The Institute for Family Health receives CDC funding to reduce health disparities in the Bronx

New York, NY (October 3, 2023) The Institute for Family Health was awarded $1,021,899 from the CDC for the first year of a five year period to sustain and support the initiatives and activities of its Bronx Health REACH coalition. Funded since 1999, Bronx Health REACH has continuously focused on working with community groups to reduce health disparities in the Bronx by implementing culturally tailored outreach and activities related to nutrition, physical activity and community-clinical linkages. The Institute for Family Health was one of 41 organizations nationwide to receive funding through the CDC, and the only one in New York State.

This award will support Bronx Health REACH’s collaboration with over 80 organizations, including faith-based entities, schools and community groups to foster community-driven efforts to improve population health and reduce health disparities. Using evidence-based and community-informed strategies, Bronx Health REACH will focus on efforts to improve nutrition, physical activity, and continuity of care in breastfeeding support; as well as to increase demand and access for flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

“We are immensely proud to continue the work of our community coalition in the Bronx to collaborate on a grassroots level engaging our communities in generating better health outcomes accessibly and sustainably,” said Charmaine Ruddock, Director of Bronx Health REACH. “These partnerships with community based organizations, city and state agencies, local institutions, and policy makers are positioned to offer the best insight on how to promote good health in our communities, and to ensure the kind of systems changes that will be transformative. We are excited to build and expand on these relationships to create the opportunities for Bronx residents to live healthier and longer.”

Bronx Health REACH is led by the Institute for Family Health, a federally qualified health center network in New York City and the Hudson Valley that offers top-quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

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The Institute for Family Health (www.institute.org) is a federally qualified health center network in New York State serving 115,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.