Suburban Health Equity
Quality health care – and the lack of access to it, particularly by Black and Latinx residents – has become a serious issue in suburban communities, one that became inarguable apparent during the unequal ravages of Covid-19 in Long Island's poorest and most diverse neighborhoods. The access issues reflect an often-fragmented jurisdictional landscape, inadequate transportation, and an increasing number of immigrants and other disadvantaged populations in segregated neighborhoods, often with substandard housing. NCSS has conducted studies and organized conferences and initiatives on the intersection of housing and health outcomes, on options for "aging in place" options for the increasing number of elderly living at home, on new paradigms for housing the developmentally disabled, and the scourge of childhood obesity in one of Long Island's poorest minority areas. One of the most significant, life-saving initiatives came during the pandemic when NCSS partnered with the Foundation for Innovations in Medical Education, Northwell Health Systems and several neighborhood organizations to disseminate Covid-19 information, and eventually vaccines, in the minority community with the highest rates of infection. NCSS also has supported, through funding and judging, Hofstra's annual "Public Health Week" competition to create the best student-made public health awareness videos. NCSS' commitment to health care issues – reflected in a university-wide focus that includes a medical school, programs in nursing and public health, and more robust offerings in other life science disciplines – has led us to create the Suburban Health Equity Institute. A collaboration with several Hofstra schools and departments, primarily funded by grants from the Dolan Family Foundation and Dr. Howard Kerpen through the Foundation for Innovations in Medical Education.
- Healthy Living Long Island – a partnership with FIME and ZSOM to encourage medical students to learn by teaching children.
- A “Lifestyle Medicine” and Nutritional Education Partnership with the Foundation for Innovations in Medical Education
- Hofstra students attend the American Public Health Association Conference in Atlanta
- Roosevelt Pediatric Obesity Initiative
- Health and Housing Conference
- Aging in Place Conference
- Health Homes Pilot: Progress and Possibilities Report