Healthfirst and "Healthy Village" in New York in the Bronx. Healthfirst Press Release. MJoTA 2012 v5n2 p1015
Bronx, NY, Oct 15, 2012 – Healthfirst announces the launch of
its “Healthy Village” health and wellness initiative in the Bronx this
month with a special kickoff program planned on Oct 20. The 36-month
project is a collaborative effort with the New York City Housing
Authority (NYCHA) and Claremont Village Housing to provide residents
with an on-site integrated health care system to create positive health
outcomes.
The initiative encompasses housing complexes – Butler Housing,
Gouverneur Morris I, Gouverneur Morris II, Morrisania Houses, Daniel
Webster Houses and the Claremont Parkway-Franklin Avenue area – which
comprise the area known as Claremont Village. The program was created in
response to the over 50% poverty level in the area, to reduce
emergency room visits and to focus on patients suffering from diabetes,
heart disease, childhood obesity and weight control.
Additional “Healthy
Village” initiative partners include Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and
the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The Healthfirst “Healthy Village” initiative takes a 4-tiered
approach – medical wellness, physical wellness, nutritional wellness and
weight loss – to provide an overall coordinated program that will
engage residents in living a healthy lifestyle. Setup as an on-site
program, the incentive for residents to join is based on the ease of not
having to leave the comfort of their local residence in order to
participate. A key component of the initiative includes the 36/36 and
20/20 weight loss plans. Participants are challenged to reach their
targeted weight over 20 or 36 months.
“Working together with our Bronx community partners and elected
officials to make this initiative possible, we are able to significantly
impact the overall health care culture in this area,” said George
Hulse, Healthfirst Vice President of External Affairs. “The Healthfirst
‘Healthy Village’ initiative will get people to take charge of their
health by bringing the system to them with the convenience of having a
support system available right at their doorstep.”
The kickoff launch on Oct 20 will feature a free breakfast for
community residents from 9-11am, followed by a day-long Wellness
Zone featuring games for kids (hoola hoops, moon bouncing, face
painting), free health screenings for adults and registration of
residents to participate in the Healthfirst “Healthy Village” initiative."
