Join us in April for Cooking Up Change
Common Ground Health, Foodlink, and the City of Rochester are engaging the community to create a local food policy council. The council can help focus community efforts towards policies that support an equitable and healthy food system to improve the overall health of the community. During the Cooking Up Change information sessions April 6, 8 and 10, the groups will discuss how a food policy council will work and be governed. Feedback and comments are an essential part of this process and we welcome your input at the events and throughout the planning process. Register here.
Schools Reopening Task Force supports new CDC recommendations
The schools reopening Task Force continues to advocate for reopening policies that follow the most recent evidence and science behind COVID-19, and balance the need to support children's social-emotional health and overall well-being. The CDC recently updated their recommendation on school reopening here. The Health and Medical Advisory Workgroup reviewed recent evidence on physical distancing in schools and supports the CDC recommendations. The group sent a letter to NYS (Governor and NYS DOH Commissioner Zucker) asking them to adopt the CDC recommendations in NY.
Parents and caregivers needed for child care focus groups
Parents and caregivers in Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Seneca, Ontario and Yates, we need your VOICE! We are hosting a series of focus groups so that you can share with community organizations what you need to support your current and summer child care needs. Register here.
NYS-AIMH meeting highlights infant mental health efforts
On March 19, Healthi Kids staff participated in the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health's (NYS-AIMH) annual meeting, which brought together over 150 participants who work with or on behalf of young children and their families. Common Ground Health CEO Wade Norwood was the keynote speaker and addressed how the challenges of 2020 have disproportionately impacted the health and wellbeing of young children and families of color. Wade highlighted Healthi Kids work in infant mental health and play, and encouraged participants, as ambassadors for the social and emotional health of young children and their families, to work to end systemically racist policies and practices in their communities.
Worksite wellness toolkit available online
Through our Creating Healthy Schools & Communities grant, Healthi Kids supported worksite wellness efforts in 14 youth-serving organizations in the City of Rochester between 2015 and 2020. We have created a toolkit that captures lessons learned and keys for success from this work. Due to the pandemic, employees have been under increased stress, and prioritizing their wellness is more important than ever. To get some ideas on ways you might improve worksite wellness at your organization, click here to learn from your peers here in Rochester.
Upcoming events
April 24, 2021 - The African American and Latino Health Coalitions present the Speak Life! 2021 Health Equity Conference. Join us online from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM for a free, thought-provoking action-oriented discussion around healing from the trauma of racism and discrimination, including the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Register here.
April 26 - 30, 2021 - Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual observance created in 2013 to celebrate school health and wellness achievements. Each day of the week shines a spotlight on the great actions schools and families are taking to improve the health and wellness of their kids and the link between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and learning - because healthy kids are better prepared to learn and thrive. Participate here.
