ROADMAP FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN NEW YORK CITY
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ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS AND THE SYMPOSIUM SERIES Health disparities among New Yorkers are large, persistent and increasing. Public Health Solutions exists to change that trajectory and support New Yorkers in achieving optimal health and building pathways to reach their potential. We are unique in our ability to provide boots-on-the-ground services in high-need communities, serve as a conduit of accountability for hundreds of community-based organizations tackling major public health issues across the five boroughs, and bridge the gap between healthcare and communities. We focus on a wide range of public health issues including food and nutrition, health insurance, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, tobacco control, and HIV/AIDS. In November 2020, PHS brought together over 50 leading experts from community-based organizations, government, healthcare, health systems and corporations for a three-part Symposium Series, Integrating Human Services and Clinical Services with People at the Center. The goal of the Symposium has been to inform the design of a new framework, including core components of a person-centered infrastructure, to effectively address social determinants of health towards achieving health equity in New York City.
The series brought together diverse stakeholders from across the continuum of care (local government, healthcare, managed care, CBOs, and technology companies) to address the systemic inequities that prevent New Yorkers from accessing good health. The first session focused on key challenges: lack of infrastructure, a fragmented and siloed care system, and issues of data collection, exchange, and accountability. The second session brought in successful models from across the country (San Diego 2-11, Camden Coalition, and Pathways Community Hub) to consider what might be applied in NYC. In order to develop a health equity roadmap to address SDOH in NYC, PHS held four “Expert Mini Sessions” in September 2021 to define practical implications for implementing a CRN in NYC. Each session was structured with its own theme and small in-depth group discussions with expert CBO, healthcare, and tech representatives. The themes and discussion areas make up the foundation of this roadmap. At the third and final session, PHS launched the Roadmap and next steps to advance CRN planning and development in NYC.
