Tag: SDOH

Overview of Veterans and Active-Duty Initiatives and Programs on Staten Island

Staten Island has the highest per capita concentration of veterans of the 5 NYC boroughs and Sector New York is the largest Coast Guard operational field command on the East Coast. The main staff of Sector New York is located at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island with one thousand active duty and reserve servicemembers. The Army Reserve 353 Civil Service Command also located at Fort Wadsworth organizes, trains, and equips soldiers to mobilize, deploy and conduct civil military operations with a primary focus in the U.S. Africa and U.S. European Command regions.

Although, we have many veterans and active-duty military service members on Staten Island, the civilian and veteran and military communities and services are not as well integrated and aware of each other as they might be.

In March of 2020, Commissioner James Hendon of the New York City Department of Veteran Services (DVS) in collaboration with the Substance and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) held a Crisis Intercept Mapping session at Fort Wadsworth with the goal of creating a community-based Veteran Suicide Prevention program as a pilot for the other four boroughs. This initiative was driven by the fact that the suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times that of the general population. After the meeting, a partnership was established with the Staten Island Performing Provider System, (SIPPS) to create the Staten Island Veterans Suicide Prevention Collaborative (SIVSPC). SI PPS is the premier solutions-based, data-driven health program in our region, coordinating program delivery to 25,000 Staten Island residents annually. Founded in 2014, SI PPS has brought together the often-disconnected healthcare community to improve services on Staten Island in partnership with 50+ organizations.

Based on the success of the Staten Island Crisis Intercept Mapping pilot collaboration between DVS and SIPPS, similar initiatives were launched in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan.

Since June of 2020, SIVSPC has hosted nine webinars of assorted topics of suicide prevention with an average audience of forty-five participants from the Staten Island Veteran and civilian communities as well as others from Veteran regional and national communities.

In June of 2020, SIPPS received grant funding for 6 SIPPS civilian partner to provide outreach individuals who received services from them and who identified as having served in the military. The civilian partners were Project Hospitality, Richmond University Medical Center, Community Health Action of Staten Island, YMCA, Silverlake Services, Meals on Wheels and Bridge Back to Life. The outreach was to determine Social Determinants of Health needs, i.e., housing, food, employment, medical and behavioral health.

Based on telephone outreach, 252 services were delivered with 125 Veterans were connected to health and social services, forty-eight to food pantries, twenty-three for utility and income support, nineteen for housing or eviction prevention, sixteen for behavioral health. 31,476 meals were delivered to veterans by Meals on Wheels and case workers outreached 150 veterans by phone whose spouses passed away or needed other Covid 19 related support.

This initiative brought home the fact that many veterans on Staten Island were receiving services in civilian organizations but that the civilian organizations were not necessarily considering the impact of the military culture on these individuals. It also brought home the need to provide military cultural competence training to civilian organizations and individuals.

As a result of the DVS partnership, we were connected to Colonel Paul Dietrich, Staten Island representative to the New York City Veterans Advisory Board. Colonel Dietrich participates in many veteran organizations and activities on Staten Island including participating in the Veterans Court as a volunteer mentor with the Staten Island Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). RSVP is a national AmeriCorps organization piloted on Staten Island 57 years ago. RSVP created a Veterans Taskforce in 2016. SIPPS and SIVSPC combined efforts and partners and created the RSVP/SIPPS Staten Island Veterans Taskforce which began meeting on a bimonthly basis in June of 2021. In 2023, we began hybrid meetings with both in person and virtual participants. Participants include DVS, individual veterans, RSVP volunteers, RSVP staff, the Harbor VA Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, the Staten Island VA Community Clinic, the Staten Island Vet Center, Veterans Yoga Project, the College of Staten Island Veteran program, CHASI, Blue Star Families, Staten Island University Hospital, Richmond University Medical Center, the Staten Island Borough Presidents Office, State Assemblyman Tannoukis, State Senator Jessica Scarcella and many others.

In our Taskforce meetings, it became clear that food insecurity was a significant challenge for the veteran and active-duty population. As a result, we formed the Staten Island Veterans Food Insecurity Taskforce which began meeting on a bimonthly basis in September of 2022. Participants include SIUH, Meals on Wheels, Gods Love We Deliver, Harbor VA Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, DVS, New York Military One Source, CHASI, City Harvest and NYC Department of Probation.

The Food Insecurity Taskforce supported the development of the Department of Probation Veterans Neon Kitchen program which provides free and nutritious groceries for our Staten Island Veteran and active duty individual and families. The Veterans Neon Kitchen program joined the Food Insecurity Taskforce which supported it by publicizing it through the network. The Veterans Program was piloted in the Bronx and Staten Island in the spring of 2023. The Bronx pilot ended because there was not sufficient attendance, but the Staten Island program has become permanent.

The Food Insecurity Taskforce also provides support to the Blue Star Families Nourish the Service food pantry at the Coast Guard Station. Every other week, 125 military individuals representing five hundred family members obtain food and supplies.

The Taskforce obtained New York State Dwyer funding through DVS to provide weekly Yoga classes to Veterans at the Staten Island Gold Star American Legion Post. The yoga classes are given by the Veteran Yoga Project, a national organization whose mission is to provide free yoga to veterans. There have been 30 classes held since June of 2023. Participants report their pre and post class levels of pain and distress. They report a 81% reduction in distress and 76 % reduction in pain after the class.

The participation in the Taskforce is growing exponentially, currently with over seventy organizations and individuals involved. Because of this growth, we have made significant changes to the Taskforce organization and procedures for 2024.

  • An Advisory Committee has been formed and met for the first time in December.
  • A monthly newsletter will begin publishing in January of 2024.
  • Monthly hybrid Meetings will be held monthly starting in January of 2024 with issues of Food Insecurity, Volunteers and College students covered in each meeting.
  • The Advisory Committee approved a Mission Statement.

 

Mission:

The Staten Island Veterans Taskforce is a collaborative network comprising more than seventy military and civilian entities and dedicated individuals. Its first objective is to identify pressing challenges encountered by Veterans, service members and their families in Staten Island, and to formulate actionable strategies to address these issues. The Taskforce’s secondary objective is information and resource sharing. The third objective is to provide referrals for individuals in need of services to the appropriate agency or Taskforce member for assistance.

[Press Release] Staten Island PPS Issues $50,000 in Awards to Staten Island Organizations Addressing Social Determinants of Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

For more information, contact:
Lauren Tepfer
ltepfer@statenislandpps.org
(917) 830-1149 

 

Staten Island PPS Issues $50,000 in Awards to Staten Island Organizations Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Staten Island PPS has awarded $10,000 to each of 5 nonprofit organizations to support capacity building and enhanced service provision in addressing critical social determinants of health for Staten Islanders.

Staten Island, NY, October 2023 – Staten Island PPS has partnered with Nonprofit Staten Island (NPSI) to identify five local nonprofit organizations addressing key community needs and award $50,000 in support of their work. This partnership has engaged organizations who have historically been disconnected from healthcare systems and networks.

The connectivity initiated through this opportunity better positions providers who possess valuable expertise and approaches to more effectively address social determinants of health, which have been well-documented as pivotal in shaping community health outcomes. By addressing these determinants comprehensively, in partnership and across sectors, SI PPS and their partners at NPSI aim to tackle the root causes of health disparities and promote holistic approaches to healthcare.

Awards have been issued to A Chance in Life, Celebrate Hope, The Council of Jewish Organizations (COJOSI)/Igud Harrabonim, H.E.A.L.T.H. 4 Youths, and K Woods Foundation. The proposed projects increase resources available to the community and assist these organizations in strengthening the sustainability of their services.

“Building capacity among community-based not-for-profit organizations is critical to addressing health equity issues. The SI PPS and SINFP collaboration generated widespread enthusiasm among our Staten Island-based CBOs,” said Joseph Conte, PhD, the Executive Director of the PPS. “We are proud to be able to award 5 grants and at the same time, disappointed we cannot support all the amazing applications that were received. The winners will add great support for the PPS and Northwell Health ongoing effort to address disparities in the community. Those not selected will be invited to create relationship with the PPS to support the SDOH needs of the community.”

“Through this collaboration with Nonprofit Staten Island, SI PPS has not only fostered connectivity but also harnessed the expertise and innovative approaches of these organizations,” added Tatiana Arguello, Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island. “Together, we are challenging the norms of the nonprofit sector and taking actionable steps in furthering equity, strengthening access, and promoting wellness across our Staten Island community.”

Tal Jasmin, Chief Operating Officer of K Woods Foundation added, “This partnership is a game-changer, challenging the limitations of the non-profit industrial complex and paving the way for transformative change. We are all in when it comes to championing equity, justice, and wellness across Staten Island. Together we are creating a brighter, more equitable future for our community.”

Gabriele Delmonaco, President and CEO of A Chance In Life, said,  “This invaluable support not only ensures that we can continue to offer culturally sensitive food options and nutrition services to our fellow Staten Islanders, but it also underscores the significant role that education, employment, housing, nutrition and access to quality healthcare services together have on an individual’s health and well-being.”

Mark Santo, President of Celebrate Hope Recovery Center, noted, “As a small, grassroots organization doing everything we can to help our fellow Staten Islanders recover from the trauma and pain of substance abuse, we are deeply appreciative of Staten Island Performing Provider System and Nonprofit Staten Island for recognizing the value in our work, and providing us with this invaluable platform to let others in our borough know who we are and what we do.”

Rabbi Mirocznik, President of the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO SI) shared, ” Our collaboration aims to tackle the intricate, integrated, and interconnected social structures, policies, and economic systems that significantly impact health and quality of life outcomes.” Rabbi Mirocznkik continued, “We eagerly anticipate the positive impact and meaningful changes that will result from our joint efforts.”

Co-founder of H.E.A.L.T.H. 4 Youths, Heather Butts, said, “We hope that our project, which seeks to support youth, college students, veterans, and NYCHA residents, has a positive impact on those communities, as well as the greater Staten Island population. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with SI PPS collaborating on the incredible work that they do to address the health and wellness of communities throughout Staten Island.”

Projects funded by this opportunity will be implemented between October 2023 and March 2024, and both SI PPS and NPSI look forward to strengthened and sustained relationships with all awardees to continue the important work of addressing social determinants of health across Staten Island.

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.

About Nonprofit Staten Island

Since 2005, the Nonprofit Staten Island (formerly known as SINFPA) has provided resources, support, and advocacy for the borough’s nonprofit community. Through year-round educational workshops, coalition building, affinity groups, networking opportunities and resource sharing, Nonprofit Staten Island (NPSI) strives to ensure nonprofits have what they need to continue being service providers, employers, and active members of the Staten Island community. NPSI membership includes over 150 cultural institutions, faith-based organizations, health care providers, senior & youth service providers, and local community groups that provide critical services and meaningful programs for our diverse Staten Island individuals, families, communities, and neighborhoods.

Through its work, NPSI is prioritizing and elevating equitable and intersectional response from the nonprofit sector to both long-standing and emerging community needs. By upholding and working in service to the core pillars of Community Voice, Community Response, and Community Building, NPSI strives to foster meaningful collaboration and culturally responsive service provision across the borough and New York City. Learn more at https://nonprofitstatenisland.org/

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