Category: Health Equity

Staten Island PPS is proud to announce being awarded the Social Care Network (SCN) lead entity for Richmond County!

Staten Island PPS is honored to have been selected as 1 of 9 organizations statewide to receive funding over the next three years to create a Social Care Network (SCN) program. The program is a key part of the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) 1115 Medicaid waiver amendment.

Serving over 100,000 Staten Islanders for nearly a decade, our diverse network of organizations provides a whole-person approach to care, integrating medical, behavioral health and social care. Read our 2023 Impact Report to learn more about our programs.

The SCN program will help address disparities by connecting Medicaid members to critical social services that have an impact on health outcomes.

With strong academic credentials documented in peer-reviewed journals, Staten Island PPS excels at leveraging cutting-edge technology, data platforms and patient facing technology. Ready to lead, we invite you to join our network. Complete this webform and a member of our team will reach out to explore a potential partnership.

Congratulations to the Newest Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Graduates!

Congratulations to the 2023 Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) class! These newly certified CRPAs will go on to make a difference in someone’s life by supporting individuals living with substance use disorder. As part of the program, they will become employed at one of Staten Island PPS’s partner organizations.

The primary function of a CRPA is doing outreach with people currently in a program or considering treatment. Using their recovery experience, professional training and lived experience, peers boost individuals’ engagement in treatment and commitment to recovery.

Thank you to special guest speaker, Stephen Nico, Peer Supervisor at Richmond University Medical Center for sharing his perspective with the class as a peer counselor and for screening this cohort!

The CRPA program is one of four free apprenticeship programs sponsored by Staten Island PPS. To learn more about the program and how to become a CRPA, visit statenislandpps.org/certified-recovery-peer-advocate.

MicroGrant Opportunity Available for Staten Island Nonprofits!

A micro-grant opportunity designed to support direct service programming that addresses social determinants of health is currently available for a short time. This Request for Proposals (RFP), being made available through Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS), aims to establish new partnerships with organizations across Staten Island, fostering greater collaboration and innovation in improving health outcomes for individuals in need, while providing resources for internal capacity building that will improve service provision to communities in need.

  • This opportunity, including full RFP and application templates can be found at this link.
  • FAQs are available on the website, and by PDF here.
  • Recording about this RFP and how to apply is available here: https://youtu.be/V9jxlzp-0EU

If you have any questions or trouble accessing any of these materials, feel free to email our Director of Programs & Development, Michelle Bascome, at michelle@sinfpa.org.

 

Community Health Center of Richmond Received a $500,000 Grant from Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation to Advance Maternal Health Outcomes

A $500,000 grant from Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation will help narrow the maternal health inequity gap across Staten Island and surrounding communities.

To celebrate the start of Black Maternal Health Week, Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation today presented a $500,000 grant to the Community Health Center of Richmond, Inc. (“CHCR”) to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the borough of Richmond County, Staten Island, New York. The grant will support CHCR’s ongoing work to sustain healthy
pregnancies, reduce preterm births, and foster strong parenting by improving access to culturally competent, quality prenatal and postpartum care.

“High quality, culturally competent maternal healthcare not only ensures the health and wellbeing of moms and babies, but also serves as a vital public health resource that lifts up and supports entire families, communities and health systems across New York,” said Mark Levy, MD, President, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus. “This latest partnership between Empire and CHCR is going to help build a brighter, healthier future for mothers and babies throughout the state.”

CHCR will utilize grant funds to:
1. Expand maternal health education for patients during their third trimester, including childbirth education, birthing plans and empowering women to speak with their caregivers.
2. Expand postpartum follow-up and create more opportunities to connect families with resources.
3. Implement group prenatal care model, Centering Pregnancy, and expand cohorts across CHCR’s locations.
4. Support Staten Island Perinatal Network for Better Birth Outcomes as it transitions from a coalition to an independent sustainable not-for-profit corporation.
5. Grow innovative partnerships with select chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (one of the nation’s oldest Black fraternities) to increase breastfeeding education and awareness across the communities of each alumni chapter.

According to the New York Department of Health, the maternal mortality rate in New York was 18.9 per 100,000 live births, and women with less than a high school education are almost three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women with at least a college degree. Additionally, Black women are almost four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

CHCR and Empire celebrated the grant announcement with a check presentation ceremony at CHCR’s health center located at 135 Canal Street, 3rd Floor, Staten Island, New York, that featured remarks from CHCR CEO, Dr. Henry Thompson, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus President Dr. Mark Levy, medical experts and borough representatives, including Drs. Anthony Ferreri, Joseph Conte, and Ginny Mantello.

The parent foundation of Empire BlueCross BlueShield has committed nearly $30 million in grants through 2024 to make significant progress on improving maternal and child health outcomes across the country.

[Press Release] Staten Island Performing Provider System Gets USDOL Federal Grant Award for Apprenticeship Programs

 

 

This grant award will further support the efforts from Staten Island Performing Provider System to fill workforce gaps on Staten Island and beyond.

 

Staten Island, NY, July 2022 – Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) has received the Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) federal grant award from the United States Department of Labor for $2 million over 4 years for four apprenticeship titles: Community Health Worker (CHW), Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA), Home Health Aide (HHA), and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This grant award will further support the efforts from SI PPS to fill workforce gaps brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and will streamline the process from training to employment. The goal is to increase the number of registered apprentices by 500 in apprenticeable occupations throughout the region.

 

“Multiple letters of support were instrumental to this process. These letters came from health care organizations, faith-based organizations, continuing care organizations, and higher education training partners,” said SI PPS’s Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives & Operations, Ashley Restaino.

 

Joseph Conte, executive director of the SI PPS adds, “The SI PPS is honored on being awarded the Apprenticeship Building America Grant. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has recognized only 30 organizations across the nation to receive this funding. It is an acknowledgement of the PPS’s commitment to supporting those affected by disparities and healthcare employers who are struggling to fill positions. The apprenticeship model is an excellent approach to providing economic opportunity to those in need and supporting healthcare employers as they search for new team members to fill in gaps left by COVID.  This award focuses on positions to support substance use disorder providers, nursing homes and home health agencies who have been especially hard hit and to expand our apprenticeship program throughout New York State and beyond.”

 

“The PPS is playing a vital role in attracting funding for training and employment to the members of the community who have been affected by the opportunity gap,” added Brahim Ardolic, MD executive director at SIUH. “Many don’t get a fair chance to even believe they can achieve something, let alone the resources necessary to reach for it. This has nothing to do with a person’s abilities and everything to do with the opportunities available to them. This work levels the playing field. We are going to see thousands of lives changed in Staten Island and beyond.”

 

About Staten Island Performing Provider System

 

In 2014, Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) formed an integrated network of medical, behavioral, and social services agencies under the New York State Department of Health Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP). Our founding goals included improving the quality of care, reducing costs and improving health outcomes for Staten Island’s Medicaid and uninsured populations. By the end of the DSRIP Program, we exceeded our goals and maintained our network to continue enhancing and refining the transformative work built in the Staten Island Community.

 

Today, we continue to work with our partners to improve population health outcomes, address social determinants of health, grow our network and reduce health disparities. We are dedicated to improving health equity by holding conversations with our community, creating educational and workforce opportunities for youth, and bridging connections with non-traditional service providers to meet people where they are in the community. Learn more at www.statenislandpps.org.

 

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[Press Release] Staten Island Performing Provider System & Partners Get NYSDOL Approval for New Apprenticeship Programs

 

 

These new approvals are a part of a greater effort from Staten Island Performing Provider System to fill workforce gaps on Staten Island.

 

Staten Island, NY, APRIL, 2022 – Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) has received approval from the New York State Department of Labor for three apprenticeship programs; Community Health Worker (CHW), Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This is the first time that these apprenticeships have been granted approval in the state of New York. These new apprenticeships are a part of a greater effort from SI PPS to fill workforce gaps on Staten Island and will streamline the process from training to employment.

 

The apprenticeships are a mix of classroom and on the job learning. Students who have taken the CHW, CRPA, or CNA classes can continue their education with hands-on learning experience. SI PPS has been collaborating with Brian Licata, Membership Relations Manager at Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, to expand the reach of the apprenticeship program by connecting with programs within the New York City Department of Education to introduce healthcare career paths to youth on Staten Island.

 

Mr. Licata added, “The SI PPS has been instrumental in helping the SI Chamber navigate the labor market material and training programs that are needed to meet the demands of the local industry.”

 

SI PPS has been expanding their workforce efforts since 2015. Results from a 2015 partner survey indicated unmet training and job development needs. From these results, SI PPS began to develop and offer continuing education certificate programs in conjunction with institutes of higher education. These programs include CHW, CRPA, CNA, and Home Health Aide (HHA). Some of these courses also offer a college credit component. The trainings are free for the students and open to any Staten Island resident who is eligible. As of 2021, SI PPS and participating partners have trained 95 CHWs and CRPAs, 25 CNAs and 10 HHAs. The Home Health Aide program was featured in an article published in October 2021: https://www.silive.com/news/2021/10/free-program-aims-to-tackle-home-health-care-needs-on-staten-island.html. Since then, the graduates from the Home Health Aide program obtained their Home Health Aide Certificate approved by New York State and have begun employment at SafeHarbor Healthcare Services on Staten Island.

 

“The workplace learning programs support participants’ entry and advancement in health care jobs, offer existing staff the ability to learn new skills and earn college credits toward a degree, and help incumbent staff adapt to new job demands,” said Joseph Conte, PhD, executive director of SI PPS. “From the organization’s perspective, these programs build hiring pipelines for recruitment needs, promote collaboration, allow for a platform to continually review, assess and modify skills training to keep the programs meaningful, and enhance collaboration among organized labor, employers and higher education to build community relationships to ensure there is staff to fill current and new job needs.”

 

“It’s easy to overlook what tremendous value SI PPS has brought to the community, from being able to fund critical programs and help people to being able to put people to work,” added Brahim Ardolic, MD, executive director at SIUH. “It’s one thing to do this in an environment where there’s a massive amount of federal funding, but it’s another to be able to maintain and continue this vision. We are going to see thousands of lives change in Staten Island over the next few years.”

 

About Staten Island Performing Provider System

 

In 2014, Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) formed an integrated network of medical, behavioral, and social services agencies under the New York State Department of Health Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP). Our founding goals included improving the quality of care, reducing costs and improving health outcomes for Staten Island’s Medicaid and uninsured populations. By the end of the DSRIP Program, we exceeded our goals and maintained our network to continue enhancing and refining the transformative work built in the Staten Island Community.

 

Today, we continue to work with our partners to improve population health outcomes, address social determinants of health, grow our network and reduce health disparities. We are dedicated to improving health equity by holding conversations with our community, creating educational and workforce opportunities for youth, and bridging connections with non-traditional service providers to meet people where they are in the community. Learn more at www.statenislandpps.org.

 

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Staten Island PPS Receives Grant from Empire BlueCross BlueShield

STATEN ISLAND PPS RECEIVES GRANT FROM EMPIRE BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD FOUNDATION FOR $100,000 TO ADDRESS RACIAL HEALTH INEQUITIES

Staten Island, NY, MARCH, 2021 – Staten Island PPS received a $100,000 grant from Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation as part of the Healthy Generations Program. The Healthy Generations Program focuses on targeting specific, preventable health concerns—and addressing the disparities and social determinants that affect them—to create a healthier generation of Americans. Empire is committed to investing in programs that focus on preventable health conditions while addressing disparities and social determinants of health, which is at the core of the work Staten Island PPS has achieved together with our partners over the last five years.

“At Empire, we are committed to improving the lives and health of everyone in the communities we support,” said Jennifer Kuhn, Empire Medicaid Plan President. “Through this partnership, we’ll continue to provide meaningful resources dedicated to addressing racial inequalities and health disparities that adversely impact communities of color.”

The focus of the grant is highly aligned with SI PPS population health activities – to create systemic change to better address health disparities, especially in communities of color. It will support collaborative health care by incorporating mental health into primary care services, improving access to mental health services and addressing social determinant of health needs.

The $100,000 funding from this grant will be braided into additional program support to build the capacity of our 70 partner organizations to do this work. “Our greatest strength is our comprehensive partnership network” according to Dr. Joseph Conte, Executive Director of the Staten Island PPS. He added, “Together, our work allows providers and CBOs to adjust to the changing conditions stemming from COVID-19 and mitigate the pressures on our healthcare system, while still addressing the multitudes of health crises that we faced before the virus”.

Specifically, this grant will be used to help increase screening and identification of individuals, specifically for substance use disorder, and increase referrals and access to substance use disorder treatment and services, and other behavioral health resources. Staten Island PPS will also use this grant to fund and collaborate with BIPOC led organizations to understand and address racial disparities, ensuring health care providers on Staten Island are providing culturally competent care. “SI PPS is grateful for this funding from Empire”, says Ashley Restaino, Managing Director of Strategy and Operations at SI PPS. “It will help us achieve our mission of not only improving overall health for Staten Islanders but addressing racial disparities that negatively impact BIPOC communities. We are eager to understand health equity issues from the voices of community members and use our influence in the provider community to implement positive changes.”

The activities from this program will create ongoing benefits to communities of color. It will integrate behavioral health into primary care services and help make mental health routine. Our SDoH platform will provide access to additional social resources on an ongoing basis. Cultural competency training, provided under the grant, will also support and encourage a more diverse and culturally sensitive healthcare environment.