July 2022

July 2022 Newsletter 

Parents Urged to Get Children Under 5 Vaccinated Against COVID-19
County public health directors and a local pediatrician are encouraging parents to get their young children vaccinated. Their advice follows CDC recommendations to vaccinate children 6 months and older against COVID-19.

“As a pediatrician and a parent, I am excited that I can offer the COVID vaccines to young children who have not been eligible until now,” said Steven Schulz, M.D., pediatrician at Finger Lakes Medical Associates (FLMA) in Geneva and Rochester Regional Health PCASI Pediatric Medical Director for Monroe County and FLMA. “Parents can be confident that these vaccines are safe and that they are the best defense against their young children becoming seriously ill or hospitalized from this disease. I have such faith in the vaccines’ safety that my own 10-year-old son has been vaccinated.”

To learn more, please visit the Common Ground Health website.

Student health and wellness has been prioritized across the Rochester City School District. Last Thursday, June 23rd, the RCSD School Board unanimously approved the newly revised District Wellness Policy.

The revised policy adopts ALL of the recommendations put forward by the Healthi Kids Coalition. The recommendations, developed by RCSD parent leaders, demanded the district do better to prioritize the health and well-being of students in the district and ensure greater accountability for the policy’s implementation.

To see what the new Wellness Policy includes, please visit the Healthi Kids blog.

Complete Streets Makeover Recap
Residents and a team of community partners came together on Saturday, May 14, to transform the intersection of Orange and Orchard Streets as part of the Complete Streets Makeover project. “There were people painting the street and a cookout, a DJ and folks getting to know one another, sharing their connection to the space. Everyone came together to build a safer street and they built new relationships as well.”

Check out this blog post for a recap, including photos from the event!

PlayROCs your Neighborhood 2022 happening July 23 and August 6
PlayROCs your Neighborhood is hosting two days of events across more than 30 locations.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 23 and August 6, we will repurpose, reclaim and bring back play spaces for kids and families across the city!

Dealing with the Trauma of Gun Violence
The tragedy of recent mass shootings is heartbreaking. Zero to Three is developing resources to help parents and professionals address the effects of trauma in early childhood.
Supporting Families: Young Children and Gun Violence

Related news stories

How bad is the baby formula shortage? A Rochester mom had to get help from her international family—WXXI News, June 3

City plans to address food deserts in Rochester—13WHAM News, June 1

How JOSANA neighbors are working to improve pedestrian safety—WXXI News, May 17

Street makeover projects continue to improve Rochester's safety—13WHAM News, May 14