Taking Care of New York Together

By Rachel Strom

In an effort to improve the health of New Yorkers, the city is holding focus groups with residents across the boroughs, asking them to share their most urgent concerns and needs. The campaign, Take Care New York 2020 (TCNY), aims to narrow the “health gap between New York City neighborhoods.”

In Riverdale, staff from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) met with a small, inquisitive and at times, frustrated, crowd. The session was held in a small back room of the Riverdale Public Library. About a dozen or so people showed up, with ages ranging from mid 20s to late 60s. Most worked in the health care field, some were students and one or two were parents in the neighborhood.

In a two-minute introductory video, DHMH Commissioner Dr. Mary Travis Bassett addressed the rise of pollution in the city and the impact on residents. She said it was important to increase residents’ awareness of health resources and to improve access to healthy food.

The group watched and seemed to be intrigued. Many had a pen and paper in hand and were taking notes. Dr. Gary Belkin, DHMH executive deputy commissioner spoke to the group after, stressing how important it was to engage, educate and empower the community.

Belkin discussed three health department publications that outlined issues facing Riverdale residents including, pollution, premature mortality, obesity, child daycare and asthma. Some of the groups challenged the data, saying the problems outlined did not accurately reflect the demographic of the Riverdale community.

“Some of this data is misleading,” said an older man, who sat near the front wearing a suit, with a cane by his side. “Here in Riverdale, we have a lot of aging adults.” According to the 2010 Census, Riverdale has 6,600 residents 65 and older out of 27,900 residents. For the Bronx as a whole there are about 1.4 million people who live in the borough with about 146,000 over the age of 65.

The health of Bronx residents is clearly a concern. In a recent survey by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Bronx ranked 62nd out of 62 counties in New York on “health outcomes,” which include length and quality of life.  Manhattan was ranked 11th overall, Queens 17th and Brooklyn 52nd.

Towards the end of the Riverdale discussion, the health department staff asked the group to complete surveys detailing how the agency could better serve the community.

At times, the group was testy with event organizers as they listed their concerns, but the health department staff seem to welcome it. “This is why were here,” Dr. Belkin repeated after every concern that was brought to his attention. “That’s what we want to get from the small focus groups.”