------------------------------
July 2019
Are you ready to promote play?
Play is vital to shaping happy, healthy kids. Unfortunately, not all children in the City of Rochester have access to safe play.
That is why Healthi Kids is working with nearly 50 sites to host play days that repurpose, reclaim and restore play to public spaces. These play days make up the 4th annual PlayROCs Your Neighborhood event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Partners in this effort include local churches, libraries, R-Centers, residents, block clubs and neighborhood groups.
The play days aim to raise awareness of the importance of safe and accessible play spaces >for every child in every neighborhood.
Healthi Kids needs volunteers to help organize games, get kids involved, take photos and share about the play days on social media. To volunteer, contact Joe DiFiore at joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org (mailto:joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org) or 585-224-3127.
See PlayROCs locations here .
------------------------------
Healthi Kids' work is featured in new video
------------------------------
Making walking and biking the easy choice
Could crosswalks, protected bike lanes and other traffic safety features combat chronic illness, control weight and improve mood? The data says yes. On May 23, more than 120 people heard how active transportation could promote better health outcomes. Learn more about the Active Transportation Summit here (https://commongroundhealth.cmail20.com/t/j-l-mtldjhk-yututyhdlt-j/) .
------------------------------
Kids sample summer meals and summer fun
Kids played games and learned about summer educational and recreational opportunities at the Spring Into Summer: Summer Meals Fest on June 8 at Frontier Field. At the event, kids sampled summer meals menu items to give feedback on what they liked and didn't like. To see where kids can get free, healthy summer meals, visit www.summermealsroc.org (https://commongroundhealth.cmail20.com/t/j-l-mtldjhk-yututyhdlt-h/) . See more pictures from the celebration here (https://www.facebook.com/pg/HealthiKids/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2494242750600676) .
------------------------------
Rochester youth help plan park activation
Rochester youth from the Carter Street R-Center walked to Pulaski Park June 12. The walk was part of Rochester's grant-funded 10-Minute Walk to Park planning efforts. There they took part in a park-themed scavenger hunt, played games and shared thoughts on how to encourage activity at the large open park. The city of Rochester, UNITY NE Block Club Association, Save Our Youth and Action for a Better Community organized the walk. View a photo gallery here (https://flhsa.smugmug.com/Healthi-Kids/2019/10-Minute-Walk-to-Pulaski-Park/n-WMFdZ9/) .
------------------------------
NY Kids show gains in health
The 2019 KIDS COUNT data book, developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks New York fifth among states in the nation with respect to children's health. The data book assesses child well-being using 16 measures of health, education, economic and family well-being. The book notes 97 in 100 New York children have health insurance, which is a 70 percent improvement from the first data book in 1990. Teen births in the state have declined 73 percent from 2010 to 2017. View more data here (https://www.aecf.org/resources/2019-kids-count-data-book/#2019-State-Data-Profiles-on-Kids-Well-Being) .
------------------------------
Play Streets 2018
Funds awarded for youth recreation and sports
Rochester Area Community Foundation recently awarded $324,650 in grants to support 20 youth recreation and sports projects. The money is from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports. The city of Rochester will receive $22,380 to expand on the success of the Healthi Kids' Play Streets ROC initiative. Play Streets encourages structured and unstructured recreational activities. Activities will include group games, team-building challenges, organized sports, obstacle courses, dance parties and scavenger hunts. View a list of awardees here (https://www.monroecopost.com/news/20190606/youth-sports-projects-receive-racf-funding/1) .
------------------------------
Learn to prepare produce at public market
Kudos to Foodlink for opening a nutrition education center at the Rochester Public Market. The gleaming new kitchen space inside Shed B will host community nutrition and culinary programs. These include Foodlink's Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetable workshops on Thursdays and Saturday at 9 a.m. Workshops feature recipes, nutrition lessons and shopping tips. Learn more here (http://foodlinkny.org/city-foodlink-celebrate-grand-opening-of-public-markets-nutrition-education-center/) .
------------------------------
School 17 opens greenhouse
Enrico Fermi School 17 celebrated the opening of its new greenhouse June 7. Students are helping to run the greenhouse. They are also learning how plants and vegetables grow and how they can live a greener lifestyle. Greenhouse partners include the Charles House Neighbors in Action, Coordinated Care Services Inc., and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County. United Way volunteers also helped to plant and build flowerbeds inside the greenhouse. See it here (https://13wham.com/news/local/new-greenhouse-for-school-no-17) .
------------------------------
The new Seneca Park Zoo Tropics Adventure Zone natural materials playground opened in June.
New playgrounds added
Stop by the Seneca Park Zoo to see a new natural materials play area called the Tropics Adventure Zone (https://13wham.com/news/local/seneca-park-zoo-opens-new-play-area-near-front-gate) inside the zoo's front entrance. The zoo is building a Tropics Complex Building for orangutans, lemurs and gorillas. It is set to open in 2022.
Mayor Lovely Warren cut the ribbon at the recently renovated First Street Playground. The playground has new play equipment for toddlers and preteens. It also includes benches, bike racks, shade trees and painted walls.
Ground was broken June 8 on the Play with Possibilities playground at the Challenger Miracle Field (https://rochestermiraclefield.org/) in Webster. This inclusive play area will be wheelchair accessible. It will welcome kids with and without physical or cognitive challenges.
------------------------------
Help call for safe streets through drive2Bbetter
Have you seen the newest eye-catching crosswalks in Rochester? Check out pictures of crews painting these high-visibility crosswalks at Main and Gibbs Street on the Facebook page for the drive2Bbetter campaign (https://www.facebook.com/drive2Bbetter/) . Follow and share the page for the latest in promoting safe streets.
------------------------------
Are you the right fit? We're hiring.
Common Ground Health is seeking a communications specialist for Healthi Kids (https://commongroundhealth.cmail20.com/t/j-l-mtldjhk-yututyhdlt-b/) .
------------------------------
Upcoming events:
July 8 - Help kick off Greater Rochester Summer Learning week at Central Library from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a performance by a magician, a showcase of student artwork and light snacks. Sign up here (https://www.facebook.com/events/582841155576412/) .
July 12 - Learn to put kids at the center of decisions in the Implementing a Whole Child Approach conference call and discussion. Jonathan Raymond, former superintendent of Sacrament Public Schools and author will lead the discussion from 1 to 2 p.m. Register now (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001suZH-60bizS6AswXSFMxr4NA4sNbQi-UNX7dmhi-7q7rel3lwe6T78Ia3hsE5TXsfd6fwSTPnbTcef1UL_JURjkfnKS_USepCVyW9I2HQcXkg_u4igyP4SjSTbKAJzFy5qqwTIy1wuR2uiJZSc0xc9kWGBQUtyIrAeGN13hx2serBKVEiLIOR-cutELBMUfKeRJA7BgLgDIjymNdl-4Ee9KrFusWuo78&c=a4saMCviRkQAtOIkTNrl-TQH8JzlyARsuR9GILgHvHZoCupCqWivog==&ch=bV4WNjAbolxJHkHuZ-jO46NQU1JKi_6LbscdYdHjlt_RCgriXE7rgQ==) .
July 13 - PlayROCs Your Neighborhood 2019 (https://www.healthikids.org/events/playrocs-your-neighborhood) takes place at more than 50 sites across Rochester. Healthi Kids is recruiting volunteers to help support sites. To volunteer, contact Joe at joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org or 585-576-9900.
Aug. 23 - Attend the 2019 Seneca County Health Department annual public health conference: A community focus on mental health. Keynote Joe Fantigrossi of the Lyons Central School District, will speak on Our Kids Have Trauma: Now What? Other sessions are an overview of Trauma informed care, how to access local mental health services and resources, increasing awareness of postpartum depression and a personal testimony from addiction to recovery. Seneca County Health and Senior Services Building Lecture Hall, Waterloo. $25 includes continental breakfast and lunch. Register here (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-annual-public-health-conference-tickets-61600314198) .
------------------------------
In the news:
WXXI News Summer Meals ROC expects to serve more than 300,000 free meals to kids in the next two months (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/summer-meals-roc-expects-serve-more-300000-free-meals-kids-next-two-months)
Minority Reporter Food left on table as fewer students take advantage of free summer meals (http://minorityreporter.net/food-left-on-table-as-fewer-students-take-advantage-of-free-summer-meals/)
Democrat and Chronicle Summer presents a challenge for families who struggle to access healthy meals (https://commongroundhealth.cmail20.com/t/j-l-mtldjhk-yututyhdlt-e/)
Monroe County Post Families learn about Rochester's free Summer Meals program (https://www.monroecopost.com/news/20190617/families-learn-about-rochesters-free-summer-meals-program)
City Newspaper North Clinton block will get a redesign (https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/north-clinton-block-will-get-a-redesign/Content?oid=10497285)
Rochester Business Journal Complete Streets Makeover Winner announced (https://rbj.net/2019/06/03/complete-streets-makeover-winner-announced/)
Spectrum News Reconnect Rochester Ready to Revamp North Clinton Avenue (https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2019/06/04/reconnect-rochester-is-set-to-revamp-n--clinton-avenue-)
WXXI News El Camino corner is getting a makeover (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/el-camino-corner-getting-makeover)
WXXI Need to Know: The Awesome Foundation, Rochester Chapter (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/watch-whats-next-east-high-awesome-project) ; at 16:30, the program discusses the Awesome Foundation, which helped fund the repainting of the Complete Streets Makeover this spring.
WXXI News Colorful intersections are about more than art (https://www.wxxinews.org/post/colorful-intersections-are-about-more-art)
------------------------------

July 2019

Are you ready to promote play?

Play is vital to shaping happy, healthy kids. Unfortunately, not all children in the City of Rochester have access to safe play.

That is why Healthi Kids is working with nearly 50 sites to host play days that repurpose, reclaim and restore play to public spaces. These play days make up the 4th annual PlayROCs Your Neighborhood event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Partners in this effort include local churches, libraries, R-Centers, residents, block clubs and neighborhood groups.

The play days aim to raise awareness of the importance of safe and accessible play spaces for every child in every neighborhood.

Healthi Kids needs volunteers to help organize games, get kids involved, take photos and share about the play days on social media. To volunteer, contact Joe DiFiore at joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3127.

Healthi Kids' work is featured in new video

A new video highlights Healthi Kids' work to improve access to fruits and vegetables and physical activity opportunities. The New York State Department of Health initiative Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) created the video. It provides resources to create healthy places throughout New York. The video features partners speaking about work in Enrico Fermi School 17 and in a local corner store. View it here.

Making walking and biking the easy choice

Could crosswalks, protected bike lanes and other traffic safety features combat chronic illness, control weight and improve mood? The data says yes. On May 23, more than 120 people heard how active transportation could promote better health outcomes. Learn more about the Active Transportation Summit here.

Kids sample summer meals and summer fun

Kids played games and learned about summer educational and recreational opportunities at the Spring Into Summer: Summer Meals Fest on June 8 at Frontier Field. At the event, kids sampled summer meals menu items to give feedback on what they liked and didn't like. To see where kids can get free, healthy summer meals, visit www.summermealsroc.org. See more pictures from the celebration here.

Rochester youth help plan park activation

Rochester youth from the Carter Street R-Center walked to Pulaski Park June 12. The walk was part of Rochester's grant-funded 10-Minute Walk to Park planning efforts. There they took part in a park-themed scavenger hunt, played games and shared thoughts on how to encourage activity at the large open park. The city of Rochester, UNITY NE Block Club Association, Save Our Youth and Action for a Better Community organized the walk. View a photo gallery here.

NY Kids show gains in health

The 2019 KIDS COUNT data book, developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks New York fifth among states in the nation with respect to children's health. The data book assesses child well-being using 16 measures of health, education, economic and family well-being. The book notes 97 in 100 New York children have health insurance, which is a 70 percent improvement from the first data book in 1990. Teen births in the state have declined 73 percent from 2010 to 2017. View more data here.

Play Streets 2018

Funds awarded for youth recreation and sports

Rochester Area Community Foundation recently awarded $324,650 in grants to support 20 youth recreation and sports projects. The money is from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports. The city of Rochester will receive $22,380 to expand on the success of the Healthi Kids' Play Streets ROC initiative. Play Streets encourages structured and unstructured recreational activities. Activities will include group games, team-building challenges, organized sports, obstacle courses, dance parties and scavenger hunts. View a list of awardees here.

Learn to prepare produce at public market

Kudos to Foodlink for opening a nutrition education center at the Rochester Public Market. The gleaming new kitchen space inside Shed B will host community nutrition and culinary programs. These include Foodlink's Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetable workshops on Thursdays and Saturday at 9 a.m. Workshops feature recipes, nutrition lessons and shopping tips. Learn more here.

School 17 opens greenhouse

Enrico Fermi School 17 celebrated the opening of its new greenhouse June 7. Students are helping to run the greenhouse. They are also learning how plants and vegetables grow and how they can live a greener lifestyle. Greenhouse partners include the Charles House Neighbors in Action, Coordinated Care Services Inc., and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County. United Way volunteers also helped to plant and build flowerbeds inside the greenhouse. See it here.

The new Seneca Park Zoo Tropics Adventure Zone natural materials playground opened in June.

New playgrounds added

Stop by the Seneca Park Zoo to see a new natural materials play area called the Tropics Adventure Zone inside the zoo's front entrance. The zoo is building a Tropics Complex Building for orangutans, lemurs and gorillas. It is set to open in 2022.

Mayor Lovely Warren cut the ribbon at the recently renovatedFirst Street Playground. The playground has new play equipment for toddlers and preteens. It also includes benches, bike racks, shade trees and painted walls.

Ground was broken June 8 on the Play with Possibilities playground at the Challenger Miracle Field in Webster. This inclusive play area will be wheelchair accessible. It will welcome kids with and without physical or cognitive challenges.

Help call for safe streets through drive2Bbetter

Have you seen the newest eye-catching crosswalks in Rochester? Check out pictures of crews painting these high-visibility crosswalks at Main and Gibbs Street on the Facebook page for the drive2Bbetter campaign. Follow and share the page for the latest in promoting safe streets.

Are you the right fit? We're hiring.

Common Ground Health is seeking a communications specialist for Healthi Kids.

Upcoming events:

July 8 - Help kick off Greater Rochester Summer Learning week at Central Library from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a performance by a magician, a showcase of student artwork and light snacks. Sign up here.

July 12 - Learn to put kids at the center of decisions in the Implementing a Whole Child Approach conference call and discussion. Jonathan Raymond, former superintendent of Sacrament Public Schools and author will lead the discussion from 1 to 2 p.m. Register now.

July 13 - PlayROCs Your Neighborhood 2019 takes place at more than 50 sites across Rochester. Healthi Kids is recruiting volunteers to help support sites. To volunteer, contact Joe at joe.difiore@commongroundhealth.org or 585-576-9900.

Aug. 23 - Attend the 2019 Seneca County Health Department annual public health conference: A community focus on mental health. Keynote Joe Fantigrossi of the Lyons Central School District, will speak on Our Kids Have Trauma: Now What? Other sessions are an overview of Trauma informed care, how to access local mental health services and resources, increasing awareness of postpartum depression and a personal testimony from addiction to recovery. Seneca County Health and Senior Services Building Lecture Hall, Waterloo. $25 includes continental breakfast and lunch. Register here.

In the news:

WXXI News Summer Meals ROC expects to serve more than 300,000 free meals to kids in the next two months

Minority Reporter Food left on table as fewer students take advantage of free summer meals

Democrat and Chronicle Summer presents a challenge for families who struggle to access healthy meals

Monroe County Post Families learn about Rochester's free Summer Meals program

City Newspaper North Clinton block will get a redesign

Rochester Business Journal Complete Streets Makeover Winner announced

Spectrum News Reconnect Rochester Ready to Revamp North Clinton Avenue

WXXI News El Camino corner is getting a makeover

WXXI Need to Know: The Awesome Foundation, Rochester Chapter; at 16:30, the program discusses the Awesome Foundation, which helped fund the repainting of the Complete Streets Makeover this spring.

WXXI News Colorful intersections are about more than art

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July 2019

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