion from Medicaid funding over the next decade.
“Americans throughout the entire USA are fearful of the potential proposed Medicaid cuts,” Marcella Dinnall of the Healthcare Education Project told the audience at Wednesday night’s presentation. “And if you’re not affected directly, you will be affected and impacted, because these are your neighbors, your friends, your family,” Dinnall said of people who rely on Medicaid. Even if you have good private health insurance, she said, you should still join the fight for Medicaid equity, she said.
Restricting access to Medicaid will strain hospitals and healthcare workers, Dinnall noted, because people without any healthcare coverage turn to hospital emergency rooms for care of conditions that could have been dealt with in a physician’s office or conditions left untreated and eventually require hospitalization that might have been avoided if treated sooner.
Nationally, 80 million Americans rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage: 4 million seniors, 7 million children and 11 million adults with disabilities.
“Can you imagine these people not having any healthcare coverage— dental, ophthalmology, you have a heart failure, any chronic illness like diabetes, and I can go on and on, but it’s very dismal,” Dinnall said. “So we’re saying, Why should these vulnerable populations have to suffer to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Why should they suffer long waits and worse treatment — so the rich can get richer?” she asked.
“We’re asking you to call your representative, and ask ‘Whose side are you?’ Are they for the very wealthy? Or for the vulnerable?” Dinnall said. She provided contact numbers for the district offices of Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) 631-289-1097 and Rep. Andrew Garbarino, (NY-02) 631-541-4225.
Naquashia Bias, a homecare worker for 14 years, said of the 80 million Americans who rely on Medicaid for healthcare, about 4.5 million received home-based care.
“Cuts affect elderly and others living in the comfort of their own homes while being cared for,” Bias said. “It affects families that depend on workers like myself to come into their parents’ or relatives’ homes every day, to assist with basic daily care and appointments,” she said.
“These proposed cuts eventually put many home care workers out of a job, out of what they love to do, and out of the joy they get from simply hearing at home. Caregivers are essential. We help make it happen,” Bias said.
In addition to people who receive Medicaid, New Yorkers are eligible to receive discounted health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act because New York State took advantage of the ACA’s expanded eligibility option, which currently allows residents with incomes that are 138% above the federal poverty level to access Medicaid coverage and allows low-income residents who are not Medicaid-eligible to access healthcare coverage at discounted rates.
“If we are not going to be investing in healthcare, if we’re pulling Medicaid dollars out, those are monies that are going to be gone as well,” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island.
She urged residents to get on the phone with their congressional representatives consistently about these issues.
“You have to be in their face about it. They have to know that their constituents care about this, because if we’re not speaking up, they don’t think we care, and therefore they go ahead and approve these cuts,” Baird-Streeter said.
Congress is talking about almost a billion dollars in cuts to Medicaid, she said. “If you cut a billion dollars from Medicaid, there are going to be very many people that are not eligible for Medicaid. You’re going to be getting subpar services…Providers are not going to want to provide, or service those who are Medicaid-eligible,” Baird-Streeter said.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program. States receive reimbursement for Medicaid spending of between 50% and 77%. Cuts in Medicaid funding will shift costs for health care coverage to states, putting pressure on state budgets that extends beyond healthcare, to spending for education and public safety, according to the Healthcare Education Project.
States will be forced to cut payment rates for hospitals and other providers, according to the group’s Medicaid fact sheet. Home- and community-based long-term care services will be “immediate targets for cuts or elimination, since states are not required to cover them, the fact sheet says.
Baird-Streeter also gave a presentation on the Social Care Network led by the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. The Social Care Network is made possible by a waiver approved for New York by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in January 2024. The waiver is in effect until March 31, 2017.
The waiver allows states to create healthcare options or programs that typically would not be funded with federal Medicaid dollars. It allows New York to fully integrate social care into the delivery of health care under the state’s Medicaid program.
The Social Care Network allows for a holistic approach to health and well-being, Baird Streeter said. Through a network of about 120 community-based organizations, the Social Care Network delivers health-related social care services to Medicaid members across Long Island, Baird-Streeter said.
Social Care Network providers are all nonprofit organizations and each agrees to a uniform initial screening and agrees to use a shared portal for data entry, to make delivery of services seamless and more accessible for clients.
The idea is for the Social Care Network providers to connect Medicaid recipients with a wide range of services they need outside of healthcare, including: ending food insecurity, housing assistance including rent, assistance with paying for heat and utilities, assistance with things like building a ramp for handicap access to their homes or mold remediation, or mental health and substance abuse counseling and treatment.
“All of these things are actually addressing and looking at your health-related social needs, because we can take care of health care, but if we’re not taking care of your social needs, your health is not going to necessarily improve. It has to be holistic and comprehensive,” Baird-Streeter said.
“These are opportunities and resources that have never been available to Medicaid members, but they are available under the Social Care Network and enhanced care management,” she said.
For more information, visit the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island.
Wednesday’s Health Equity Town Hall was presented by the Healthcare Education Project in collaboration with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
HWCLI
January 30, 2025
Nonprofit Leaders Talk Perseverance
By Adina Genn
January 30th, 2025
Read on Long Island Business News
Nonprofit leaders shared their insights about the recent pause in federal funding and other matters at the State of the Long Island Non-Profit Industry breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on Thursday.
The annual Long Island Business News event drew an estimated 225 business leaders from the region. Moderators included Brian Sackstein, an assurance partner and leader of the Not-For-Profit Group at Anchin; Rachel Fernbach, a partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff; and Dylan Saperman, a partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff.
“I think what we want to always do is just ensure that your business is fiscally sound,” said Vanessa Baird Streeter, president and CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers. “Take the opportunity to look at your bottom line, engage in cost-effective measures that are going to help your bottom line so that if there is a pause … you have reserves that can assist and help you in that time frame.”
The breakfast was held just one day after President Donald Trump’s budget office rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal loans and grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country. The memo, which was issued Monday by the Office of Management and Budget, had frightened states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington.
“These past couple days were very chaotic,” Suzette Gordon, president and CEO of SCO Family of Services, which delivers programs and services to underserved communities, told the audience.
But as organizations on Long Island were trying to sort through the confusion, she said, there was a “sense of community” among other nonprofits, which shared information and resources.
And beyond “buckling up,” that strength in community is what will help nonprofits persevere uncertainties, she said. “You overcome things. You don’t avoid them. You go through them,” she said. “I believe we’ll get through.
“You need to look at every service that you have – you need to look at how lean you can get to run” the organization, Walter Stockton, president and CEO of Kinexion, a management service organization for an affiliate network of seven not-for-profit organizations.
That way, if funding is paused, organizations will “be prepared,” he said. He noted that some thought support would lapse during the previous Trump presidency, but that hadn’t happened. He added that this time around he thinks the federal government will “support our programs.”
Still, Streeter said, organizations can protect themselves by looking at their fiscal structure, emergency operations accounts and other lines of credit to put themselves in the “best fiscal situation possible,” she said.
The panelists also spoke about strategic alignment, collaborations and partnerships.
“Mergers and acquisitions can work for a lot of people, but if you have three organizations that are all losing [money] and they want to get together, that doesn’t mean that it’s … going to work,” Stockton said.
“There can be cost savings, but there’s probably some infrastructure problems that are not letting them move forward to a profitable position to the work that they’re design for,” he said. Working through problems can be challenging and time-consuming, and alignments may not always present the best fit.
The panel was mixed on remote working. Streeter said that while the organization works on a hybrid schedule, “I like to be in the office,” adding that she is typically there five days a week.
SCO also has a hybrid policy. “I’m working with talented professionals, who are getting the work done,” Gordon said. “If my issue with deliverables is where they’re doing it, I don’t have the right person working for me.”
Kinexion has an on-site policy for its office staff. “We like to have everybody there,” Stockton said.
“It works for us, and one of the reasons I can tell that is we don’t have any vacancies in those areas,” he said.
The panelist agreed that interacting in person is most valuable, especially when planning is underway.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Coalitions HWCLI SNAP
January 10, 2025
Read the Press Release from Governor Kathy Hochul's Press Office
First Time in State History, New York Will Cover the Cost of All School Meals to Help Address Food Insecurity and Ensure Every Student Can Eat for Free
Governor Hochul’s Initiative Will Save Families an Estimated $165 on Groceries Per Child Each Month
Program Will Put Money Back in Parents’ Pockets, Encourage Healthy Habits, and Set More New York Students Up for Success
As her fifth proposal as part of her affordability agenda for the 2025 State of the State, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a historic initiative to ensure every single one of New York’s over 2.7 million students can receive breakfast and lunch for free at school. This monumental program will help save parents money, address food insecurity among New York kids, and create more opportunities for students to succeed. Governor Hochul will unveil this proposal later today on Long Island at Westbury Middle School, a district that has seen first-hand how universal free meals have improved outcomes for students and families.
“The research is clear: good food in the lunchroom creates good grades in the classroom,” Governor Hochul said. “I'm proposing free school meals for every student in New York – giving kids the sustenance they need and putting more money back in parents' pockets.”
Offering free school meals is an effective way to help keep kids in school and able to focus in the classroom. By eliminating any financial requirements to receive this benefit, New York State will level the playing field and give parents back the money they would be spending. Free school meals are estimated to save families $165 per child in grocery spending each month and have been shown to support learning, boost test scores, and improve attendance and classroom behavior.
Such an ambitious proposal has not been attempted by New York State before now, and Governor Hochul has continued to prioritize free school meals throughout her time in office. The FY 2025 Enacted Budget included $180 million to help incentivize eligible schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing all students in participating schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge regardless of their families’ income. This new State of the State initiative will cover the cost of free lunch and breakfast for every student at every school in New York State regardless of their participation in the program, which will expand eligibility to nearly 300,000 additional students.
NYSUT President Melinda Person said, “Every day in our schools, educators see hungry children who would likely qualify for existing free meal programs, but fall through the cracks due to stigma or bureaucracy. Nearly one in six New York children faces food insecurity, and this critical initiative to provide universal free meals for all students — regardless of their ZIP code or family income — will reduce food anxiety, improve mental and physical health, and support students’ ability to thrive. Every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves the nutrition they need to grow and learn.”
Community Food Advocates Executive Director Liz Accles said, “The Healthy School Meals for All Coalition has always believed in the power of government to work for the good of the people. Universal Free School Meals is an immediately tangible and prime example of this principle in action. We thank Governor Hochul for championing this issue and making it a top priority–we are absolutely thrilled.”
Hunger Solutions New York CEO Andrés J. Vives said, “With today’s announcement, Governor Hochul has made it clear New York will lead the way in ensuring all children have access to the food they need to thrive. Universal access to free school breakfast and lunch will alleviate hunger, support children’s mental and physical health, and provide much-needed financial relief to families struggling with high costs of living. We applaud the Governor’s championing of this historic investment and look forward to working with the Legislature to ensure this proposal is included in the final budget.”
New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert S. Schneider said, “NYSSBA is thrilled to support this initiative. The last two state budgets made significant investments in school meals, and this program builds on that progress by providing a truly universal school meals program. This will ensure that no children go to school hungry and greatly increases their chances to be successful in the classroom.”
School Administrators Association of New York State Executive Director Jennifer Carlson said, “The School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) commends the Governor’s inclusion of significant funding to ensure that every student is eligible to receive breakfast and lunch in school. School leaders working with students and families have recognized the critical need to provide students with a healthy start to each day. The Governor’s proposed funding will provide all students with the nourishment needed to actively engage in the learning process and support families by reducing costs for such meals. We are pleased and encouraged to see such funding proposed in the Governor’s State of the State address.”
New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “We commend Governor Hochul’s proposal to assure access to free in-school meals for all children. It will reduce hunger among schoolchildren, spare parents both time and money, and simplify administration for schools. Superintendents across the state hope it will be enacted in the next state budget.”
NY School Nutrition Association CEO Jennifer Martin said, “As an organization dedicated to the well-being and future of our state’s children, we applaud Governor Hochul for including school meals for all in this year’s budget. This bold and compassionate move ensures that every child, regardless of background, has access to the nourishment they need to succeed in the classroom. A hungry child is a child distracted from their potential, and by providing meals to all students, we are investing in their health, their education, and their future. We encourage all legislators to join the Governor in this effort to break down barriers and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. This is a critical step toward building a stronger, healthier, and more equitable future for our state.”
Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said, “Universal breakfast and lunch for New York’s schoolchildren will be a game changer in our collective mission to combat hunger in New York and deliver critical financial relief for Nassau County’s hardworking young families. I applaud Governor Hochul for prioritizing this initiative in her upcoming budget – one that will equip our families to thrive and our students to excel in the classroom.”
Town of North Hempstead Council Member and Westbury District Board of Education President Robert Troiano said, “Nearly everyone is being stretched by rising costs, especially for food. The Governor’s plan will provide relief for families across the economic spectrum while ensuring their children receive healthy meals. In Westbury, we have found that academic performance increases and behavioral issues decrease when every child is assured of a nutritious meal. We have also found that implementing universal free meals releases families from the stigma of the application process and relieves the school district of the cost and burden of administering the application process. We applaud the Governor for expanding the reach of the Universal Free Meals Program to all.”
Island Harvest President and CEO Randi Shubin Dresner said, “With this one policy proposal, Governor Hochul will dramatically reduce food insecurity among New York’s students. When the Legislature approves the state’s budget, every student across Long Island and New York State will know when and where their next breakfast and lunch will come from every day school is in session. Parents will have more money in their pockets to support their children, and most importantly, studies have proven that when children are treated equally and have the same access to healthy foods at school, grades improve, and relationships between the students strengthen. There is less stress at school and in the homes. Governor Hochul has increased food access to students in her budgets, supported food banks and the emergency food system, and is the champion in the fight against hunger and food insecurity New York needs.”
Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Executive Director Bob Vecchio said, “We are grateful to the Governor for advancing this cause and leading the way on this issue. Food insecurities impact so many communities in every region of New York State. By supporting this initiative, it eliminates the issue of food insecurities in our schools for so many, while also making sure the students who will benefit by this measure won’t suffer from the stigma attached with being eligible for free or reduced meals. The Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association proudly supports free school meals for all New York State students.”
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island President and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter said, “I commend Governor Hochul for her support of Universal School Meals for all. Ensuring that all students have access to breakfast and lunch in school will enhance academic performance and improve students’ ability to concentrate and retain information which is beneficial to their educational experiences. Given the high cost of living on Long Island, which makes it challenging for some families to provide three square meals a day, knowing that children will receive healthy and nutritious meals at school will significantly alleviate this burden on families.”
NYS PTA Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky said, “There is nothing more important than the health and wellness of our children. Ensuring ALL NYS students can eat nutritious meals at school – at no cost to their families – is essential, while at the same time reducing stigma surrounding school lunch programs. We truly applaud Governor Hochul and legislative leaders who have been championing this issue. Now is the time for New York to support ALL students, parents, and families and fund free school meals for all. Our children’s health, wellness, mental health, and learning will truly benefit.”
Governor Hochul has made combating food insecurity a priority for her administration. Under her leadership, the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers several programs that support increasing food and nutrition security across the State:
The Nourish New York Initiative, administered by the Department of Health in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, provides funding to support the purchase and distribution of New York State grown or produced items, including dairy products and produce. Since its launch, Nourish New York has supported the purchase of over 118 million pounds of New York food products, providing a boost to New York farmers and more than 99 million meals to those in need.
Farm-to-School program connects schools with local farms and food producers to strengthen local agriculture and improve student health. The program provides financial, technical, and promotional assistance to schools, farms, distributors, and other supporting organizations to bring more local, nutritious, seasonally varied meals to New York students.
The 30 Percent New York State Initiative builds on the Farm-to-School program by increasing the reimbursement schools receive for lunches from 5.9 cents per meal to 25 cents per meal for any district that ensures their school lunches are made up of at least 30 percent eligible New York produced and processed products, providing healthier meal options for students and additional markets for farmers.
Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program which provides $50 million over five years to support regional cooking facilities that will facilitate the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children.
The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program supports a network of more than 2,600 emergency food providers who distribute healthy food and fresh produce to individuals who request assistance.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) serves more than 425,000 individuals through breastfeeding support, nutrition education, supplemental nutritious food benefits, and health care referrals.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program offers free, nutritious foods to adults aged 60 and older. Approximately 36,000 older adults participate in the program monthly. During the summer, participants receive additional benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets through the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, available in New York City and Long Island. The goal is to improve the health of low-income individuals aged 60 years of age and older by supplementing their diets with nutritious United States Department of Agriculture foods.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a nutrition education and meal reimbursement program that helps providers serve nutritious and safely prepared meals and snacks to children and adults in daycare settings. The program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture and continues New York's commitment to promote the health and well-being of its residents. All children and adults who attend childcare centers, community-based adult centers, afterschool programs, homeless shelters, and family daycare programs receive meals.
The Food Access Expansion Grant Program provides $10 million to help increase food access for New Yorkers living in areas without grocery stores and without options for healthy, affordable food. It provides infrastructure funding to support the development and expansion of supermarkets, food cooperatives, permanent farm stands, and other retail food stores in underserved regions of the state while also increasing markets for New York farmers.
The FreshConnect Program and the FreshConnect Fresh2You Program, which now doubles the buying power for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients at farmers’ markets across New York State. The initiative provides eligible New Yorkers with a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $50 per day at participating farmers’ markets, which allows families in need to purchase more healthy food, including produce, dairy, eggs and meats.
The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) promotes local producers by expanding their sales at farmers’ markets and farm stands and fosters healthy communities through the consumption of locally grown foods. Eligible consumers are provided with coupons to use for fresh fruits and vegetables at the more than 700 market locations, including farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile market stops participating in the FMNP, supplying healthy homegrown foods to communities across New York.
The SNAP-Ed Funding Program, which is administered in coordination with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, aims to make local produce more available and accessible to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible communities while sourcing local produce and providing nutrition education through Community Garden and Food Box programs.
In addition, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the federally funded New York Food for New York Families program, providing nearly $50 million to partner food banks and food service organizations to implement projects that purchase New York-grown food products and distribute them to underserved communities. It also provides technical assistance to help growers sell into the New York Food for New York Families program.
On the Department of Health website, you can find more information on the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
HWCLI
January 10, 2025
Nonprofit numbers, jobs decline in New York, state report shows
By Olivia Winslow
Updated January 10, 2025 1:43 pm
Read on Newsday
New York State saw a decline in the number of nonprofit organizations and jobs they provided in a five-year period ending in 2022, in sharp contrast to the picture nationally, according to a new report this week from state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The report said many New York nonprofits are burdened by the lack of timely reimbursement from government agencies for the services they provide New Yorkers.
"It’s a huge problem and has been a problem for decades," Megan Allen, CEO of the Albany-based New York Council of Nonprofits Inc., said in an interview.
"It’s a huge problem now ... [because] we’re seeing far more nonprofits having to take out credit lines and being in really horrible financial positions. How do they make payroll? How to keep their doors open?" she said, adding: "We are hearing more nonprofits going out of business and just struggling financially."
DiNapoli, in a forward to the report, "The Critical Role of Nonprofits in New York," highlighted nonprofit organizations' importance to the local and the state economies, citing the vast array of services those organizations provide and the number of people they employ. According to the report, there were 33,536 nonprofits in New York in 2022, out of more than 344,000 nationwide.
"Nonprofits have a greater presence in New York than in many other states. While nonprofits in the U.S. accounted for 3.1 percent of all private sector establishments, in New York, the concentration was 5 percent," the report said. New York was second behind California, for its share of nonprofits nationally, at nearly 10%, with California's at nearly 12%.
"Nonprofits provided over 1.3 million jobs with $96.8 billion in total wages, ranking the [New York] State among the highest in the nation for these measures," DiNapoli wrote.
DiNapoli added, "However, nonprofits in New York have been shrinking since 2017, both in number of establishments and in number of jobs, while expanding in the rest of the nation. In all the State’s regions, nonprofit employment in 2022 was lower than in 2017." But the report said New York's nonprofit sector had higher average annual wages than other states.
The report said New York lost 626 nonprofit organizations between 2017 and 2019, but recovered 453 over the next three years, for a net loss of 173 organizations.
The report focused on nonprofit charitable organizations listed as 501(c)(3)s and analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2017 and 2022, the most recent available, the report said.
According to the report, all of the 10 regions in the state saw employment declines among their nonprofit organizations, although the chart showed that Long Island had the smallest employment decline at 1.3%.
Nassau and Suffolk counties showed an increase in the number of nonprofit organizations between 2017 and 2022 unlike other parts of the state, though the Island still showed losses in nonprofit jobs.
Mark Johnson, DiNapoli's press secretary, wrote in an email: "There were 3,204 nonprofit establishments on Long Island in 2022, 85 more than in 2017. However, there were nearly 2,000 (1,974) fewer jobs over this time period."
The report applauded the vital work that nonprofits do, but said many were hampered by a lack of timely reimbursement from government agencies they are in contract with to provide services, concerns echoed by several Long Island nonprofit leaders.
"Nonprofits provide a wide array of services and benefits to people living in New York, including mental health, early childhood education, shelter and services for the homeless, recovery aid from storms and other weather events, public safety, and arts and cultural programs," the report said.
However, it said nonprofits are often reimbursed late for services by government entities, causing "cash flow burdens — relying on loans or lines of credit to make existing payroll or other expenses, incurring costs for which they are not reimbursed." The report said, "over 5,000 contracts — 56 percent of contracts with State agencies subject to PCL [Prompt Contracting Law] requirements — were processed late," citing a 2023 annual report.
"Organizations are working six, seven, eight months without payment on their contract. That’s a pretty difficult math arrangement. Agencies have to make payroll," Theresa Regnante, president and CEO of United Way of Long Island, based in Deer Park, said in an interview.
Regnante also said the loss of the big infusion of federal dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic that waned in 2022 may have played a role in the loss of jobs in the nonprofit sector, as well as keeping up with competitive wages.
Jeffrey Reynolds, president and CEO of Garden City-based Family & Children's Association, wrote in an email: "The Comptroller's report is exactly on point, in that it highlights, not only the vital services nonprofits provide to local families in need, but our critical roles as employers and regional economic engines."
Reynolds added, "Doing business with government at any level means borrowing money to fill payment gaps and now that interest rates have soared, those dollars could be better spent on services."
Reynolds wrote that government sources provided 88% of revenues to his nonprofit organization. He said FCA employs 320 people and has a $27 million budget for 2025.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, a Huntington Station-based nonprofit that is an umbrella agency representing about 200 nonprofits in addition to providing direct services, in an interview noted the "gamut of resources and services" nonprofit organizations provide, and their role as an "economic engine ensuring the financial stability of thousands of families on Long Island."
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
New York State saw a decline in the number of nonprofit organizations and jobs they provided in a five-year period ending in 2022, a new state report said.
The report said many New York nonprofits are burdened by the lack of timely reimbursement from government agencies.
Nassau and Suffolk counties showed an increase in the number of nonprofit organizations between 2017 and 2022, though the Island still showed losses in nonprofit jobs.
Health Equity Healthcare Access HWCLI
January 9, 2025
NYS Paid Prenatal Leave: 5 things to know about the new law
By Victor Ocasio
Updated January 9, 2025 3:50 pm
Read on Newsday
New York this month became the first state in the country to offer paid leave for prenatal care, marking a major change in employee benefits that some experts say will have a positive impact on public health.
The Paid Prenatal Leave law, which took effect Jan. 1, requires all private employers in the state to provide full- or part-time pregnant employees with up to 20 hours of paid leave in a 52-week period.
The leave is in addition to the state’s 2020 Paid Sick Leave law, which requires employers to offer workers between 40 to 56 hours of paid leave per year depending on the employer’s headcount.
“A lot of pregnant workers have had to use family sick leave or disability, and it’s not a disability and you’re not sick," said Roberta Reardon, head of the state’s Department of Labor, the agency overseeing enforcement of prenatal leave. “This is a wellness initiative.”
Annually, about 130,000 pregnant women will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul citing Labor Department estimates.
dvocates say the law could help lower maternal mortality and pregnancy complications, but some business groups say the law, which went into effect at the same time as the state’s increases to minimum wage on Long Island, New York City and Westchester, could create additional costs for small business.
The law doesn't require employees to provide advance notice before using the leave, and employers who offer more than the mandated number of paid sick leave hours must still offer the additional 20 hours.
“While it is important to prioritize maternal care, this new mandate comes at the same time as the minimum wage" increase, Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group, said in a statement. "We have too often seen how it is stifling economic growth and raising costs for small businesses already navigating numerous other challenges."
Here are five things to know about the state’s new prenatal law.
What does the Paid Prenatal Leave law cover?
The law provides pregnant workers with 20 hours of paid leave at their normal base rate of pay in a 52-week period. Workers must use the leave in one-hour increments, though they can use multiple hours at a time, according to the Labor Department.
“You don’t have to bank your hours to spend them,” Reardon said, "as pregnancy is obviously a very time-limited event.”
For workers who rely on tips, employers are not required to cover the cost of lost tips but must pay the employee their normal rate of pay or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is greater, according to the Labor Department.
Who is covered under the new law?
All private employees in the state who are pregnant or are seeking fertility treatments in preparation for pregnancy can qualify.
“The law calls for 20 hours of prenatal leave available to any employee who needs prenatal care regardless of part-time or full-time status,” said Domenique Camacho Moran, employment attorney and partner at Farrell Fritz in Uniondale.
Spouses or partners of pregnant workers are not eligible.
“It’s only for the pregnant worker, not for their partner, and it can be used for things like physical exams, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, conversations with your doctor, fertility treatments and end of pregnancy care,” Reardon said.
Telehealth appointments also are covered under the new law, said Kevin O’Toole, spokesperson with the Labor Department.
What is the law's impact on employers?
All private employers in the state, regardless of number of employees, are subject to the law and must pay workers their normal wages when employees use prenatal leave.
“There are 450,000 businesses in New York State, and what we want employers to know is we want to help you be in compliance,” Reardon said. “We’d rather have you be in compliance than take you to task.”
Under state labor law, failure to provide employee benefits is equivalent to a failure to pay employee wages, according to the state Labor Department.
Employers who are out of compliance could face civil or criminal penalties, including paying liquidated damages and civil penalties, the state said.
New Yorkers are also permitted to use paid sick leave in addition to paid prenatal leave, O’Toole said.
What's the law's impact on employees?
“When you ensure that a birthing person has the ability to attend their prenatal visits, that is going to improve birth outcomes,” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, a nonprofit that connects Long Islanders in need with social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
Baird-Streeter said her organization is committed to the issue of maternal health in light of 2024 data that showed big disparities in pregnancy-related health risks among racial and ethnic groups.
Pregnancy-related deaths are five times higher for Black women in New York than for white women (54.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 11.2 deaths per 100,000 live births) according to a 2024 state Department of Health report.
What challenges does the law pose for employers?
For the local business community, concern remains over the cost of an additional employee benefit that may have disproportionate effects on small businesses, the LIA's Cohen said.
One challenge posed by the law, experts said, is that workers are not required to provide advance notice of plans to use prenatal leave.
“Although the state’s guidance encourages employees to schedule these [appointments] in advance, there’s no requirement,” Moran said. “The lack of an obligation to provide notice can be disruptive for employers.”
While the state “encourages employees to give employers advanced notice,” it's not mandatory; however employers must grant prenatal leave when requested.
“The second big challenge for employers is there are significant limitations on how the employer can make sure the leave is being used for prenatal care,” Moran said.
Under the law, employers cannot ask workers for confidential information about their prenatal visit, or request medical records as a condition of granting the leave.
For more information on prenatal leave, visit the state's online overview.
Healthcare Access HWCLI
January 8, 2025
By Nicholas Spangler
Read on Newsday
Updated January 8, 2025 6:48 pm
More than 50 patient transportation companies across New York, including five on Long Island, used fake billing schemes to steal from Medicaid and exploit vulnerable patients, the state attorney general said Wednesday.
While most companies transporting patients do so lawfully, fraud in the industry is a "major source" of Medicaid fraud overall, James said.
Some companies recruited substance abuse patients to request rides specifically from their services, inflated mileage for trips and billed for rides that never happened or tolls they never paid, according to her office.
Additionally, the Medicaid Inspector General's report cited a "surge" of providers billing $50, the maximum amount allowed under Medicaid guidelines for tolls, and one driver who claimed to have driven 277,000 miles in one month. To accomplish that feat, the reports' authors noted, the driver would have needed to maintain an average speed of 412.4 miles per hour while driving 24 hours per day.
In fiscal 2023, the last year for which statistics were available, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in James' office recovered $73.2 million in settlements and judgments, carrying out 482 fraud investigations and winning seven convictions, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
That work "is protecting patients and ensuring that Medicaid funds are used appropriately," said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, a nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers. "With less money lost to fraud, more funds can be directed to improving health care services and expanding coverage."
In addition to the cease-and-desist notices, James’ office announced Wednesday settlements totaling $847,000 with four upstate transportation companies.
In June in federal court in Central Islip, eight defendants were charged with a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme, allegedly billing Medicaid for ambulette services to medical appointments that were not performed, including some claims for patients who were dead.
In a separate case in November, a Nassau County man, John Gouzos, pleaded guilty in Rensselaer County Court to stealing from Medicaid, according to James' office. According to a news release from the office, Gouzos, owner of the Medi Cab company, pleaded guilty to health care fraud, a felony, and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27 to six months in jail concurrent with five years of probation.
Prosecutors said he paid illegal kickbacks to Medicaid patients to request rides from locations much farther away from where they were actually transported, allowing them to charge more per ride.
Not all cases of suspected fraud result in criminal prosecution, and James said her office had cut transportation fraud simply by investigating it. Between 2019 and 2023, according to a chart prepared by her office that was displayed at the news conference, payment by Medicaid for tolls in New York dropped abruptly from more than $20 million to just over $10 million.
HWCLI
November 19, 2024
Comptroller report shows New York unemployment payouts, workers’ comp, lag most states
By Victor Ocasio
Read on Newsday
Updated November 19, 2024 5:25 pm
A new report by the New York State Comptroller’s Office shows that the state lags behind others when it comes to cash payouts for several social safety net programs meant to help unemployed or injured workers.
The report, published by Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office last week, found that New York State’s maximum payout for unemployment of $504 per week ranked lower than most of the country.
Twenty-nine states, including Massachusetts ($1,033), New Jersey ($854), Vermont ($705), and Texas ($577), offer a higher maximum in unemployment cash benefits.
The report examined social insurance programs overseen by the state, including unemployment insurance, workers’ comp, and paid family leave, and compared payouts to neighboring states and states with comparable population sizes.
"We saw the importance of these benefits in helping employees meet household needs during the pandemic, keeping countless families from slipping into poverty," DiNapoli said in a statement.
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As of Oct. 5, over 138,000 New Yorkers have claimed unemployment insurance benefits this year, according to the report. The year before, the state received nearly 170,000 claims for workers’ compensation.
More than 163,000 paid family leave claims were paid in 2022, the latest year such data are available. The report did not include data about temporary disability insurance — a type of assistance for non-work-related injuries or illnesses paid for by worker contributions.
The state’s unemployment benefits system faced a major road test during the COVID-19 pandemic, when nearly 1.9 million jobs statewide were lost temporarily or otherwise, said Gregory DeFreitas, Hofstra economics professor and director of the university’s Center for the Study of Labor and Democracy.
The state still owes the federal government $6.2 billion in debt from borrowing funds to pay out a record number of unemployment claims spurred by pandemic job losses, according to the report.
"We’re only one of three states in debt like that," DeFreitas said. "What that means is we really can’t raise benefits until we repay that $6.2 billion or raise taxes."
A 'balancing act'
For those working with the Island's impoverished residents, the state's benefit levels are inadequate given the cost of living.
“There are people coming for food assistance because they are not getting enough in benefits be it SNAP or unemployment or anything else they are entitled to,” said Paule T. Pachter, chief executive of Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank.
He added that “unemployment is not going to be able to sustain a family living on Long Island."
“Shame on New York for being so low on list given the economics of the state,” Pachter said, reacting to the findings in the comptroller's report.
Moved upLike with the state’s workers’ comp payments, which are capped at $1,171.46 per week and rank 30th in the nation, there are other factors to consider when weighing the effectiveness of such social safety net programs, DeFreitas said.
"With workers’ comp, in addition to the cash benefit, many of those workers are getting medical benefits, which can be very substantial," DeFreitas said.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said increasing benefits for New Yorkers was important but had to be weighed against the potential impact on employers.
"We know that New York is one of the highest-cost states for doing business, but there’s a balancing act in place in making sure businesses stay in New York State," said Baird-Streeter, whose organization helps Islanders apply for safety net programs such as SNAP and Medicaid.
Steven Kent, economics professor at Molloy University's business school, said it's important to note that New York was among a handful of states that offer temporary disability insurance and paid family leave. Like Baird-Streeter, he emphasized it's important to view what New York offered as a whole package and consider the potential costs to employers who largely fund the state’s safety net.
"On the one hand you want to make sure the people of New York get very solid benefits," Kent said. "But at the same time, we want to make sure that our local economies are welcoming to all businesses."
HWCLI
November 18, 2024
Black Women of Long Island holds awards brunch
By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith
Read on Newsday
Updated November 17, 2024 8:29 pm
Celebration and recognition were both in the air at a Sunday brunch honoring the achievements of Black women on Long Island.
Dozens of women from across Long Island gathered in Freeport for the second year of the event organized by the group Black Women of Long Island, which honored more than 20 Black women leaders and changemakers.
Winners included a cross-section of people such as educators, business leaders, medical professionals and beyond.
Renee Daniel Flagler, executive director of Girls Inc. of Long Island and one of the honorees, said her advocacy to help youth overcome disparities is not for the sake of recognition but noted that getting it is humbling.
“Affirmation from your own community is tremendous,” said Flagler, of Baldwin.
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Judith Jacques, founder of Black Women of Long Island, said the organization was born out of a need for greater community among Black women in the area.
She started off with a WhatsApp group. Then in 2022, she created the Black Women of Long Island group on Facebook. Today the group has more than 4,000 members.
Sunday’s awards brunch marked the end of a three-day event aimed at empowering and uplifting Black women. Other events that were part of the celebration included a kickoff mixer on Friday. On Saturday, the organization held an all-day conference at Hofstra University.
“I want to create spaces where Black women feel safe and they feel seen and they're celebrated, unapologetically,” said Jacques, of Amityville. “And I wish that every Black woman who leaves this space today feels exactly that.”
On Sunday, attendees young, old and in between mixed and mingled.
They heard from many of the women who won awards, including Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. Other award winners included chef Sandy Pierre and state Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont).
Valerie Cartright, a New York State Supreme Court justice who was also an honoree, said it's important to be in the room with women, many of whom who have experienced some of the same challenges she has.
“It’s humbling to be amongst so many sheros and ladies that are … treating ceilings as though they’re floors,” she said.
Yolanda Hutchinson, an awardee and superintendent of Parks and Recreation in the Village of Hempstead, said the events held special significance because they happened shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris lost her presidential bid to Donald Trump. If Harris had won, she would have been the first Black and Asian woman to be U.S. president.
“And to see that, and after maybe less than two weeks shy of that, to be in a room full of Black women — just soaking up that knowledge and their expertise and all the beauty and all the life that they have — is simply amazing,” she said.
2020 Census HWCLI
September 12, 2024
Experts: Census data masks deeper concerns for Long Island’s poor
By Olivia Winslow and Arielle Martinezolivia.winslow@newsday.com,arielle.martinez@newsday.com September 12, 2024 12:01 am
Read on Newsday
Child poverty rates in Suffolk last year rose from 2022 at a level viewed as statistically significant by the U.S. Census Bureau, but the federal government's one-size-fits-all approach continues to discount the financial hardship for "structurally poor" Long Islanders, according to poverty experts.
The Census Bureau statistics released Thursday showed that while Suffolk County's overall poverty rate in 2023 was statistically unchanged from the year before, for children under 18 it climbed just over 2 percentage points from 6.2% to 8.3%, a change the agency considers statistically significant.
Nassau's child poverty rate saw a decline the Census Bureau considered statistically insignificant, from 6.2% in 2022 to 5.1% in 2023.
High cost of living
What's missing from the new Census report, experts said, was an accounting of the true level of poverty on Long Island, fueled by a high cost of living, compared to other parts of the United States.
"The federal definition of poverty is so ridiculously low, we look wonderful," said Richard Koubek, chair of the Welfare to Work Commission of the Suffolk County Legislature, citing Long Island's low poverty rate and high median household income.
The latest Census Bureau data confirmed Long Island's low poverty rate and high median household income, $132,080 in 2023, compared with national median for the year, $80,610.
The overall poverty rate for Nassau and Suffolk counties was 6.1% in 2023, not statistically different from the year before, when it was 5.9%, according to Newsday's analysis of the 2023 one-year estimates from the bureau's American Community Survey.
In 2023, according to the census data, the nationwide poverty rate threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $30,900, far short of what's needed for a family to make it on Long Island, Koubek said.
"Our cost of living is so high that our poverty level should be doubled the $30,000," he said. "You've got to regionalize the federal poverty rate." But he lamented, "any attempt to do that has failed."
Statistics belie struggles
Nassau's poverty rate was estimated at 5.4% in 2023, virtually unchanged from 2022 when it stood at 5.3%. Suffolk's was 6.5% in 2022 and 6.8% in 2023, a statistically insignificant change.
The Census Bureau showed New York State's poverty rate was more than double Long Island's in 2023, at 14.2%. The national poverty rate was 11.1% that year, the bureau reported.
Long Island's poverty rates are typically lower than the state or national levels, but that belies the struggles that many Long Islanders face, several human service providers said.
"There are very well defined and well worn pockets of poverty on Long Island," said Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive of Garden City-based Family & Children's Association (FCA).
The association serves about 36,000 people annually, providing a range of services, including behavioral health, housing programs, seniors programs and recovery programs, as well as a food pantry.
"Single moms with kids are having a rough time. Long Island hasn't figured out how to address pockets of poverty," Reynolds said. The census data show that the poverty rate for female-headed households on Long Island with no spouse present was higher than other groups, at 10.9% in 2023 — 10.8% in Nassau and 10.9% in Suffolk.
'Transportation barriers'
Reynold said Suffolk County's larger geographic area adds "transportation barriers," such as limited bus service, to the list of challenges facing families with limited incomes.
"In Suffolk access to services is hampered and child care is harder to access," Reynolds said. "It's harder to get your kids there, drop them off, get yourself to work, pick them up. These things many Long Islanders struggle with become infinitely harder" for poor single mothers, he said.
The latest census data ignores "systemic issues that keep families locked in poverty: lack of access to child care, lack of access to well-paying jobs, the lack of housing options," Reynolds said.
In an email, Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, estimated that about 20% of Long Islanders are considered "structurally poor. This means they struggle to meet the high cost of living despite earning above the federal poverty line."
She added: "Many of our clients are continually faced with the difficult choices between paying for housing, utilities, food, and health care. The ongoing lack of affordable housing options continues to drive up costs, making it increasingly challenging for lower-income residents to find suitable living arrangements. ... it’s important to reflect on what this means for the children in these families. Children in lower-income households are more likely to experience poor health outcomes."
HWCLI
August 20, 2024
Rise Life Services Hosts Networking Event
August 8th, 2024
Read on Dan's Papers
The Wine Down, Network Up event was held at Duck Walk Vineyards in Water Mill, honoring Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, and Joe Giametta, Facilitator of the Business Development Council for ABA.
The event’s proceeds were donated to Rise Life Services, a Riverhead-based nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding individuals with physical and mental disabilities.
HEALI Health Equity Healthcare Access HWCLI
August 8, 2024
Read on StreetInsider
Social Care Networks across 9 of the 13 New York State regions are partnering with Unite Us to address health-related social needs, track outcomes, and facilitate reimbursements for Medicaid members to align with the goals of the 1115 demonstration waiver.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Unite Us, the nation's trusted technology partner for social care transformation, congratulates its partner organizations for being selected by the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) to lead the Social Care Network (SCN) in their region. In their role, SCN leads are responsible for maintaining a comprehensive network of community-based organizations (CBOs) that will be responsible for delivering and tracking services addressing health-related social needs (HRSNs) to eligible Medicaid members.
Announced on August 7th, the NYS DOH's selections included five Unite Us partner organizations that will serve nine regions, including Care Compass Collaborative, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, Healthy Alliance Foundation Inc., Hudson Valley Care Coalition Inc., and Public Health Solutions. Unite Us will serve as the infrastructure for collaboration in each region's network of CBOs, healthcare providers, and managed care organizations (MCOs), which together represent 72% of Medicaid members across the state.
With Unite Us' secure and proven technology, SCNs will be able to fulfill the requirements of the state's 1115 Medicaid waiver by facilitating social care referrals, enabling reimbursements for CBOs providing services to members, and tracking outcomes. Together, this delivers the comprehensive data needed for NYS DOH and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate the waiver's impact, which is a core component of the demonstration in order to determine the longevity of these services as a lasting benefit in managed care.
A few of the recently appointed SCNs share their enthusiasm and goals for delivering the objectives of the 1115 waiver demonstration in their respective regions.
Public Health Solutions (PHS): "Public Health Solutions is excited to scale WholeYouNYC, our coordinated, accountable, and modern network of organizations as the Social Care Network for three counties New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), and Queens to provide greater access to services in New York City communities," said Zachariah Hennessey, Chief Strategy Officer, Public Health Solutions. "We are committed to delivering on the goals of this demonstration to ensure these services are a lasting Medicaid benefit. Leveraging Unite Us, we will screen Medicaid members for health-related social needs and connect them to essential community resources while ensuring reimbursement to sustain service capacity."
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI): "HWCLI is poised to scale our comprehensive and integrated social care system across the Long Island region as the Social Care Network, ensuring greater access to health and social care services for vulnerable members in our community," said Lori Andrade, Executive Vice President, HWCLI. "Collaborating with Unite Us, we will develop a sustainable technology infrastructure for screenings, referrals, and reimbursement for HRSN services across our health and social care partners. This initiative promises to foster a lasting and transformative impact for years to come."
Healthy Alliance Foundation Inc.: "As the lead entity for the Social Care Network in the Capital, Central, and North Country regions of New York, Healthy Alliance will continue creating stronger, healthier, and more connected communities," said Erica Coletti, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Alliance. "Our longstanding partnership with Unite Us has provided us with the technology infrastructure required to keep the community member at the center of all we do, having managed over 95,000 service requests through the platform. The 1115 NYHER Waiver presents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen and sustain the social care ecosystem of New York State, and we are honored to be part of it."
Care Compress Collaborative: "Care Compass Collaborative is deeply honored to serve as the Social Care Network for the Southern Tier Region. We aim to build on our efforts to enhance access, improve quality, and reduce healthcare costs for Medicaid members, advancing health equity and reducing disparities with new HRSN services," said Mark Ropiecki, Executive Director. "Using Unite Us as our technology infrastructure will allow partners to screen, refer, and reimburse providers for the new HRSN services while collecting comprehensive data to evaluate the waiver's impact on the Department of Health and ensure the longevity of these services in managed care."
Hudson Valley Care Coalition Inc: "Our coalition of CBOs, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county government, and behavioral health agencies, is honored to be selected as the Social Care Network in the Hudson Valley. We are dedicated to creating communities of health and wellness for all," said Amie Parikh, CEO, of Hudson Valley Care Coalition. "Embracing shared technology across our network not only streamlines the process of screening, connecting vulnerable New Yorkers to HRSN services and providing reimbursement for these critical services but also fosters a sustainable healthcare ecosystem in the Hudson Valley. Leveraging Unite Us will bridge care gaps, enhance communication, and empower organizations to deliver more accessible care."
Unite Us Advanced Technology and Commitment to Privacy & Security in 1115 HRSN Medicaid Waiver States
Unite Us is uniquely positioned to support 1115 Medicaid HRSN waivers by connecting individuals to essential social care services, offering integrated Medicaid member eligibility verification, and embedding a scalable payments solution that ensures CBOs receive fair, timely reimbursement to strengthen their capacity.
These features are part of the Unite Us comprehensive closed-loop referral platform, which delivers unparalleled visibility into Medicaid members' longitudinal care journeys to deliver real-time insights into screenings, referrals, and case outcomes spanning our accountable networks. This holistic approach promises to deliver the NYS DOH and the CMS with robust, standardized social care data across all SCN regions, leveraging Unite Us for effective program evaluation and optimization.
In addition to its market-leading technologies, Unite Us has become the industry's most trusted partner for prioritizing the privacy and dignity of individuals seeking care. Unite Us New York partners trust their information will be protected and secure. Unite Us protects all social care information as though it were protected health information, employing the same security measures required by HIPAA for all data on our platform, regardless of where it originates. Our platform enables partners to securely exchange information to seamlessly connect members to services that can improve their health and well-being.
"We commend our SCN partners for their years of dedicated service to our community's most vulnerable," said Taylor Justice, Co-Founder, and President at Unite Us. "As the technological backbone for SCNs and their vast networks, we're dedicated to streamlining screenings, referrals, and reimbursement processes while providing essential data to NYS DOH and CMS for program evaluation. Drawing from our experience with other HRSN Medicaid waiver initiatives in states like North Carolina and Oregon, we're committed to delivering on the goals of this demonstration and advancing whole-person care. We'll ensure that HRSN services become a lasting benefit in managed care."
Nonprofits and CBOs seeking to join the Unite Us coordinated care network can connect through uniteus.com/contact/.
HEALI Health Equity HWCLI
August 8, 2024
Read on Yahoo Finance
Thu, Aug 8, 2024
Social Care Networks across 9 of the 13 New York State regions are partnering with Unite Us to address health-related social needs, track outcomes, and facilitate reimbursements for Medicaid members to align with the goals of the 1115 demonstration waiver.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Unite Us, the nation's trusted technology partner for social care transformation, congratulates its partner organizations for being selected by the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) to lead the Social Care Network (SCN) in their region. In their role, SCN leads are responsible for maintaining a comprehensive network of community-based organizations (CBOs) that will be responsible for delivering and tracking services addressing health-related social needs (HRSNs) to eligible Medicaid members.
Announced on August 7th, the NYS DOH's selections included five Unite Us partner organizations that will serve nine regions, including Care Compass Collaborative, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, Healthy Alliance Foundation Inc., Hudson Valley Care Coalition Inc., and Public Health Solutions. Unite Us will serve as the infrastructure for collaboration in each region's network of CBOs, healthcare providers, and managed care organizations (MCOs), which together represent 72% of Medicaid members across the state.
With Unite Us' secure and proven technology, SCNs will be able to fulfill the requirements of the state's 1115 Medicaid waiver by facilitating social care referrals, enabling reimbursements for CBOs providing services to members, and tracking outcomes. Together, this delivers the comprehensive data needed for NYS DOH and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate the waiver's impact, which is a core component of the demonstration in order to determine the longevity of these services as a lasting benefit in managed care.
A few of the recently appointed SCNs share their enthusiasm and goals for delivering the objectives of the 1115 waiver demonstration in their respective regions.
Public Health Solutions (PHS): "Public Health Solutions is excited to scale WholeYouNYC, our coordinated, accountable, and modern network of organizations as the Social Care Network for three counties New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), and Queens to provide greater access to services in New York City communities," said Zachariah Hennessey, Chief Strategy Officer, Public Health Solutions. "We are committed to delivering on the goals of this demonstration to ensure these services are a lasting Medicaid benefit. Leveraging Unite Us, we will screen Medicaid members for health-related social needs and connect them to essential community resources while ensuring reimbursement to sustain service capacity."
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI): "HWCLI is poised to scale our comprehensive and integrated social care system across the Long Island region as the Social Care Network, ensuring greater access to health and social care services for vulnerable members in our community," said Lori Andrade, Executive Vice President, HWCLI. "Collaborating with Unite Us, we will develop a sustainable technology infrastructure for screenings, referrals, and reimbursement for HRSN services across our health and social care partners. This initiative promises to foster a lasting and transformative impact for years to come."
Healthy Alliance Foundation Inc.: "As the lead entity for the Social Care Network in the Capital, Central, and North Country regions of New York, Healthy Alliance will continue creating stronger, healthier, and more connected communities," said Erica Coletti, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Alliance. "Our longstanding partnership with Unite Us has provided us with the technology infrastructure required to keep the community member at the center of all we do, having managed over 95,000 service requests through the platform. The 1115 NYHER Waiver presents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen and sustain the social care ecosystem of New York State, and we are honored to be part of it."
Care Compass Collaborative: "Care Compass Collaborative is deeply honored to serve as the Social Care Network for the Southern Tier Region. We aim to build on our efforts to enhance access, improve quality, and reduce healthcare costs for Medicaid members, advancing health equity and reducing disparities with new HRSN services," said Mark Ropiecki, Executive Director. "Using Unite Us as our technology infrastructure will allow partners to screen, refer, and reimburse providers for the new HRSN services while collecting comprehensive data to evaluate the waiver's impact on the Department of Health and ensure the longevity of these services in managed care."
Hudson Valley Care Coalition Inc: "Our coalition of CBOs, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county government, and behavioral health agencies, is honored to be selected as the Social Care Network in the Hudson Valley. We are dedicated to creating communities of health and wellness for all," said Amie Parikh, CEO, of Hudson Valley Care Coalition. "Embracing shared technology across our network not only streamlines the process of screening, connecting vulnerable New Yorkers to HRSN services and providing reimbursement for these critical services but also fosters a sustainable healthcare ecosystem in the Hudson Valley. Leveraging Unite Us will bridge care gaps, enhance communication, and empower organizations to deliver more accessible care."
Unite Us Advanced Technology and Commitment to Privacy & Security in 1115 HRSN Medicaid Waiver States
Unite Us is uniquely positioned to support 1115 Medicaid HRSN waivers by connecting individuals to essential social care services, offering integrated Medicaid member eligibility verification, and embedding a scalable payments solution that ensures CBOs receive fair, timely reimbursement to strengthen their capacity.
These features are part of the Unite Us comprehensive closed-loop referral platform, which delivers unparalleled visibility into Medicaid members' longitudinal care journeys to deliver real-time insights into screenings, referrals, and case outcomes spanning our accountable networks. This holistic approach promises to deliver the NYS DOH and the CMS with robust, standardized social care data across all SCN regions, leveraging Unite Us for effective program evaluation and optimization.
In addition to its market-leading technologies, Unite Us has become the industry's most trusted partner for prioritizing the privacy and dignity of individuals seeking care. Unite Us New York partners trust their information will be protected and secure. Unite Us protects all social care information as though it were protected health information, employing the same security measures required by HIPAA for all data on our platform, regardless of where it originates. Our platform enables partners to securely exchange information to seamlessly connect members to services that can improve their health and well-being.
"We commend our SCN partners for their years of dedicated service to our community's most vulnerable," said Taylor Justice, Co-Founder, and President at Unite Us. "As the technological backbone for SCNs and their vast networks, we're dedicated to streamlining screenings, referrals, and reimbursement processes while providing essential data to NYS DOH and CMS for program evaluation. Drawing from our experience with other HRSN Medicaid waiver initiatives in states like North Carolina and Oregon, we're committed to delivering on the goals of this demonstration and advancing whole-person care. We'll ensure that HRSN services become a lasting benefit in managed care."
Nonprofits and CBOs seeking to join the Unite Us coordinated care network can connect through uniteus.com/contact/.
About Unite Us
Unite Us is the nation's premier technology provider for advancing social care outcomes. Our advanced product suite streamlines processes and fosters collaboration across government, healthcare, health plans, and community-based organizations to address social drivers of health by facilitating social care services, intervention programs, and Medicaid reimbursements. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral platform now integrates more than 1M services and securely hosts the nation's largest network of nonprofits committed to improving whole-person health one community at a time. Learn more at UniteUs.com and LinkedIn.
HEALI Health Equity HWCLI
August 7, 2024
Read the Press Release from NYS Governor Kathy Hochul
Social Care Networks Will Help Address Health Disparities by Connecting Medicaid Members With Subsidized Nutritional Meals, Housing Supports, Transportation and Other Critical Services
Program is Part of 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Waiver Approved in January
Traducción al español
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that nine organizations statewide will receive a total of $500 million in awards over the next three years to create a new Social Care Network (SCN) program in New York State. The program will address health disparities in low-income communities by leveraging federal funding to facilitate Medicaid members access to nutritional meals, housing supports, transportation and other social services that can have a significant impact on an individual’s health. By integrating social care and health care, this program advances a key initiative under the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) waiver amendment.
“The Social Care Networks will help us transform how we support communities with the greatest unmet needs,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the SCN program, we are making a direct investment in the health and wellbeing of our local communities - and New Yorkers will be connected to a more equitable and integrated social and health care system.”
New York State, as part of its Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, is making an historic step forward to create a new model of care that will integrate health care and social care via networks with associated funding. The $500 million program is one component of a $7.5 billion three-year waiver with nearly $6 billion of federal funding. The SCNs will be core to facilitating the delivery of health-related social needs, including nutrition, housing supports, transportation, and case management for eligible Medicaid members, which are essential to addressing health disparities and improving population health.
Data shows that subsidizing health-related social needs can have significantly positive impacts on health outcomes for low-income New Yorkers.
For example, a program known as the Medicaid Redesign Team Supportive Housing Initiative is focused on providing permanent housing and tenancy support services to homeless New Yorkers with medical conditions. An analysis of the program showed that investing in housing supports led to better health outcomes such as:
40 percent reduction in inpatient days
26 percent reduction in emergency department visits
44 percent reduction in patients with inpatient substance use rehab admissions
27 percent reduction in patients with inpatient psychiatric admissions
15 percent reduction in overall Medicaid health expenditures
Through strategic prioritization, the top decile of enrollees had average Medicaid savings of $45,600 per person per year
The following organizations were selected and will be covering nine regions throughout the State:
OrganizationRegionCare Compass CollaborativeSouthern TierFinger Lakes IPA Inc.Finger LakesHealth and Welfare Council of Long IslandLong IslandHealthy Alliance Foundation Inc.Capital Region, Central NY, North CountryHudson Valley Care Coalition, Inc.Hudson ValleyPublic Health SolutionsManhattan, Queens, BrooklynStaten Island Performing Provider SystemStaten IslandSomos Healthcare Providers, Inc.BronxWestern New York Integrated Care Collaborative Inc.Western NY
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Awarding the Social Care Network Lead Entity contracts represents a critical milestone toward advancing health equity, eliminating health disparities, and addressing health-related social needs. We traditionally invest health care dollars in direct patient care, yet, it is often the factors ‘outside the exam room’ that most need to be addressed. This historic investment allows these partners to connect patients to factors that often most influence our health, such as finding stable housing, reliable transportation, health insurance and other factors that improve people’s personal health.”
State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri said, “These Social Care Network awards will transform how health care and social care are delivered. These networks are central to achieving the health equity goals of the NYHER waiver, and will complement our long term strategy to incorporate social care benefits into the Medicaid Managed Care program.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “I am proud to help deliver this $500 million investment – part of a whopping $6 billion in federal waiver aid – so New York state can create this exciting and innovative Social Care Network to better integrate social care and health care to improve health outcomes for those in our most disadvantaged communities. It is a creative approach to health care that can save lives and, over time, save money by dealing with health care problems in needy communities more proactively and more holistically. From the Bronx to Watertown to Buffalo, local non-profit organizations in the Social Care Network will address housing, food, transportation needs, as well as health care so that fellow New Yorkers in need receive the support they need to be healthy and thrive. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s work ensuring that these federal resources are being invested well to help people across New York access critical social services.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Today, New York is committing hundreds of millions of dollars to addressing health disparities in low-income communities and improving health outcomes for countless New Yorkers. The SCN program will be a lifeline for many and expand access to nutritional meals, housing support, transportation, and other social services. I am proud to support Governor Hochul’s commitment to advancing health equity and will continue to fight at the federal level to address health disparities in New York and nationwide.”
Representative Jerry Nadler said, “I applaud today’s announcement of $500 million to help improve the health of millions of New Yorkers. The nine organizations named today will serve as lead entities for New York’s groundbreaking Social Care Network (SCN) program. The new SCN program will connect the most underserved New Yorkers to critical social services, including housing, nutritional programs, and more.”
Representative Paul Tonko said, “I am thrilled to celebrate this significant investment that underscores our commitment to addressing the root causes of the health disparities that impact our communities every day. By integrating our health care system with essential social services, this investment advances a focused, comprehensive approach to fostering healthier, more equitable communities and improving the well-being of low-income New Yorkers here in our Capital Region and across the state.”
Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “Thank you Governor Hochul on this latest effort to expand funding for services to further advance the health and well-being for low-income New Yorkers. This funding helps propel the engagement of nine organizations across our state to further their support of families in need by facilitating Medicaid member access to meals, housing support, transportation, and other social services. Today’s announcement reaffirms our work to address health disparities in our communities and builds on our collaborative efforts to support vulnerable families in our communities when they need our help the most.”
Representative Ritchie Torres said, “Social services and access to health care resources are crucial to the daily functioning of Bronxites. The significant investment from the 1115 waiver in Social Care Networks will help improve services and support systems for countless of low income residents throughout the Bronx. I especially want to extend my congratulations to Somos Healthcare Providers for being selected to receive an award which will go towards assisting Bronx residents in need. These SCN’s are essential to improving health equity for Medicaid Members and I look forward to working with the Governor to further expand and upgrade these programs and services.”
Representative Pat Ryan said, “Every Hudson Valley family deserves comprehensive healthcare and access to quality social services. I’m proud that these federal funds will remove barriers to care, helping the Hudson Valley Care Coalition deliver everything from housing to nutrition to transportation. Thank you to Governor Hochul for championing this key issue – I’ll keep fighting every day to lower costs and deliver relief for Hudson Valley families.”
Representative Dan Goldman said, “By integrating social services such as housing, nutrition, and transportation with health care, this historic investment will directly tackle inequality in our state and ensure that all New Yorkers can thrive, regardless of their income or background. I commend Governor Hochul for creatively utilizing federal aid and spearheading this new care model to more comprehensively support low-income communities suffering from decades of underinvestment. I am eager to continue working with federal, state, and local officials to ensure that these investments reach the people who need it most.”
Representative Tim Kennedy said, “This transformational funding will jumpstart New York’s Social Care Network, connecting eligible individuals with the healthcare and services they need to thrive. Healthcare is one component of overall health, which is why this initiative provides Medicaid recipients with more holistic support to secure nutritious meals, housing, and transportation. In my district, I look forward to the Western New York Integrated Care Collaboration Inc. delivering more equitable and impactful care to those who need it most.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “By establishing Social Care Networks that deliver on-the-ground services from trusted community partners, we are investing in the long-term health care of our communities. The health and well-being of New Yorkers is a priority for our administration, and that is why we launched 'HealthyNYC,' to expand the average life expectancy of all New Yorkers, and why we worked closely with our state partners to directly address the mental health harms caused by social media companies, particularly for our youth. We applaud Governor Hochul for her efforts here and look forward to working with the Social Care Networks in New York City.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for investing $500 million to help break down barriers and ensure our most vulnerable neighbors are connected with both the social and health care services they need. The City of Albany – utilizing our opioid settlement funds – and Albany County recently partnered to create the Albany Navigates street treatment initiative to bring health and social resources directly to those in crisis, and this new Social Care Network is another way government is working to combat the health and social challenges we see across our city, region, and state. I look forward to working with New York State and our local partners to expand the reach of these much-needed programs.”
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, “Our most vulnerable residents are fighting every day to break free from a tangled and interlaced web of disparity that perpetuates the relationship between poverty and reduced health outcomes. I applaud the innovation and vision of Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Health that led to the development of the Social Care Network Program. By confronting the complexities of health disparities with a comprehensive approach to social inequity, this program will advance our goals to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone.”
Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime said, “Connecting people who are in need of, or depend on, services essential to living a successful day to day life is a key aspect of what we hope to see this funding address in our community.”
Care Compass Executive Director Mark Ropiecki said, “Care Compass is deeply honored to serve as the Social Care Network (SCN) lead entity for the Southern Tier Region. As a former PPS during the DSRIP waiver serving the Southern Tier Region, Care Compass has a longstanding focus on enhancing access to care, improving quality, and reducing healthcare spend for Medicaid members in the community. Care Compass now looks forward to working with the State and other SCNs to advance health equity and reduce health disparities by connecting the community with these new services. The Southern Tier Region is a leader in healthcare innovation and delivery system transformation and is very well positioned to continue this important work in serving the Medicaid population.”
Forward Leading IPA, Inc. Executive Director Patty McMahon said, “FLIPA is honored to be able to elevate the essential role that community-based organizations play in healthy communities and to integrate their work within the existing primary care and behavioral health care system. It is well established that physical healthcare only accounts for about 20% of overall health and well-being. This is an opportunity to acknowledge that fact and change the lives of eligible Medicaid members by systematically addressing their health-related social care needs.”
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island of Long Island Executive Vice President Lori Andrade said, “HWCLI is honored to be selected as the lead entity for the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island (HEALI), the Social Care Network on Long Island. The HEALI network of community based organizations, health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers and community partners has been collaborating since 2017 to integrate social care, healthcare and behavioral healthcare. We are committed to being trailblazers in this rare and unique opportunity to transform the way in which we think about health, well-being, and care. We thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassiri for this once -in-a-lifetime opportunity to revolutionize the way we address the needs of individuals and families across the Island. With Medicaid clients at the center of this care model, more Long Islanders will have access to care, improved outcomes and greater well-being.”
Healthy Alliance Foundation, Inc. CEO Erica Coletti said, “Together with our partners, we’ve built a diverse and proactive network centered around the community member, having helped more than 275,000 to date. This state-wide commitment to redefine how care is delivered further validates the work we’ve been doing over the last decade, and we’re honored – and prepared – to be part of this monumental next step to ensure more New Yorkers have the same opportunity to be healthy.”
Hudson Valley Care Coalition CEO Amie Parikh said, “Hudson Valley Care Coalition is honored to have been selected as the Social Care Network for the Hudson Valley. Our network of over 150 organizations, including Community Based Organizations, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county governments, and behavioral health agencies has a noble purpose of ‘Creating Communities of Health and Wellness for ALL.’ We stand ready to make the inaugural Hudson Valley Social Care Network a reality and a foundation of an ecosystem of healthcare that embraces a whole person approach. Our Network is committed to improving access, health equity and health outcomes that matter for the 720,000 Medicaid recipients in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties.”
Public Health Solutions Executive VP & Chief Strategy Officer Zachariah Hennessey said, “Every year, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers avoid healthcare due to concerns about money, housing, food, transportation, and other unmet needs. They turn to healthcare only when in crisis and their lives are cut short. Through New York State’s Health Equity Reform initiative, we have a once in a generation opportunity to change this trajectory and ensure Medicaid beneficiaries receive the resources they need on time to achieve optimal health for themselves and their families. This major investment will expand WholeYouNYC, our coordinated, technology-enabled network of community-based organizations that provides critical resources in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan to ensure that New Yorkers have facilitated, easier access to the services they need.”
Staten Island Performing Provider System Executive Director Dr. Joseph Conte said, “The Staten Island PPS is honored to be recognized by Governor Hochul to serve the people of Staten Island as the lead entity for the Social Care Network. Confronting health inequity means addressing the fact that a person’s zip code is more predictive of their life expectancy than their medical conditions -- this requires a paradigm shift. That shift positions SCNs and Community Based Organizations in a unique model of care that leverages innovation and the collaborative efforts of health systems, FQHCs’, care givers, managed care and technology partners. SI PPS is committed to working with the DOH and the 8 other SCNs to improve health outcomes for all New Yorkers, especially those suffering from health disparities.”
SOMOS Healthcare Providers Chief Operating Officer Lidia Virgil said, “SOMOS has pioneered Social Care in underserved communities for many years now. As the largest minority led network of physicians in New York, we work at the intersection of health care and social care, that is who we are. SOMOS is proud to join with New York State to change the lives of our people in the Bronx. Every person who has food to eat, a way to get to their doctor, a place to live, finds respect and equity in our society. We are healthier when all of us have access to the basics of the American Dream. The SOMOS Social Care Network will be transformative and historic.”
Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, Inc. Executive Director Nikki Kmicinski said, “We are honored and excited to have been selected as the SCN Leader for New York state’s Western Region. This is truly different. This isn’t business as usual. It’s a game-changer for our member organizations – which have grown by 65% in the last 18 months — allowing them to focus even more of their resources and efforts on the delivery of services throughout our community. It also validates the strong work we’ve done to date of improving member efficiency, eliminating costly redundancies, and producing data that shows we make a real, tangible difference in people’s lives. Our region is known for being good neighbors. We aim to embody this sentiment by being a fair, responsible and collaborative steward of these funds.”
SCN Lead Entities will connect Medicaid members to critical support by contracting with social service providers to help Members navigate and access services. Each SCN Lead Entity will be a designated Medicaid provider and coordinate the delivery of services, including housing, transportation, nutrition, and care management, in their region. Medicaid members who need assistance with their unmet health related social needs will be connected to existing resources, such as housing, nutrition, transportation, and care management.
SCNs will be an essential mechanism to improve health equity for Medicaid members and increase collaboration between social service providers and other partners in the health care system, track member needs, and ensure timely referral to critical services.
More information about the SCNs can be found here.
More information about the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) waiver amendment can be found under the MRT 1115 Waiver Amendments tab here.
HWCLI
June 28, 2024
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island hosts 2nd annual nonprofit job fair in Farmingdale
By Victor Ocasio
Read on Newsday
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island is hosting its second annual nonprofit job fair Thursday night in Farmingdale.
The hiring event aims to connect jobseekers on Long Island with nonprofit organizations in the fields of mental health, disability services, senior services, and counseling.
The free event runs from 5-8 p.m. at Farmingdale State College’s campus center ballroom, located at 2350 Rte. 110 in Farmingdale. Registration for the event is required.
More than 50 local employers are scheduled to attend, including AHRC Nassau, Hope for Youth, and the Family Service League.
For more information or to register, visit the Council's registration page, or call (516) 483-1110.
HWCLI Uncategorized
June 25, 2024
Community Job Fair heads to Farmingdale
Read on TBRNewsMedia
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) will host its 2nd Annual Nonprofit Job Fair at the Farmingdale State College Campus Ballroom, 2350 Route 110, Farmingdale on Thursday, June 27 from 5 to 8 p.m.
This event aims to connect job seekers with a variety of job opportunities within nonprofit and governmental organizations located on Long Island. The job fair’s timing is specifically designed to coincide with recent graduates from Long Island universities and colleges, as well as individuals interested in joining organizations that positively impact our neighbors across the island. Job seekers at all career stages will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with organizations and learn more about exciting career paths.
Over 35 nonprofit and governmental agencies from across Long Island offering job opportunities in a variety of industries: Healthcare, Mental Health, Childcare, Economic Development, Housing and more. Dress for success and bring your resume. Free to attend but registration is required.
To register to attend the job fair as a job-seeker visit https://www.tinyurl.com/HWCLIJOBFAIR24
For more information, call 516-483-1110.
HWCLI
June 18, 2024
Over $22 million available to help New Yorkers stay cool
Posted on June 18th, 2024
By Jon Dowding
Read on News 12
Over $22 million is available now to help New Yorkers stay cool from the comfort of their own homes.
The Home Energy Assistance Program provides help to those who need financial assistance for cooling and heating in their homes.
Health & Welfare Council of LI president and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter says the resource can provide major assistance to families across Long Island during the summer.
"The opportunity to be able to get up to $800 for an air conditioner or a fan and then up to (...) $1,000 for a sleeve, that is really going to provide some relief for residents and our community members,” she said.
Most people who qualify for HEAP mainly seek assistance during the winter months and often forget the assistance is available during the summer months as well.
"Residents who are eligible for HEAP, have the opportunity to be eligible for cooling assistance as well,” said Baird-Streeter. “And we really don't think about that."
Use this link to find the HEAP assistance contacts for Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Learn more about the HEAP cooling assistance program here.
Health Equity HWCLI
June 6, 2024
Northwell to expand financial aid under agreement with attorney general
By David Olson
Updated June 4, 2024 8:22 pm
Read on Newsday
Northwell Health has reached an agreement with state Attorney General Letitia James’ office to provide free or discounted medical care in many of its facilities to uninsured and underinsured people making as much as five times the federal poverty level and to limit medical debt collection.
The agreement goes beyond a newly enacted state law that mandates discounted hospital medical care for those making up to four times the federal poverty level and matches the new law’s requirement of free care for people making less than twice the poverty level.
The agreement with Northwell means families of four earning up to $156,000 a year and individuals making up to $75,300 will be eligible for discounts, which increase as income decreases.
The definition of “underinsured” in the Northwell agreement matches the definition in the new state law: people with out-of-pocket medical expenses greater than 10% of gross annual income.
“No one should face the choice between putting food on the table or receiving medical care,” James said in a statement. “This agreement will provide critical financial assistance to millions of New Yorkers receiving medical care at Northwell facilities and ease financial worries for many patients.”
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James said she hoped “other New York hospitals will follow their lead.”
But the nonprofit Manhattan-based Community Service Society said even with the agreement, Northwell is not as generous as other hospitals in providing financial assistance, and it criticized the attorney general’s office for bringing its own medical-debt lawsuits on behalf of state-run hospitals.
“I'm not sure why the attorney general is focusing on Northwell when the attorney general herself is bringing 83% of all the medical debt lawsuits in the state,” said Elisabeth Ryden Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives of the society, which focuses in part on health care access and economic security. “Northwell has essentially slowed down almost to a trickle. I think they're doing very few, if any.”
A report the society released last month found the five state-run hospitals — including Stony Brook University Hospital — brought 83% of medical-debt lawsuits in New York in 2023, compared with 17% for all the state’s 213 other public and nonprofit private hospitals combined. State-run hospitals filed 6,833 suits.
Benjamin said other hospital systems, including NYU Langone, already had financial assistance ceilings higher than Northwell’s.
NYU Langone offers discounts to patients in its hospitals and federally qualified health centers making up to eight times the poverty level, spokesman Steve Ritea said. For patients in other outpatient sites, discounts are available to those earning up to three times the poverty level, he said.
Northwell’s agreement applies to all its 21 hospitals, as well as 56 Northwell clinics on Long Island and in New York City.
Northwell said in a statement that it was “one of the first health systems in New York State to establish a robust financial assistance program in 2004, and has continued to strengthen its efforts over the past 20 years.”
The attorney general’s office said it reached the agreement after the office “reviewed Northwell’s financial assistance program and Northwell agreed to work with OAG to improve and expand its program.” The office would not say what prompted the review.
Northwell on Tuesday afternoon released a statement confirming it had “raised financial aid eligibility to families with annual household incomes up to five times the federal poverty level,” but spokeswoman Barbara Osborn later said it had “been 500% for years.”
The New York Times in January 2021 revealed that Northwell had sued more than 2,500 patients in 2020 for unpaid medical bills, even though almost all other private and state-run hospitals had stopped doing so in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after the article was published, Northwell announced it would stop suing patients during the pandemic and would rescind its 2020 legal claims.
Under the agreement, Northwell will require patients earning 201% to 400% of the poverty level to pay between 5% and 20% of the Medicaid reimbursement rate, depending on income. Those making 401% to 500% would pay 100% of the Medicaid reimbursement rate, but that rate is far below the commercial rate, Benjamin said.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, said the agreement will increase health care access.
“Medical debt isn’t merely a financial burden,” she said. “It also acts as a barrier for individuals seeking care without the means to cover medical costs.”
Under the five-year agreement, Northwell will dedicate a medical debt ombudsperson to make sure patients who owe money are aware of Northwell’s financial assistance policies before filing suit, and are not in one of several categories of patients, including veterans, enlisted service people and people with disabilities.
WHAT TO KNOW
Northwell Health has reached an agreement with the state attorney general’s office to provide free or discounted medical care in its hospitals and some outpatient sites to families making up to $156,000 a year and individuals earning up to $73,500.
Under the agreement, Northwell also will dedicate a medical debt ombudsperson to make sure patients are aware of the health system’s financial assistance policies before filing medical-debt lawsuits and take other steps to reduce such suits.
Even though the agreement goes beyond requirements in a new state law, it falls short of assistance from other hospitals systems. A recent Community Service Society report said five state-run hospitals last year filed 83% of medical-debt suits.
Direct Services HWCLI
May 12, 2024
Food insecurity on Long Island: The struggle to make ends meet just above SNAP thresholds
By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith and Maureen Mullarkey
Updated May 13, 2024 8:26 am
Read on Newsday
As dusk approaches sunrise, Tangaligua Ivory usually can be found at a post office distribution center, operating forklifts and other machinery to haul heavy packages toward their final destinations.
Once the parcels are categorized, Ivory, 34, briefly stops at her one-bedroom Melville apartment to help her 15-year-old daughter get ready for school. After the two say their goodbyes, Ivory is not done yet. She’s off to her part-time job at the MLK Center in Rockville Centre — a community center that offers youth programs and a food pantry.
The schedule is grueling, but it pays for the roughly $2,200 monthly rent for the apartment, and helps cover the electricity and gas bills.
What is often left by the wayside is food. To fill the gap, she applied for food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 2017 and multiple times since 2020. But she was denied those benefits.
“I work two jobs, and I can barely make it,” she said. “So, when I go to apply for SNAP benefits, and they're like, ‘Oh, you make too much money.’ I’m like, how?”
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Many Long Islanders face a similar conundrum. They earn salaries that could be sustainable in some other parts of the country. But on Long Island, with its high cost of living, they still have difficulty putting food on the table. And their salaries sometimes exceed the income limits to get SNAP food benefits.
Formerly known as food stamps, the program has been instrumental in staving off hunger for millions. But experts say it is also ripe for changes to make it easier to apply for the benefit and more applicable to people who live in regions with high costs of living.
Together, this equation often leaves struggling residents in a dilemma. They either depend on steady visits to a food bank, and eat cheaper, less healthy foods — or go without.
Long Island is “a very hard place to live — and the choices that families have to make to make ends meet — it’s pretty tough,” said Michael Haynes with Long Island Cares — the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank, one of the largest organizations offering food assistance in the region.
Moreover, there is the perception that food insecurity is not prevalent on Long Island — a place often noted for its pockets of affluence, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
“People really don't think that, you know, food insecurity — or the need for food, really exists within suburban areas,” she said.
Food insecurity on the rise on LI
The coronavirus pandemic and its ensuing job losses helped to open a window on the prevalence of food insecurity nationally and on Long Island. Many who could previously afford to put food on the table found themselves at food pantries and applying for SNAP benefits.
To live on Long Island, a family of four should have an income of roughly $100,000 for “basic necessities,” according to a 2022 report from the Suffolk County Legislature’s Welfare to Work Commission.
Conversely, SNAP benefits are guided by thresholds that include an annual gross income limit of $45,000 in New York for a family of four, according to the state’s website.
For a household with an elderly or disabled person with dependent care expenses, the annual income limit for a family of four is $60,000.
The gap between the income thresholds and the cost of living on Long Island leaves many people without enough to buy the basics, according to policy experts, advocates and others.
In Suffolk County, 40% of the approximately 80,000 food-insecure residents earned above the gross income SNAP threshold in New York in 2021, according to Feeding America, a food bank network that operates across the country. That threshold is 200% above the poverty line.
In Nassau, there are similar numbers, with 39% of the roughly 60,000 food-insecure residents above that same threshold in the same year, the organization said.
Sharon Sheppard, the founder of Sharon’s Food Pantry and assistant director of the MLK Center, said that of the almost 140 families it serves, about 60% have applied and were denied SNAP benefits.
“You might see somebody with a nurse's uniform [on] …, knowing that they work, and you're saying to yourself, ‘Why are they on line?’ ” Sheppard said.
When Debbie Loesch looks out at the people who fill up the lines at her Angels of Long Island pantry and farmers market in Mastic, she also notices many dual-income families.
“By the time they pay that $3,800-a-month rent, car insurance, heating oil, at the end of the month, there's no money left,” Loesch said.
And food is often on the cutting block.
But the pantry, decorated with a burnt-orange painted ceiling and hanging wicker baskets, hopes to bring those food options back into households. It operates as a free general store to the public, allowing its patrons to choose from items such as fresh produce and dairy and baked goods.
When the pantry opened in January, Loesch and her staff received an influx of families on their walk-in line, sometimes snaking outside around the corner hours before its 10 a.m. opening. She thought in a few months, the number of people would decrease.
It hasn’t.
Food banks a regular stop for some
About 15 years ago, food banks and pantries were more likely to be used for emergencies — places one would go when they faced acute crises like a sudden job loss or medical leave, said Jessica Rosati, vice president of programs and community service at Long Island Cares.
Their role since has shifted.
“We’re serving the people who need it the most, but then we’re serving additional people that are equally in need but are not eligible for government support,” she said.
Between January and most of April, Long Island Cares’ five satellite offices saw more than 17,000 visits — some of which can be the same person returning multiple times.
Only 630 visitors identified themselves as receiving SNAP benefits, she said, citing data kept by the organization.
Since at least 2020, Nassau County has had roughly 20,000 people apply for SNAP benefits yearly. More than 50% of cases in each of those years were denied, according to data from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
During that same time, Suffolk County had more than 30,000 people apply each year, with denials that ranged from 34% to 38%, the data showed.
A Nassau County spokesman declined to give the most common reasons for denial of claims.
Suffolk County did not respond.
Haylee Hebenstreit, a clinical instructor at Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare, said even the process of applying for SNAP benefits is often difficult and intrusive.
Applying for the benefits in New York often amounts to a “black box,” where people often don’t understand why they are approved or denied.
“The guidelines, the eligibility, it's not meant to be understandable to the average person,” Hebenstreit said, noting later: “That should tell you something about what’s going on.”
At the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, staff are working to fill that black box with information.
Staff there help about 11,500 people each year on Long Island apply for SNAP benefits, including outreach, education and pre-screening, and assisting with some applications.
Case workers intently ask about their household size, income and immigration status to help determine if they are likely to get the benefits.
Maybe the parents are ineligible because of their immigration status, but not the child born in the United States. Or perhaps the family will have someone who is disabled in the house, which might allow the household to get benefits.
Sometimes, staff say, people don’t know that they’re eligible. But they acknowledge there are those in need who get denied.
Baird-Streeter, of the Health and Welfare Council, said those people often are given food cards, but she notes, “That's not going to be on a consistent basis or in perpetuity.”
Advocates say further regionalizing the federal income thresholds might enable more of those in need in places like Long Island to be eligible for food benefits. Currently, they say the income thresholds are too low to make big enough dents in food insecurity on Long Island. They want more reflective regional income guidelines based on the cost of living in each area.
“This way, more Americans in need can actually access the benefits and supports that they need to help them, you know, meet the need and go about living their everyday lives,” said Haynes, vice president of government relations, advocacy and social policy at Long Island Cares.
Making do without SNAP
To make do, Ivory plans meals around the meats that are in the MLK Center pantry that week. She cooks large portions of rice, leaving leftovers to last for days.
After volunteering at the center, she took the second job there when the assistant opportunity came up.
In total from the two jobs, she earns about $45,000 before taxes. And even with that income, there are still moments when paying for food is out of reach.
Her daughter does not receive a free or reduced school breakfast and lunch, which can cost up to $30 weekly. Sometimes her meal tab is in the negative.
“It’s embarrassing for her to have to go to school every day and be told, ‘You’re in the negative; you have a negative balance,’ ” Ivory said.
Children who live in households that can get SNAP are among those eligible for free and reduced lunches, the state said.
And she continued applying again for SNAP benefits. A co-worker, she said, told her she would have more chances of being accepted the more she applied.
Applications for SNAP can be made online, but Ivory said she also has gone to a Department of Social Services office because it is easier to hand in forms that way. But consistently applying, especially while working two jobs, takes an emotional and physical toll.
“It's a lot to go into social services because it's like an ego thing. It's like, I can't provide for myself. I already feel less than just going into the building,” Ivory said. "Then to be told, ‘Yeah, I can't help you.’ ”
“It’s discouraging,” she added.
The system, she said, is set up to discourage people from advancing their lives because the more money you make, the less chance you have of getting SNAP benefits.
“It allows them to be dependent on it, but it doesn't allow you to get out of it,” said Ivory, who is looking into medical programs and going back to school.
On her day off — Fridays — Ivory is back at the MLK Center’s food pantry. This time, she said, to volunteer. She is both the observer and the affected party to food insecurity.
There, she sees people pick out items such as rice, beans and meats.
Perhaps they are making the same juggle she does — working multiple jobs, volunteering, and wanting more. Maybe they earn SNAP assistance, but not enough to cover their expenses.
Without knowing them, she understands.
“Even if I don't know them on a first-name basis, I know the struggle,” she said.
WHAT TO KNOW
Many Long Islanders earn salaries that could be sustainable in some other parts of the country, but have difficulty putting food on the table in a region with a high cost of living.
Some earn too much to be eligible for food assistance through the SNAP program but still face food insecurity.
In Suffolk County, 40% of the approximately 80,000 food-insecure residents earn above the gross income SNAP threshold in New York, according to Feeding America, a food bank network that operates across the country.
HWCLI Press Release
May 7, 2024
Health & Welfare Council of Long Island Supporting Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive on Saturday, May 11, 2024Food collected locally will benefit Island Harvest Food Bank to help Long Islanders struggling to put food on their tables
LONG ISLAND, NY — May 7th, 2024, Health & Welfare Council of Long Island is joining Island Harvest Food Bank, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the United States Postal Service (USPS) in support of the annual Stamp Out Hunger® food drive, the nation’s largest single-day food collection campaign. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is on Saturday, May 11, 2024, and all Long Island residents are encouraged to leave non-perishable food donations by their mailbox for their letter carrier to collect. All food collected in Nassau and Suffolk counties will benefit Island Harvest by providing supplemental food support to more than 300,000 Long Islanders who face hunger and food insecurity, including nearly one-third of those who are children. “Contributing to Stamp Out Hunger is simple,” says Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. Just leave nonperishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox before the regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Then, your USPS letter carrier will do the rest to help ensure that it gets onto the tables of our Long Island neighbors in need.”"The Health and Welfare Council is happy to support Island Harvest’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive", said HWCLI President & CEO, Vanessa Baird-Streeter. "Access to food is a fundamental human right and by participating in the food drive, we actively contribute to ensuring that everyone can put food on their table. While the food drive addresses immediate needs, it also highlights the systemic issues contributing to hunger. As an umbrella organization, we will continue advocate for policy changes that address poverty, food insecurity, and inequality". Nonperishable food items needed include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk (please, no food or juices in glass containers). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and disposable diapers are gratefully accepted. All donations collected will help replenish Island Harvest’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs in communities throughout Long Island. “Even if it’s a can of soup or a box of cereal, every donation, no matter the size, will help countless Long Islanders who may be struggling to put food on their tables,” explains Ms. Shubin Dresner, who noted that the food bank distributed 16 million pounds of food in 2023, a 64% increase over 2019 (pre-pandemic levels). “We are counting on the generosity of our neighbors who can spare a little extra to help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive one of the most successful.” Since its inception in 1993, Stamp Out Hunger has collected more than 1.75 billion pounds of food in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to help address the issue of hunger in America. “The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 6000 and the United States Postal Service are excited to once again partner with Island Harvest for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food collection,” said Tom Siesto, Executive Vice President, NALC Branch 6000. “The members of Branch 6000 and the employees of the United States Postal Service often see firsthand the widespread issue of food insecurity on Long Island and are thrilled to take part in this very important campaign and give back to the local communities that they serve.” “Our letter carriers stand ready to Stamp Out Hunger on Long Island. We are thrilled to be working with Island Harvest Food Bank and National Association of Letter Carriers to join the mission and ensure every resident has access to a meal,” said the Postal Service’s District Manager John Tortorice. This year’s Stamp Out Hunger collection campaign on Long Island is generously supported by presenting sponsor National Grid, lead sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co., and major sponsors Allstate, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Dime Community Bank, Empire Automotive Group, Nonna’s Garden, Rheem ProPartner, and Stop & Shop, and supporting partners College Hunks Moving, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Amazon, and Steel Equities. All donations to Stamp Out Hunger are tax-deductible because all the food collected benefits Island Harvest, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. About Health & Welfare Council of Long IslandEstablished in 1947, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents by responding to their needs through the promotion and development of public policies and direct services. To learn more, visit www.hwcli.org or call 516-483-1110.About Island Harvest Food BankIsland Harvest Food Bank is a leading human services organization whose mission is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. We accomplish this through innovative programs and services aimed at enhanced hunger awareness, short-term case management, nutrition education, outreach and advocacy initiatives, our Healthy Harvest Farm, a Workforce Skills Development Institute, and efficient food collection and distribution. Our work directly supports children, families, seniors, and veterans who turn to us in times of crisis and supports a network of community-based nonprofit organizations. Island Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America®, a nationwide network of food banks leading the effort to solve hunger in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.islandharvest.org. # # #Island Harvest Food Bank Media Relations Contact:Don Miller, West End Strategies, Ltd., 516-330-1647don@westendstrategiespr.com Health & Welfare Council of Long Island Contact:Angela Porwick, 631-935-5214, Aporwick@hwcli.com
HEALI Health Equity Healthcare Access HWCLI
April 30, 2024
Press Release: Long Island Round Table to Discuss Health Disparities Black Long Islanders Face
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Joins Advocates & Storytellers to Discuss Healthcare Disparities Long Islanders Experience
MINEOLA, LONG ISLAND — Yesterday, New York Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Health & Welfare Council of Long Island President & CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter, 1199 SEIU member Prince Pennington and Rebecca Charles, Harmony Healthcare Long Island Director of Operations, joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss a new report from Protect Our Care and the NAACP, detailing how the Inflation Reduction Act benefits Black Americans nationwide. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, health care and prescription drugs are becoming more affordable for more people in the United States, and a record number of Black Americans have enrolled in low- or no-cost Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans. Black Americans disproportionately face higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, and barriers to accessing affordable care and medications. The Inflation Reduction Act is making health care costs more accessible by lowering premiums, negotiating costs on expensive drugs like Januvia and Jardiance, and capping the cost of insulin. Despite President Biden’s progress in lowering these costs, Congressional Republicans and their pharmaceutical allies are trying to reverse this progress by raising drug prices and making affordable care out of reach for millions, which would particularly harm Black Americans. Speakers highlighted how the IRA reduces disparities that Black Americans face in accessing care and must be protected as it leads to more positive health outcomes and creates a healthier future. “As a member of the Health Committee and Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, I commend the recent actions taken on both federal and state levels to address disparities in our healthcare system, said Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages. “However, our work is far from over. The appalling statistics on health outcomes for Black Americans demand our unwavering commitment to action. Communities of color on Long Island and across the state require investment proportional to the seriousness of this issue. The Inflation Reduction Act and state initiatives in the recently passed budget mark a meaningful first step toward rectifying these unacceptable health disparities. Let us continue to prioritize equity and justice in healthcare, ensuring that every individual receives the care and support they deserve." “The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to transform Black New Yorkers’ access to critical, quality care, helping to overcome health and economic disparities, and lowering costs,” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island “ Now more than ever, it’s important to strengthen these protections in the face of calls to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. We’re committed to ensuring that all Long Islanders have access to affordable and quality care, receive the proper education needed to make their own health decisions, and have the ability to voice unjust practices in the healthcare system.” “Harmony Healthcare Long Island is proud to be a part of the conversation about how we can improve social determinants of health for Black Americans living on Long Island,” said Rebecca Charles, Director of Operations at Harmony Health Care Long Island. “Our practice believes in understanding and connecting with our specific patient population, and that means advocating for policies that improve care outcomes and reduce disparities. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, championed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, healthcare and prescription drugs are becoming more affordable for more people in the United States. For Black Long Islanders who have historically been marginalized and faced roadblocks to receiving high quality, affordable healthcare, these lower costs are translating to better access to care.” “Healthcare is a human right, and Long Islanders’ access to affordable, quality and effective care should not be determined by your zip code or background. No one should have to wait months before being able to see a specialist or needing to choose between groceries or their co-pay,” said Prince Pennington, 1199SEIU Member and Radiology Technician. “The Inflation Reduction Act is a step in the right direction to help those who struggle with diabetes or cardiovascular disease receive the medication needed at an affordable rate.” “For many Black Americans, the disparities we face in our healthcare system go beyond visits to the primary care physician, highlighting the need for holistic care,” said Kiana Abbady, Long Island Progressive Coalition Board President. “From transportation to access to nutritious and quality food, our health is critically tied to the barriers we face each day. The Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act are helping to reduce the burden of high medical bills by providing access to life saving, high quality care.” You can watch the event here and read the NAACP and Protect Our Care Report detailing how the Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for Black Americans here. ### About Protect Our Care New York Protect Our Care New York is the state team for national advocacy nonprofit Protect Our Care, which is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone. Protect Our Care educates the public, influences policy, supports health care champions and holds politicians accountable. For more information, visit www.protectourcare.org
Uncategorized
April 12, 2024
U.S. Census: Long Island children under 5 undercounted at rate higher than nationwide
Updated April 12th, 2024
Read on Newsday
By Olivia Winslow
Children under the age of 5 on Long Island were undercounted in the 2020 Census at a rate even higher than New York state or national rates, according to experimental data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday, which noted that young children were undercounted in every state.
The issue of census undercounts of young children in particular, along with some minorities, is something the Census Bureau has acknowledged is a long term problem despite efforts to address it, experts said.
“It’s really sad that the census for a couple of decades now has consistently missed so many children under 5,” said Steven Romalewski, mapping service director at the CUNY Graduate Center for Urban Research. “There are a lot of reasons for that,” continued Romalewski, who was a consultant for Long Island groups doing census 2020 outreach efforts, “but overall it’s really terrible for the nation [that] we’re not accurately counting such an important part of the population.”
The agency said it was redoubling its efforts by putting together a working group to study the issue and come up with solutions as it prepares for the 2030 Census.
The decennial census drives an estimated $2.8 trillion a year in federal funding to states and localities for a variety of services and programs, and affects planning by businesses and municipalities.
The undercounting is significant because states use census counts to distribute money to a range of programs, including those aimed at improving the health and nutrition for children. The Census count also plays a role in planning for school enrollment and spending.
Children under 5 undercounted by 1 million
The bureau said in a news release that the number of children ages 0 to 4 counted in the 2020 Census was about 1 million fewer than the estimate — 19,462,879 were estimated, but 18,400,235 were counted in the 2020 Census — for an undercount of 5.46%.
“The Census Bureau recognizes historical undercounts of young children in our decennial census as well an underrepresentation in our demographic surveys,” Census Director Robert Santos said in a statement. “We know these undercounts are often correlated with undercounts of certain race and ethnicity groups along with other factors that we were not able to measure directly.”
“This was a larger undercount than any other age group,” the bureau said.
The Census Bureau said the estimated counts were derived using an experimental “Demographic Analysis” that uses new data to focus on children, using administrative records, such as birth records, international migration and Medicare records, and adjusted for migration between counties. The Census numbers represent those actually counted through self-reporting or canvassing.
New York State was among 14 states and the District of Columbia that posted undercount rates of children under 5 that were higher than the national rate, the Bureau said. New York's undercount rate was 5.75%.
The rate for Nassau and Suffolk counties was even higher: 7.83% in Nassau and 9.15% in Suffolk. According to the Census Bureau's analysis. Nassau had an estimated 75,039 children ages 0 to 4, while the 2020 Census counted 69,160. Suffolk had an estimated 79,849 children ages 0-4, while the 2020 Census counted 72,546.
Two reasons given for low count
William O'Hare, a consultant to Count All Kids Coalition, an advocacy group,” said there were two main reasons for the undercount of children under 5.
“They have a lot of characteristics associated with people being missed: higher poverty, younger parents, renters.” Secondly, he said, according to a survey his group did in 2019, “When you ask parents if they plan to include young children in the census, 10% said they were not planning to include their young child on the census and 8% said they were not sure.”
He said further questioning revealed “most of them didn't think there was any need for the government to know about young children until they go to school. So that's why they have the highest undercount,” one that he said was “increasing in every census.”
Romalewski and others noted that the Census count was also affected by how the COVID-19 pandemic upended overall census efforts. The lockdown caused not only the Census Bureau to pause door-to-door census canvassing, but organizations involved in census outreach had to pivot from in-person events to other methods.
But if communities don't have accurate information on how many children will be coming into a school district, needed resources may not be available, Romalewski said.
“It’s not like those children aren’t there. They are there. When they show up at schools and there are not enough teachers to teach them … everyone gets hurt,” Romalewski said. “All of sudden classrooms are crowded. There's not enough funding to provide resources to the kids, so everyone gets hurt.”
Rebecca Sanin, now a Suffolk County legislator (D-Huntington Station), was chief executive of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island when she coordinated the Island's 2020 census outreach efforts. She thought the “stresses” faced by new parents generally, compounded with economic stress “and the isolation of the pandemic” were contributing factors to the undercount.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, who as a Suffolk deputy county executive was involved in 2020 census outreach efforts and now heads the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, said during outreach events, “We were hearing, when talking with our community-based organizations and talking to people, we heard 'When I filled out the census I wasn't thinking about my child in my response.' I think that’s one piece.”
Baird-Streeter added: “We have complex living arrangements on Long Island, due to lack of affordable housing. We have multi-generations living together,” or households with unrelated people living together. So who gets included on the census sometimes depends on who is answering it, she said.
CORRECTION: The amount of federal funds distributed to states, communities, tribal lands and other recipients using census data in whole or in part is $2.8 trillion in fiscal year 2021, according to a U.S. Census Bureau study. The percentage of children undercounted in Brooklyn in the 2020 Census was 6.98%. A prior version of this story and an accompanying chart, listed incorrect numbers.
WHAT TO KNOW
Children under the age of 5 on Long Island were undercounted in the 2020 Census at a rate even higher than New York State or national rates, according to the Census Bureau
Young children were undercounted in every state in the nation in 2020, the Census said
The undercounting affects how government money is allocated to programs impacting children.
HWCLI Press Release
March 8, 2024
Dr. James McDonald Highlights Public Health Proposals in FY25 Executive BudgetHuntington Station, New York (March 8, 2024) - State Health Department Commissioner Dr. James McDonald in partnership with representatives from the Long Island Association and the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island discussed health care and public health proposals in Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY 2025 Executive Budget yesterday during two events on Long Island. "These types of events allow New Yorkers to provide input and ask pertinent questions about critical issues that affect them and their families,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Governor Hochul has provided us with a comprehensive and visionary blueprint, and we want to assure New Yorkers that they will have the programs, services, and support they need and deserve.” Governor Hochul’s FY 2025 Executive Budget includes significant investments to make New York more affordable and safer and provide New Yorkers with resources that will help improve their physical and mental health. The $233 billion budget includes a 4.5 percent increase over last year’s budget, with health care as the largest single expense. The budget includes an investment increase in mental health that will include 200 new inpatient psychiatric beds, youth mental health services, and supportive housing units for people in need of mental health services. Governor Hochul also proposed record funding to keep New Yorkers healthy while setting the Medicaid program on sustainable long-term fiscal footing. “Our economy and workforce depend upon a healthy population, and we thank Commissioner McDonald for his time yesterday to brief the business community on the Governor’s healthcare budget proposals,” Long Island Association President and CEO Matt Cohen said. “This type of dialogue is critical so the private sector is aware of new policies and available resources that could help them to improve their bottom line.” “We express our gratitude to Commissioner McDonald for shedding light on and discussing the sections of the NYS budget that directly relate to health and human service funding priorities,” Health and Welfare Council of Long Island President and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter said. “Addressing health disparities, enhancing health outcomes, and bolstering our public health system align with the core mission of the Health and Welfare Council and our community-based organizations. Yesterday, our organizations had the privilege of engaging with Commissioner McDonald, seeking answers to our inquiries, and equipping ourselves with the necessary information to better serve our clients.” During the meetings, Commissioner McDonald outlined the budget and New York's priorities, which include focusing on children and families, combatting climate change, rebuilding the mental health system, investing in education and Medicaid, advancing health care initiatives, improving affordability for all New Yorkers, and addressing the migrant crisis. Commissioner McDonald also discussed issues that affect all New Yorkers, which include children’s and maternal health, health insurance, primary care, the opioid epidemic, the support of veterans, and emergency medical services. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions about how the FY25 Executive Budget can impact programs and services on Long Island and their personal lives. The FY25 Executive Budget Briefing Book can be found here.-###- Contact: New York State Department of Health 518-474-2043 x. 2 press@health.ny.gov facebook.com/NYSDOHtwitter.com/HealthNYGovpinterest.com/nysdohhealth.ny.gov
HWCLI
February 14, 2024
M&T Foundation awards $675K to six Long Island nonprofits
By Adina Glenn
Posted on February 13th, 2024
Read on LIBN
The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, has awarded $675,000 in grants to six Long Island nonprofits. The grants are part of $8.2 million that the foundation awarded to 68 nonprofits across New England, Long Island and Rockland County.
This grants are through the foundation’s “Amplify Fund,” a $25 million philanthropic investment that was announced in 2022 and stemmed from the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. The initiative aims to work with groups that are dedicated to “addressing social issues through a racial equity and social justice lens in low- and moderate- income communities and underrepresented populations,” according to M&T Foundation.
For this second round of funding, M&T had announced a call for proposals in August of 2023. The foundation sought initiatives from nonprofits that worked to solve a specific issue with a focus on either family stability, income and wealth equity, workforce development or health equity.
On Long Island, the funding was awarded to Community Action Southold Town in Southold, Erase Racism in Syosset, EAC in Garden City, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island in Huntington Station, Long Island FQHC in Westbury, and Northwell Health in New Hyde Park.
“At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community-focused bank,” Dominique Goss, executive director of the M&T Charitable Foundation said in a written statement.
“We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve and look forward to continuing our work to increase racial and economic equity throughout our footprint,” Gross added.
The grants ranged from $50,000 to $150,000 on Long Island.
“The Health Equity Taskforce and Northwell Health are committed to advancing health equity for vulnerable and marginalized populations throughout Long Island,” Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez, senior vice president of Community and Population Health at Northwell Health, said in a written statement.
“This generous grant from the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation’s Amplify Fund will advance our work to strengthen the youth mental health ecosystem throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties,” Salas-Lopez said.
“With improved access to mental health services, education, and support, the Health Equity Taskforce will realize a significant and sustainable impact on the mental health of Long Island’s underrepresented youth,” Salas-Lopez said.
The M&T Foundation will offer a third round of grants, which will be announced later this year.
HWCLI Press Release
February 14, 2024
Huntington Station, New York – February 14th, 2024 – The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), has awarded $150,000 to Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. The grant is part of the second round of giving through the Amplify Fund providing more than $8.2 million to 68 lead nonprofit organizations throughout New England, Long Island, and Rockland County, NY.
“On behalf of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, I am grateful that we have been awarded the Amplify Grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation,” said Vanessa Baird Streeter, President and CEO. “With this recognition and support, our organization can help a network of providers and community-based organizations hire, train, integrate, and retain Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs play a vital role in enhancing the health of individuals and communities and this initiative will boost the growth of this sector within the public health workforce.”
HWCLI provides a host of direct services and opportunities that are dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island's most vulnerable residents. We operate a series of programs and coalitions that address health equity, nutritional security, access to affordable healthcare, and economic security. Together with our network of nonprofits, we are able provide a unique and crucial safety net for our Long Island neighbors.
“Through the Amplify Fund, we are committed to continuing our partnership with organizations like Health & Welfare Council of Long Island that work hand-in-hand with community members in the field to provide the critical resources and programming necessary to truly make a difference,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community bank. We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve.”
First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities. The first round of funding totaled more than $11.8 million to 105 nonprofit organizations and focused on equity and environmental initiatives, mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education for individuals and small businesses.
Phase II of the Amplify Fund focused on providing funding, for up to three years, to nonprofit collaboratives working together toward a common goal for solving a specific social issue, to help advance equity in the following key areas of focus:
Family Stability: Affordable housing, food security, and access to quality and affordable childcare.
Income & Wealth Equity: Employment, small business development, homeownership, and financial empowerment initiatives.
Workforce Development: Education and training opportunities focused on upskilling and career pathways in high-growth sectors leading to economic prosperity.
Health Equity: Access to quality and affordable healthcare, with a priority on youth mental health and women and infant health.
The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the Fund’s third round.
For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website.
About M&T Charitable Foundation
The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.
HWCLI
January 5, 2024
Vanessa Baird-Streeter is the next president and CEO of HWCLI
By Adina Glenn
Posted on January 5th, 2024
Read on LIBN
Vanessa Baird-Streeter will be the next president and CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, effective Feb. 5.
The former deputy county executive of community recovery for Suffolk County, Streeter brings knowledge of government, non-profits, finances, fundraising, collaboration and more.
“Fighting for the underserved and creating a Long Island where all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive has been at the core of my lifelong personal mission,” Baird-Streeter said in a written statement.
“The fact that I can use my own voice and actions to cultivate leaders and represent those who do not have a seat at the table is a blessing and I am eager to bring that conviction, alongside the expertise of my 25-year public service career to the role of president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island,” she added.
In her role in Suffolk County, Baird-Streeter served as facilitator of the county’s Police Reform and Reinvention Task Force. That experience, according to HWCLI, “has prepared her well for bridging divides between stakeholders and will serve” both the organization and the region.
Baird-Streeter worked closely with HWCLI on its 2020 Census work and knows the organization’s mission and values. In the county, she was responsible for initiatives that involve language access, veterans services and aging and many other community initiatives.
Born and raised in Wyandanch, Barid-Streeter went on to earn bachelor of arts degree from Dartmouth College with a double major in economics and education.
Earlier in her career, she worked in finance as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs Investment Bank and subsequently serving as head bond buyer and portfolio analyst for KLS Professional Advisors.
Baird-Streeter takes the helm from Rebecca Sanin, now a Suffolk County legislator.
HWCLI
January 5, 2024
Ex-County Official to Lead Health & Welfare Council
By Pam Robinson
January 5th, 2024
Read on Huntington Now
Former Suffolk deputy county executive Vanessa Baird-Streeter will become president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island.
The organization, based in Huntington Station, was previously led by Rebecca Sanin, who was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature, representing the 16th District. It is an umbrella organization that works to represent the needs and interests of hundreds of nonprofit health and human service organizations on Long Island.
Baird-Streeter worked for Suffolk County for the full 12 years of former CE Steve Bellone’s term in office, which ended Sunday. Her work included managing the county’s communications response to Super Storm Sandy in 2012, and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as leading a study to improve access for minority and women-owned businesses to county contracts, work on advanced language access improvements, and many other roles to improve access and opportunity for all.
“Vanessa Baird-Streeter has a long record of improving the lives of Long Islanders, advancing equity and serving as a strategic partner bringing multi-sector stakeholders together to develop solutions and improve people’s lives. She has been a long-time partner at HWCLI ensuring that Suffolk County achieved an accurate Census count, working closely with the nonprofit community throughout the pandemic and continually spearheading innovative strategies to meet human needs. I am ecstatic to know that she will be at the helm at HWCLI and look forward to the outstanding accomplishments she will achieve, with a great Board and great team to secure a brighter future on Long Island.”
The appointment takes effect Feb. 5.
HWCLI
January 5, 2024
By BNN Correspondents
Published January 5th, 2024
Read on BNN
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, aged 55, has been officially appointed as the new president and Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. She succeeds Rebecca Sanin, who recently vacated the position after winning a seat in the Suffolk County Legislature. Chosen from a competitive pool of 60 applicants, Baird-Streeter is set to begin her tenure on February 5.
Proven Leadership and Public Service
Providing a solid foundation for her new role, Baird-Streeter brings a vast reservoir of experience from her previous position as a deputy county executive in Suffolk County. She served in this role from 2012 until the end of Steve Bellone’s term as county executive on December 31. Her tenure marked significant contributions, particularly during demanding periods like Superstorm Sandy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a cyberattack crisis.
Continuation of a Legacy of Service
Respected for her dedication to public service, Baird-Streeter has been recognized for her relentless pursuit of prioritizing the needs of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents. Her new role at the council, a non-profit entity representing and supporting approximately 200 human service non-profits, is seen as an extension of her commitment to serving the Long Island community. As she steps into this role, Baird-Streeter plans to collaborate closely with the council’s board, staff, and member agencies to chart the organization’s future course.
Endorsement from Peers
Colleen Merlo, chair of the council’s board, expressed her confidence in Baird-Streeter’s leadership capabilities and commitment to Long Island in light of her appointment. Similarly, Sanin, her predecessor, endorsed Baird-Streeter as her successor, expressing trust in her capacity to steer the organization through the challenging times ahead for human services.
HWCLI
January 5, 2024
Vanessa Baird-Streeter selected to lead Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
By Olivia Winslow
Updated January 5th, 2024
Read on Newsday
A former Suffolk deputy county executive will become the new head of the nonprofit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island next month, it was announced Friday.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, 55, of Dix Hills, was selected from among 60 candidates to succeed Rebecca Sanin as president and chief executive of the council, an umbrella nonprofit organization that represents, advocates for and provides services to about 200 human service nonprofits on Long Island. Sanin stepped down from the organization last month after being elected to the Suffolk County Legislature in November.
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, a former Suffolk deputy county executive, will become the new head of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island next month. Credit: Corey Sipkin
"Vanessa has dedicated herself to Long Island," said Colleen Merlo, chair of the council's board, as well as president and chief executive of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness. "She has distinguished herself as a leader in the government sector. She knows many of the players in the nonprofit space. ... As soon as we interviewed her, we knew she was the right candidate, because of her dedication, her passion and commitment to Long Island."
Baird-Streeter is to begin in her new role Feb. 5.
Her service in Suffolk County government began in 2012 and ended Dec. 31, when Steve Bellone's term as county executive ended. He was term-limited and did not seek reelection.
In a statement, Bellone said Baird-Streeter "has made outstanding contributions to the lives and future of Long Islanders during the most challenging of times our county has faced.
"She has played a key role during Superstorm Sandy, the COVID-19 pandemic, the cyberattack crisis and has provided extraordinary leadership to ensure that the most vulnerable residents on Long Island are prioritized."
Baird-Streeter, in a phone interview, said her new position with the council was a "great segue" from her government work. She said she planned to meet with members of the council's board, its staff and member agencies. "It’s important to have those conversations before determining any path the organization is going to take."
She added, "I just feel very blessed that the board chose me. I believe in the organization … an amazing organization that has served the Long Island community for over 50 years."
Sanin praised Baird-Streeter as "an outstanding public servant and empathic leader and will help lead the organization during a very challenging time for human services in our communities. I have every confidence she will do an incredible job."
HWCLI
January 3, 2024
New report details food insecurity on Long Island and statewide
By Nicholas Spangler
January 3rd, 2024
Read on Newsday
More than 1 in 5 Long Island adults said they worry about having enough money to buy nutritious meals, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Health.
Those numbers were slightly better than the state average, with nearly 1 in 4 New Yorkers reporting food insecurity. In Suffolk, 23.1% of residents said they were food insecure. In Nassau, it was 21.1%, according to the state report. Outside New York City, food insecurity was highest in upstate Montgomery County. Among New York City boroughs, the Bronx had the highest rate.
The numbers come from a 2021 national telephone survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a tool public health leaders use for planning health promotion and disease prevention programs. A state health department spokeswoman said the lag from then to now occurred because the CDC did not release the data until late 2022 and it took time to analyze.
Dismaying, not surprising
Long Island experts said the results were dismaying but not surprising.
“This data is appalling,” said Sandra Lindsay, a registered nurse who is Northwell Health’s vice president for public health advocacy. Food insecurity broadly tracks poverty, she said, because “when you have to choose between food and a kid going to school, or transportation, these are decisions people make every day” and nutrition may not be top of mind. It also correlates with bad health outcomes, Lindsay said, because people who are food insecure may rely on “cheaper, calorie-dense foods” that can increase the risk of conditions like diabetes, heart conditions and certain cancers.
In an emailed statement, Suffolk County Department of Health Services Commissioner Gregson Pigott said there were long-standing “pockets of food insecurity” in the county as far west as Amityville and as far east as Southampton. “Our staff is out in the community every day educating residents and connecting them to resources that will assist them in addressing their health care and nutritional needs."
A Nassau County spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
Numbers only part of story
A 2021 report by Feeding America, a national network of food banks, put food insecurity at 5.2% in Suffolk and 4.4% in Nassau. But Paule T. Pachter, president and chief executive of Long Island Cares, said those numbers did not show the true extent of need on Long Island, because even households with multiple jobs and incomes above the federal poverty level may struggle with the area's high cost of living.
Pachter's organization started seeing greater need for its services around the start of the pandemic with little rebound even as conditions improved he said. Driving the need now is "the cost of goods, in particular the cost of food." Another factor, he said: Some families served by Long Island Cares have grown in recent years, with recent immigrants swelling blended or multigenerational families.
Leaders of some hunger relief organizations said they hoped the report would highlight the need for continued federal and state funding for nutrition assistance programs, especially as pandemic stimulus money that some Long Island towns used to feed residents dries up.
“It gives credibility to the message that we’ve been sharing for some time now,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president of Island Harvest Food Bank. Her organization primarily serves Long Islanders who work — some with multiple jobs — but don’t earn enough to support their families, she said.
A hunger spike
The need for some of the organization’s programs has spiked in recent years, she said, citing a mobile food market that got 1,100 visits in 2022 and 21,000 in 2023.
Island Harvest is one of a number of organizations advocating for increases to state initiatives like the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and Nourish New York.
“We are grateful we are getting this funding,” but the “state needs to put more money into these programs so that they can grow,” she said.
At the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, board chair Colleen Merlo said the numbers suggested that federal programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and others providing breakfast and lunch for children at school should be expanded. The report, she said, "helps paint the picture of what Long Island really is — people think of the Hamptons and the Gold Coast, and that's not the full picture."
Direct Services HEALI Health Equity Healthcare Access HWCLI
November 20, 2023
With open enrollment here, officials warn of scams, offer tips
By Olivia Winslow
Updated November 17, 2023 6:55 pm
Read on Newsday
As the state's health insurance enrollment process begins, officials are warning New Yorkers to beware of scams that ask for money or personal information, and they encourage people to contact state agencies if they have questions.
Long Island nonprofits that help people enroll in Medicaid and the state's health insurance marketplace said they, too, stand ready to help residents with enrollment or questions, without imposing a fee.
New Yorkers once again have to re-enroll in health insurance plans to ensure continuing coverage, now that pandemic-era continuous coverage rules have expired, state Attorney General Letitia James and state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement this week. As a result, New York has resumed reviewing and renewing eligibility for those enrolled in public health programs.
The enrollment process began Thursday and must be completed by Dec. 15.
"The NY State of Health, New York’s Health Plan Marketplace, offers one-stop health insurance shopping for both public health programs (Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan) and commercial health insurance (Qualified Health Plans)," they said, adding, "Health insurance scams regarding these renewals are increasing."
A spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office acknowledged that complaints have been received but did not say how many.
James and McDonald cautioned New Yorkers about scammers who call, text or email, pretending to be from the NY State of Health or other state agencies.
Some of the scams involve threatening people that their Medicaid or other health coverage was at risk of cancellation, or that they have already lost coverage unless they pay hundreds of dollars to reinstate it, they said.
Other methods involve phishing scams that seek people's personal information by offering gift cards or money to "update" their health accounts.
James and McDonald said New York agencies that administer Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plan benefits "will never charge or ask for money from consumers to enroll or re-enroll. They will also not offer New Yorkers rewards to renew their coverage."
"Many people are available to help you renew for free," they said.
To learn how to renew, visit the NY State of Health webpage, or the NY Medicaid website.
To learn about enrolling or renewing commercial Qualified Health Plan coverage for 2024, visit the NY State of Health website.
For more information or guidance, visit the NY State of Health website or call 855-355-5777.
James and McDonald said those enrolled in Medicaid either through their county's Medicaid office or New York City’s Human Resources Administration also can get help for free. "Contact the office where you enrolled to ask questions and get help with renewing insurance," they said.
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council are among nonprofits that help Long Islanders enroll in Medicaid and the state health insurance marketplace, officials said.
"We are not hearing any major increase in scams here on Long Island at the moment," said Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare council. "But we know that there are scams that are taking place to exploit our most vulnerable residents all of the time," which she said are most often seniors.
"It's important that people know that if they are enrolling in Medicaid and the marketplace that they can get assistance from the Health and Welfare Council and other local nonprofits to navigate through the process."
Those interested can contact the council's health care assistance line at 516-505-4426, Sanin said.
Janine Logan, spokeswoman for the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, said the nonprofit has an enrollment assistance program, which can be accessed through its website, or by calling 631-435-3000.
"We’ve done a lot of community outreach to reach individuals so that they don’t lose coverage. We're here to help," Logan said.
HWCLI
October 23, 2023
Hochul: $100 to low-income families with a child under 17
By Olivia Winslow
Updated October 20, 2023 8:13 pm
Long Island public assistance recipients with at least one child under 17 are among 120,000 statewide to get an extra $100 one-time payment from federal pandemic-era emergency funds other states failed to use, Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced.
New York received the $12 million in federal funding to provide a "one-time Family Economic Support payment to low-income families with children," the governor said in a statement. Called the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund, it will be administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and will provide households with children aged 17 and under that receive public assistance with a payment of "approximately $100," the governor's announcement said.
The money comes from the federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund, part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and created to help needy families during the COVID-19 pandemic. New York initially received $128 million through the fund.
One-time payments were scheduled to be issued beginning Tuesday. Eligible families were to be notified by mail that they would be receiving a payment. About 120,000 families statewide with children under 17 are eligible, the governor said.
Just over $318,000 was allocated for Long Island: $203,800 in Suffolk County and $114,400 in Nassau, according to a spokeswoman for the governor.
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Suffolk's Social Services Commissioner Frances Pierre said in a statement that the department "supports additional measures and funding mechanisms to further assist our residents who are in need to cover critical expenses and such households who are facing economic hardships.”
Nassau County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said: "In an environment in which inflation continues to make it challenging for families to meet the most basic of needs and with a looming federal shut down that could further harm Long Island families, this modest, one-time assistance for families battling the traumatic experience of poverty will be welcomed.”
Hochul said, “Due to our success in providing assistance from the federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund to some of our most vulnerable residents, New York has qualified for additional funding that went unused by other states. This federal funding further helps households that suffered from the economic toll caused by the pandemic and gives these families a quick infusion of cash to assist with their expenses.”
According to Hochul, the federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund has already helped hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers with their essential needs, including:
In February 2022, $19 million was provided to households enrolled in public assistance or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with $140 for each child aged 3 or under to defray the cost of diapers.
In April 2022, the fund provided $730 in food benefits to more than 28,000 multigenerational households. The one-time payments helped about 31,500 adults over the age of 55, providing more than $23 million to families throughout the state.
In May 2022, families on public assistance with a child 17 or younger in their household received a payment of $250 from the fund to help pay for housing expenses, bills, and other critical needs. Roughly 110,000 households received payments totaling nearly $28 million, potentially helping more than 216,000 children.
In August 2022, more than $44 million was distributed to help families with children receiving public assistance to cover back-to-school and early life nutritional expenses. Payments totaling $39 million were made to the households of 184,000 school-aged children. Additionally, $5 million in payments were made to households with children ages 3 and under, potentially benefiting about 34,000 toddlers.
In September 2022, nearly $3 million in payments were made to more than 2,700 older adults living in multigenerational households that receive public assistance.
2020 Census HWCLI
September 12, 2023
Census: National poverty rate rose last year, especially for children, with end of COVID benefits
By Olivia Winslow
Updated September 12, 2023 8:28 pm
Read on Newsday
The nation’s poverty rate rose last year and among children it more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 as pandemic-era benefits that kept many families afloat expired, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.
While the 2022 official poverty rate for the nation of 11.5% — or 37.9 million people — was not statistically different from the year before, the supplemental poverty measure, which uses more comprehensive calculations of people’s earnings and costs, showed the real impact of the end of those federal benefits, census figures show.
The Census Bureau, in a statement, attributed the increase to “changes in tax policy, including the expiration of temporary expansions to the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit as well as the end of pandemic-era stimulus payments.”
Sanford Schram, adjunct lecturer in political science at Stony Brook University and an emeritus professor at the City University of New York, said the census data “shows you that the child tax credit was a very effective antipoverty measure. It was highly targeted on the lower income brackets and it lifted a lot of children out of poverty. And it’s gone, unfortunately. Now we’re back to a weakened approach. That’s the overwhelming factor in explaining these statistics.”
The nation’s poverty rate rose last year and among children it more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 as pandemic-era benefits that kept many families afloat expired, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.
While the 2022 official poverty rate for the nation of 11.5% — or 37.9 million people — was not statistically different from the year before, the supplemental poverty measure, which uses more comprehensive calculations of people’s earnings and costs, showed the real impact of the end of those federal benefits, census figures show.
The Census Bureau, in a statement, attributed the increase to “changes in tax policy, including the expiration of temporary expansions to the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit as well as the end of pandemic-era stimulus payments.”
Sanford Schram, adjunct lecturer in political science at Stony Brook University and an emeritus professor at the City University of New York, said the census data “shows you that the child tax credit was a very effective antipoverty measure. It was highly targeted on the lower income brackets and it lifted a lot of children out of poverty. And it’s gone, unfortunately. Now we’re back to a weakened approach. That’s the overwhelming factor in explaining these statistics.”
The bureau also reported that more people were covered by health insurance in 2022, at 92.1%, or 304 million, than in 2021, when 91.7%, or 300.9 million people, had coverage.
Real median household income, which is adjusted for inflation, for the nation also declined by 2.3% between 2021 and 2022 — dropping to $74,580 in 2022, down from $76,330 the year before.
But it was the change in the supplemental poverty measure that was most notable — the first such rise since 2010. The supplemental poverty measure rate rose to 12.4% in 2022, up from the 7.8% in 2021, bureau officials said during an online news conference, and was even higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 11.8% in 2019.
Child poverty, according to the supplemental poverty measure, more than doubled in the one year-period, going from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% a year later, the bureau said.
A national child welfare organization and Long Island officials lamented the loss in government aid that had helped families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Honestly our commission has been waiting for the boom to fall,” said Richard Koubek, chair of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Welfare to Work Commission. He said the COVID-era benefits had particularly helped reduce child poverty. He said the census data showed how phasing out those tax credits and payments had hurt families.
Citing the commission’s December report on Long Island poverty, Koubek said, “What we found was it takes $100,000 for a family of four to pay their bills on Long Island. Let’s not get into how the federal poverty line is irrelevant in a high cost region like Long Island,” Koubek said of the 2022 federal poverty threshold for a family of two adults and two children that was $29,678. “It’s like play money.
“However, even with all of that pain, the COVID supplements reduced the pain … People who were squeaking by a little better with the COVID monies they’re now going to slip back,” Koubek said. “When child care subsidy increases go away, you’re going to see people again who earn $50,000, $60,000 a year, not poor by federal standards, scraping by to put kids in child care.”
The official poverty measure factors in wages and other earnings before taxes and doesn’t consider regional cost differences or any expenses people have. By contrast, the supplemental poverty measure factors in regional cost differences and uses various sources of income, including government benefits, then subtracts from income items like taxes, medical costs and work expenses.
The impact of the expiration of pandemic supplements and others is already being seen on Long Island.
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council on Long Island, said in an email: “On Long Island, school district leaders, medical professionals and community-based organization leaders are all seeing an increase in hunger and need associated with the ending of pandemic-era programs that helped to reduce child poverty.”
The Children’s Defense Fund said in a statement it had repeatedly called on federal lawmakers to restore the monthly, refundable Child Tax Credit passed in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Its president and chief executive, the Rev. Starsky Wilson, added, “The 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit supported families with monthly checks of up to $300 per child to cover basic necessities. The expanded [child tax credit] illustrated the power of a fair tax code by driving historic reductions in child poverty and food insecurity.”
State and county data will be publicly released Thursday.
WHAT TO KNOW
The nation's poverty rate rose last year as pandemic-era benefits that kept many families afloat expired, new census date showed.
The U.S. Census Bureau attributed the increase to the expiration of pandemic-era stimulus payments and programs.
Child poverty more than doubled in the one year-period, going from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% a year later, the census data showed.
HWCLI
September 1, 2023
Gillibrand Pushes for Funds to Reduce Maternal Death Rate
September 1, 2023,
Author: Pam Robinson
Read on Huntington Now
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand brought her message about the need to maternal health care to Huntington on Thursday.
Standing with Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island at the organization’s headquarters in Huntington Station, the Democratic senator said that legislation and nearly $180 million in federal funding is urgently needed to address the country’s maternal mortality and maternal mental health crisis.
Studies regularly report that the American maternal death rate is the worst among wealthy nations, and in particular, is sharply higher for mothers in communities of color.
Gillibrand noted that the Suffolk maternal death rate is 15% higher than the state average, based on data from the Department of Health.
“More people in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in any of our peer countries – this is outrageous and downright shameful. We must do more to support and listen to women and pregnant people at every step of their maternal health journey,” Gillibrand said. “I’m fighting to include nearly $180 million in the end-of-year spending bill to help implement evidence-based health care standards for all women, no matter their race or ethnicity. I’m also pushing to pass the Moms Matter Act to provide critical mental health and substance use disorder support to pregnant people and moms. I will never stop fighting to ensure every mother is heard and gets high-quality health care — no matter their race, socioeconomic status, or zip code.”
David Nemiroff, president and CEO of Harmony Healthcare Long Island and the founders of Birth Justice Warriors Dr. Martine Hackett and Dr. Nellie Taylor Walthrust joined Sanin and Gillibrand to delivere a similar message.
“The Moms Matter Act would provide much needed support to address the issue of maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the United States,” Hackett and Walthrust said, noting that the Black maternal death rate is nearly three times that of White women.
The average maternal mortality rate in Suffolk County is 15% higher than the state average, according to data from the Department of Health.
“The Moms Matter Act will provide desperately needed resources to support the mental health and well-being of new mothers that historically face systemic barriers to accessing services. Addressing the disparities in health access and outcomes is a vital priority that impacts the psychological well-being of families and the social and economic well-being of communities. Senator Gillibrand’s leadership on supporting new mothers will create a legacy of healthier families, communities, schools and society,” Sanin said.
Gillibrand’s comments were the second time in two days that experts have pointed out the urgent need to improve mental health care; on Wednesday, several noted that drug addiction often is rooted in mental or emotional health problems, and likely a factor in higher than normal death rates.
HWCLI
August 31, 2023
Sen. Gillibrand pushes $180 million plan to address maternal mortality rate
Aug 31, 2023, 6:05pm
By: Carmen Grant
Read on News 12
The average maternal mortality rate in Suffolk County is 15% higher than the state average, according to data from the Department of Health.
Data from the U.S. Government Accountability Office also found that women of color are up to three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was in Huntington Station Thursday to push a $180 million plan to address the issue.
Letter to Congress
Gillibrand says the funding would allow organizations like the Health Welfare Council of Long Island to continue working to help eliminate racial bias facing women of color in maternal care.
Gillibrand also says that a separate measure signed by President Joe Biden addresses mental health by providing a 24-hour national hotline for struggling mothers, pregnant women and new mothers.
HWCLI
August 31, 2023
Suffolk County opens application portal for second round of opioid settlement
by Raymond Janis
August 31, 2023
Read on TBR News Media
Suffolk County has taken another step forward in appropriating roughly $200 million in opioid settlement funds.
County officials gathered at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on Friday, Aug. 25, announcing the opening of a second application portal for $20 million in additional funds. The first round of $25 million in settlement payments had concluded earlier this year. [See story, “County picks groups to receive $25M for first round in opioid settlement,” Jan. 20, 2023, TBR News Media website.]
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) referred to this new round of funding as a “significant milestone in our battle and our fight against the opioid epidemic,” coming from a projected $200 million settlement between Suffolk County and various opioid manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other entities that contributed to the scourge of addiction throughout the county.
Bellone affirmed the county’s “unwavering commitment to address the opioid crisis head-on as well as to provide vital support to combat addiction.”
The county executive added, “All of us working on this issue understand that it is critical that we spend these dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible, that we are stewards of these dollars.”
From left, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman, President and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island Rebecca Sanin and Deputy County Executive Ryan Attard. Photo from Bellone’s Flickr page
Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), presiding officer of the county Legislature, reinforced this messaging, noting how the funds received through the settlement are significant in their purpose.
“This money didn’t come at a small cost,” he said. “This is not our money. This belongs to the victims and the families that were affected by this opioid crisis,” adding, “We need to make sure when we make these decisions that we keep in mind that all this money that we are distributing … is used judiciously because it did come at a very high price.”
Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon) encouraged all interested, qualifying organizations to apply for these funds.
“The monies that we’re talking about here will change the lives of families and help put people in the right direction,” he contended. “To any of those organizations that are listening to this conversation — please, please apply.”
County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai), chair of the county’s Addiction Advisory Council, outlined the various causes to which these funds will soon be directed, from drug prevention to education services to rehabilitation, among other resource providers.
“All those entities — that are really under the county’s purview — are ready and willing to do more,” she said. “The main word here is ‘resources,’ and that’s pretty much what our panel focuses on — resources that our residents need to fight and combat the epidemic.”
Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, emphasized the conditions and trends currently happening on the ground throughout the area. She highlighted the collateral damage opioids produce for communities and societies.
“Those losses that addiction accumulates emotionally bankrupts and destroys individual lives, destroys families, destroys communities and leaves vacant unmet potential in a society that is nostalgic and hungry for progress,” Sanin said. “This announcement will mean that lives are saved. It will mean that hope is levied.”
Sharon Richmond, whose son Vincent died from an overdose at 25, described her son as sensitive, funny and intelligent — an aspiring lawyer who sought to stand up for those who couldn’t defend themselves.
“However, once oxycodone became his drug of choice, his dreams and hopes were shattered along with ours,” she said. “No family should ever have to face the tragedy mine had to endure.”
She continued, “No amount of money can ever bring back my son Vincent or the 107,000 human lives lost just last year. However, with these opioid settlement funds, I see hope, and I see life for so many thousands of loved ones.”
The application portal for the $20 million is currently live. It will remain open until close of business on Friday, Sept. 29.
To apply, please click the following link: www.suffolkcountyny.gov and search under “Opioid Grant Application.”
HWCLI
August 25, 2023
Suffolk opioid fund seeks next round of applications
By Vera Chinese
August 25, 2023 5:47 pm
Read on Newsday
Suffolk County is accepting applications for $20 million in funding available to organizations and public agencies that administer programs to combat the opioid crisis.
The money is part of approximately $200 million the county is expected to receive over two decades from settlements reached with various opioid manufactures, distributors, retailers and pharmacies.
“This isn’t just any budget line in our budget. We understand where these dollars come from,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said at a news conference in Hauppauge Friday. “It is incumbent on us to make sure that those dollars are invested to help the victims of this terrible epidemic.”
The application portal at suffolkcountyny.gov/opioidgrants will remain open until Sept. 29. Applicants should include the focus of their proposal, the potential residents served, a proposal summary as well as a detailed description, program goals, how the organization plans to sustain the program and how much money is requested. Awards will be announced this fall.
The county awarded more than $36 million for 41 projects earlier this year which includes $25 million for programs and $11.2 million for four infrastructure projects. Of those projects, three were harm reduction initiatives, 23 were treatment programs, 11 were prevention programs and four were recovery programs.
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First-round recipients included government agencies such as the Town of Smithtown Horizon Counseling and Education Center, and treatment providers such as the Family and Children’s Association and the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
Opioids, particularly the synthetic drug fentanyl, have claimed the lives of thousands of Long Islanders including 25-year-old Emanuel Vincent D’Antoni who died in 2017. His mother, Sharon Richmond of Northport, has become an advocate on the issue and spoke during the news conference.
“No parent should ever face the tragedy my family has had to endure,” she said.
There were at least 420 opioid-related overdoses in Suffolk County in 2022, according to figures provided by the county. Newsday reported in June there were more than 300 in Nassau County that year. More recent figures were not immediately available.
“Addiction is like a thief stealing the humanity of our incredible neighbors on Long Island and in Suffolk County,” said Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. “It creates unpredictable vulnerability, trauma and pain and depths of despair that are relentless.”
HWCLI
August 25, 2023
Suffolk County Executive Bellone Announces $20 Million in Second Round of Opioid Grant Funding
By CHRIS BOYLE
August 25, 2023
Read on LIBN
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today joined with county legislators, health officials, and victim’s advocates to announce the allocation of $20 million as part of the second round of opioid grant funding resulting from a landmark court victory and award settlements from opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retail pharmacies. The application, now live, is open to any entity, including non-profits, healthcare systems, and public and private agencies, that provide services in relation to the opioid epidemic, including, prevention, education, treatment, and recovery.
Suffolk County was the first county in New York State to sue drug makers in connection with the opioid crisis. The County has since reached settlement agreements with major opioid distributors and major retail pharmacies. These much needed funds will assist the County in the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis, along with providing assistance to those who have been affected
“It is crucial that we continue our fight against the opioid epidemic and provide essential support to those affected by addiction,” said Suffolk County Executive, Steve Bellone. “The $20 million in grant funding being offered today serves as a critical lifeline in this ongoing fight that will allow us to expand prevention efforts, enhance treatment options, and strengthen support services for those among us who have been devastated by this tragedy.”
This second round of funding, totaling $20 million, is available to any entity, including non-profits, healthcare systems, and public and private agencies, that provide services in relation to the opioid epidemic, including, prevention, education, treatment, and recovery. Agencies can submit proposals to address the opioid crisis through the expansion of existing programs, the establishment of new programs, as well as proposals that encourage innovation. A selection panel, comprised of the County Executive’s Office, the Presiding Officer, the Minority Leader, and the Health Commissioner, or their designees, along with a victim advocate, will review the applications in conjunction with substance use disorder experts at the Health Department.
Interested parties can apply through the proposal portal, which goes live today, August 25th, and will remain available until close of business on September 29th of this year.
Since the formation of The Suffolk County Opioid Task Force in 2021, created by County Executive Bellone, the county has made remarkable progress. The Task Force, through extensive collaboration with local experts and stakeholders, developed a guidance document outlining the goals and guidelines for the use of the opioid settlement dollars. Their comprehensive report was released on July 25, 2022 and quickly followed by a first-round funding announcement of $25 million.
In the first round of funding, Suffolk County awarded $25 million to 39 programs, both new and existing, for up to three years. An additional $11,225,000 was allocated to four capital projects. These previous funding awards will make a significant impact in advancing prevention and treatment efforts throughout the county. The focus of the initial round of proposals included prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, and various concepts such as vocational training, youth prevention, family counseling, peer support services, mobile response, housing, education, and workforce development. The awardees thus far represent a diverse range of organizations including not-for-profits, community-based organizations, hospital systems, county departments, and town treatment and youth programs.
Minority Leader Jason Richberg said: “We all know someone in our lives who has been impacted by the opioid epidemic, and these funds are going to go a long way in providing resources and giving residents options in their fight against addiction. The goal is not only to have an immediate impact, but to have a long-standing impact and make sure the funds go to organizations and groups who are on the frontlines and can have a tangible effect and help change lives. If someone wants help, we have a duty to make sure that help is available and easily accessible.”
Legislator Sarah Anker said: “The previous round of opioid settlement funds went directly into our communities that were hit hardest by the opioid crisis. We received 111 applications from 77 different organizations, with proposals that focused on programs for prevention and harm reduction as well as treatment and recovery programs for those struggling with substance abuse. With this next round of $20 million in funding, we have the opportunity to make even greater strides as we continue to combat the opioid crisis. I would like to encourage all community-based organizations, hospitals, county departments, treatment facilities and youth-prevention programs to apply.”
Rebecca Sanin President/CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island said: “The second round of funding for organizations that prevent, treat and honor the lives of our Suffolk County neighbors battling the disease of addiction is sorely needed and welcomed by the nonprofit community whose vital missions are focused on promotion of recovery and restoration of hope for families and communities. The escalated need for these services is impacting families, schools, the regional workforce and communities and these landmark dollars represent a vital opportunity to build a sustainable, safe and healthy future in Suffolk County.”
HWCLI
August 7, 2023
Posted August 6, 2023
Read on LI Herald
By Juan Lasso
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and her colleague from Queens, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, gathered hunger advocates, teachers and community members at the Valley Stream Forest Road Elementary School on July 26 to urge qualifying school districts to opt into the state’s federally backed Community Eligibility Program, which provides free meals to students in low-income areas.
Beginning in 2020, breakfasts and hot lunches at school were guaranteed to millions of public-school students across the country at no cost to families, thanks to the federal government’s pandemic-inspired universal meal program. But by the start of the 2022 school year, funding had dried up, the program was eliminated, and more than 700,000 students lost access to free school meals.
In the program’s wake, the idea of a state-backed universal school meal program began to gain traction in Albany. Soon enough, lawmakers, citing the increasing incidence of hunger in schools, successfully pushed Gov. Kathy Hochul to allocate an unprecedented $134 million as part of this year’s state budget to fund free school meals.
While achieving a state-funded universal meal program that is as comprehensive as the one seen during the pandemic is still a way off, lawmakers have come as close as they’ve been. The new funding mechanism will allow low-income schools taking part in the Community Eligibility Program to be reimbursed by the state for the cost of all meals not currently covered by the federal government.
This effectively eliminates any financial barriers that once prevented qualifying schools from opting into the program. It’s a financial buffer that Solages says is nothing but good news for parents and students.
“Normally, parents must fill out an application and submit their income to qualify their children for free lunch and breakfast,” Solages explained, “but by schools joining this free meal service, there is no need for an application. Every student enrolled in a school that participates in the CEP is entitled to a free lunch and breakfast.”
“This is a massive expansion,” Gonzalez-Rojas added. “We will now feed up to 81 percent of students across New York state, and in Nassau County alone, up to 10,000 additional students who didn’t previously qualify.”
For now, however, those students most likely will not include any in Valley Stream school districts, at least according to current CEP eligibility guidelines.
To qualify for the CEP program, at least 40 percent of students in a school district must be eligible for free school meals. None of the Valley Stream districts appear to meet that threshold, though that may change by the upcoming school year, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently proposing to lower the eligibility threshold to 25 percent ahead of September.
For her part, Solages is pushing for those school districts that are currently eligible to opt in before the application window closes on Aug. 31. And encourage those who are potentially eligible to apply and see.
“School districts need to act fast in gaining state funding to properly execute this jump into equality among children in public schools,” Solages said. “By having free school meals for everyone, it eliminates the stigma of free lunch that students normally deal with.”
“I want to be clear that hunger is not just about food, it’s not just about nutrition, it’s about trauma,” said Rebecca Sanin, the President of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, who was also in attendance last week. “Not knowing where your next meal is going to come from, and when, is a form of trauma, and it will damage our babies, our children and our future.”
Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.
COURTESY OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN MICHAELLE SOLAGES
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages spoke at the Forest Road School in Valley Stream to urge qualifying school districts to apply for the CEP universal meal program amid new state funding to pay for the cost of school meals not covered by the federal government.
HWCLI
July 24, 2023
Suffolk water authority will place liens on those owing over $1G
By Olivia Winslow
olivia.winslow@newsday.com
Read on Newsday
Updated July 20, 2023 5:56 am
The Suffolk County Water Authority will place liens on properties of customers with accounts at least 90 days overdue and in excess of $1,000, an effort, agency officials said, to collect more than $10 million in delinquent fees after the state disallowed service shut-offs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authority added, though, that it plans to work with customers on payment plans.
"We understand that many of our customers have faced financial hardships during these unprecedented times,” Jeffrey Szabo, the authority's chief executive, said in a statement. “We want to work with them to find viable solutions. If residents are concerned that their account may be at risk of a lien, we encourage them to reach out to our customer service center. Our dedicated team is here to assist customers, provide guidance on payment options, and explore potential assistance programs."
The customer service center number is 631-698-9500.
The authority, which serves about 1.2 million Suffolk residents, said it will begin placing liens on properties with outstanding water bills on active accounts exceeding $1,000 and 90 days past due as of May 31 as well as all unpaid closed accounts.
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In an interview, an authority spokesperson who asked not to be identified, said: "We’ve had a policy for a number of years of placing liens on closed accounts. This new initiative … was passed by our board at our June 22 meeting. The policy is in place now. The people affected, as of May 31, have until Aug. 31 to make the required payment. It’s not a payment in full, but a payment to get out of that parameter," meaning paying enough to owe less than $1,000.
The water authority said before the pandemic, it "typically" had about $4 million in past-due payments across fewer than 4,000 accounts. Now, it said past-due payments amount to more than $10 million across 30,000 accounts.
Charles Lefkowitz, the authority's board chair, said in a statement: "As the custodian of Suffolk County's water resources, it is our responsibility to ensure the financial sustainability of our operations. We recognize the challenges faced by our customers during the pandemic and appreciate the state's measures to protect their interests. However, as we move forward, it is crucial to address the mounting overdue bills to maintain the reliability and quality of our water services for the benefit of all residents."
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Huntington Station-based nonprofit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, had concerns.
"Certainly it doesn't surprise me at all that there has been an increase in money owed to the water authority, because not only have our neighbors been economically destabilized from COVID-19, but they are also living in an economy right now with inflation and a high cost of living without many of the assistance programs that existed during COVID-19," Sanin said in an interview. "I hope the water authority is prepared to work with our neighbors to resolve the challenges people are facing."
HEALI Health Equity Healthcare Access HWCLI
July 6, 2023
Fair medical debt act would help many in state
By: Rebecca Sanin
Posted on: June 30th, 2023
Read on: Newsday
Many health crises result in the emotional and physical burden of fear, but this is made exponentially worse when signing off on needed care results in medical debt causing bankruptcy, poor credit or other financially disastrous outcomes. Many Long Islanders choose between medical care and necessities, and they fear the financial impact of accessing care.
The State Legislature recently passed the Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act, a first step in ensuring that people facing burdensome medical bills will not have their credit adversely affected. As the mental health crisis facing New Yorkers continues to be a prominent governing concern, protecting families who courageously access care should be a top priority.
Necessary medical access can often be triggered by an unexpected health calamity. When treatment results in ruined credit, families can face difficulty being housed, higher insurance premiums, difficulty accessing loans and increased destabilization.
Passage of this bill is the first step in reducing the financial health burdens of treating disease or injury. This needs to be signed into law to protect all New Yorkers’ access to medical care.
HWCLI
June 15, 2023
Almost a third of Long Islanders with mortgages considered ‘cost-burdened,’ Census Bureau data shows
By Olivia Winslow and Arielle Martinez
Updated June 15, 2023 5:04 pm
Read on Newsday
Almost a third of Long Island homeowners with mortgages are considered "cost-burdened," experts say, meaning they spend 35% or more of their income on monthly housing costs, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday.
The share of cost-burdened households was especially high among some of the Island’s minority groups, according to the data, which includes an array of economic characteristics broken out by race and ethnicity.
The large number of Long Islanders with mortgages and renters who spend 35% or more of their income on housing "speaks to the high costs of our region," said Gwen O'Shea, president and chief executive of the Community Development Corp. of Long Island, a nonprofit that develops and manages housing units and promotes affordable housing.
A 2019 view of houses in Elmont. Credit: Newsday / John Keating
O'Shea said it was considered financially prudent to pay no more than 30% to 35% of one's income on housing. She added, "35% to 40% is still manageable if you have a higher income." But those with lower incomes, she advised, "You want to see them keeping that closer to 30%."
Just over 29% of Long Islanders with a mortgage spend more than 35% of their income on monthly housing costs, which in addition to the mortgage includes expenses such as real estate taxes, utilities and condominium fees, according to data from the selected population tables in the Census Bureau's 2017-2021 American Community Survey.
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The data includes information on median household income and poverty rates. Families headed by single women had a poverty rate higher than all families, an indication of the difficulty they face in Long Island's economy. The poverty rate for all families on Long Island was 4%, compared with 11.8% for all female headed households with no spouse in the home.
It is considered financially prudent to pay no more than 30% to 35% of one's income on housing, said Gwen O'Shea of the Community Development Corp. of Long Island. Credit: Johnny Milano
When looked at by race and ethnicity, female-headed households among American Indians/Alaska Natives had the highest poverty level, at 49.2%; Blacks, at 15.6%, Asians, at 12.2%, and whites, at 8.9%. Hispanics/Latinos, who can be of any race, were at 19.4%.
"Long Island is uniquely challenging for single female-headed households at a very basic level," said Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. "We have one of the highest cost-of-living challenges statewide."
Sanin cited child care as "prohibitively expensive," plus the cost of housing and utilities.
"Single parents struggle tremendously because without two incomes, unless a person has considerable means, it's very hard to live on Long Island," she said.
The percentage of households with a mortgage that spent more than 35% of their income on monthly housing costs among Long Island's Hispanic or Latino residents of any race was 33.7%. Among whites, it was 28.2%; for Blacks, 33.2%; Asians, 33.4%; and for American Indians/Alaska Natives, it was 29%. The "some other race" group on Long Island had the highest percentage, at 37.9%.
Among Long Island households overall without a mortgage on their homes, 21.1% spent more than 35% on monthly housing costs. Among whites, the percentage was only slightly higher, at 21.9%; among Blacks, 16.6%; Asians, 17.8%; and American Indians/Alaska Natives, 10.8%.
O'Shea, who hasn't reviewed the Census Bureau data, said lower percentages spent on housing among those without a mortgage masks issues like seniors living on fixed incomes who might still feel burdened by the costs associated with their mortgage-free homes. Some may not have "a lot of cash on hand" to address home maintenance issues, for example.
Then they have to deal with increasing costs in many areas, she said. "There is still a discrepancy, in terms of an increase in costs and actual cash on hand in many, many households."
According to the data, the percentage of renters who spent 35% or more on monthly housing costs was far higher than that of homeowners, 47% for Long Island renters overall. Among American Indians and Alaska Natives on Long Island, it was even higher — 63.4%. For whites, it was 46%; for Blacks, 48.3%; and Asians, 37.1%.
"There is a need for more affordable housing," O'Shea said, admitting it was a "relative term." She said a two-person household earning $125,000 a year can pay the rent but might be "challenged with becoming a homebuyer because they don't have the closing costs or down payment to close that gap and get over the finish line."
Previous 2017-2021 American Community Survey data has provided median household income and poverty rates, but the data available publicly Thursday provides race and gender details.
HWCLI
June 14, 2023
Keynote address by Rebecca Sanin at Girl Scouts of Suffolk County (GSSC) 2023 Gold Award Dinner
By Michael DeSantis
Posted on Monday June 12th, 2023
Read on The Patch
COMMACK, NY — Five Girl Scouts across Commack Service Unit 615 and Smithtown Service Unit 625 received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County announced. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
The awards were presented during the 2023 Gold Award Dinner, which was held at The Inn & Spa at East Wind and featured a keynote address by Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
The members of Commack Service Unit 615 and Smithtown Service Unit 625 who achieved Gold Awards this year were Chloe Visnius, Elysena De Stefano, Ava Mahoney, Sophia Recine and Jessica Andrews.
"The Gold Award is the highest distinction a young woman can earn in Girl Scouting and is earned by less than 6% of Girl Scouts annually," said Tammy Severino, GSSC’s president and CEO. "Earning this award takes an extreme amount of dedication, hard work and commitment from each of the girls. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this distinguished class of young women and the great efforts they have made for their communities."
The Gold Award Girl Scouts each tackled a project that held a deep significance to them. Eligible recipients must complete two senior or ambassador journeys or their Girl Scout Silver Award before beginning their Gold Award project. Each candidate must spend at least 80 hours on her project.
Girls in grades 9 through 12 begin their Gold Award journey by identifying a civic or social issue they care about. Next, a Girl Scout builds a team to support her project with the mission to create a positive impact in her community by addressing an issue she feels passionate about. Through the process, Gold Award Girl Scouts build invaluable problem-solving, organizational, and leadership skills, while educating and inspiring others.
Elysena De Stefano created an outdoor learning library with a teacher bench, platform and inspirational signs for the preschoolers at the Suffolk Y JCC.
Ava Mahoney provided equipment and a training session for girls to play field hockey by running a free clinic. The clinic aimed to build healthy relationships and team bonding.
Sophia Recine volunteered at Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center’s Day Care and painted a mural. She also designed a poster with dementia care tips for caregivers.
Jessica Andrews addressed the issue of poverty and health for young adults by providing them with useful resources.
Chloe Visnius was recognized but opted not to share a description of her project.
Direct Services Healthcare Access HWCLI
June 12, 2023
Medicaid Auto Enrollment Ended: 900,000 LIers Could Lose Medicaid Coverage
By Chris Boyle
Published: June 9th, 2023
Read on LongIsland.com
Automatic enrollment for Medicaid recipients has ended. Auto enroll was put in place during the pandemic to ensure continuous health coverage, but now Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Essential Plan members must re-certify or they will lose coverage. Members of special populations like Aged, Blind, Disabled must also re-certify to keep coverage. Keep LI Covered, a grassroots effort led by the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), in partnership with Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, wants all eligible Long Islanders to be aware of their coverage deadlines and what agencies provide FREE re-certification assistance. Call 631-435-3000 to be connected to the appropriate agency.
New York State began mailing re-certification notices to enrollees and will continue to do so until June 30, 2024, as each enrollee’s re-certification deadline nears. Enrollees should call the Keep LI Covered phone number – 631-435-3000 – to re-certify so they don’t lose coverage.
“We have about 900,000 eligible enrollees on Long Island. It’s a huge undertaking, but we don’t want anyone who is still eligible for coverage to lose their health insurance simply because they failed to re-certify. The re-certification rules were relaxed during COVID, but we are now back to the annual re-certification process,” said Stacy Villagran, Chief Operating Officer, Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council. She is overseeing the island-wide re-certification effort that is funded by a grant from the Community Service Society of New York, and its multiple funders who care deeply about this issue. #keepLIcovered.
HWCLI
June 6, 2023
As Hurricane Season Begins, Red Cross and Partners Urge Long Islanders to Prepare and Volunteer
Posted on: June 02, 2023
Read on American Red Cross
Mineola, NY - The American Red Cross on Long Island joined with county, state and local officials and partners on the first day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season to discuss how residents should and can prepare in the event of a hurricane.
There is a chance of 12 to 17 named storms this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predictions for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season which officially runs from today, June 1st, through to November 30th.
“With the increasing risk of climate disasters, it’s more important than ever for all New Yorkers to follow three steps to help keep their families safe: get a kit, make a plan, stay informed,” said Jose Dominguez, CEO, American Red Cross on Long Island. “You can visit www.redcross.org/prepare for more information on how to prepare your family for this hurricane season and for other common disasters like home fires or floods.
And when making your plan, don’t forget your pets ─ they depend on you for their safety.”
"I want to emphasize the critical importance of hurricane preparedness in our community. Hurricanes can cause significant damage and pose serious threats to our residents and infrastructure. It is crucial that we take proactive measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “The American Red Cross's commitment to preparedness, sheltering, and providing relief supplies is commendable, and we are grateful for their partnership.”
“Today’s weather patterns are much different than they were several years ago,” said Patrick Beckley, Commissioner of Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. “All it takes is one hurricane to disrupt the lives of millions. In fact, as we have seen with hurricane Sandy, at times it doesn’t even need to be a hurricane to decimate a community. This is your time to prepare for the possibility of a hurricane.”
“Preparedness is our best defense for hurricane season. We at PSEG Long Island are proud to partner with the Red Cross to remind customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways to make their families and homes ready for the upcoming storm season,” said Michael Sullivan, vice president of Electric Operations, PSEG Long Island. “The safety of customers and our employees is our top priority. We also prepare all year long by updating and maintaining the electric infrastructure to provide safe, reliable service, during extreme conditions.”
“HWCLI is grateful for the partnership with Red Cross of Long Island and the planning and preparedness work we collaborate on all throughout the year to make sure we are ready to respond and meet the needs of our Long Island communities during hurricane season and for all impactful disasters. This partnership is always focused on strategy to promote positive outcomes for our neighbors and a bright, resilient future for our region,” said Rebecca Sanin, CEO Health & Welfare Council of Long Island.
“I am proud to partner with the Red Cross to highlight the importance of preparing for hurricane season. Groups like the Red Cross play a crucial role in providing assistance and support during hurricane season on Long Island, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents. Preparedness efforts help communities in anticipating and responding to the impact of hurricanes, reducing the potential for loss of life and property damage. I encourage everyone to make a plan for this hurricane season to prevent being caught off-guard,” said Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01)
“Long Islanders know all too well the impact that hurricanes and super storms can have on their homes and safety. Hurricane season begins today and the time to prepare is now, before the worst happens. Take the time to understand your risk from hurricanes and learn what you should do to protect your family before, during, and after a storm. I thank the Red Cross for taking the time to raise awareness about this critical safety issue for our coastal community,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02)
“Preparedness is your best defense. Long Islanders know the destructive powers of hurricanes, and at the start of this season, we are reminding the public to remain vigilant and make contingency plans for possible extreme weather emergencies. I applaud the American Red Cross and our local organizations leading the effort to ensure that every Long Islander is informed and prepared every year,” said Senator Kevin Thomas.
“As another hurricane season approaches, it is important for us not to become complacent,” said Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-10th AD). “As an Island, obviously we are subject to storm surges, flooding, severe erosion and resultant property damage. Planning on the run is never a good idea. I urge my neighbors to prepare necessary supplies, including flashlights, water and non-perishable foods, discuss plans with family members, and ensure that our most vulnerable family members have accommodations ready in case of an emergency.”
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY NOW With the increasing risk of climate disasters, it’s more important than ever to follow the three steps below to help keep your family safe. Plus, download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and more safety tips. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
Build an emergency kit with bottled water, non-perishable food, a flashlight and battery-powered radio. Also include medications, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers and emergency contact information.
Make an evacuation plan with what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and if you have to evacuate. Make sure to coordinate with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans — and don’t forget your pets.
Know how to stay informed by finding out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders.
BECOME A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER The need to help during disasters has never been greater. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday for more information. Our most-needed disaster positions include:
SHELTER SUPPORT: Help at a shelter during a large disaster by welcoming and registering residents, serving meals, setting up cots, distributing blankets and personal hygiene kits, and providing information and other assistance to people in need.
HEALTH SERVICES: We also need volunteers who can use their professional skills as a licensed health care provider to deliver hands-on support, including care and education to people staying at a shelter during a large disaster. Qualified licenses include RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP and APRN.
DISASTER ACTION TEAM: While big hurricanes get the most news coverage, smaller disasters, such as home fires, are no less devastating to those affected. Join your local Disaster Action Team to help families in need by providing food, lodging, comfort, recovery assistance and other support.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, visit us on Twitter at @redcrossny
HWCLI
June 6, 2023
New work requirements for SNAP benefits not expected to be felt yet, Hochul aide says
By Olivia Winslow
olivia.winslow@newsday.com
Updated June 4, 2023 7:53 am
Read on: Newsday
A sign outside a Brooklyn grocery store alerting customers about SNAP food benefits. One of the hotly contested aspects of the debt ceiling debate centered on imposing work requirements under SNAP on certain individuals up to age 54. Credit: Getty Images/Scott Heins
The part of the debt ceiling deal that imposes new work requirements on an older segment of the population seeking food stamp benefits apparently will not impact New York residents this year, because of a waiver the state received earlier in the year, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.
One of the hotly contested aspects of the debt ceiling debate to try to rein in federal spending centered on imposing work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps, on certain individuals up to age 54. Those work requirements already affected some people ages 18 to 49.
In normal circumstances, childless adults in the 18-to-49 age group are subject to a time limit rule. Under it, SNAP benefits "are limited to three months within a three-year period, unless the individual is working or enrolled in a work program for 80 hours each month," according to a fact sheet from Hunger Solutions New York.
But the federal government granted New York a waiver of the work requirement and time limit rule, first from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. The state got an extension earlier this year, through Feb. 29, 2024, according to a "General Information System message" from the state's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued in February.
"New York State residents will continue to be exempt from SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents based on a federal waiver granted earlier this year," Aja Worthy-Davis, the governor's deputy communications director, wrote in an email. She added, "we are closely monitoring the changes being discussed at the federal level."
A spokeswoman for the Suffolk County executive's office referred questions about the work-requirement regulations to the state. A spokesman for Nassau County didn't respond to requests for comment.
Republicans argue that expanding work requirements for government assistance programs result in more people returning to the workforce. “We’re going to return these programs to being a life vest, not a lifestyle,” Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the vice chair of the House Republican conference, told reporters, according to The Associated Press.
But some nonprofit officials said imposing work requirements on older adults places more barriers on a vulnerable, food-insecure population.
A Washington, D.C.-based policy research organization, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, was critical of the work requirement in a story published on its website.
"SNAP’s existing work-reporting requirement has proven to be a failure," it said, citing the time-limit rule. "Numerous studies have shown that this requirement does not improve employment or earnings, but it does take away SNAP’s food assistance from a substantial share of people who are subject to it."
The center, which did a state-by-state look at the number of people ages 50 to 54 who were at risk of losing SNAP benefits under the new regulation, estimated 45,000 New Yorkers could lose them.
Under the debt ceiling bill that Congress passed last week, changes to the SNAP work requirements would affect 50-year-olds 90 days after its enactment. By the beginning of fiscal year 2023 in October, the work rule would apply to those age 51 to 52; and by October 2024, it would apply to those 53 and 54. Republicans agreed to new exemptions to the rule, such as for veterans and homeless persons, among others. President Joe Biden signed the bill Saturday.
"Arbitrary SNAP time limits don’t increase the workforce, they simply take food off the table from folks who are struggling," said Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. "These time limit restrictions will impact people’s life outcomes and health outcomes and reinforces the notion that access to food is a privilege rather than a human right."
Kathy Rosenthal, senior vice president for programs at the Family Service League, a nonprofit social service agency based in Huntington, had a similar view.
"So we’re putting older people who may have more barriers in that same bucket," Rosenthal said.
"Of course it’s going to be harder for a 54-year-old to get a job than someone under 50. ... What’s happening is we’re putting more vulnerable people in a position to be more food insecure because of this work requirement for those older people," she said.
WHAT TO KNOW
The debt ceiling deal imposes new work requirements on an older segment of the population seeking food stamp benefits.
The impact on New Yorkers apparently would not be affected immediately, a state official said, because of a federal waiver of the work requirement that the state received through Feb. 29, 2024.
Republicans say that expanding work requirements for government assistance programs results in more people returning to the workforce. But some nonprofit officials said imposing work requirements on older adults places more barriers on a vulnerable, food-insecure population.
HWCLI
May 2, 2023
Settlement expands NY’s Medicaid coverage for medically necessary dental procedures
By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith
tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com
Updated May 2, 2023 10:07 am
Roughly 5 million low-income New Yorkers who are on Medicaid will get expanded dental coverage, thanks to the settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit brought against the state Health Department.
A lawsuit that contended the state's Medicaid rules denied basic dental care has been settled, expanding coverage for 5 million. Credit: Getty Images/David McNew
Crown placements and root canals were among several dental procedures the state routinely denied residents who use Medicaid, which provides health care to millions of low-income people. But the settlement, announced Monday, will make those procedures and others, such as replacement dentures, more readily accessible.
“We've reached a settlement that will change the rules and really drastically expand, I would say, the coverage around those specific benefits that will allow for necessary and basic dental care," said Belkys Garcia, staff attorney with the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society, which brought the lawsuit.
The Health Department said Monday, “This settlement recognizes the importance of oral health and affirms the state’s commitment to those individuals.”
Before the settlement, people could be denied coverage for a root canal if they had at least eight back teeth, according to Legal Aid. Crowns and root canals will now be covered when deemed medically necessary and it will be easier to get replacement dentures, dental implants, and related services, attorneys said.
The settlement comes after 10 original plaintiffs and others in the class "whose expenses associated with medically necessary dental services are not reimbursable by New York’s Medicaid program … because of the Program’s illegal limitations" brought the litigation in 2018, court papers say.
The suit argued that the state's Medicaid program restricted coverage necessary to maintain overall health. It contended that adequate dental care was vital not only to a person's physical and mental well-being but their ability to work and function in society.
The settlement includes the firms of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which also represented the plaintiffs.
On Long Island, healthcare officials say the settlement is promising.
“I think that this is a very important achievement for folks when it comes to accessing dental care because there have been historically so many strict limitations, and many Medicaid recipients have received denials for things that are really necessities,” said Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the regional nonprofit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
Sanin said many of their clients on Long Island have to go through an appeals process only to end up being denied restorative dental care.
Audrey Smith, CEO of Long Island Select Healthcare, a federally qualified health center that serves many low-income clients, said dental procedures are one of the most challenging areas in health care because coverage doesn't always align with what people need.
At the health center, what typically happens when a person can't pay for a crown or other restorative care is that they could be placed on a payment plan or a sliding scale.
The settlement, she said, would be a benefit for many of the people the health center serves, but that there are also other pressing needs, mainly the lack of dentists on Long Island who care for people on Medicaid.
“The availability of dentists is our biggest issue right now,” she said.
HWCLI
April 7, 2023
Fernandez named to Health & Welfare Council board
April 7, 2023
Read on LIBN
Dr. Harold Fernandez
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island announced that Dr. Harold Fernandez has joined its board of directors.
Fernandez brings a wealth of experience in the healthcare field and a passion for serving the underrepresented to HWCLI. He is an advocate for immigrant rights, nutrition and “food as medicine,” and improving health access and outcomes for Long Islanders.
As the author of two books— “Undocumented” and “A Boy and a Book,” Fernandez believes literacy is a critical skill for people of all backgrounds.
He studied at Princeton University and Harvard Medical School and has consistently ranked as one of the top heart surgeons in New York State. He is a professor of cardiothoracic surgery for the Northwell-Hofstra School of Medicine, as well as the system director of surgical heart failure for Northwell Health. He currently resides in Huntington with his wife Sandra, his daughter Jasmine and his son Brandon.
HWCLI
March 28, 2023
Advocates Call for Free School Meals in NY’s 2024 Budget
Posted on March 27, 2023
By Briana Bonfiglio
Read on Long Island Press
Elected officials, advocates, and parents gathered on Friday to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to include free school meals in the upcoming state budget for fiscal year 2024.
Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to include free school meals in the upcoming budget.Courtesy Health & Welfare Council of Long Island
The $280 million Healthy School Meals for All program would provide universal free school meals to all students, whose school lunch debt has increased significantly since a federal Covid-19 program that covered meal fees ended in June 2022.
“Long Island parents, schools, and communities are fiercely committed to advancing healthy school meals for all children in New York State,” said Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. “In a time in which hunger is on the rise and families face many post-pandemic challenges, ensuring that our youngest New Yorkers are provided with nutritious meals not only impacts health, educational, and psychological outcomes for children, it also reduces stress and promotes healthy families, a key priority for New York State.”
State Sen. Kevin Thomas calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to include free school meals in the upcoming budget.Courtesy Health & Welfare Council of Long Island
Nearly 243,000 students in Nassau and Suffolk counties have lost access to free meals, according to the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, which was joined by the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association and the Healthy School Meals for All Kids Coalition at Friday’s news conference at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington Station.
The policy has bipartisan support in the New York legislature and nearly 90% of New Yorkers support it, according to the organizations.
“With rising food costs straining families that struggle to make ends meet, I believe we have a responsibility to combat food insecurity at school each day with healthy meals at no cost,” said State Sen. Kevin Thomas. “I’m proud that our one-house budget is prioritizing the health and safety of our students with unprecedented funding allocated for universal free school meals. No child should ever go hungry at school simply because they didn’t qualify or felt ashamed to ask for assistance.”
The state budget is due April 1.
HWCLI
March 28, 2023
Long Island advocates rally for free school meals for all state students
March 28, 2023
By Rita J. Egan
Read on TBR News Media
Long Island advocates received support from elected officials and school administrators last week to call on New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to include a program that will save all families money regarding school meals in the 2024 state budget.
Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, addresses attendees at the March 24 press conference. Photo by Angela Porwick/Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Proponents gathered at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington Friday, March 24, to make their plea to the governor at a press conference. The call comes after federal waivers that provided free breakfast and lunch for all students during the COVID-19 pandemic ended last June.
Speakers asked for the governor to provide fully funded school meals for all students in the 2024 state budget. The move could potentially help nearly a quarter million students on Long Island alone.
The Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids program has received bipartisan support in both the state Senate and Assembly. Senators and Assembly members have allocated $280 million in funding in their budget proposals. Supporters say such a program that would provide free lunch and breakfast to students can have a broader effect, taking pressure off food banks and positively impacting the community as a whole. Speakers at the press conference said that many families whose children are eligible for free meals at school are too embarrassed to apply, while others, who are not eligible due to strict income thresholds to qualify, still experience financial stress.
Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said while universally free meals at school was something families could count on during the pandemic, once the federal program ended, 243,000 children in Suffolk and Nassau counties lost their access to free school meals. She added HWCLI is part of a broader statewide coalition of more than 250 organizations asking the governor to include the Healthy School Meals for All program in the budget.
“We know that throughout history we get these moments in time where our actions can really magnificently transform future generations to come,” Sanin said at the press conference. “Today is one of those moments.”
She added that many on Long Island suffer from hunger, poverty, and economic and family stresses that prevent them from receiving proper nourishment.
“When every child in New York can access meals at school, we will be actively reducing hunger,” Sanin said. “We will be actively reducing underachievement. We will be actively reducing poor health outcomes. We will be actively reducing behavioral challenges.”
Jim Polansky, superintendent of Huntington school district and president of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, said the economic crisis that has followed the pandemic has made the “universal free meal programs more important than ever.”
“Many people in our community, throughout the region and across the state are struggling to put food on the table, and it may take years for those struggling to recover financially,” he said. “Food insecurity has unfortunately become commonplace.”
He added some districts in the state are able to continue providing free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision program, yet there are also districts that do not meet the CEP criteria. CEP provides a federal non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.
“No child should go hungry, and no child or family should be stigmatized because they qualify for benefits resulting from family income status,” Polansky said. “Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that children who arrive to school hungry can develop significant mental health issues, including depression and anxiety as well as physical health issues, which lead to difficulties in focusing on academics and other school activities.”
The New York State 2024 budget is due April 1.
On hand for the March 24 press conference were Bob Vecchio, Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association executive director; Jim Polansky, superintendent of Huntington school district; Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island; state Assemblyman Doug Smith (back); and state Senators Monica Martinez and Kevin Thomas. Photo by Angela Porwick/Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
HWCLI
March 28, 2023
March 28th, 2023
Posted By: Johnathon Burton
Read on Mobile Health Times
Supporting Integrated Behavioral Health in NYC
Unite Us, the nation’s leading software company enabling cross-sector collaboration to improve people’s health and well-being, is partnering with Advance Health Network IPA and Recovery Health Solutions IPA (AHN/RHS), behavioral health independent physician association’s (IPAs) operating in affiliation and comprised of 47 behavioral health and human service organizations serving the New York City and Long Island communities, to advance the integration and coordination of care for individuals with both behavioral health and social needs.
Through this relationship, AHN/RHS behavioral network providers will better serve the people in these communities and improve their drivers of health (DOH) by collaborating with providers across health and social services.
AHN/RHS providers and partners in the network are connected through Unite Us’ shared technology platform, which enables them to send and receive secure, electronic referrals, address people’s social needs, and improve health across communities. Together, AHN/RHS and Unite Us will address the gaps in service availability, access, and communication among providers.
“Our investment and partnership with Unite Us will provide for health information exchange and supportive data analytics for our AHN/RHS providers and community-based organizations, enhancing and streamlining access to the multitude of organizations participating with Unite Us whom provide social services needed by individuals under the care of our providers,” said Bob Detor, CEO at AHN/RHS. “The Unite Us Platform provides seamless integration of our community’s health and social services agencies and is sure to make a substantial difference to those we serve.”
“The collaborative relationship between AHN/RHS IPAs’ behavioral health provider network and Unite Us’ community-based network will combine access to behavioral health and social services while coordinating communication among providers. This partnership in New York City and Long Island will connect people to much-needed resources and services, such as assistance with housing, food insecurity, vocational and behavioral health,” said Carol Cassell, Executive Director at AHN/RHS.
AHN/RHS is also collaborating with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), which leads the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island—a coalition of nearly 100 drivers of health agencies working together to build a cohesive social care infrastructure for Long Island.
“HWCLI is the Unite Long Island Coordination Center providing agency onboarding support, ongoing network technical assistance, and management of referral traffic. This partnership helps ensure streamlined referrals between all drivers of health (DOH) organizations serving Long Islanders in need,” said Lori Andrade, Chief Operations Officer at HWCLI.
Additionally, AHN/RHS and Unite Us’ integrated data capacity will enhance the integration of behavioral health and DOH services in advance of proposed 1115 Waiver activities.
“The collective goal of our partnership with the Advance Health Network IPA and Recovery Health Solutions IPA is to effectively address drivers affecting health and wellness, increasing equitable access to care for all residents regardless of circumstance,” said Marc Natale, New York State Director at Unite Us. “AHN/RHS and Unite Us efforts will work to redefine the quality, impact, and intersection of health and social care across this community.”
Nonprofits, community-based organizations, and other providers who want to connect their clients and patients to AHN/RHS’ services within the Unite Us network can reach out at uniteus.com/contact/.
HWCLI
March 24, 2023
As Staffs Dwindle, Post-COVID Nonprofits Seek Answers
Posted on March 24, 2023
By: Jeffrey Reynolds
Read on InnovateLI
Long Island relies on community-based nonprofit organizations to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, heal the anxious, support the depressed and addicted and otherwise help our less-fortunate neighbors.
Retention intervention: Employees at many nonprofit organizations rallied during COVID, but keeping them in the fold post-pandemic is proving difficult, according to Family and Children's Association President and CEO Jeffrey Reynolds.
Just like everyone else, popular Island-wide charities like Long Island Cares, the Sunrise Association (and its popular camp for kids with cancer) and my own Family and Children’s Association – along with smaller niche organizations like the Backstretch Employee Service Team of NY, which provides health services to workers at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga racetracks – all had to power through COVID.
At FCA, our teachers, social workers, mental-health and substance-abuse counselors, residential workers and other direct-care professionals don’t work from home. While others contemplated new hobbies and posted “quarantini” recipes, our staff showed up every day, prioritizing other families over their own and struggling to stay healthy, physically and emotionally.
In short, nonprofit workers stepped up. But now that the worst days of the pandemic are behind us, more and more of them are stepping out.
Some of them are jumping to other organizations for incremental salary increases or taking their chances with telehealth startups. But many are leaving health-and-human-services altogether – choosing retail, customer service or even Amazon package delivery, all better for their pocketbooks and maybe their hearts.
Jeffrey Reynolds: Exodus explained.
A global workforce study by McKinsey & Company confirms that this reshuffling goes beyond the “Great Resignation” and the nation’s low unemployment levels. The July 2022 report says that 72 percent of workers who left their public sector/nonprofit jobs in the past two years went to work in another industry – or left the workforce altogether.
Chronically low wages and increasing job insecurity, matched with skyrocketing inflation, probably pushed some social workers to the brink. The persistent lack of affordable childcare options likely played a role as well, especially since 75 percent of the nonprofit workforce is female.
Factor in COVID and its aftermath, and the exodus becomes obvious.
“Nonprofit organizations are having to continually confront burnout among employees who haven’t had a break from the escalating need in three years, and whose own trauma and experiences associated with the pandemic are impactful in their lives,” says Rebecca Sanin, who leads the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
As National Social Work month comes to a close, a new study published in the journal International Social Work finds that an alarming 40 percent of surveyed Canadian social workers reported symptoms of depression – four times higher than the general population. One-fifth of those surveyed believe they have PTSD and 15 percent report an anxiety disorder.
Study researchers conclude there’s a “need for workplaces to develop policies and practices … supporting social workers and their wellbeing.” Sure, but that’s not as easy as it sounds, considering dwindling pandemic-related government relief, cautious nonprofit doners spooked by a looming recession and always-increasing demand for counseling, case management, housing and other mental-health services.
All together now: The Family and Children’s Association staff pulled together during the pandemic.
Bottom line: There are fewer people struggling to do more work. More than half of nonprofits surveyed recently by accounting and advisory firm Forvis said that their ability to deliver programs and services has been hampered by staffing shortages – and 78 percent are pulling out all the stops to fill staff vacancies.
Many organizations have increased salaries and boosted benefits to get staff in the door, hoping that financial support will continue to be there. Others have prioritized flexible work arrangements, professional-development opportunities and organizational commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Meanwhile, health-and-human-services advocates are pushing New York State for an 8.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for frontline staff, while Suffolk County used $1.25 million of its opioid settlement funds to support new training for credentialed addiction and substance-abuse counselors.
And the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island just hosted a first-ever nonprofit job fair that matched more than 200 job-seekers with opportunities at 75 regional nonprofits.
Like most big trends, the exodus from the nonprofit sector is complicated. But giving staff the same livable wages, quality healthcare benefits, fair working conditions and equitable opportunities we promote in our mission statements might help bring them back to the work they once loved.
Jeffrey Reynolds is the president and CEO of the Garden City-based Family and Children’s Association.
HWCLI
March 24, 2023
Free school meals for all NY schoolchildren should be ‘fully funded’ by Gov. Hochul, advocates say
Updated March 24, 2023
By Olivia Winslow
Read on Newsday
Ensuring schoolchildren don't go hungry, and eliminating the stigma some say is associated with free or reduced school meals, brought together more than a dozen Democratic and Republican state legislators, school officials and advocates Friday who called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to "fully fund" a free school meals program for all students.
Advocates, school officials and legislators joined together Friday at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to fully fund a free school meals for all program in this year's state budget. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
"I'm here today to call upon the governor to fully fund Healthy School Meals in the 2024 budget," said Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, an umbrella group representing about 300 nonprofits. She and others noted the governor's proposed budget did not include funding for the school meals program. However, both the Senate and Assembly have put funding for the program in their proposed budget bills.
"During the worst days of the pandemic, universal free meals were something families could count on. And since that program expired [last June], 243,000 children on Long Island lost their access to free school meals," Sanin said during an event in the cafeteria at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington to promote funding the free meals program.
In a statement to Newsday, the governor's spokesperson did not directly address whether Hochul would support including the $280 million that legislators from both chambers have put in their "one-house budget bills" for the school meals program. The statement said: "Governor Hochul's Executive Budget makes transformative investments to make New York more affordable, more livable and safer, and she looks forward to working with the legislature on a final budget that meets the needs of all New Yorkers."
Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association, noted the widespread need for food aid. "This issue is not just about meals in this building, it's how it impacts the community as a whole."
Jim Polansky, superintendent of Huntington schools, said going from the federally funded universal free school meal program during the pandemic back to "standard practice" had caused an increase in student meal debt. "Some families are struggling more than they were before the pandemic …"
State Sen. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) and State Sen. Kevin Thomas (D-Levittown) noted the bipartisan support for the measure and offered personal testimonies.
"This is personal for me," said Thomas. "When I immigrated to this country with my family back in 1995, I remember going to school and not having money to pay for school lunch. … there were days where I sat there at the lunch table … and looking at what my friends were eating and not having anything. So this is the right thing to do."
Murray agreed. "I was raised by a single mom working three jobs. We were on food stamps, welfare. And I was in the free and reduced breakfast and lunch program. And let me tell you, there was a stigma. They would point. They would whisper. … And that's the stigma that goes with it. We have to erase that. We have to make sure every child, every child that is hungry is fed. That's our job. That's our duty."
HWCLI
March 24, 2023
Educators, Officials Prod Hochul on Free School Meals for All Students
Posted March 24th, 2023
By Pam Robinson
Read on Huntington Now
Leaders of hunger-relief efforts, medical experts, educators and elected officials Friday called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to fund free meals for all students in her next state budget.
Gathered at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington, the assemblage of leaders said that $280 million should be allocated for school meals in the budget, which is due April 1. Separate bills in the Assembly and in the Senate include the funds.
Providing free meals to all represents “an investment in students, (one) that will bring a return on investment” in the future as students thrive and contribute back to the community, said Bob Vecchio, head of Nassau Suffolk school board.
Free school meals would improve students’ health and academic performance, take pressure off of family budgets, and reduce the strain on food banks and pantries, speakers said.
Some of those who spoke cited their own experiences as pupils who sometimes went hungry in school as they attempted to avoid being identified as impoverished, or, how, as educators, they witnessed children who went without food, or knew that schools were sometimes providing a child’s only meal of the day.
A federal program that subsidized meals for all students that began during the Covid-19 epidemic ended in June, leading to the loss of free meals for hundreds of thousands of students around the state. Some lost out on the program as their families’ income rose just enough to disqualify them but not enough to keep them adequately fed, food-experts say.
Huntington superintendent James W. Polansky, who is also president of the Suffolk School Superintendents Association, said many families were hit hard financially during the Covid-19 epidemic and had not recovered.
“The federal money dried up last June and the flow of dollars has not been renewed by Congress,” Polansky said. “Many people in our community, in the region and across the state are struggling to put food on the table and it may take yearrs for them to recover financially.”
“Food insecurity has unfortunately become commonplace,” Polansky said. “While some districts are able to continue providing free meals to the current eligiblity program there are many districts” that cannot.”
“When every child in New York can access meals at school, we will be activly reducing hunger,” said Rebecca Sanin, CEO and president of the Health & Welfare Council in Melville. “We will be actively reducing underachievement. We will be actively reducing poor health outcomes.We will be acctively reducing behavioral challenges. We will be actively reducing the possibility that any child’s light will not shine. Ina world in which there is so much conflict, funding school meals enjoys bipartisan support.”
Among others participating in the press conference were Huntington school board trustees Xavier Palacios, Michele Kustera and Bill Dwyer; State Sens. Monica Martinez, Dean Murray and Kevin Thomas; Long Island Cares CEO Paule Pachter, Island Harvest CEO Randi Shubin Dresner, Dr. Patrick Harrigan, Half Hollow Hills superintendent, Dr. Ryan Manning, Harborfields school superintendent, Dr. Eve Krief, a pediatrician and a Harborfields school board trustee
Krief said, “The NYS American Academy of Pediatrics urges the Governor to support universal healthy meals in school. Children who are hungry cannot focus which impacts their learning, behavior and mental health . Not knowing where their next meal is coming from causes toxic stress on their developing bodies which combined with lack of proper nutrition leads to physical and cognitive delays.
“We must understand that there are hungry children in every school district across this state. Yet a family of 4 making just over $51K does not qualify for federal meal aid . Those that do qualify often don’t apply for it because of social stigma or administrative or language barriers. 68K children are food insecure on Long Island . Healthy meals in school would provide children with half of their daily caloric needs and support struggling families. We cannot allow children to go hungry. This important initiative would support children’s health, and well being and deliver to them the nutrition they need to succeed."
HWCLI
March 23, 2023
Posted March 23, 2023
News provided by Unite Us
Read on Cision PR Newswire
Unite Us, the nation's leading software company enabling cross-sector collaboration to improve people's health and well-being, is partnering with Advance Health Network IPA and Recovery Health Solutions IPA (AHN/RHS), behavioral health independent physician association's (IPAs) operating in affiliation and comprised of 47 behavioral health and human service organizations serving the New York City and Long Island communities, to advance the integration and coordination of care for individuals with both behavioral health and social needs.
Through this relationship, AHN/RHS behavioral network providers will better serve the people in these communities and improve their drivers of health (DOH) by collaborating with providers across health and social services.
AHN/RHS providers and partners in the network are connected through Unite Us' shared technology platform, which enables them to send and receive secure, electronic referrals, address people's social needs, and improve health across communities. Together, AHN/RHS and Unite Us will address the gaps in service availability, access, and communication among providers.
"Our investment and partnership with Unite Us will provide for health information exchange and supportive data analytics for our AHN/RHS providers and community-based organizations, enhancing and streamlining access to the multitude of organizations participating with Unite Us whom provide social services needed by individuals under the care of our providers," said Bob Detor, CEO at AHN/RHS. "The Unite Us Platform provides seamless integration of our community's health and social services agencies and is sure to make a substantial difference to those we serve."
"The collaborative relationship between AHN/RHS IPAs' behavioral health provider network and Unite Us' community-based network will combine access to behavioral health and social services while coordinating communication among providers. This partnership in New York City and Long Island will connect people to much-needed resources and services, such as assistance with housing, food insecurity, vocational and behavioral health," said Carol Cassell, Executive Director at AHN/RHS.
AHN/RHS is also collaborating with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), which leads the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island—a coalition of nearly 100 drivers of health agencies working together to build a cohesive social care infrastructure for Long Island.
"HWCLI is the Unite Long Island Coordination Center providing agency onboarding support, ongoing network technical assistance, and management of referral traffic. This partnership helps ensure streamlined referrals between all drivers of health (DOH) organizations serving Long Islanders in need," said Lori Andrade, Chief Operations Officer at HWCLI.
Additionally, AHN/RHS and Unite Us' integrated data capacity will enhance the integration of behavioral health and DOH services in advance of proposed 1115 Waiver activities.
"The collective goal of our partnership with the Advance Health Network IPA and Recovery Health Solutions IPA is to effectively address drivers affecting health and wellness, increasing equitable access to care for all residents regardless of circumstance," said Marc Natale, New York State Director at Unite Us. "AHN/RHS and Unite Us efforts will work to redefine the quality, impact, and intersection of health and social care across this community."
Nonprofits, community-based organizations, and other providers who want to connect their clients and patients to AHN/RHS' services within the Unite Us network can reach out at uniteus.com/contact/.
About AHN/RHSAdvanced Health Network, IPA and Recovery Health Solutions, IPA (AHN-RHS) is a network of 47 licensed OMH/OASAS behavioral health providers in the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. AHN/RHS' goal is to improve the health and wellness of individuals experiencing behavioral health disorders, often complicated by medical and/or social determinants of health issues.
About Unite UsUnite Us is the nation's leading software company enabling collaboration across sectors to improve the health and well-being of communities. Unite Us' secure solutions establish a new standard of care that identifies and predicts social care needs, helps connect people to services, and leverages meaningful outcomes data to further drive community investment. Through Unite Us' national network and software, community-based organizations, government agencies, health plans, and healthcare providers are all connected to better collaborate and meet the needs of the individuals in their communities. Follow Unite Us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
HWCLI
March 17, 2023
Long Island job fair to help nonprofits hire social service workers
By Victor Ocasio
Updated March 17, 2023 11:13 am
Read on Newsday
A job fair slated for next week aims to help Long Island nonprofits serving the poor and people with needs find the workers they desperately need to offer social services to the region’s most vulnerable.
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island will be hosting its first nonprofit industry job fair Wednesday to help health and human services organizations find employees amid an ongoing worker shortage.
The group, an umbrella organization that works with over 150 area nonprofits, connects in-need Islanders with social service programs like state health insurance, SNAP food stamp benefits and temporary rental assistance.
“People are absolutely desperate for talented applicants because there’s such a workforce shortage on Long Island,” said Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
Around 70 nonprofit organizations and colleges are scheduled to attend the hiring event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Yes We Can Community Center, 141 Garden St. in Westbury.
Employers scheduled to attend include the Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Catholic Charities of Long Island, DDI, Family Service League, Life's WORC, and Options for Community Living.
Sanin said the demand for health and human services providers has only grown more dire since the pandemic began.
Local nonprofits focusing on domestic violence, mental health, food insecurity and developmental disability have faced increased difficulty in finding workers since the pandemic, leaving employees at those organizations facing heavier workloads.
Food insecurity, financial instability, mental health problems, accessing housing, and substance abuse issues have all been exacerbated since the pandemic, Sanin said, resulting in a greater need for social service providers already pushed to the edge.
“There are a lot of challenges associated with the pandemic that are going to continue for many years,” she said. “We need folks who are interested in serving their communities to know about the opportunities in the nonprofit sector.”
Registration for the event is encouraged but not required for job seekers. For more information on the event and to register as either a job seeker or employer, visit bit.ly/3TBVJDz.
Life's WORC is among the employers that will attend a March 22 job fair for Long Island nonprofits. Pictured is Roland Delia of Wyandanch, a direct support counselor, helping resident Charles Stoltz at a Life's WORC group home for adults with developmental disabilities in Dix Hills in 2021. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
HWCLI
March 8, 2023
Nonprofit job fair set for March 22
March 8, 2023
By: Adina Genn
Read on LI Business News
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island is holding a job fair on March 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury.
The job fair is free for job seekers, and costs $25 for nonprofits that want to recruit talent.
The forum is designed to bring together those who want to help make the region a better place with those who are hiring highly motivated candidates that want to contribute their talents, according to the Health & Welfare Council.
The event comes at a time of record unemployment, when employers say hiring qualified candidates is a challenge.
“Long Island’s nonprofits are needed now more than ever to address the challenges facing our region’s families associated with the physical, psychological and economic impacts of COVID-19,” Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, said.
“Those nonprofits are greatly challenged by workforce shortages, and this job fair is an opportunity for individuals who want to invest in serving their fellow Long Islanders to learn about innovative and exciting opportunities,” Sanin said. “They’ll get to meet face to face with organizations that are seeking qualified and compassionate hires. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
To register for the event, and to learn more, click here.
HWCLI Uncategorized
March 5, 2023
Posted March 5, 2023
By Juan Lasso
Read on LI Herald
Parents of students in Valley Stream — as well as those across the country — are once again forced to pick up the tab for their children’s meals in school after lawmakers in Washington pulled the plug on the federally funded program.
For the past year, a hot lunch and breakfast at school were guaranteed to millions of students across the country at no cost to families, thanks to the universal school meal program.
Parents are once again paying for their children’s school meals with the end of the federal universal school meal program, but inflation has food advocates worried they can’t afford it.ZOE MALIN/HERALD
In a shaky economy, parents of school-aged children — struggling to earn just enough to keep up with basic living costs — came to depend on universally free meals to lighten their financial burden and keep their children fed.
But with the pandemic largely in the rearview mirror, the federal government has decided not to extend the program, requiring parents to pay up on any accruing meal debt since the start of the school year last September.
However, the move comes at a time when the persistent threat of hunger still hangs over many households. Families in Valley Stream and surrounding communities, battered by sticker shock at the grocery store and hikes in electric and gas bills, have turned to village pantries and regional food banks at surging rates. At the same time, many benefits, such as the Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Allotments, are fading away and not returning anytime soon.
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages expressed concern about the “hidden hunger” found among families earning just short of the income threshold to qualify for federal and state-backed free or reduced lunch programs but not making enough to pay full price for school breakfast and lunch.
“The impact of inflation on grocery bills is a very real problem for families and the issue of food insecurity has gotten worse,” Solages said. “For some of these kids, the school is the only place where they can secure a nutritious meal.”
Statewide projections estimate that about 470,000 children are not eligible for free school meals but live in households earning less than a living wage.
Superintendents of school districts in Valley Stream have stressed that no student is ever forced to go hungry or denied a school meal because of family finances.
“In those rare instances when a student forgets to bring a lunch in, or their lunch fund needs replenishment, the district will make that day’s lunch available,” Superintendent Don Sturz of District 24 and Superintendent Judith LaRocca of District 13 said in a joint statement. “At no time should a student or a family have any food insecurity during those times the student is in school.”
In the two Valley Stream districts, where roughly 45 percent of students are low-income, 40 percent of students qualified for free or reduced lunch — about roughly the same percentage as before the Covid-19 outbreak, according to the state.
In District 30, where roughly 60 percent of students are low-income, officials said they saw a marginal drop in the number of students who qualified for free or reduced lunch this year than before the start of the pandemic.
District 30 Superintendent Roxanne Garcia-France stressed that students’ food needs are closely monitored.
“At this moment in time, the district has not been impacted by the end of the free school lunch program,” Garcia-France said. “If food insecurity is suspected or brought to our school administrators’ attention, the free and reduced school meal application is sent home with a follow-up call by the school psychologist to provide support and assistance.
“We provide our families with information on New York State’s resources, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Women, Infants, and Children program, and food banks like Long Island Harvest,” she added. “We continue to strengthen our partnership with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers to bring awareness of the various services and supports available to our community.”
As the school year continues, the extent of unmet needs found among families across the districts will come into focus as food providers see how much unpaid school meal debt is owed by families this year when compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
Higher rates of unpaid meal debt often reflect a struggling money situation at home for families. A recent survey of food service directors across the state conducted by Hunger Solutions New York already found that about half of respondents said unpaid meal debt is a challenge for their school meal program.
Megan Norton, food service director for Valley Stream schools, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
But health and social service experts like Rebecca Sanin, chief executive of the HWCLI, said she refused to wait for data to further confirm the reality they’re seeing on the ground, pushing Albany to fund universal free meals for students in the 2024 state budget.
“Providing free school meals for students in Valley Stream and in all schools really levels the playing field,” Sanin said. “A well-fed child shows fewer behavioral issues. They learn better, listen better, they just do better. Food insecurity is a serious issue on Long Island, and we shouldn’t accept the notion that any child should go hungry.”
"A well-fed child shows fewer behavioral issues. They learn better, listen better, they just do better.”
REBECCA SANIN, HEALTH AND WELFARE COUNCIL OF LONG ISLAND
HWCLI Uncategorized
March 2, 2023
March 2nd, 2023
Read from the Office of NYS Governor Kathy Hochul
Traducción al español
Governor Kathy Hochul today toured Patchogue in Suffolk County, Long Island with local leaders and elected officials to highlight key components of the New York Housing Compact — the Governor's comprehensive strategy announced in the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget to address New York's housing crisis and build 800,000 new homes in the next decade. Advocates voiced broad support for the Governor's vision to make New York more livable, more accessible, and more affordable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuoA5RxDiZU
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, "Long Island is well positioned for sustainable economic growth that will help protect property values and curb tax increases, thanks to the Governor's investment in our region's transportation and innovation assets. The single greatest threat to this economic prosperity is the housing crisis and I applaud Governor Hochul for taking this issue head on. The Governor has put forward a plan that will incentivize local municipalities to work closely with the state to address an issue that is critical to our economic future."
Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri said, "Housing costs are issues many Long Islanders face. Here in Patchogue, we have done a lot to address the housing crisis on Long Island and have built mixed-use workforce housing so that our young adults and seniors can stay here while participating in our local economy. I had the pleasure to show the Governor how density and design go hand-in-hand and look forward to working with her administration in making sure our communities are able to address the housing crisis with the tools they need to implement change."
Co-Chair of LIREDC John Nadler said, "The region's lack of affordable housing has severely hampered the College's ability to recruit and retain talent. Addressing this housing shortage is vital to the future success of the College and Long Island."
Co-Chair of LIREDC Linda Armyn said, "I applaud Governor Hochul for elevating housing availability as a critical component for New York States continued economic growth."
President of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW John Durso said, "We are encouraged by Governor Kathy Hochul's commitment to addressing this multi-generational housing problem. We look forward to working with her and the other stakeholders on Long Island to address this critical issue facing our region."
President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counites Matthew Aracich said, "Long Island's real estate market is completely lopsided. I applaud the Governor's stance on attempting to tackle this issue, so we can move forward and address the housing needs in both counties."
Executive Director of Long Island Housing Services, Inc., Ian Wilder said, "Governor Hochul deserves credit for standing up to propose a vision to address Long Island's lack of housing - especially affordable housing. Without a plan, Long Island -- especially our economy -- will continue to be hollowed out because of a dearth of places to live. Even opponents of details of the Governor's Housing Compact agree that we have a crisis. Yet after all this time, those opponents have failed to provide an alternative roadmap. This is why we continue to support the Housing Compact as a pro-home, pro-Long Island toolbox to move beyond the rhetoric to reach solutions."
Executive Director of Housing Help Inc., Pilar Moya-Mancera said, "The Housing Compact Plan is an excellent opportunity to address the housing needs of young adults, senior citizens, disabled individuals, the hard-working class, and the essential workers who are the backbone of our economy. It is long overdue that we start investing in the current and future success of the Long Island community. Moreover, the Housing Compact Plan is an incredible opportunity to usher in a new era on Long Island for desegregation. It is morally unacceptable that in 2023 we live in a region where the zip code you come from determines your life expectancy, quality of education, health, and quality of life."
President and CEO of Community Development Corporation of Long Island Gwen O'Shea said, "We commend the Governor on attempting to tackle entrenched barriers that have prevented home and economic opportunities for so many. We believe refinements can further intended outcomes, such as rewarding pioneering communities (like the Villages of Hempstead and Patchogue) and incentivizing the growth targets with increased funding to local governments to address their specific concerns related to environmental protections and infrastructure capacity."
CEO of Health and Welfare Council of Long Island Rebecca Sanin said, "Long Island's lack of attainable and affordable housing impacts competitive employment, public health, safety and retention of young professionals who attend our schools of excellence but need affordability in order to stay locally in their communities. The lack of safe, affordable housing on Long Island is a top economic and social issue impeding our progress as a region, stymieing family well-being and preventing America's first suburb from being a destination for investment and innovation. A combination of resources, infrastructure and incentives are sorely needed so that individual communities can effectively plan to meet their needs and potential and be attractive communities for future generations to live, work and raise their families on Long Island."
President of Huntington Township Housing Hunter Gross said, "I'm proud to support Governor Hochul's NYS Housing Compact. We can't continue to have middle-class families, young professionals and aging residents of all races shut out of the housing market. This plan will tackle restrictive zoning, while working with localities to decide what housing makes sense for their community. Truly a no brainer for Long Island's economy."
Long Island Builders Institute Mike Florio said, "The Governor rightfully recognizes that the status quo will not solve the housing crisis we all know exists. By providing resources and incentives and working together to understand the unique needs of each community, we can develop a transformational plan that benefits Long Islanders now and for future generations."
Vice President, State Programs for Regional Plan Association Melissa Kaplan-Macey said, "RPA is proud to support Governor Hochul's New York Housing Compact proposal. While no one strategy is the silver bullet that will address the housing needs in our state, one thing is very clear - in order to meet our housing challenge, we must allow more homes to be built. We have to work collaboratively to solve our housing supply problem at all levels of government--to both address our current housing crisis and allow for future growth."
Senior Program Officer of Long Island Community Foundation Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones said, "Long Island is a dynamic region with tremendous assets. But we haven't kept pace with the housing needs. Our lack of quality affordable housing continues to be a primary impediment to quality of life for our residents, workers, and business owners. We are grateful for the forward-thinking municipal leaders that have created innovative housing options to meet the needs of our diverse populace. We applaud Governor Hochul's commitment to support all Long Island municipalities to create inclusive homes that will ensure our region remains a beautiful vibrant place where all can enjoy a good quality of life."
President and CEO of HIA-LI Terri Alessi-Miceli said, "HIA-LI is delighted that Governor Hochul recognizes that the future of the Long Island economy depends on expanded housing availability - especially to help keep young professionals living and working here in the bi-county region. One of Long Island's most prominent business advocacy organizations and steward of the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge. "The New York Housing Compact is a novel approach that, with local input, can help safeguard the suburban character of our communities."
Founder and President of Minority Millennials, Inc., Dan Lloyd said, "Minority Millennials support Governor Hochul's housing compact vision, one that boldly addresses our region's urgent housing crisis and works to ensure that Long Island's next generation has the opportunity to raise their families on Long Island while affording to pursue the American Dream. We appreciate that the plan empowers local governments to choose solutions that are tailor-made for their communities with funding, planning, and administrative support from the state. This is a unique moment for regional leaders to work on new solutions to a very old problem: housing."
East End YIMBY Michael Daly said, "Parents, essential workers, young professionals, business owners, seniors, and community leaders across Long Island agree that our antiquated model for creating affordable housing has failed our communities. We need a new approach. While there's room for improvements, the New York Housing Compact goals are reasonable and offer a series of tried and tested tools that have proven successful in cities and towns all over the United States. The incentives will allow and encourage each municipality to address their own housing needs in ways that benefit their local residents and businesses. We support the NY Housing Compact. We are excited to see what the next three years will bring to our beloved communities, and we are confident it will help build a brighter future for all Long Islanders."
President and Chief Executive Officer of EAC Network Neela Mukherjee Lockel said, "EAC Network applauds Governor Hochul acknowledging the severity of the housing crisis and taking action to address the issue. We acknowledge how severe the issue is, particularly here on Long Island, and are happy to see that this is a priority for the Governor."
President of ERASE Racism Laura Harding said, "Governor Kathy Hochul's statewide strategy to address New York's housing crisis represents a courageous first step in tackling the core challenge of affordable housing on Long Island and across New York. It proposes solutions that will benefit all Long Islanders by increasing housing options. It addresses the needs of our most vulnerable populations, and it tackles the exclusionary zoning that is at the heart of Long Island's standing as one of the 10 most racially segregated regions in the nation."
President Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Phil Andrews said, "Affordable housing on Long Island is one of Long Island's most pressing problems. We must address this issue in an urgent manner as this issue will drain the talent pool on Long Island, and negatively impact the region's economy in a negative manner."
Renter and Patchogue Resident, Tracy Todd Hunter said, "Affordable housing on Long Island is an urgent necessity. Our youth, seniors, single head of households, veterans, people with disabilities are in dire need of affordable domains. Currently graduating college students who are ready to join Long Island's workforce cannot rent an apartment or own a home due to the high costs of housing that doesn't align with their salaries. Their options are minimal. Either they live at home with their parents, seek out roommates or work multiple jobs in order to earn enough to maintain a roof over their head. Recently retired seniors have to think strategically as well. Many seniors continue to work well into their 70's because their choices are slighted, and they prefer not to give up their independence by selling a home that was the haven for family gatherings and where sentimental, lasting memories were made. Some have to move in with a child/relative or they have to move to a state where housing is cheaper and they're able to enjoy their golden years as opposed to worrying about not paying Peter in order to pay Paul. No senior should ever feel insecure and deal with stressors the likes of whether they're going to have a roof over their head after working all of their lives."
Theresa Sanders, President, Urban League of Long Island Inc. said, "Both the Urban League of Long Island and the State of Black Long Island (SOBLI) Equity Council are in support of Governor Hochul’s recent Housing Plan for Long Island. While it is certainly needed, we must ensure that this plan is implemented equitably and does not result in the over-concentration of housing in already crowded and underserved communities. We must carefully consider the infrastructure of the communities we are looking to develop these homes”, said Marvin Amazan, Project Director of the State of Black Long Island (SOLBI) Equity Council. There must be a plan in place to support the increased population and ensure that these communities are well-spent and lacking in basic resources. We understand the importance of providing affordable housing to those in need, and we are committed to doing so in a way that benefits our entire community. We will continue to work collaboratively to create solutions that address the housing crisis while being mindful of the impact on our communities on Long Island.
Cathy Demeroto, Executive Director of the Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation (CAST) said, “Today, the lack of stable, affordable housing impacts worker opportunities, productivity and retention, family health and well-being, and business development and sustainability in our communities. It is imperative to address the current housing crisis on [the East End of] Long Island by developing innovative housing initiatives to strengthen families, build a robust workforce and vitalize local economies."
Dennis Schrader of Landcraft Environments LTD said, "Agriculture is one of the primary industries on the East End of Long Island, farms, vineyards, greenhouses and many related boutique industries all depend on the local labor force. The majority of this labor force have been priced out of the housing market due to skyrocketing home prices and long-term rental properties being converted over to short term vacation rentals. The need for inexpensive worker housing is at a critical level, we are losing the resident workforce to other states that have affordable housing and rentals. The housing issue must be addressed in an immediate, comprehensive way, if agriculture and horticulture are to continue on the East End."
Robert Kufner President and CEO of Designatronics said, "The Governor’s housing plan will allow many of our employees the opportunity to move closer to work, which will improve their quality of life and reduce traffic on our major highways. For our younger workers, this plan provides a platform for them to afford to start their own families in their own living space; similar to how their parents did it. The current cost and supply of housing is one of the largest barriers to that goal and a major reason why so many young professionals are driven off-island."
Noreen Carro of LMN Printing of NY, Inc. said, "Yes, affordable housing is absolutely necessary here on Long Island. Especially since there is such an increase of people moving to Long Island. I have lived and owned LMN Printing here in Valley Stream for over 45 years and I have seen that growth and am proud that this town has already complied with the increase of affordable housing – by over 2% - without the Governor telling them to do so. Affordable housing, could enabling more businesses to hire skilled workers - whether on an entry level or a seasoned professionals in their field. For the business – their employee is close and (hopefully) apt to give more of their time and become as asset, growing that business to the next level. For the employee – the opportunity to save money to buy a home, become part of a “business family”, save money to invest in their home and become part of a community – that is the dream we should all strive for. It is a life cycle. However, that being said, I do believe that the Local Government should comply with the 3% increase of affordable housing over 3 years - BUT that they should decide where they want to build – not be told by the State where they should build."
HWCLI
February 19, 2023
Long Island’s Health And Welfare Council Hosts Social Justice Meeting In Plainview
By Lauren Feldman
February 19, 2023
Read on The Nassau Observer
On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, acronymed the HWCLI, came to Plainview for their Winter quarterly meeting on the state of social justice. The HWCLI is a network of nonprofit agencies, individuals, and corporations who come together “to address our region’s challenges and create innovative, systematic solutions.” The Council was established 75 years ago and has since grown into a 200-organization network. Recently, they were honored to host New York State Attorney General Letitia James to discuss the state of social justice on Long Island, and potential solutions to help make New York a safer and more equitable place.
HWCLI President & CEO Rebecca Sanin remarked on the state of social inequalities on LI, and encouraged attendees not to give up the fight against injustice. (Photos courtesy of Lauren Feldman)
Beginning the gathering was HWCLI President and CEO Rebecca Sanin, who addressed the crowd of over 200 attendees. She thanked the tireless efforts of those in attendance in the fight against social injustice, and acknowledged the fortitude required to do so. “It is the nonprofit sector that reaches into the shadows and brings problems that are on the fringe into the light for solution building.” Sanin addressed what she described as “social cancers” which have resulted in the proliferation of poverty, pain, and much more. “So many of our systems are narcissistic; they serve the whims of the people who built them. And cycles repeat, and crisis abounds.” About one third of our neighbors on Long Island right now cannot meet a basic survival budget. Despite increases in diversity, Long Island is still one of the top 10 most segregated regions in the country. Every day, hundreds of families forgo necessary medical treatment, because that copay or that bill is the difference between keeping the lights on or food on the table. “There is no justice in that,” Sanin states.
However, Sanin fully believes these inequities are surmountable. “We don’t have to accept how we were built as how we will be,” she said. “We need systems that protect and honor the wellbeing of each of us, so that this great region – America’s first suburb – can change course, and meet its great collective promise, one that is for all who live here and all who wish to live here. In this season, together, we can define and build Long Island’s future, lifting up social justice, equity and opportunity for all.”
Attorney General Letitia James promised her support in the fight against social injustices.
Following these remarks, Letitia James rose to speak on a variety of social justice issues she has been tackling since her election. She began by thanking everyone for gathering to acknowledge the state of social justice on Long Island. “Today’s meeting really is a testament to the fact that on Long Island the nature of poverty, and the needs of our community, are growing and changing.” James’ passion for community justice started in social work before also obtaining a law degree. Having knowledge and training in both fields has helped James exercise positive changes in her community. “I married the two; my love for addressing the needs of individuals who have been locked out of the sunshine of opportunity, those who have been historically ignored, those who have been dismissed – the others – and my love for the law, which is a tool for social justice and mobility. A tool and a sword that can combat a lot of these issues.”
Changing demographics and an evolving economy are fast tracking cracks in existing inequalities which cannot be ignored. Vulnerable groups include seniors, immigrants, people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, and female-headed households with small children. James addressed some of the efforts her office is currently undergoing to protect affected groups.
Mental health services:The state of mental health, particularly among youth, has been on the decline in recent years. Covid-19 further destabilized the already delicate systems of care that were in place. James noted the loss of psychiatric staff and available beds for those suffering. She recounted reports from her meeting in Buffalo, NY, where families had voluntarily surrendered their children in order to procure crucial, life-saving help. “What these parents did… they oftentimes left their child at the door of the hospital. That was the only way to get help; to surrender their child. And then social services could come in. By surrendering their child – not abandoning, but surrendering their child – they got immediate services.” James exclaimed this should not be the case.
Recently, governor Kathy Hocul announced a proposal to designate 1 billion dollars for mental health services. James feels this proposal would go a long way. “We must and can do better. So that 1 billion dollars proposed by the governor will put us on the path of correcting wrongs of the past, and getting a lot of those beds back online, but also supporting staff members in health care facilities, and proving psychiatric assistance to adolescents and children and seniors, which is so critically important.” Also in debate is the fact that many insurance companies are not willing to cover mental health services. The governor’s bill would require them to do so, which James was also in support of. “That’s a step forward, that’s progress, that’s hope.”
The drug crisis:James condemned the state of drug abuse on Long Island, and reiterated her promise to hold contributors to the epidemic accountable. This included various settlements with opioid manufacturers of 4.5 billion dollars, an amount which will be redistributed into communities to further the war on opioids. James stated, “Those funds do not go to the office of the Attorney General, they go to the general fund to the state. I proposed that money should be used for education, prevention and outreach… We need to get those resources out to the community as soon as possible, because we are seeing an increase in overdoses, in suicides, and Fentanyl, which is poisoning countless young people.” James laments that drugs have replaced the economic engines of many communities, and urges that we need to shift back to more healing and healthy pursuits and solutions.
Plainview legislator supports social justice:Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker of Plainview was also in attendance. He was pleased at the turnout. “It’s really moving to see so many people gathered to talk about and combat social justice,” he stated. The legislator is looking forward to continued motion in a positive direction. “There’s a real chance for concrete change here,” he said, “And I think the only place Long Island has to go is up.”
There are many daunting challenges ahead, but Letitia James reiterated that social justice organizations are not fighting on their own. “I am also here to let you all know that you are not alone in this struggle. My office values the work that this council does. We understand how important your agencies are, and the work that they’re doing, and we are here to help.”
–Additional information provided by the HWCLI website
HWCLI
February 13, 2023
Legislator Drucker Attends Health & Welfare Council of Long Island’s Winter Quarterly Meeting
Read on Nassau County Government News
(PLAINVIEW, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) attended the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island’s (HWCLI) winter quarterly on Thursday, Feb. 2. Focused on the topic of “The State of Social Justice,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James discussed her office’s ongoing efforts to transform and enhance the criminal justice system and implement policies that will best protect New York State’s residents.
“For more than seven decades, the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island has been serving Long Island’s most vulnerable communities through direct services and advocacy – and I can think of no leader that better embodies their philosophy than Attorney General Letitia James,” Legislator Drucker said. “She is a truly inspiring leader, and it was a privilege to hear her perspective on this vital matter. Thank you to President and CEO Rebecca Sanin everyone at HWCLI for all of the great work you do to uplift our region.”
HWCLI
January 15, 2023
Long Island nonprofits at a crossroads: Facing surging demand, fighting giving fatigue
By Olivia Winslow
Updated January 15th, 2022
Read on Newsday
As Long Island faces difficult economic headwinds spurred by inflation and other factors, nonprofit organizations say they must guard against giving fatigue as they look to finance their programs at a time of surging demand for help.
While "not every nonprofit fits into the same box," according to Theresa Regnante, president and chief executive of the United Way of Long Island, economic uncertainties call for nonprofits like hers to be "nimble" and devise a diverse fundraising strategy, drawing on an array of corporations and private donors, for instance.
At a time of rising inflation and the accompanying uncertainty — at least one local financial manager predicted a challenging economic climate for nonprofits this year — several nonprofit executives said they are redoubling their efforts to pursue multiple funding streams.
"An organization in today's environment has to be very nimble and have relationships in a lot of different places," said Regnante. "United Way, because of how we're structured, we're not necessarily dependent on any one event or one stream [of funding]. We have an $18 million budget. That $18 million has to be raised."
Meanwhile, an expert with an organization that tracks philanthropy nationally said while donations are robust, what people give as a percentage of their income has not risen in decades. And while the amount of money going to charity grew in 2021 over 2020, when inflation is factored in, charitable giving has remained essentially flat.
In fundraising, 'looking for any advantage'
According to Giving USA 2022: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2021, individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $484.85 billion to U.S. charities in 2021, a 4% increase over 2020 contributions.
"However, while giving increased in current dollars, it remained flat (-0.7%) after adjusting for inflation," the report said.
The Giving USA report added: “The story of charitable giving in 2021 is closely tied to the events of 2020, a historic year that included a pandemic, economic crisis and recovery, efforts to advance racial justice, and an unprecedented philanthropic response. In 2021, Americans continued giving more generously than before the pandemic. However, the growth in giving did not keep pace with inflation, causing challenges for many nonprofits. In 2021, many donors returned to their favored causes, with many of the sectors that struggled in 2020 making a recovery in 2021."
The Giving USA report is published by Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute.
Poonam Prasad, on the executive committee and board of the Giving Institute and running a fundraising research firm based in New York City, said that while the amount of charitable donations has increased over the year because of inflation, what people give as a percentage of their income hasn't budged in decades.
"We're concerned with the 2% that people have been giving — the approximate average — it hasn't changed in many years. For decades," Prasad said.
Ken Cerini, managing partner of Cerini & Associates, a Bohemia-based accounting firm, suggested the economic climate overall for nonprofits was a challenging one.
"We anticipate funding for the sector will be down for 2023, with health and welfare organizations seeing an increase in demand in 2023," he said.
Cerini added: "As a result, nonprofits are looking for any advantage they can get to help them increase their fundraising results."
Push to diversify funding sources
Several leaders of human service nonprofits on Long Island said in good financial times and bad, they're always pushing to diversify their funding sources.
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said in an email that in light of the challenges, "nonprofits that are overly reliant on government funding will need to build new growth models and innovate in a time in which many organizations are struggling to identify, hire and retain talent amid escalating community need."
She suggested nonprofits should "build alliances with other sectors to meet the needs of our region's families. We will need to be creative and both attract new funders to our region and help guide individuals with financial resources to invest locally and demonstrate the return on that investment."
Regnante said there are a lot of different funding streams "that make up the pie of most nonprofits." She said some social service nonprofits, for example, can look to government contracts for the services they provide.
But United Way can't tap into government contracts. The organization's funding comes from competitive grant funding, money from foundations, donations from individuals and events conducted by the organization, which develops programming and funding for 100 "community partners" in the areas of education, health and financial support.
"All of our fundraising has got to be relationship driven," Regnante said. "We have a board of directors where we have 50 members on it. We need that prowess, if you will, and that impact from our board members affecting gifts from their employers."
A "significant" gift of $350,000 to United Way for its Project Warmth emergency heating assistance program this year came from the National Grid Foundation, Regnante said. "That's a $100,000 increase from that one entity year over year. That's a huge gift. Not too many foundations and companies are writing checks of that magnitude."
'I'm always worried'
Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive of Garden City-based Family & Children's Association, said that "even [for] those of us who get a fair amount of government contracts, you still need private fundraising dollars because the government contracts often don't pay for the entire program."
Reynolds said his organization has a $24 million budget this year and plans to raise $2 million through donations from foundations, individuals and corporations.
"If you ask if I'm worried, I'm always worried," Reynolds said. In good economic times, he said he worries that people won't give as much because they think everyone is doing well. Conversely, he worries that in a down economy, giving will be reduced because finances are tighter.
Still, he said he didn't foresee a situation this year of a "really strong recession. I think that would be a game-changer and could result in a perfect storm: unparalleled human needs but no resources. I don't think we're walking into that."
Reynolds said attracting big money from the parts of Long Island outside of the Hamptons is difficult.
"The reality is it's never easy to raise funds on Long Island," he said. "While there's a lot of charitable people on Long Island, you don't see the kind of money you see in New York City or the Hamptons."
While two foundations on Long Island have either closed or moved off the Island — the Hagedorn Foundation and the Rauch Foundation, respectively — the Long Island Community Foundation remains and distributed nearly $9.4 million in grants last year to local nonprofits.
David Okorn, executive director of the community foundation, said the economy and inflation rates were "unsettling."
Nevertheless, he said: "Our record of financial management is an important element of how we serve donors and nonprofits and grow the community's charitable capital. We are built for good times and bad times and endowments matter …"
Sidney Joyner, chairman of the board of the Urban League of Long Island, said "so far we are steady and moving up, in terms of our ability to raise funds." He said he was particularly pleased the group received a $1.14 million federal grant in December for its workforce development programs.
Joyner said one obstacle in fundraising was convincing potential donors that there is great need on Long Island, which is perceived as a uniformly wealthy region.
"They assume we're rich. We have to overcome that. There are a lot of people facing tremendous challenges."
WHAT TO KNOW
Long Island nonprofit leaders are focused on guarding against giving fatigue during a time of surging demand for help.Charitable giving has remained essentially flat. What people give as a percentage of their income has not budged in decades, according to an expert.A key method for staying afloat during difficult times is to push for continually diversified funding streams, area leaders say, so they're pursuing everything from individual donations to charitable events and more.
HWCLI
January 13, 2023
Hochul’s ‘Groundbreaking Plan’ For New Homes
By Lisa Finn
Posted Friday January 13th, 2022
Read on The Patch
LONG ISLAND NY – Housing advocates are lauding Gov. Kathy Hochul, who delivered her State of the State address Tuesday from Albany with a focus on a new plan to make finding a home on Long Island more accessible to all.
However, some town officials are concerned that the state could step in if local directives for new housing are not met within the newly prescribed deadline.
The housing crisis statewide needs immediate attention, Hochul said. While over the last decade, New York has created 1.2 million jobs, only 400,000 new homes have been built. Land-use policies statewide are some of the most restrictive in the nation, she said.
"Through zoning, local communities hold enormous power to block growth of multi-family housing and make it almost impossible to build new homes," she said. "People want to live here and have jobs here but, because of local decisions, they cannot."
On Long Island, between 2010 and 2018 Suffolk and Nassau Counties permitted fewer housing permits per capita than suburban communities in other areas across the country; Seattle permitted four times as many, she said.
Last year, Hochul unveiled a $25 billion, five-year housing plan that would create and preserve 100,0000 affordable homes in both urban and rural communities throughout the state.
On Tuesday, she presented the New York Housing Compact, a "groundbreaking plan" that would lead to 800,000 new homes built over the next decade.
The intent is for each locality to have a target, with upstate expected to see housing stock grow 1 percent every three years and downstate, to see growth of 3 percent every three years.
Local governments will all have to reach a target and can do that by reinventing old malls and office parks, incentivizing new houses, or updating their zoning codes, Hochul said, adding that local government will also see help from the state via funding and by cutting through the red tape to allow projects to move more quickly.
After 3 years, in localities that do not meet growth targets or do not take steps to implement preferred actions, proposed housing developments that meet particular affordability criteria, but may not conform to existing zoning, may take advantage of a fast-track housing approval process if the locality denies the permit, Hochul said.
The appeal can be made to a new state housing approval board or through the courts, she added. Appealed projects will be approved unless a locality can demonstrate a valid health or safety reason for denying the application..
Localities that do not meet housing targets can achieve Safe Harbor status for one three-year cycle by implementing certain good faith actions — or "preferred actions" — that create zoning capacity to achieve the growth targets, Hochul said.
"Doing nothing is an abdication of our responsibility to act in times of crisis," Hochul said.With a focus on transit-oriented development, any community with an MTA train station will be required to locally rezone areas within a half mile to allow for creation of higher density residential development over the next three years, she said.
"New York faces a housing crisis that requires bold actions and an all-hands-on-deck approach," Hochul said. "Every community in New York must do their part to encourage housing growth to move our state forward and keep our economy strong. The New York Housing Compact is a comprehensive plan to spur the changes needed to create more housing, meet rising demand, and make our state a more equitable, stable, and affordable place to live."
According to the Population Reference Bureau, Hochul said, more than half of New York renters are rent-burdened, meaning that they pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent — the second-highest rate in the nation. In the New York City metro area, rents have risen 30 percent since 2015 and home prices have risen 50 percent over the same period. Outside of New York City, rents have risen 40 to 60 percent since 2015 while home prices have risen 50 to 80 percent.
The New York Housing Compact will make available a $250 million infrastructure fund and a $20 million planning fund to support new housing production statewide. Municipalities may submit requests for planning funding to undertake either required transit-oriented development rezonings or preferred actions to help them hit their growth targets. The plan will also create a new housing planning office within New York State Homes and Community Renewal to provide municipalities with support and guidance, she said.
Hochul will also propose legislation to expand the universe of commercial buildings eligible for conversion to residential use and provide necessary regulatory relief, making an estimated additional 120 million square feet newly eligible for conversion.
Hochul also unveiled a series of new proposals to incentivize new housing construction and the rehabilitation of existing housing. To support the development of mixed-income housing outside of New York City, Governor Hochul will direct New York State Homes and Community Renewal to make $5 million in state low-income housing tax credits available.
Hochul will also make necessary changes to ensure that localities where new housing developments utilize payment in lieu of taxes agreements are not penalized in tax cap calculations, she said.
After the address, the Long Island Housing Coalition expressed support for the plan: "We are a pro-homes, pro-Long Island coalition of community organizations, businesses, developers, housing advocates, homeowners, and home renters dedicated to addressing the severe lack of available affordable homes across Long Island. We are working to expand opportunities for both affordable homeownership and quality rental housing for all Long Islanders through legislation and community organizing."
Mike Florio, CEO of Long Island Builders Institute, said his group applauded Hochul for her focus and determination to address the housing crisis across the state, but especially on Long Island. He said he looked forward to working with her, along with local officials and communities, on impactful solutions
Rebecca Sanin, President/CEO, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, added: “Community well-being depends on a diverse, safe and quality housing stock that serves all of its residents including seniors, students, people with disabilities and families."
A lack of attainable and affordable housing injures public health, safety, competitive employment and retention of rising young adults as emerging professionals on Long Island, she said.
"The lack of safe, affordable housing on Long Island continually emerges as a top issue impacting our region and innovative, thoughtful solutions are desperately needed to secure Long Island’s healthy future," Sanin added.
Ian Wilder, executive director of Long Island Housing Services, Inc., also weighed in.
“It is clear to every Long Islander that our lack of housing — especially affordable housing — is beyond a crisis. The methods that we have historically used on Long Island to allocate the production of housing have been failing us all for quite some time.”
Gwen O’Shea, Community Development Corporation of Long island President & CEO, added" “There is no question about Long Island’s dire need of diverse housing options. The governor’s recognition of our housing crisis is a welcomed opportunity to ensure our residences and communities have safe and affordable housing."
And, said Michael Daly, founder ofEast End YIMBY: “The existence of restrictive, primarily single-family, zoning on the East End of Long Island, along with a lack of as-of-right zoning for multi-family and accessory dwelling units, has created a human infrastructure crisis for our towns, villages and businesses. This crisis is resulting in families being broken apart, healthcare jobs being left unfilled, volunteer fire departments and EMTs struggling to find members, schools understaffed, leaving some subjects without teachers, municipal offices unable to process public permit applications on a timely basis, and businesses reducing hours or closing due to the lack of staffing."
He added: "It also creates harm to our environment due to excessive 'trade parade' traffic by workers, needing to travel hours each day to their jobs. It's past time to tackle this cultural addiction to single-family zoning and establish requirements for every city, town and village to provide adequate housing for the people and businesses that make up their communities."
Not every municipality embraced the plan as warmly, with some concerned about the state intervening if the housing goals were not met as quickly as Hochul has suggested.
In a briefing this week, Huntington was "singled out" for permitting construction of just 934 homes and apartments over the past decade, according to the New York Post.
Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth said he believed the town "will exceed the governor’s goals, but it will be done without the governor’s heavy-handed involvement," Newsday reported.
And, Newsday added: Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said he was concerned Hochul's plan could restrict “the will of the people.”
Other town officials said Hochul's goals echoed their own mission.
"I am still reviewing the governor's plan. We have a working group which was organized to work with a consultant to develop an affordable housing plan," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. "Obviously, the governor's proposals will be evaluated by the group in the context of developing that plan. Most of what I've read so far is fairly consistent with our current affordable housing goals."
HWCLI
January 5, 2023
The State Should Support Free School Meals for all LI Students
By Rebecca Sanin and Bob Vecchio
January 4th, 2023
Guest essay
Read on Newsday
A quiet crisis is playing out in Long Island schools that no one is talking about. This fall, a federal policy guaranteeing free, healthy school meals for all students nationwide expired. New Yorkers across the state are feeling the impact, but we’ve been hit especially hard here on Long Island, where nearly 250,000 students lost access to free meals, seemingly overnight.
Almost 600,000 children in New York struggle with food insecurity, and socioeconomically disadvantaged children are disproportionately impacted. Credit: Randee Daddona
But there’s good news — we can fix this. By devoting about 0.1% of next year’s state budget to funding free school meals for all New York students, our leaders in Albany can ensure our kids have the healthy meals they need to succeed in the classroom and in life.
Almost 600,000 children in New York struggle with food insecurity, and socioeconomically disadvantaged children are disproportionately impacted. For the past two years, federal COVID-19 funding helped fill the gap, but since that funding expired this fall.
The recent federal omnibus bill made the problem even worse by cutting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which will increase food insecurity for many families.
We’ve seen firsthand the impact this loss has had on our students and in our communities. School is hard enough as it is. Research shows hungry students have a harder time focusing, attend fewer classes than their peers, and are more likely to experience mental and physical health problems. Amid high inflation, parents have been forced to pay for school meals, stretching already-thin budgets, and causing many families to take on school meal debt. Other times, kids simply don’t eat at all.
Funding healthy school meals for all is a proven way to support our students and increase equity in education. For just $275 per student per year — less than the price of many textbooks — we can boost overall academic performance and improve behavioral health while reducing academic achievement gaps. This investment will yield a return in reduced costs for mental health services, stressors on other human service agencies such as food pantries, and pediatric medical costs.
In addition, providing healthy meals for all kids allows schools to devote more resources to teaching. Universal free school meals provide relief to families struggling to make ends meet and eliminate millions in unpaid school meal debt. Plus, by enabling schools to purchase ingredients in larger quantities, healthy meals for all lowers per-student lunch prices, freeing up funds for schools to provide more programs and better learning tools for our kids.
All of these benefits will be magnified on Long Island. Across Nassau and Suffolk counties, 578 schools — nearly 90% of schools on Long Island — would benefit from state funding for universal free school meals.
Many other states — including California, Maine, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Vermont — have already funded free meals for all students and the policy is overwhelmingly popular. Almost 90% of New Yorkers support free school meals for all; more than 200 education, parent and teacher groups, labor unions, and anti-hunger advocates have joined the campaign; and 71 state legislators have signed a letter calling for New York to fund free school meals for all.
Long Island has borne the brunt of the loss of federal funding for free school meals. Now it’s time for our leaders in Albany to step up for our kids by funding universal free school meals.
This guest essay reflects the views of Rebecca Sanin, chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of LI, and Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.
HWCLI
December 27, 2022
Advocates push for free school meals for all students statewide
By Olivia Winslow
Updated December 13, 2022
Read on Newsday
Students during their lunch period at Southampton High School in May. The end of a free meals program earlier this year affected 726,000 schoolchildren statewide, one advocate said. Credit: Randee Daddona
An anti-hunger advocacy organization urged scores of school districts across Long Island to support its campaign to win state funding for a free school-meals program for all children in New York, as was in place during the height of the pandemic.
The earlier program has since ended. But, several advocates said, providing free meals to all schoolchildren would go a long way toward eliminating food insecurity, reducing the stigma of having to apply for a free or reduced school lunch program, and eliminating school lunch debt some students incur. They also said the campaign would reduce school districts' administrative costs.
Information about Hunger Solutions New York's Healthy School Meals for All campaign came during a virtual meeting Tuesday hosted by the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. The meeting attracted nearly 90 participants from school districts across the Island, as well as several nonprofit agencies.
"We know that hunger remains a persistent problem for families," said Jessica Pino-Goodspeed, a child nutrition programs specialist with Hunger Solutions New York, an anti-hunger nonprofit that seeks to maximize participation in, and support for, federally funded nutrition assistance programs.
"Recognizing what an issue this was throughout the pandemic and what a critical source school meals are for families, the federal government allowed free meals at schools throughout the pandemic," Pino-Goodspeed said.
But federal funding for it ended in June, she said. Nearly 2,000 schools across New York State "lost the ability to provide free meals to all their students," including 578 schools on Long Island, she added.
Overall, she said, the program's end affected 726,000 schoolchildren statewide, one-third of them on Long Island. She called the school meals expansion an "investment" that would cost the state $187 million to $201 million.
Krista Hesdorfer, also a child nutrition programs specialist with Hunger Solutions, called on school districts to contact Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers to support the program in the upcoming budget. She added that several other states had enacted similar programs.
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council, a nonprofit umbrella agency assisting 300-plus human service agencies, said "The painful reality is that 1 in 7 children in New York struggle with hunger. Hunger is a form of trauma."
Sanin added that 90% of Long Island schools "will see a direct positive impact from the statewide Healthy School Meals for All" initiative, and "506 schools will be newly able to provide free school meals for all students."
Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, called it a "priority" for the association to advocate for state funding for the school meals expansion.
Vecchio, citing the National Center for Educational Statistics, said that "post pandemic," students and schools participating in the federal school lunch program nationwide dropped from 84% to 69%.
He said school officials have reported it was a challenge to get parents to fill out an application for the free and reduced lunch program, with some parents fearing the stigma of being associated with a program for low-income families.
"This [Healthy School Meals for All] initiative takes that issue right off the table. So we know when free meals were a given, so many students took advantage of it," Vecchio said.
HWCLI
December 8, 2022
Report: Expand child tax credit to cut NY’s 13.9% poverty rate
By Olivia Winslow
Updated December 8, 2022
Read on Newsday
ew York's poverty rate was higher in 2021 than the national average, according to a report released Thursday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that called for "greater equity" of benefits and expansion of a child tax credit that helped many families weather income losses during the pandemic shutdown.
Citing U.S. Census data, the report, "New Yorkers in Need: A Look at Poverty Trends in New York State for the Last Decade, " noted that New York's poverty rate was 13.9%, or 2.7 million people, in 2021, higher than the national average of 12.8%. New York had the 13th highest poverty rate among all states, the report said.
Nassau County recorded a poverty rate of 5.7% last year while in Suffolk, it was 6.1%, according to the report.
In an interview, DiNapoli said: "I think one of the main takeaways from the report is the percentage of the population living in poverty in New York is higher than the average for the rest of the country and higher than our neighboring states and most large states."
What to know
New York's poverty rate, based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates, was 13.9% in 2021, or nearly 2.7 million people, higher than the national average of 12.8%. Nassau County recorded a poverty rate of 5.7% last year while in Suffolk, it was 6.1%,The state poverty rate for Black, Hispanic and other minority groups was at least twice as high in 2021 than for white New York residents.
According to the report, poverty rates for New York's 62 counties ranged from lows in Nassau and upstate Putnam, which also came it at 5.7%, to 24.4% in the Bronx. Overall, 34 counties had rates under 12%; 11 counties had rates from 12% to under 13%; and 17 counties had rates greater than 13%.
DiNapoli added that even though Nassau's poverty rate was low, "if you’re in that 5.7%, there’s still need there."
The pandemic had "devastating health, economic and social consequences," DiNapoli said in his message contained in the 44-page report, with the 2020 shutdown leading to almost 2 million job losses statewide.
"Yet for many," he added, "economic hardships existed long before this time; the pandemic deepened the financial stress experienced by these households."
The poverty report is the first in a series "examining New Yorkers in need" that will also look at food insecurity, housing and health care, DiNapoli said.
According to the report, "Black, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and American Indian New Yorkers experience poverty at twice the rate of White New Yorkers, 20% or more compared to 10%, respectively, in 2021. Similarly, poverty rates are more than double for Hispanic New Yorkers compared to White, non-Hispanics."
The comptroller's findings included recommendations for the federal government's role in reducing poverty:
"Continue to evaluate alternative poverty measures, and update them as necessary to allow for accurate assessment of need and modern living standards.""Assess current programs for potential improvements, including the adequacy of benefit amounts and flexibility in local administration."*Continue and expand effective interventions that have demonstrated a meaningful reduction in poverty. Pandemic-era enhancements to the Child Tax Credit produced meaningful reductions in poverty and should be continued."
DiNapoli praised state officials in the report for setting a goal of reducing child poverty by 50% and establishing the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, but said they should make poverty reduction a "cross-agency priority."
The comptroller also called for the state to commit to "greater equity" in state services to target resources to communities most in need.
Paule Pachter, chief executive of Long Island Cares — The Harry Chapin Food Bank, noted the plethora of data contained in the report and feared people might get "confused" by the amount of detail.
When using words like " 'continue to evaluate alternative measures' … it’s very broad, in terms of the recommendations," Pachter said.
Nevertheless, he added, DiNapoli's report accurately outlines poverty in New York.
What would most help to alleviate poverty in the state and elsewhere, Pachter said, would be an update to the federal poverty threshold — $27,479 for a family of four in 2021 — that would take into account regional cost differences.
Asked about DiNapoli's report, Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said in an email: "We know that the definition of poverty does not describe need on Long Island. About [one-third] of families struggle to meet basic survival budgets and need has deepened since COVID-19 destabilized the economic approach of so many households."
Sanin continued: "I agree strongly with the Comptroller’s recommendation to advance measures that are cost-adjusted and reflect and respond to accurate measures of need."
She also called for expanding the Child Tax Credit, "which was effective and smart policy and should be reconsidered."
HWCLI
November 29, 2022
On Giving Tuesday, Long Island nonprofits see critical need
By Olivia Winslow
Updated November 29, 2022
Read on Newsday
With Giving Tuesday at hand, officials from a cross-section of Long Island nonprofits have said unmet needs remain for many of their clients because of inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic that, for some, meant lost wages.
Some agencies reported Monday that while donations were holding steady, they faced increased costs to maintain the same level of services. As a result, they said, donations from the public were critical.
Wendy Linsalata, president of the Ronkonkoma-based L.I. Against Domestic Violence, which serves clients in Suffolk County, was blunt.
"Our biggest need remains obviously funding, so this way we can enhance our services and enhance the service delivery method by increasing our staffing capacity."
What to know
Giving Tuesday is a reminder to Long Island nonprofits of the crucial need among clients.Some agencies say that while donations were holding steady, they faced increased costs to maintain the same level of services this year.Donations can be made to The Viscardi Center, L.I. Against Domestic Violence, Community Development Corporation on Long Island and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, among other agencies.
More in need
Her agency will serve about 7,300 individuals by the end of this year, Linsalata said, but in all likelihood, more people could be served if they knew the organization existed.
"We know there are so many more who need assistance, but they haven't reached out for help …," she said. "We do not have an advertising budget, so funds are needed for public awareness campaigns to help us get the message out there on a wide platform."
The concerns of Linsalata and others involved with Long Island nonprofits helping those in need come as Tuesday is celebrated as Giving Tuesday, a global effort "that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity," says a message on GivingTuesday.org.
Linsalata said her agency is in need of donated Visa and American Express gift cards, since many clients don't have enough money for emergencies.
"We’ve been very fortunate that fundraising has held steady, however we recognize that the unmet needs of those we work with in the community have grown," said Gwen O'Shea, president and chief executive of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island, which serves about 25,000 people annually in five programs: rental assistance, housing development and planning, resident services, homeownership, and financial lending.
"There’s still lingering COVID and post-COVID implications," O'Shea said. "In particular those in our rental assistance program, it’s financially constrained households."
Pandemic layoffs
Some clients were laid off during the COVID-19 shutdown, she said.
"It was difficult for them to catch up. In these households we see utility arrears, challenges with covering basic necessities, never mind the increased cost that comes with the holiday season," O'Shea said. "Our efforts are around providing financial support to those households."
O'Shea said her organization has an "adopt-a-family" program, which largely involves helping single women with young children.
"Any dollar amount is welcome."
Like the Community Development Corporation, many of the nonprofits receive government grants to finance their programs. But they also rely on donations.
Chris Rosa is president and chief executive of The Viscardi Center in Albertson, which provides a "life span of services" to "educate, employ and empower" young people who are "medically fragile" and have significant physical disabilities, as well as adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.
"We rely, of course, on state funding," Rosa said. "But for a lot of the programs that provide the extra layer of support that is so important to the success of the people we serve, we rely on philanthropy."
Those programs include the center's wheelchair basketball program, its independent living home and its accessible aquatic center.
"All of those resources were created and sustained solely through philanthropy," Rosa said. The "lion's share," he said, come from individual donations.
A sense of urgency
Rosa said a "sense of urgency is experienced by all nonprofits as the cost of doing our work has increased because of inflation."
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said in a text message that the "economic destabilization of COVID-19, met now with the high costs of groceries, oil and basic needs, means that there is tremendous, escalated need this season. We see a pronounced increase in families struggling with hunger, mental health needs, housing and a pervasive sense of dread about how to make ends meet."
Sanin added: "This giving day, every dollar donated to HWCLI will go towards addressing these pressing human crises and I'm certain that all of the organizations in our network need the support and generosity of Long Islanders able to donate in order to serve the region in a time of great financial strain and uncertainty."
HWCLI
November 16, 2022
We must work harder to reduce food insecurity in New York
By Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy
Guest essay
Updated November 16, 2022
Read on Newsday
Families in Uniondale Union Free School District receive meals at a drive-through food distribution bank at Turtle Hook Middle School, in 2020. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
For hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, food insecurity — the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life — is a harsh reality.
Food insecurity is widespread in New York and takes a devastating toll on the health of our residents, as recently reported by NYHealth, a private, statewide foundation. Its Survey of Food and Health found that food-insecure individuals are twice as likely as food-secure individuals to rate their health as “fair” or “poor”; 69% of food-insecure individuals reported having at least one chronic physical or mental illness.
Even before the pandemic, nearly 2 million New Yorkers were food insecure, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The disruption caused by the pandemic, followed by the sharpest increases in food prices in 40 years, has only made food insecurity more acute.
As a physician and hospital administrator, I have seen firsthand the debilitating effects of food insecurity on individuals and health care systems in New York. Food is medicine. It is the foundation of health and well-being.
We know that consistently eating calorically dense, nutritionally depleted food accelerates disease. Adults in households with food insecurity are 40% likelier to be diagnosed with a chronic condition. In fact, persistent food insecurity is associated with a higher probability of diabetes, stroke, hypertension, obesity, hepatitis, cancer, asthma, arthritis, COPD, and kidney disease
At Catholic Health, we are working diligently to identify and support people who are food insecure. We screen people in our emergency departments and physician practices, asking how many times in the last week or month they felt they did not have enough food to eat. However, identifying food insecurity is only the first step.
As inflation hits everyone’s budget and with Thanksgiving approaching, it’s a good time to think about those in need and give what you can to charities that work to reduce food insecurity.
We’re partnering with community organizations to provide access to healthy food and education to increase adherence to healthy food choices. Long Island Cares is providing Catholic Health emergency departments with food “to go” bags for individuals who are identified as being food insecure. We’re also collaborating with the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island to enroll individuals in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Catholic Health’s goal is to improve health outcomes and close the gap for individuals struggling with food insecurity and chronic disease. We want them to have access to healthy food for themselves and their families and show them how and why to make healthy food choices. And we are seeing results, such as reduced hospital readmissions and patients reporting a better understanding of the connection between what they eat and their health.
By focusing on food insecurity, we can improve quality of life and help bend the disease curve to prevent many instances of disease. That's powerful. That’s focusing on health care versus sick care. Not only does it improve quality of life for individuals, but it also lowers the cost of treating chronic disease.
Community partnerships are vital to addressing food insecurity and identifying the root causes driving food insecurity in New York and throughout the nation. Solving this issue will require an active partnership between a vast network of charities, food banks, government, and the private sector. Together, we can make New York a model for ending food insecurity.
This guest essay reflects the views of Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and chief executive of Catholic Health.
HWCLI
October 18, 2022
LICF grants $610K to 30 nonprofits
By Adina Genn
Posted October 18, 2022
Read on LIBN
Photo courtesy of Long Island Community Foundation
The Long Island Community Foundation awarded $610,000 to 30 nonprofits.
Funded projects will help provide pro bono legal services for Long Island nonprofits as well leadership development program for nonprofit professionals and community leaders of color.
Also receiving funding are organizations that provide science and arts programs to with special needs on the East End, respond to injured marine life, empower students to advocate for natural solutions to climate change, provide food and support services for needy Long Islanders, and others.
Thanks to donor contributions, the Long Island Community Foundation invests in groups that aim to create positive change and improve the quality of life on Long Island. The foundation supports a variety of effective nonprofits that help make Long Island a vital and secure place to live, learn, work, and play, while building permanent resources for the future. It has made more than $200 million in grants from hundreds of funds established by individuals, families, and businesses.
A a division of The New York Community Trust, LICF is one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations.
These grants are made possible by generations of Long Islanders who have included the Foundation in their wills as well as recent contributors to its work to assist our region as it recovers from the pandemic.
The list of the most recent grants is provided below:
ARTS & CULTURE
CINEMA ARTS CENTRE – $10,000 for a film series that encourages residents to purchase food locally.
PATCHOGUE ARTS COUNCIL – $20,000 to present innovative, cultural programming to the Patchogue community.
SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER – $20,000 to use arts and culture to build community and support local businesses in Southampton.
TEATRO EXPERIMENTAL YERBABRUJA – $20,000 to establish a traveling artistic program in culturally diverse community downtowns.
USDAN CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE & PEFORMING ARTS – $5,000 to give year-round musical education to students from the Brentwood School District.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. OF LONG ISLAND – $25,000 to help renters organize and advocate for their interests.
LA FUERZA UNIDA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. – $25,000 to provide technical assistance to low-income, minority and women-owned small businesses.
NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING FUND INC. – $25,000 to increase housing stability for renters in the Village of Hempstead.
CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CAUMSETT FOUNDATION – $20,000 to promote native pollinator species on Long Island.
CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – $25,000 to build public support for offshore wind projects on Long Island.
LONG ISLAND PROGRESSIVE COALITION – $20,000 to make solar energy accessible to nonprofit organizations.
PECONIC BAYKEEPER – $25,000 to monitor water quality in Southampton, Hampton Bays, and Riverhead and engage residents in restoration solutions.
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH – $15,000 to plan for the renovation of a sustainable and energy-efficient environmental facility in Brentwood.
STUDENTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION – $22,000 to empower high school students to advocate for climate solutions.
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND – $25,000 to expand the Long Island Greenway (formerly Long Island Extension of the Empire State Trail).
EDUCATION
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE EAST END – $17,000 to support a STEAM program for children with special needs.
GRENVILLE BAKER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB – $20,000 for a college preparation program targeting vulnerable students from Locust Valley and Glen Cove high schools.
HUNTINGTON ARTS COUNCIL – $16,000 to support multicultural education through arts programming and teacher training in Suffolk County.
HER STORY WRITERS WORKSHOP – $20,000 to help students and school personnel understand the experiences of young immigrants.
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM – $20,000 for a news literacy program that promotes civic education and critical thinking skills for young adults.
THREE D’S AFTERCARE – $20,000 to expand support for students during remote schooling.
HUNGER
COMMUNITY ACTION SOUTHOLD TOWN – $25,000 to provide food and support services for vulnerable populations on the North Fork.
HEALTH & WELFARE COUNCIL OF LONG ISLAND – $25,000 to improve the emergency food delivery system on Long Island.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED – $15,000 to provide case management services and increase access to food.
MENTAL HEALTH
NEW YORK LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP – $20,000 to provide free legal services for veterans with mental health issues.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
ADELPHI UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP – $20,000 for a leadership development program for nonprofit professionals and community leaders of color.
PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP – $25,000 to provide pro bono legal services for Long Island nonprofits.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GIRLS INC. – $20,000 to provide emotional support and academic enrichment programs for girls in Central Islip and Uniondale schools.
LITTLE FLOWER CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES – $25,000 for an alternative education program for at-risk high school students.
SEPA MUJER – $20,000 for a personal development, career exploration, and civic engagement program for Latina immigrant youth.
HWCLI
September 28, 2022
Agencies Offered Active Shooter Training
By Pam Robinson
Posted September 28, 2022
Read on Huntington Now
Agencies Offered Active Shooter Training
Posted onSeptember 28, 2022 11:28:48AuthorPam RobinsonLeave a comment
Active shooter training will be offered to health and human service providers starting in October, the Health & Welfare Council said Wednesday.
The goal is to prepare nonprofit staffers for an attack and improve situational awareness, the organization said.
The free trainings will be made in partnership with Homeland Security from Nassau and Suffolk Police Departments. The sessions are scheduled for the following days:
Thursday, October 6th, 2022 10AM (Hauppauge)
Thursday, October 20th, 2022 10AM (Westbury)
Friday, October 21st, 2022 10AM (Brentwood)
Thursday, October 27th, 2022 10AM (Patchogue)
Friday, November 4th, 2022 10AM (Garden City)
Monday, November 7th, 2022 10AM (Hempstead)
Thursday, November 17th, 2022 10AM (Melville)
Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 10AM (Uniondale)
HWCLI
September 16, 2022
Suffolk races to pay nonprofits after computer shutdown
By Vera Chinese
Updated September 16, 2022
Read on Newsday
Suffolk County officials on Thursday were working to send out paper checks to pay county vendors — with nonprofits contracted to perform social services a high priority — following the shutdown of county systems after a malware attack, county Comptroller John M. Kennedy Jr. told Newsday.
“We will address most immediate and critical needs by writing hard-cut checks,” Kennedy said.
“Collectively, they [nonprofits] employ hundreds, if not thousands of people who are integral to the delivery of the range of services that we provide and pay for,” he said.
Kennedy said Wednesday that Suffolk’s financial management system was affected “significantly” by the malware attack discovered Sept. 8.
But no county funds have been lost, Kennedy said.
“About the only good thing that I can tell you right now is that not a single penny of county money was accessed or stolen,” he said.
Kennedy noted the county’s payroll data is stored in a cloud-based system that was not impacted by the cyberattack.
Kennedy said his staff was working with the county's primary bank to obtain paper checks to send to vendors on Friday.
County departments will process paper invoices and work with Kennedy’s office to speed the most critical payments, Marykate Guilfoyle, a spokeswoman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, told Newsday.
All county vendors will be paid, she said, though she did not say when.
Suffolk County is scanning its electronic devices for evidence of cyber intrusions as part of its investigation.
The county also has made scanning assistance available to the offices of all countywide elected officials, including the district attorney, comptroller, clerk and sheriff, Guilfoyle said.
Kennedy, a former Republican Suffolk County legislator, called the malware attack one the most serious issues he has encountered in his career.
“As far as the magnitude of the impact, I know [of] nothing that has affected county government to this degree,” he said.
Suffolk County websites and web-based applications were taken down after discovery of what turned out to be malware in county systems.
County officials said Tuesday the attack had the "hallmarks" of ransomware, although they had not received demands for money for any breached data.
Officials have provided neither a time frame for restoring systems nor details about the source or motive for the cyber hack.
Suffolk contracts with a variety of nonprofits to provide social services such as homeless housing, crime victim counseling and assistance in applying for government benefits.
Also, Suffolk as a “pass through entity” disperses money on behalf of the state and federal governments, Kennedy said.
Nonprofit operators told Newsday their agencies were in a uniquely difficult spot because of the county computer shutdown.
Jeffrey Reynolds, CEO of Family and Children’s Association in Garden City, which provides addiction treatment and other services, called the prospect of delays in payment to charitable organizations “frightening.”
He said his organization, which receives most of its funding from Nassau County, along with some money from Suffolk, did not anticipate any immediate issues.
Nonetheless, “most nonprofits, even larger ones like ours, live a lot like our clients — paycheck to paycheck.” Reynolds told Newsday on Wednesday.
“We're a 138-year-old organization with a $24 million budget, and I still check regularly to ensure that we've got enough cash in the bank to meet a $550,000 payroll, that happens biweekly,” he said.
The Crime Victims Center, of Ronkonkoma, has state and Suffolk County contracts to provide services for crime victims such as counseling for sex assault victims.
Executive director Laura Ahearn said the organization hasn’t received any electronic referrals providing names of crime victims and ways to reach them since the county computer system went down.
The agency has begun receiving some referrals by telephone, Ahearn told Newsday, and police precinct representatives were expected to begin hand-delivering referrals on Thursday.
Ahearn said that while the Crime Victims Center has a line of credit and does not anticipate financial hardship from the county shutdown, nonprofits must be "strategic" and "put themselves in positions where, at any moment in time, something could go wrong.”
She continued: “You are at the mercy of government budgets.”
Rebecca Sanin, CEO and president of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, an umbrella group for nonprofits, said applications for the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and temporary cash assistance have been delayed during the Suffolk shutdown.
The group, which represents residents who are applying for aid, has been directing Suffolk clients to local food pantries, Sanin told Newsday.
“We’ve become reliant on technology as a society — and technology offers wonderful efficiencies and access for many — but also has vulnerabilities and challenges that we need to prepare for as a form of disaster preparedness,” Sanin said.
Guilfoyle said the county began partnering with the state Thursday to handle the aid applications, which are normally processed on average within 20 days.
HWCLI
September 15, 2022
Experts: Positive Census data on Long Island poverty masks greater need
By Olivia Winslow and Arielle Martinez
September 15, 2022
Read on Newsday
While Long Island's overall poverty rates are far lower than the nation's, and its median income much higher than the national median, the latest U.S. Census data masks a great need among some residents, local experts said.
"We have one third of the households across Long Island who are the working poor earning less than $35,000 a year, which is above the poverty level," said Theresa Regnante, president and chief executive of the United Way of Long Island. "So we have a major, major group of families who are in desperate and dire situations" in an area known for a high cost of living.
The official poverty line threshold nationwide for a family of two adults and two children was $27,479.
The poverty rate for Nassau County was 5.8% in 2021, not a statistically significant difference from the 5.4% rate in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey released publicly Thursday. Suffolk County's poverty rate was 6.1% in 2021, compared with 6.5% in 2019, and like Nassau, the change was deemed not statistically significant by the bureau.
Using a different survey, bureau officials reported the national poverty rate was 11.6% in 2021, not much changed from 11.5% in 2020.
The median household income in both Nassau and Suffolk topped $100,000, according to the bureau's survey. Those medians are far above the national median of $70,784 in 2021, which the bureau reported earlier this week.
In Nassau, the median household income was $125,696 in 2021, not a statistically significant difference from the $125,533 in 2019. The median income for Suffolk was $113,683 in 2021, compared with $112,577 in 2019, also not a statistically significant change.
The bureau did not compare 2021 to 2020 data in what is normally its one-year ACS survey, citing disruptions the pandemic caused in preventing officials from fully conducting interviews.
For some Long Island families, poverty was much higher than the Island's overall rate. Families headed by single women saw higher rates than all families and married couple families. In Nassau, the poverty rate for families headed by single women was 9.9% in 2021, up from 8.6% in 2019, though the bureau said the change was not statistically significant. The poverty rate for the group in Suffolk was 11.9% in both 2021 and 2019.
"We have had no indications that the spigot is turning off, as it relates to immense need," Regnante said Wednesday in an interview. "We are distributing more than half a million dollars in supplemental food cards. We purchase grocery store food cards. We’re distributing those food cards to families that really are having a tough time."
Earlier this week, when the bureau released the national poverty rate, noting that child poverty in particular had plunged by half to 5.2% between 2020 and 2021, Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, praised the impact of government stimulus money and the expanded child tax credit. Still, she said: "We know that there are thousands of Long Islanders who were struggling before the pandemic … and were impacted more severely by the pandemic. These families require more time and more support to reach a sustainable recovery."
Regnante said government subsidies help, "but it helps for a very short period of time." She said families "might've gotten $4,000 or $5,000 in March and April, but once you pay debts you’ve accumulated, the money’s spent."
The census data also reported on health insurance coverage. In 2021, 3.6% weren't insured in Nassau, down from 4.3% in 2019, which the bureau said was a statistically significant change. In Suffolk, 4.9% didn't have insurance in 2021, not a statistically significant change from 4.3% in 2019, the bureau said. The national uninsured rate was 8.3% in 2021.
Janine Logan, spokeswoman for the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, which represents 22 hospitals, noted New York State's push to get more people insured, and financial assistance programs at hospitals. "Every hospital has to let individuals know about the financial assistance law so they can get help to pay medical bills," she said.
Dr. Gerard X. Brogan Jr., senior vice president and chief revenue officer for Northwell Health, echoed that view, adding that Northwell had "greatly enlarged our financial counseling pool" to assist patients, including through teleconferencing to reach people who can't easily get to the hospital. "We've tried to make an effort to get to them."
HWCLI
September 13, 2022
U.S. Census Bureau: Child poverty declined between 2020 and 2021
By Olivia Winslow
September 13, 2022
Read on Newsday
The nation's child poverty rate declined between 2020 and 2021, and, by one measure, fell to a record low, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday in releasing data on median household income, poverty rates and health insurance coverage.
One local economist, John Rizzo, a professor at Stony Brook University, called the child poverty rate decline "striking" and "good news."
The bureau also said there was no statistically significant change in "real median household income" in 2021 compared with 2020; nor was there a statistically significant change in the overall poverty rate during the period.
The "real median household income" for the nation was $70,784 in 2021, not a statistically significant difference from the 2020 estimate of $71,186, the bureau said. The income data is in real 2021 dollars and reflect changes in the cost of living, officials said.
The bureau also reported more people had health insurance in 2021 than in 2020. It said an estimated 8.3%, or 27.2 million people, did not have health insurance at any point in 2021, compared with 8.6%, or 28.3 million, in 2020.
Two poverty rate reports were issued by the bureau: the official poverty measure, which includes pretax income; and the supplemental poverty measure, which includes resources from government programs and tax credits to low-income families. The supplemental measure also takes into account geographic differences in costs that affect poverty threshold levels, whereas the official measure uses the same threshold across all regions.
The official poverty measure sets the poverty threshold for a family of two adults and two children at $27,479, which Long Island officials have said is inadequate for a high-cost region, such as Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said in an email: "First, I think it’s really important to mention about [a third] of Long Islanders struggle to meet their basic necessities even with incomes far above the poverty line."
Under the official poverty measure, the nation's poverty rate was 11.6% in 2021, or 37.9 million people, not statistically different from 2020s rate of 11.5%, or 37.5 million. The supplemental measure, however, showed a statistically significant change, with a 7.8% poverty rate in 2021, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from 2020. "This is the lowest SPM poverty rate since estimates were first published," the bureau said in a report. The supplemental poverty measure estimates date back to 2009.
Bureau officials said the supplemental child poverty rate was the lowest on record. Liana Fox, the bureau's assistant chief of economic characteristics, said: "SPM child poverty rate was nearly cut in half in 2021, going from 9.7% [in 2020] to 5.2%." The official poverty rate for children under 18 was 16% in 2020, dropping to 15.3% in 2021. "The difference in year-year changes between the two measures is largely driven by the impact of stimulus payments and the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, as these additional resources are only considered in the SPM," the bureau said in a report.
The poverty rate for the 65 and over population rose, however, to 10.3% in 2021, from 8.9% in 2020. Fox said, "a larger share are on fixed incomes" that likely "aren't keeping pace with inflation."
Rizzo called the supplemental poverty measure the "better measure" of poverty than the official measure, which hasn't been updated since the 1960s. Noting the "dramatic decline between 2020 and 2021" in child poverty, Rizzo also cited increased government subsidies and the child tax credit.
Said Sanin: "The evidence was very clear that the impact of the child tax credit for children and families was significant — reducing poverty, enabling families to meet basic needs, reducing food insecurity and strengthening families’ financial position to meet the challenges of living in a region with our high cost of living."
The bureau's statistics are based on its Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
HWCLI
September 10, 2022
State Providing Funds for Some Utility Debt
By Pam Robinson
Posted September 10, 2022
Read on Huntington Now
New York is providing $250 million in funding to eliminate pandemic-related utility arrears for residential households, with a priority to low-income households, from March 7, 2020 through March 1, 2022.
The funds will be applied to customers’ accounts by the utilities, including PSEG-LI, and various municipal electric cooperatives.
PSEG and National Grid are administering the program, which provides customers a chance to have utility debts from that time period to be forgiven, the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island said.
Eligible are:
Customers already enrolled in the PSEG Household Assistance Program or the National Grid Energy Affordability Program
And customers enrolled in one of the following programs
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
-Lifeline Telephone Service Program (Lifeline)
-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
-Medicaid
-Veterans Disability or Survivors Pension
-Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
-Federal Public Housing Assistance
-Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance (if living on tribal lands)
-Head Start (if living on tribal lands)
-Tribal TANF (if living on tribal lands)
-Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (if living on tribal lands)
-Utility Guarantee / Direct Vendor programs
-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
-Safety Net Assistance
Long Islanders have until Dec. 31 to enroll in relevant programs and apply for utility forgiveness
To apply with National Grid: click here
To apply with PSEG: click here.
HWCLI
August 25, 2022
Addressing Food Insecurity with Leadership
ANALYSIS | BY MELANIE BLACKMAN |
POSTED AUGUST 25, 2022
Read on Health Leaders Media
Catholic Health's CEO shares how the Long Island, New York health system is tackling the community's access to good, healthy food.
More than 250,000 people living in New York's Nassau and Suffolk Counties are food insecure. That's 25% of all the adults that live on Long Island, according to Long Island Cares.
Catholic Health, an integrated health system that serves around 25% of Long Island's population, is aiming to address that challenge.
Catholic Health has six hospitals, numerous ambulatory care facilities and clinics, and a home care service that have a finger on the pulse of its patients' social determinants of health (SDOH), including food access, which affects communities all over the country.
"We've seen here in the New York/Long Island market that, because of various changes going on post-COVID, access to healthy food is a challenge, and inflationary pressures have made it difficult for so many families to get access to food," Catholic Health president and CEO Patrick M. O'Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, told HealthLeaders.
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According to Long Island Cares, 79,000 children on Long Island are food insecure. And when schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children who relied on school-sponsored and supplied meals were affected.
"Those were their only source of meals," O'Shaughnessy said. "In the United States alone, 38 million people—12 million children—are food insecure. That's a statistic we have to commit to and improve … Making sure that folks are aware that there is help out there, that there is a mechanism, and to seek assistance if they are food insecure is important."
THE CHALLENGES
Food insecurity has been exacerbated by the pandemic, inflation, an overall increase in the cost of living, and labor workforce issues, he said.
"The impact of the labor workforce issues, we're still feeling this in the healthcare sector, certainly, but around the country, it disrupted supply chains, farming, bringing fresh food to the table, and distribution," O'Shaughnessy said. "All these things further accelerated the problem."
He added, "I have every bit of that confidence that it's going to get better, and the whole point of why we're talking today is to bring awareness to food insecurity. Too many people downplay the importance of food's impact on your overall health and wellness; you truly are what you eat."
Another challenge is the cost of food, and how inexpensive foods are leading to an increase in chronic diseases.
"It's one of the first times in the history of humankind that we see the most calorically dense and nutritionally depleted foods," he said. "They're the cheapest and most available, yet those that are more nutritionally dense and healthy for you are expensive and becoming harder and harder to buy."
"Nationally, you see incidents of cardio and cerebral vascular disease, cancer, and diabetes is increasing," O'Shaughnessy said. "Food plays a major role in all of this, and we as healthcare leaders and healthcare providers [need to] address the fact that food plays a big piece into our overall health and wellness and focus our interactions to be equally focused on disease prevention and health and wellness."
Those incidents are also affecting the health system's Long Island communities.
"We see chronic disease incidents rising certainly in Long Island; we see this in terms of rates of diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol [and] stroke. And while we have cutting edge, state-of-the-art treatments to treat people when they develop these diseases, wouldn't it be great if we could bend the disease curve and get upstream of that, and help people live longer, healthier lives?"
THE SOLUTIONS
Addressing food insecurity and SDOH needs to come from the top, O'Shaughnessy said.
"It's important for leadership to address these issues and focus on SDOH," he said. "It starts with leadership."
O'Shaughnessy says it’s a privilege to lead Catholic Health while the organization launches new disease-based therapies and interventions and an increased focus on effectively screening people for food insecurity in its primary care sites and emergency rooms.
"We built [food insecurity screening] into our electronic health records so that our nurses, social workers, [and] care managers will actually ask [patients] relative questions relative to if they are food insecure and how often has this been an issue for them," he said.
Screening is also part of emergency room visits.
"When [patients] come into our emergency room we consider it a soft vital sign to ask about food insecurity; meaning how many times in a week or a month did you feel you couldn't get from paycheck to paycheck and have enough good, healthy food to eat," he added.
Additionally, Catholic Health, in partnership with Long Island Cares, Catholic Charities, and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island have launched programs in August to address food insecurity among patients.
"This is where health systems have to partner with community-based organizations," O'Shaughnessy said.
One of the programs, in partnership with Long Island Cares, provides food insecure emergency room patients with bags of food.
"We call them 'Go Bags,' and these are bags of nonperishable food that will be stored in the emergency rooms, and when we identify people at a time of crisis, we'll immediately give them food," he said. "We'll also plug them into a [food security] program."
Through a partnership with Catholic Charities and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, the health system also enrolls food insecure patients into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure they receive ongoing food benefits.
Additionally, the health system has partnered with Island Harvest and Adelphi University nutrition graduate students to build programs that track how the community is doing around food security, he said.
"Our homecare agency is one example of that," he said. "As people are enrolled in homecare, we can actually go in their home and see what's in their refrigerator. You can learn a lot about somebody about what's in their refrigerator or what may not be."
"We've made over 336 food deliveries since the program's inception just going into some houses alone," he said.
'YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF'
O'Shaughnessy's advice for other hospital and health system executives when it comes to addressing SDOH and food insecurity is to be active and proactive.
"You have to take the blinders off," he said. "If you're going to truly bend the disease curve, you have to look at what's driving disease burden, and food insecurity plays a major role in that."
Food insecurity causes an increased risk of chronic conditions (40% or more), which is where the most money is spent in healthcare, he said. In order to address that, healthcare organizations need to focus on SDOH to improve the health and wellness of its population in a preventative manner.
"It's not difficult to initiate [food insecurity programs]," he said. "Organizations are quick to want to partner with healthcare systems because they also appreciate and know the interrelation interplay between food insecurity and chronic disease development. They'll be a great partner for you."
He also spoke about the importance of screening patients for food insecurity.
"If you don't screen patients, you'll never know what's going on," he said. "You'll be surprised to find the number of people that will share that they're having difficulty with this."
"Every interaction counts," he added. "Every family, every person, every child that we're able to intervene on and help them get access to good food, will certainly lead to a much longer, healthier life."
Editor's note: This story was updated on August 25, 2022.
“IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, 38 MILLION PEOPLE—12 MILLION CHILDREN—ARE FOOD INSECURE. THAT'S A STATISTIC WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO AND IMPROVE.”
— PATRICK M. O'SHAUGHNESSY, DO, MBA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CATHOLIC HEALTH
Melanie Blackman is the strategy editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.
Photo credit: Catholic Health staff hold "Go Bags," a new initiative to bring food to food insecure patients in the ER. Photo courtesy of Catholic Health.
HWCLI
August 8, 2022
Nonprofits on receiving end of more than $600G in grants from Melville foundation
By Ted Phillips
Updated August 8, 2022
Read on Newsday
The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill is among more than two dozen nonprofits awarded grants from a Melville-based foundation for programs and services that help support business, education, arts, environment and low-income communities. Credit: Randee Daddona
A Melville-based foundation has awarded $623,500 in grants to 29 Long Island nonprofits for programs and services that help support business, education, arts, environment and low-income communities, officials have announced.
The Long Island Community Foundation awarded the recipients in two rounds of competitive grants, with a third round to be made later this year. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000 and went to nonprofits in seven sectors: arts and culture; community development; conservation and the environment; education; hunger and homelessness; technical assistance; and youth development.
Foundation spokeswoman Marie Smith said that while the grants go to all sizes of organizations, they can have an outsized impact on the smaller ones.
“Every grant is important, but [for] these small organizations, every penny is important to them,” Smith said.
Riverhead-based East End Arts & Humanities was awarded $25,000 to use arts to attract visitors to the town’s downtown. The nonprofit offers classes and workshops, but the grant will be used for overhead costs at its two Main Street galleries, said Diane Burke, the organization’s executive director.
The organization has two galleries downtown — one on East Main Street and the other on West Main Street. Exhibitions are split between the two locations, which work together as a “catalyst for community development,” Burke said.
“If you come to one gallery to see part of the show, we’ll tell you to take a walk a thousand feet down the block and see the rest of the exhibition,” Burke said. “As you do that, you’re walking past all the other businesses that are on Main Street.”
The galleries bring foot traffic to local businesses and provide exposure to East End-based artists, officials said.
“It’s not just about supporting the arts, it’s more about the economic values that it brings to those areas,” Smith said.
The remaining grant recipients are: Patchogue Arts Council; Usdan Center for the Creative & Performing Arts; La Fuerza Unida Community Development Corp.; Regional Plan Association; Uniondale Community Land Trust; Vision Long Island; Audubon New York — Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary; Citizens Campaign Fund for the Environment; Operation Splash.
Surfrider Foundation; Trust for Public Land; Amityville Public Library; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; Floyd Memorial Library; Parrish Art Museum; Project Morry; Stony Brook University School of Communication & Journalism; Community Action Southold Town.
Health & Welfare Council of Long Island; Interfaith Nutrition Network; Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center; Wyandanch Homes & Property Development; Adelphi University Center for Nonprofit Leadership; Pro Bono Partnership; Cedarmore Corporation; Make the Road New York; Mission Be; and Sepa Mujer.
HWCLI
August 3, 2022
LI Cares To Hold Senior Fair In Hauppauge
By Michael DeSantis
Posted August 3rd, 2022
Read on The Patch
Long Island Cares is holding a free senior fair on Friday, Aug. 12 in Hauppauge. (Scott Anderson/Patch)
HAUPPAUGE, NY — A free fair for food-insecure seniors on Long Island is set for Friday, Aug. 12 in Hauppauge.
The Senior Resource Fair is set to run from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at Long Island Cares’ Center for Community Engagement, at 75 Davids Drive, Hauppauge.
The fair is co-sponsored by Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank and PSEG Long Island.
A second fair, for veterans, is scheduled for November at Long Island Cares.
The purpose of the fair is three-fold: provide increased access to nutritious food, offer take-home fresh produce at a special “farmer’s market,” and expose seniors to advocacy efforts on their behalf and the numerous resources available to them, according to Long Island Cares.
Among the events is a farmers market where food will be given away to the seniors who are attending. The food set to be given away includes:
Corn (Long Island)Green Cabbage (Long Island)Zucchini (Long Island)Yellow Squash (Long Island)Green Beans (New York)Blueberries (New Jersey)Cucumbers (NY/NJ)Peaches (New Jersey)Romaine (Long Island)Beets (Long Island)Gold Beets (Long Island)Potatoes (USA)Onions (USA)Italian Eggplant (Long Island)Green Pepper (Long Island)Beefsteak Tomatoes (Long Island)
Agencies and organizations presenting to seniors about their services and products include:
AARPAetna Medical CareAlzheimer’s AssociationAssociation for Mental Health and WellnessClear CaptionsCommon Health CareHWCLI/SNAPIsland Hills ChorusMelissa’s WishNorthwell Health (Breast and Prostate Cancer Peer Education)Ombudsman ProgramPSEG Long IslandRebuilding Together
“Coming together to meet the needs of Long Islanders is at the core of both Long Island Cares andPSEG Long Island’s missions,” said Dr. Jessica Rosati, chief programs officer at Long Island Cares. “We are grateful for the ongoing partnership of PSEG Long Island in ensuring that seniors are provided with the resources needed to live independently and healthy.”
Long Island Cares began its outreach to seniors in 2020, with its Support Our Seniors (SOS) program. In 2021 more than 18,000 food-insecure seniors at senior centers and housing authorities were served 166,000 meals. Both the number of seniors and meals served represented a 28 percent increase over 2020.
Long Island Cares provides emergency food and supplies to 250,000 Long Islanders suffering from food insecurity. In addition to the food bank location in Hauppauge and the more than 300 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other locations it provides food to, Long Island Cares operates five of its own food pantries, in Huntington Station, Lindenhurst, Hampton Bays, Freeport and Bethpage.
“Supporting the communities where we live and work is part of PSEG Long Island’s mission,” said John Keating, PSEG Long Island’s manager of Economic and Community Development. “We are pleased to partner with Long Island Cares to help reach specific groups of our neighbors who may be struggling with food insecurity. These resource fairs will provide important education about assistance programs, as well as nutritious, locally sourced produce and other food, to help eliminate hunger from their lives.”
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.
HWCLI
July 28, 2022
Fed’s rate hikes hit home for Long Islanders
By Newsday Staff
Updated July 28th, 2022
Read on Newsday
The combination of inflation and rate hikes is “a tremendous strain on small business owners right now,” said Phil Andrews, president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce. Credit: Corey Sipkin
This article was reported by Jonathan LaMantia, Maura McDermott, Victor Ocasio, Tory N. Parrish and Ken Schachter. It was written by Schachter.
The Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are rippling through the economy and hitting many Long Islanders in the pocketbook.
While rising interest rates are designed to tame inflation by slowing the economy, they can create a headwind for consumers, investors and businesses.
Rising consumer prices are something that John Kateridge, 25, a retail worker living in Lindenhurst, said he’s seen first-hand.
“We’ve probably raised prices like four times within the last three months or so,” said Kateridge, who works at a pet supply store.
Kateridge said he doesn’t plan to buy any big-ticket items like a car — he drives a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze he plans on using “until it breaks” — and a planned trip with his girlfriend this fall is on hold over rising cost concerns.
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Among the impacts of the increases in the Fed's benchmark rate are:
Higher borrowing costs for businesses, which may be passed along to consumers;Increases in credit card interest rates;Higher rates on car loans;Jumps in adjustable-rate mortgages and home equity lines of credit;Lower prices for bonds, which can hurt fixed-income investors; and one bright spot for savers, Higher annual percentage yields for bank savings accounts.
“Interest rates on car loans and home loans are going to go up,” said John Rizzo, economist and professor at Stony Brook University. “This is all consistent with what the Fed is trying to accomplish, which is slowing down inflation by slowing down the economy.”
Rizzo said it might seem counter-intuitive to fight inflationary prices by increasing the cost of borrowing.
“The idea is that by limiting or reducing home purchases, car purchases, spending with credit cards, that reduces demand overall,” he said. “It’s painful medicine.”
Many small-business owners on Long Island are still suffering the effects of the pandemic, and the combined impact of interest rate hikes and inflation are a heavy burden, said Phil Andrews, president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, a Garden City-based group with about 400 members on Long Island and in Queens and Brooklyn.
“It's really a tremendous strain on small-business owners right now," Andrews said.
Business owners who inquire about loans these days are seeing interest rates of 5% or 6%, compared with 3% or 4% before the recent increases, Andrews said. Minority entrepreneurs are especially hard hit since they’ve historically had less access to capital and savings, he said.
“A lot of them are seeking the loans just to stay afloat,” he said.
Scott Maskin, chief executive of SUNation Energy Inc., a solar system installer based in Ronkonkoma, said that rising rates present multiple challenges.
"Ultimately, any rate hike negatively impacts my business because it costs me more to do business," said Scott Maskin, CEO at SUNation Energy Inc. in Ronkonkoma. Credit: NydiaRose Photography
Increased costs to finance solar systems bruise the consumer, Maskin said, while higher operating costs such as truck loans and lines of credit make it more expensive to run SUNation.
"Ultimately, any rate hike negatively impacts my business because it costs me more to do business," he said.
Long Island commercial real estate, which operates on loans in the 5- to 10-year range, faces a reckoning when those loans come due and interest rates reset, said Patrick Curtis, chief executive of several Bohemia-based property management and commercial real estate brokers, including Suffolk Realty Group and Realty One Group.
"The loan rate is going to explode," he said. "It's a huge deal."
The Fed's short-term interest rate hikes also have an indirect impact on longer-term loans, such as residential mortgages.
Mortgage rates typically move in the same direction as the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds. In a period of high inflation, mortgage rates would be expected to rise, as they did during the first half of the year. But the prospect of the Fed’s actions causing a recession would keep rates lower.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.54% for the week ending July 21, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. At the end of last year, the average was 3.11%
“There is a tug-of-war in market expectations,” Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington, D.C., wrote in commentary Thursday. That back and forth could mean mortgage rates might have already peaked and could stay between 5% and 5.5% through the end of 2022, he wrote.
Brinkmann Hardware Corp., which owns hardware stores in Blue Point, Holbrook, Miller Place and Sayville and a paint store in Jamesport, could face a slowdown in its expansion and redevelopment projects, said co-owner Hank Brinkmann.
“It’s making these projects more expensive, which will probably slow us down in engaging in new projects because we’ll have to leave more equity in these current projects,” he said.
Many Long Islanders are finding it difficult to pay their bills, community leaders said.
“We hear stories every day of families having to make impossible choices,” said Rebecca Sanin, CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. Credit: James Escher
“We hear stories every day of families having to make impossible choices and of our seniors and those on fixed incomes struggling to put food on the table,” Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Huntington Station-based Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said in an email.
The rate hike announced Wednesday “may be an important step to address inflation,” Sanin said. But, she said, it “also has a significant impact on families that are trying to make ends meet in a region where cost of living is already significant.”
Though the Federal Reserve wields powerful tools, Anthony "Tony" Borelli, a financial adviser for Mass Mutual Financial Group in Melville, cautioned that inflationary factors like labor shortages and goods scarcity stemming from snarled global supply chains are beyond their control.
"The Fed can't solve inflation exclusively," he said.
HWCLI
July 27, 2022
Posted July 27, 2022
Read Here
Critical Milestone Advances Governor's Proposal to Renovate and Potentially Expand Penn and Fund Public Realm and Transit Improvements Without Raising Taxes or Fares on New Yorkers
Project Components Include Station Reconstruction and Potential Expansion; Up to 708 Units of Affordable and Supportive Housing; Vibrant Open Space; and Enhancements to Streets, Sidewalks, and Transit Infrastructure
Vote Follows ESD Board Approval of Penn Station General Project Plan
Information on Project Financing, Costs, and Cost-Sharing Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today applauded the Public Authorities Control Board's vote to approve a financial framework supporting her proposal to rebuild and potentially expand Penn Station and reactivate the surrounding area. The unanimous vote marks a major step toward actualizing the Governor's plan, which includes the construction of a new, modern train station; up to 1,800 units of housing - including hundreds of affordable and supportive housing units - brand-new, state-of-the-art office space; 8 acres of open space; and enhancements to the streets, sidewalks, and local transit infrastructure. It also affirms the State's commitment to delivering the project without raising taxes on New Yorkers or fares on transit riders.
Last week, Empire State Development's Board of Directors voted to approve the Pennsylvania Station Area Civic and Land Use Improvement Project's General Project Plan, Governor Hochul's vision to reimagine Penn Station and the surrounding area.
"For far too long, Penn Station has been an overcrowded, cramped, and neglected mess. This vote is a major milestone in our plan to fix Penn Station and transform the surrounding neighborhood," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers deserve a station they can be proud of, quality affordable housing to call home, walkable streets and sidewalks, and easy access to transit. This plan will provide all of that and more. I thank the Public Authorities Control Board for their approval, and I look forward to continued engagement with elected partners, community leaders, and other stakeholders as we move this project forward and deliver a station worthy of New York."
"For decades there has been talk of building a new Penn Station, but now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a station worthy of the greatest city in the world," said New York City Eric Adams. "Future generations of New Yorkers will see the new Penn Station as proof that New York City can achieve big things, even during challenging times. I applaud the PACB for this historic vote, which will bring a world-class transit hub, quality jobs, and much-needed affordable housing to our city. I also want to thank Governor Hochul, as well as Governor Murphy and our partners at the MTA, Amtrak, and NJ Transit, for demonstrating that government can work quickly and collaboratively to 'Get Stuff Done.'"
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Governor Hochul's vision for a world-class Penn Station and revitalized surrounding neighborhood is the positive, long overdue transformation that New Yorkers deserve. Not only is the plan a win-win for riders, residents, and commuters, it is also a forceful catalyst for New York's long-term economic development. Transit-oriented development is a model of sustainable growth, and we are proud of the open, public process this project has gone through over the last two years, strengthened by the input of civic groups and community members who made their voices heard and helped improve the plan."
The PACB vote locks in an agreement between Governor Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams on a financial framework to fund the station reconstruction and potential expansion, public realm improvements, and enhancements to transit infrastructure. The framework ensures that the City maintains a current and consistent level of property tax revenue while requiring that the project funding come in part from private development. As part of the agreement, the City and State have committed to establishing a joint city-state development corporation to oversee public realm improvements in coordination with the Penn Station Public Realm Task Force.
Last November, Governor Hochul announced a comprehensive vision for a new commuter-first, world-class Penn Station and revitalized surrounding neighborhood that reflects the community's needs and focuses on public transit and public realm improvements. The Governor's plan prioritizes the reconstruction of the existing station while the station expansion and the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project - both of which the Governor supports - continue to advance. Under the plan, New Yorkers can expect:
A modern, single-level, double-height train station that doubles passenger circulation space on the new public level from approximately 123,000 square feet to approximately 250,000 square feet.Up to 1800 residential units, (of which up to 708, or nearly 40 percent of units, would be affordable or supportive housing);8 acres of vibrant open space.Wider sidewalks, pedestrian-friendly shared streets, brand-new pedestrian plazas, and protected bike lanes.Nearly twice as many entrances to Penn Station with new underground corridors connecting 34th Street-Herald Square to Penn.A suite of social services to support people experiencing homelessness and those with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.
In June, Governor Hochul announced that the Penn Station Reconstruction project had entered the design phase and launched a request for proposals for the design of the new Penn Station. Awards are expected to be announced in the fall.
Governor Hochul's plan comes after more than two years of community engagement, including more than 100 public meetings held by Empire State Development (ESD) and a year of public comment to solicit neighborhood input and recommendations. The final plan is a direct response to public feedback from local officials, community members, civic organizations, and other stakeholders.
Additional information about the project, including project financing, anticipated costs, cost-sharing, and revenues from private development, is available on ESD's website.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Plan Association Tom Wright said, "For far too long, the region's commuters and New Yorkers have suffered the humiliation of Penn Station - a symbol of everything that was wrong with 20th century planning: disinvestment, apathy and poor urban design. As both Penn Access and Gateway move forward, bringing more passengers, energy and connectivity to the district, we are pleased to see the renovation and expansion of Penn Station take a major step forward thanks to Governor Hochul's strong leadership and partnership with Mayor Adams. With input from elected officials, community members and stakeholders, the public won significant improvements to the plan including over 700 new units of affordable housing, commitments to improve the public realm, and reduced commercial density. We still have a long way to go, but this plan sets in motion significant improvements to Penn Station and the surrounding district which will benefit commuters, businesses and residents for decades to come."
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for New York City Kathryn Wylde said, "Approval of the first phase of the long-awaited plan for rebuilding Penn Station is a critical step toward New York's post-pandemic resurgence. Cooperation between the Governor, Mayor and state Legislature have made this breakthrough possible and is a promising precedent for continued modernization of our transportation infrastructure and growth of our economy."
Chief Executive Officer at the Association for a Better New York Melva M. Miller said, "We are committed to moving New York forward and Governor Hochul's plan for a revitalized Penn Station moves us closer to accomplishing just that. The General Project Plan will not only improve commutes for hundreds of thousands of people - delivering a better quality of life for New Yorkers - it will also expand the city's affordable housing inventory and create new opportunities for economic and inclusive growth. Through thoughtful input from the public and private sectors, this plan aligns with our vision of making New York a better place to live, work, and visit for all."
President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York Gary LaBarbera said, "Today represents yet another crucial step forward in modernizing and revitalizing Penn Station, a project that will create thousands of middle-class careers with benefits for hardworking New Yorkers and serve as a catalyst for the city's long overdue social and economic comeback. We applaud Governor Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams for their steadfast dedication to this project and are grateful for their leadership as this key initiative moves forward. Our members look forward to working with stakeholders and our partners across the industry to finally transform Penn Station into an exemplary and functional transit hub that New Yorkers deserve and can truly take pride in."
President and Chief Executive Officer at the New York Building Congress Carlo A. Scissura said, "With today's vote, a whole new generation of New Yorkers will reap the benefits of a revitalized Penn Station. This is one of the most important infrastructure priorities of our lifetime - no hyperbole. And thanks to robust community input, the plan provides even more benefits for the public, including more affordable housing, more public realm improvements, more services and less density. Not to mention the thousands of new jobs created and the economic boost a reimagined Penn Station and surrounding community will deliver for the entire region. Now let's get shovels in the ground and build for the future."
Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Joseph Azzopardi said, "We applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership in moving New York forward with the upgrade of Penn Station and redevelopment of its surrounding area. These plans will not only build up this prominent area of New York City but will create good-paying and career-sustaining union jobs. District Council 9 looks forward to our work together as we continue to revitalize New York and construct a pathway to the middle class for many New Yorkers."
President of 32BJ Kyle Bragg said, "If New Yorkers can agree on one thing, it's that the current Penn Station is a mess. Today starts a new chapter for Penn Station and brings New York one step closer to the station it deserves. I thank Governor Hochul for bringing her vision to the Penn Station project and for always ensuring that labor has a seat at the table."
Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters Joseph Geiger said, "More than ever, New York City needs a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure to make up for decades of neglect. Governor Hochul's plan meets that obligation and more. Most importantly, it will create thousands of good-paying union jobs and even more apprenticeship opportunities during a time when we need it most. Years from now, when people ask, 'How did New York begin to rebuild its middle class?' This will be the moment they point to."
Business Manager of Laborers' Local 79 Michael Prohaska said, "This plan to fix Penn Station is a plan for all New Yorkers, and we're thrilled to see it move forward. Thanks to Governor Hochul, this project will finally give commuters a new and improved Penn Station and breathe life into the surrounding neighborhood - all with the help of union labor. We look forward to working with the Governor, local and state officials, and our brothers and sisters in labor to deliver a Penn Station that New Yorkers can be proud of."
President of the 34th Street Partnership Dan Biederman said, "The 34thStreet Partnership is thrilled by the approval of the City and State PILOT Agreement. The slated improvements made possible by the Governor's plan will transform the commuter experience in and around the station by increasing accessibility and improving street conditions, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to give New York the modern transportation hub that it deserves. With recent improvements at Moynihan Train Hall, Manhattan West, Penn 1, and Penn 2, the area around Penn Station is already transforming and we applaud Governor Hochul and the PACB for their leadership in moving this project forward as part of that bold vision."
President of the Real Estate Board of New York James Whelan said, "This plan will give New Yorkers the modern Penn Station they deserve - and it will deliver the right mix of high-quality office space, much-needed housing, and public realm improvements to support a dynamic, live-work-play district that keeps New York City competitive. We applaud Governor Hochul and the Public Authorities Control Board for taking another key step to turn this vision into reality and we look forward to seeing New Yorkers enjoy the expanded transit hub, new affordable and supportive housing, and the many family-sustaining jobs that will come with it."
President of the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce Lisa Sorin said, "Today's vote is an important step toward improving the lives of working New Yorkers. For years, Bronxites have faced overcrowded trains, delays and lost wages because of Penn Station's inadequacies. With the GPP, that all changes with less congestion, improved accessibility, new intermodal connections and a transformed surrounding neighborhood to greatly enhance the commuting experience. The new Penn will center equity, access and improve quality of life for the thousands of Bronxites who rely on it every day."
President and Chief Executive Officer at the Queens Chamber of Commerce Thomas Grech said, "On behalf of the oldest and largest business association in Queens, I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul and the team at Empire State Development for their vision to transform Penn Station into a commuter-first, world-class transit hub. Today's vote by the Public Authorities Control Board is an important step towards making this vision a reality. Ensuring that our workforce has access to reliable public transportation is vital to the future of our city, state and regional economies. We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Hochul to ensure that businesses in New York can continue to grow, thrive and create jobs for New Yorkers."
President and Chief Executive Officer at the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation Justin Rodgers said, "For commuters in Downtown Jamaica and Southeast Queens, Penn Station has always been an obstacle for any trip to Midtown. Today's vote to adopt Governor Hochul's transformative GPP - a commuter-first vision carefully crafted with input from community groups and elected officials to create a more sustainable and efficient station and district. These improvements will directly benefit our communities in Southeast Queens by slashing commute times, enhancing our quality of life and helping to revitalize the entire city's economy."
Chief Executive Officer at the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island Rebecca Sanin said, "Today, New Yorkers are one step closer to receiving a transformative investment in our nation's busiest transit hub. Penn Station has long been woefully inadequate when it comes to accessibility, especially for the elderly and people with disabilities. I am excited about the long-needed upgrades that Governor Hochul has proposed for Penn Station to improve accessibility and better the mutual economy between Long Island and NYC for all who travel for work, recreation, access to medical care, education and opportunity."
Executive Director of the Association for a Better Long Island Kyle Strober said, "The Governor is engaged in what can only be described as a historic effort to rebuild and revive Penn Station into something that commuters, travelers, and all New Yorkers can be proud of. The region will reap the benefits for literally generations to come. It is critical that Penn Station be modernized and reconfigured efficiently so that it can accommodate the needs of a 21st Century city that needs to remain the economic capital of the world. Long Islanders will obviously benefit from this project but so too will our shared future as New Yorkers."
Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council John Cameron said, "This vote is a major win for the thousands of Long Islanders who commute to Penn Station every day. A revitalized Penn Station, coupled with a new LIRR concourse, will ensure Long Islanders have a more seamless commute. Thanks to the significant input from stakeholders, the surrounding district will also be a safer, more vibrant and commuter-friendly transit hub than ever before. This is the future that Long Islanders deserve."
HWCLI Uncategorized
June 28, 2022
Rauch Foundation will leave big shoes to fill as it shifts its focus, local leaders say
By Ted Phillips
Updated June 28, 2022
Read on Newsday
Nancy Rauch Douzinas, seen here at LIU Post in Brookville in 2018, is stepping down as the leader of the Rauch Foundation, which will be led by her two daughters. Credit: David L. Pokress
The Rauch Foundation, which has provided millions of dollars in funding to Long Island organizations, will leave big shoes to fill as it shifts its focus to New England, people who worked with the foundation said Tuesday.
President Nancy Rauch Douzinas, who has spent more than three decades trying to bring together people and organizations from Long Island's tangled patchwork of overlapping jurisdictions with a regional approach, is stepping down in April. Her two daughters will take the reins of the foundation.
"The biggest accomplishment we had was getting Long Islanders, from different sectors, from business to labor to nonprofits to educators … to come together, convene them, work together, think together," Douzinas told Newsday, adding the foundation tried to learn lessons from around the country. "Other places were taking a regional approach and that's what we had to try to do on Long Island, to really make change," Rauch Douzinas said Tuesday.
A key component of that approach was the creation of the Long Island Index, which gathered data about housing, transportation, employment, industry, the environment, health and education to help decision-makers think about the region and plan for the future.
The idea behind the index was that "If you have good data, you get leaders from different sectors, you study the good data, you come up with a plan, you fund different groups, [then] you have a chance to make bigger change," she said.
In 2018, the index became a part of Newsday.
The nonprofit has distributed more than $20 million in grants on Long Island since 2015 and made an additional $1 million in donations to groups in Nassau and Suffolk in 2020 for pandemic-related work, according to the foundation.
The foundation isn't completely leaving Long Island but Rauch Douzinas said "we're looking for new leadership to sprout on Long Island."
Her daughter Eva Douzinas will serve as the foundation's next president and another daughter, Ruth Douzinas, will remain on its executive committee. The foundation's New York City office will be relocated to Woodstock, Vermont.
"She [Rauch Douzinas] is a terrific Long Islander who really got people in the public and private sectors thinking about our needs, our challenges, and how important it is to form coalitions and partnerships to address them," said Kevin Law, chairman of the Empire State Development, the state's primary business-aid agency, and former president of Long Island Association. The creation of the Long Island Index filled a void because no one was looking at demographic data wholistically before she came along, Law told Newsday.
The reduced Long Island footprint of the foundation means "Other entities are going to have to pick up the slack," Law said.
Elaine Gross, founder and president of Syosset-based ERASE Racism, said the foundation is their biggest single funder and took a risk on supporting them.
"A small nonprofit like ours that is working on issues related to structural racism does not get people beating down the door trying to support them," Gross told Newsday.
"It's definitely a tremendous loss for our region," Health & Welfare Council of Long Island's president and chief executive Rebecca Sanin said. Sanin said the foundation has provided essential funding for social services.
"It's very difficult to be poor in a suburban environment," she said. With the foundation shifting its focus Sanin said she hopes "that there are other philanthropists and funders that start to look at Long Island as America's first suburb and recognize that we can solve the challenges that we face, but it takes funding to do that."
The Rauch Foundation
Established in 1961 by Louis Rauch and Philip Rauch, Jr.Funding is the legacy of Philip Rauch, Sr.'s auto parts company, Ideal Corp.The foundation focuses on "ideas and organizations that spark and sustain systemic change."
SOURCE: Rauch Foundation
HWCLI
June 23, 2022
Forum focuses on solutions to end gun violence
Read/View on Newsday
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island held a forum Thursday on addressing community violence. Two Long Island women shared their stories of losing sons to gun violence. Newsday TV’s Cecilia Dowd reports.
HWCLI
June 16, 2022
Forum aims to foster groundswell of action against gun violence
By Olivia Winslow
Updated June 16, 2022
Read on Newsday
"It's painful. It's scary. It's messy," but tackling the issue of "escalating" gun violence locally and across the nation needs a groundswell of action and collaboration across all sectors of society, Rebecca Sanin, president and chief executive of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, told a roomful of human service agency officials, educators and government leaders on Thursday.
The impact of everyday gun violence on communities and mass shootings, such as those in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, was the subject of a two-hour panel discussion hosted by the health and welfare council at the Holiday Inn Plainview. It drew more than 100 people.
The five panelists were Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr; Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive of Family and Children's Association, a nonprofit human service agency in Garden City; two mothers who lost their sons to gun violence: Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott Beigel, a teacher, was killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida; and Stephanie Draine, whose son Andre Graydon was killed on New Year's Day 2014 outside a Hempstead bar; and Hampton Bays Schools Superintendent Lars Clemensen.
"We need to vote for who is going to help us change the laws, the federal laws especially, so we have a blanketed law across the United States for reasonable gun safety legislation," Schulman said in an interview. She is the founder of the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund, which sends hundreds of at-risk youth to summer sleep-away camps.
Toulon noted he first became sheriff the same year the Parkland shooting occurred. "Four years later, I'm still talking about the same tragic incidents that are occurring in our country."
Toulon said the sheriff's department had partnered with the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation to provide threat and risk assessment for schools and businesses. He said the department also had a program to encourage students to notify "trusted adults" if they see something on social media or hear students make violent threats.
Clemensen said in an interview: "After Parkland, after Sandy Hook, after Columbine, we continue to respond based on the circumstances of the last incident." No one thing is the solution, he said. It takes "a little bit of everything: teaching children how to be safe in school, it's school hardening, social and emotional health, and also gun safety."
Reynolds said during the panel that "this is preventable. In virtually all of these cases, when it comes to mass shootings, there's a well-worn trail of behaviors that have emerged beforehand … The problem is we don't always recognize them."
Draine focused on the emotional trauma families face. "I lost my 26-year-old son. He left behind a 16-month-old son. I can't even express the pain that I was feeling at that time."
Her foundation, Life After Loss A.N. D. R. E (Ability to Navigate Depression, Recovery Through Empowerment), aims to connect families who are gun violence victims with the support they need. "A traumatized person does not know what's there for them."
Gun violence "should not be ignored … We are suffering across the nation. It's in our own communities. It's in our backyards. We have to change the narrative," she said.
HWCLI
June 12, 2022
OpEd: A Successful 2030 Census Starts Now:
By Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones
Posted June 12, 2022
Read on Long Island Press
It’s hard to blame anyone who was involved with the 2020 Census for wanting to put a pin in the topic for another half-dozen years.
Beyond the massive logistical challenges created by a once-in-a-century pandemic, the 2020 Census faced unprecedented hurdles, including decreased Census Bureau funding, politicization, and a new online format.
While it might be tempting to move on, procrastination is not an option when it comes to the next census. The implications are simply too consequential for us to take a break.
To that end, the New York State Census Equity Fund is not letting any dust settle and is building momentum as we prepare for 2030.
In 2018, the New York State Census Equity Fund, a funder collaborative housed at The New York Community Trust, convened an unprecedented statewide coalition of organizations and advocates to help ensure a fair and accurate count.
The effort paid significant dividends. Experts had predicted that New York would lose two congressional seats in 2020. Ultimately, through relentless outreach, only one seat was lost by the slimmest of margins–just 89 people.
It marked the first time in 80 years that New York did not lose two congressional seats. And those results are even more remarkable considering unanticipated delays in the state’s disbursement of vital funding to support get-out-the-count work.
Some of the most successful efforts took place on Long Island. Both Nassau and Suffolk counties posted higher self-response rates in 2020 than they did in 2010. Nassau’s self-response rate of 74.9 percent was the highest in the state and a 4.5 percent increase from 2010.
Nassau’s increase was driven, in part, by a get-out-the-count effort supported by the Long Island Community Foundation and the New York State Census Equity Fund and organized by the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
The Health and Welfare Council used its deep community ties and engaged more than 450 partners over an extensive two-year effort. The most targeted communities in their outreach efforts—areas with a high proportion of historically undercounted groups—increased their self-response rates.
As the New York State Census Equity Fund prepares for 2030, we’re drawing on lessons learned on Long Island—and across the state—in 2020 to create a roadmap for better results. Even though New York exceeded expectations, people of color and young people were still undercounted.That’s why we must start now. Nassau County’s success was fueled by the fact that it built on infrastructure created during its 2010 Census outreach efforts. That allowed partners to begin planning years in advance.An earlier start will allow for better planning and infrastructure statewide and set the stage for a smoother process. Here are our recommendations on how to move forward:
Concentrate support for digital literacy and online access in tracts that are majority Black and majority low-income.Similarly, rural counties had consistently lower response rates—the likely result of lower levels of broadband access. In 2030, it will be important to tap into libraries, hospitals, and community agencies to increase the count in these areas.Double down on efforts to encourage Latinx New Yorkers to respond to the census. The state’s Hispanic population increased in all but three counties—suggesting we should expand 2020 outreach that proved successful.Refine culturally specific strategies for reaching Asian New Yorkers that recognize the wide diversity in language, traditions, and socioeconomic status.Make deeper inroads into Native American communities, many of which posted low response rates in 2020.Invest in civic engagement efforts to ensure the organizational infrastructure thrives and doesn’t need to be reactivated in 2030.
These targets are achievable–if they are embraced with urgency.
Encouragingly, Long Island is starting from a position of strength. By building on the work of the Long Island Complete Count Committee, it can amplify its 2020 success.
The 2030 count is closer than it may seem. Our efforts between now and then will have lasting implications for the future of our state and the residents who call it home.
There’s no time to delay.
HWCLI
April 8, 2022
New Hires, Promotions on Long Island
By Long Island Press
Posted April 8, 2022
Read on Long Island Press
Isma Chaudhry
DR. ISMA CHAUDHRY Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) named Dr. Chaudhry, a physician and leader at the Islamic Center of Long Island, to the nonprofit’s board of directors. The organization addresses the needs of Long Islanders through advocacy, policy analysis, direct services, regional responses, and support to nonprofit agencies.
Weekly Digest
November 12, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving!
From all of us at the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, we would like to wish you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving! We truly could not be more thankful for all you, our partners, who are working hard every day ensure our region has a bright future ahead.
Support Healthy School Meals for all NY Kids! Sign on by December 1st!
Please join our partners at Hunger Solutions NY (HSNY) in advocating for revolutionary changes to state policy that would permanently enable all New York schools to serve free meals to all of their students.
Together, we are asking Governor Hochul to take action to include provisions for universal free meals in the FY 2023 Budget. These changes would make a huge difference for Long Island districts, many of whom were never able to offer universal free meals until the COVID waiver.
Sign on now on behalf of your organization and please share with your networks:
Click here to read Hunger Solutions' Action Alert.
Health Equity Alliance of Long Island
HWCLI convenes a Health Equity Alliance of Long Island (HEALI) meeting, which strives to address the integration of health and human services for better health outcomes across Long Island. The mission of HEALI is to engage health and human services, community members and other stakeholders to ensure equitable health and life outcomes for all Long Islanders through cross-sector partnerships, innovative funding strategies, and improvements in the health & human service delivery system by:
Developing an IT infrastructure that allows for multi-directional data sharing among agencies while respecting clients’ rights and protecting their privacy.
Improve connectivity between agencies as they screen clients and track referrals within the sector.
Engage community members, being inclusive and using a culturally and linguistically competent lens.
Use our collective power and unified voice to advocate for services and investments needed for Long Island’s diverse communities.
Develop strategies that simultaneously prepare CBOs for change, convey value, and highlight our leadership and expertise to collectively impact a transforming healthcare system.
At our previous meeting, we were delighted to be joined by Naheed Khan, Director of the Community Health Worker program at Nassau Community College, for a conversation on a Community Health Worker can provide health and social service support to individuals in the community and also build community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as community education, counseling, and advocacy If you may be interested in becoming a Community Health Worker, please click here.
The next HEALI remote meeting is December 15th at 10:00am. If you would like the link to the meeting, to participate in the coalition or have any questions, please email Jake Ryan at jryan@hwcli.com or fill out this form.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Booster Shots
The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. The FDA had amended the emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals 18 years of age or older.
The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.
The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, which can be found here.
Vaccines for Children
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children and adolescents age 5 and up! COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. While children and adolescents are at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.
The vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine was rigorously tested and reviewed, and more than 11 million adolescents ages 12-17 have already safely received the COVID-19 vaccine.
To learn more, click here.
Ten State Mass Vaccination Sites Now Open to Five to Eleven Year Old's
The state recently announced that ten (10) of its mass vaccination sites will now offer COVID-19 vaccines for children five (5) to eleven (11) years old. Since the CDC recommended the vaccine for this age group earlier this month, more than 50,000 of New York’s younger residents have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The following locations currently administer the vaccine to 5-11 year old's:
SUNY Old Westbury - Clark Athletic Center 99 Cedar Swamp Road Glen Head NY 11545
SUNY Stony Brook - 1500 Development Drive Stony Brook NY 11794
Parents and guardians can make appointments at state mass vaccination sites here. Additionally, parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their child's pediatrician, family physician, health centers, pharmacies or other providers for vaccination information and to schedule appointments.
Office of Mental Health COVID-19 Impact Survey
The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is conducting a survey to better understand the impact and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in communities statewide. The survey focuses specifically on the pandemic’s effects on individuals who receive public mental health services.
The OMH is looking for responses from individuals who receive services from any OMH licensed, funded, or designated program. For a comprehensive list of OMH programs, please click here. This survey is anonymous.
To complete the survey, please click here or scan the QR code below.
NYS launches new COVID-19 data website
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new centralized website for New York State COVID-19 data. The one-stop website features data on testing, cases, and variants, hospitalizations and fatalities, vaccines, long-term care facilities, and schools. Users can sort New York State Department of Health data by age, gender, race/ethnicity, facility, and county.
Vaccinations at Your Workplace!
Businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities can request for the Nassau County Department of Health to come to your place of work to provide vaccines for you and your co-workers. To request a vaccination event at your workplace, call (516) 227-9570.
Small Business Administration Assistance is Still Available!
If you have yet to register with FEMA or the Small Business Administration (SBA), you have until December 6th, 2021 to apply. Below are the types of disaster loans available to you.
Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. The law limits business loans to $2,000,000.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
For more information and to apply for loans, click here.
New Program Launch at HWCLI
Community Response Collaborative: Connecting People to Resources & Referrals
As COVID-19 surged throughout the region over the last year and half, the impact of this pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on Long Island families, businesses, and individuals living in under-served and under-resourced communities. As a result of these hardships, people are in desperate need of assistance.
At HWCLI, we are excited to announce we will be part of the solution by working with other community-based organizations to build a coordinated network of resources & referrals to address a multitude of health, economic, and social care needs for our Long Island populations.
Click here for the Community Response Collaborative Flyer in English.
Click here for the Community Response Collaborative Flyer in Spanish.
To learn more about this essential new program, please click here.
HWCLI's Client Services
Healthcare
The HWCLI Healthcare Access Team helps our clients find health insurance plans that best fits their medical and financial needs. We have an outstanding health care team of certified navigators who help individuals and families enroll in free or low-cost health insurance plans through the New York State Health Marketplace. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the open enrollment period has been extended to December 31, 2021. Enroll with one of our navigators today!
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
HWCLI connects Long Islanders with SNAP benefits by assisting with applications and enrollment and providing necessary education and outreach through community events at the grassroots level. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to eligible individuals and families. In response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed. This federal act allows the issuance of emergency allotment supplemental benefits to households who receive SNAP benefits.
For additional information about the services offered by HWCLI, click here.
Weekly Digest
October 22, 2021
Health Equity Alliance of Long Island
HWCLI convenes a Health Equity Alliance of Long Island (HEALI) meeting, which strives to address the integration of health and human services for better health outcomes across Long Island. The mission of HEALI is to engage health and human services, community members and other stakeholders to ensure equitable health and life outcomes for all Long Islanders through cross-sector partnerships, innovative funding strategies, and improvements in the health & human service delivery system by:
Developing an IT infrastructure that allows for multi-directional data sharing among agencies while respecting clients’ rights and protecting their privacy.
Improve connectivity between agencies as they screen clients and track referrals within the sector.
Engage community members, being inclusive and using a culturally and linguistically competent lens.
Use our collective power and unified voice to advocate for services and investments needed for Long Island’s diverse communities.
Develop strategies that simultaneously prepare CBOs for change, convey value, and highlight our leadership and expertise to collectively impact a transforming healthcare system.
The HEALI Steering Committee is looking for feedback about your experience to help inform their planning and advocacy work. Please help HEALI advocate for increased health and human service integration and better outcomes for all Long Islanders by completing this very brief HEALI Survey. It will take less than five minutes and will provide valuable input.
The next HEALI remote meeting is November 17th at 10:00am. If you would like the link to the meeting, to participate in the coalition or have any questions, please email Jake Ryan at jryan@hwcli.com.
HWCLI's Client Services
Healthcare
The HWCLI Healthcare Access Team helps our clients find health insurance plans that best fits their medical and financial needs. We have an outstanding health care team of certified navigators who help individuals and families enroll in free or low-cost health insurance plans through the New York State Health Marketplace. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the open enrollment period has been extended to December 31, 2021. Enroll with one of our navigators today!
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
HWCLI connects Long Islanders with SNAP benefits by assisting with applications and enrollment and providing necessary education and outreach through community events at the grassroots level. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to eligible individuals and families. In response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed. This federal act allows the issuance of emergency allotment supplemental benefits to households who receive SNAP benefits.
For additional information about the services offered by HWCLI, click here.
Empower Life on Long Island
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for many. Whether its grief, anxiety, depression or substance abuse, Americans are still grappling with how the pandemic has shaped our lives for the past eighteen months. The Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Service is using the COVID-19 Emergency Response for Suicide Prevention Grant to support the Long Island community by providing a robust support system, counseling and treatment for those struggling with their mental health.
For more information about this important initiative, please click here.
Hunger Solutions New York Welcomes Andres Vives as Executive Director
Hunger Solutions New York’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Andres Vives as Executive Director. Mr. Vives assumes the Executive Director position with more than eleven years of experience in executive leadership, including nine years as Hunger Solutions New York’s Associate Executive Director. In that role, he managed a significant organizational expansion, developed and implemented a strategic plan to increase organizational visibility, improved program design, and organized Hunger Solutions New York’s first statewide Anti-Hunger Conference.
“I’m grateful to Hunger Solutions New York’s Board of Directors for their trust in me and for this opportunity to lead a well-established organization that’s making a difference for New Yorkers every day,” said Andres. “My goal as Executive Director is to increase the reach of our organization by investing in our dedicated team, strengthening and promoting the Hunger Solutions New York brand, and deepening our partnerships with other anti-hunger stakeholders. I will build on the successes of the past 36 years while creating new opportunities for collaboration, resource development, and outreach. I’m excited to be working with our staff, board, statewide and community partners, and others committed to ending hunger in New York State.”
Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project
ABOUT THE JOSEPH P. DWYER VETERANS PEER SUPPORT PROJECT:
The Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project is based on the principles of mutual self-help. By bringing veterans together to share experiences, camaraderie, and support, each has the opportunity to speak freely and openly about their military service without judgment. The Dwyer Project is staffed by veterans of all eras who have experienced their own readjustments to civilian life. By facilitating group discussions and engaging in activities of mutual interest, veterans build trust, learn from each other, and overcome common challenges.
Weekly group meetings are held in accessible locations throughout Suffolk County. They are facilitated by trained veterans, who are backed-up by a team of behavioral health professionals and resource experts. Veterans may participate in multiple groups or find one that matches his or her needs and interests.
To learn more about the services provided, please email vetspeertopeer@suffolkcountyny.gov, call (631)-853-8345 or click here.
The Dwyer Project Brochure can be found here.
Centering the Family Experience: Implications from Help Me Grow-Long Island's Report Webinar
Join The Education Trust - New York and Kids Can't Wait in a discussion about Help Me Grow - Long Island's "Centering the Family Experience: Implications for Long Island’s Early Childhood System." In this report, feedback from families led to further exploration of existing quantitative data to identify an under-recognized issue for families: specifically how obstacles in registering for the local school district discouraged and delayed families seeking special education evaluation for their young children with suspected developmental delays. The event will include a panel to discuss the reports findings and recommendations.
November 5, 2021 at 12:00pm
If you would like to register for the event, please click here.
Hope For Youth is Looking for Therapeutic Foster Families
Hope For Youth announces the launch of Project 21 designed to increase foster bed capacity and ensure that every youth in care has a home to come back to after a long day. The goal of Project 21 is to increase the number of therapeutic foster families certified with Hope For Youth. The increase in therapeutic foster families will directly increase the number of beds available for youth in care.
Hope For Youth offers digital orientations the last Thursday of every month for those interested in learning more about the process of becoming a therapeutic foster parent at Hope For Youth. Individuals interested in additional information or attending the orientation sessions should contact, Tina Basile, Project 21 Coordinator at (631)782-6516 or tbasile@hfyny.org.
COVID-19 Booster Shot
The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. CDC data show that in August 2021, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. was more than 11 times greater for unvaccinated people than for fully vaccinated people. The FDA had amended the emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals:
65 years of age and older
18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.
The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
The Public Health Collaborative has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, which can be found here.
Community Organizations Urge New Yorkers to Vote YES on Voting Rights and Redistricting Ballot Questions
On November 2nd, as voters head to the polls, they will have the opportunity to vote on ballot questions that will improve the state’s voting rights and redistricting process.
To view the ballot questions and for more information, please click here.
NYS FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers
The Coastal Storm that hit Long Island this week brought heavy rain and high winds, causing flooding and power outages. Personnel from state agencies such as the Department of Financial Services, Department of Health, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Children and Family Services and Department of Labor will be stationed within the DRCs to connect impacted citizens with state programs or services that may be available to assist them in their recovery. At the recovery center, residents can come tto apply for assistance, check on their application status, and ask questions.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Nassau County
Location: Senator Michael Tully Park
1801 Evergreen Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
Operating times: 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Suffolk County
Location: Rose Caracappa Senior Center
739 NY-25A, Mt Sinai, NY 11768
Operating times: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday
For additional online resources, as well as FEMA downloadable pamphlets, please click here, or call 800-621-3362
HHS Launches Spanish Language App to Help Latinos Navigate Health Care Questions
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a Spanish version of the QuestionBuilder app, which can help Latino patients prepare for their in-person or telehealth appointments. An HHS report found that Spanish-speaking Latino adults are more likely to worry about medical bills compared to their English-speaking counterparts, and previous research shows that Latinos with limited English proficiency are less likely to obtain outpatient care and receive prescriptions than English-speaking Latinos. The QuestionBuilder in Spanish is available for phone, tablet, or laptop at no charge through Apple App Store and Google Play.
To read the full press report in English, please click here.
To read the full press report in Spanish, please click here.
Restaurant Meals Program Signed Into Law
Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation establishing a statewide Restaurant Meals Program as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Once approved by the USDA, the law will allow those who are homeless, disabled, or over 60 to use their SNAP benefits to receive prepared or hot food from participating restaurants. HWCLI is working with partners across the region on the roll-out of this important program. To learn more, contact Jake Ryan at jryan@hwcli.com.
In addition to helping those who may encounter challenges cooking and storing food, Governor Hochul announced the creation of a Restaurant Resiliency Program that will enable food pantries to contract with restaurants. The Long Island region has been awarded $1.5 million with Island Harvest and Long Island Cares receiving $793,657 each. Funds will provide relief to the restaurant industry which continues to face challenges due to COVID-19. Restaurants can apply for this program by clicking here.
To learn more about the Restaurant Meals Program, click here.
Secure Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant
Governor Hochul announced the opening of the application period for $25 million in grants to strengthen safety and security measures at facilities of nonprofit organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or missions. The funding is being administered through the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Program at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and allows for the purchase of additional security needs.
Through the latest round of funding, awards of up to $50,000 will be granted to support two-year contracts that are expected to begin in June of 2022. Funds can cover exterior or interior security improvements, including lighting locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, barriers, access control, shatter-resistant glass, blast-resistant film and public address systems. Funds can also cover costs associated with security training.
Eligible organizations may submit up to three applications for a maximum of $150,000. Each facility will require a separate application.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 7, 2022. Please click here for eligibility requirements, instructions, and additional information.
Realtors Relief Fund
The Long Island Board of REALTORS® is helping those displaced by Ida's flooding. Have you been negatively affected by Hurricane Ida and need housing assistance? You may be eligible to receive housing assistance. LIBOR, in partnership with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation and New York Association of REALTORS® is providing assistance to those in need.
Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options:
1) Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the Hurricane Ida Disaster or;
2) Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Hurricane Ida Disaster. Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $2,000 per applicant per household. Please read application for complete requirements, eligibility and restrictions on use. Deadline for application submission is October 31, 2021.
If you would like to apply online, click here.
If you would like to mail you application, download and print the application here and send to:
IDA RELIEF APPLICATION
c/o Long Island Board of REALTORS®
300 Sunrise Highway
West Babylon, NY 11704
Any questions? Please email idarelief@lirealtor.com
No-cost cancer screening!
Cancer screening is important because it can detect cancer at an early stage in people who aren't showing symptoms, thereby reducing their chance of dying from cancer. The Cancer Services Program offers no-cost breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings to uninsured men and women in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. To learn more about the Suffolk program, call (631) 548-6320. To learn more about the Nassau program, call (718) 470-4998.
Financial Recovery Resources for Households, Small Businesses & Non-profit Organizations
Boost Nassau Resource Center – Connects residents, businesses, and non-profits with COVID-19 financial recovery grant and loan programs. Newly added to the Center is the BOOST Main Street Small Business Grant Program and the Boost Nassau Nonprofit Grant. The Household Assistance Program will be released soon.
Entities can make an appointment with the Boost Nassau Resource Team to find out which resources align with various recovery needs. The Center is in Eisenhower Park and can also be reached at (516) 572-2888.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance – Provides financial assistance for funerals that have resulted from deaths related to COVID-19.
NYS launches new COVID-19 data website
On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new centralized website for New York State COVID-19 data. The one-stop website features data on testing, cases, and variants, hospitalizations and fatalities, vaccines, long-term care facilities, and schools. Users can sort New York State Department of Health data by age, gender, race/ethnicity, facility, and county.
Vaccinations at Your Workplace!
Businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities can request for the Nassau County Department of Health to come to your place of work to provide vaccines for you and your co-workers. To request a vaccination event at your workplace, call (516) 227-9570.
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Established in 1947, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents by responding to their needs through the promotion and development of public policies and direct services.
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Phone: 516-483-1110
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E-mail: connect@hwcli.com
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