Programs

Primary Care

Fair Start Program

This project focuses on addressing health inequities in New York City generally, and Staten Island specifically. Recent research focuses on the relationship between social determinants of health and morbidity and mortality. The goal of this project is to improve access to healthy food options, exercise, life-skill training, primary care consultations, public health interventions, and impact health outcomes.

This project has virtual components, a weekly hub for individuals to check in regarding their progress during the program, weekly cooking classes, yoga classes, life-skills classes, and as needed consultations with a primary care physician The project also includes an evaluation of the project that will assess gains of participants over time in order to develop an evidence based strategy for impacting health outcomes that can later be initiated in many other underserved communities. The groups will all be residents of Staten Island and will be divided into three subgroups: college students, veterans, and individuals living in NYCHA housing. We also work with individuals on specific public health policy empowerment through a module training created by one of the co-investigators at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

This project is a partnership with several institutions including Staten Island PPS, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the Wagner College Physician Assistant Program, H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths, and several healthcare and healthy food providing programs. The project began in January, 2024 and will last for 12 months, with follow-up and support for participants after the study’s conclusion.