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Tag: public health

Long Island’s Street Healthcare: A Community-First Approach to Homelessness

Posted on by melanieVMG

Access to medical care across the United States has posed its many challenges, especially concerning its growing costs. From rising out-of-pocket costs, primary care shortages, to long waiting periods for appointments, access has become strained. In a climate and culture where prices seem to only increase, access to healthcare is dwindling, and health fears are at an all time high, it is reasonable to desire comfort and stability. Peace of mind is not a luxury or privilege when it comes to healthcare; it is a necessity. Long Island prioritizes ensuring quality care is offered to every person regardless of financial status to improve the health of not only the individual, but the community as a whole.

 

The Evolution of Healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted legislators and those heavily involved in generating policies to reevaluate healthcare access and utilization. Efforts to improve access, resulted in Medicaid expansions and increased outreach through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This act initiated subsidies in the Affordable Care Act, which were extended by the Inflation Reduction Act. As a result, an increase in Medicaid enrollment and state Medicaid expansions occurred. However, the improvements were not universal and healthcare issues persisted. Millions of Americans remain uninsured or have lost Medicaid coverage due to affordability challenges tied to low incomes and limited-access to employer-sponsored insurance.

 

Long Island Takes Action

Long Island has taken a proactive approach to addressing healthcare disparities by providing critical medical services to those in the most vulnerable situations. Those facing extenuating circumstances due to low-income and homelessness deserve consistent, quality care. Long Island prides itself on providing comprehensive, patient-centered medical treatment and care to all individuals regardless of their economic circumstance.

Major healthcare practices, including Northwell Health operate numerous facilities throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Northwell Health alone runs twenty-eight hospitals, not including the many outpatient facilities across the island. While an impressive network, the driving force behind its mission extends beyond infrastructure and clinical capacity. Community-centered commitment and compassion lie at the heart of the mission. An example of this value in action is illustrated by Northwell’s Street Medicine Team. This mobile outreach program supplies primary care-style medical services directly to homeless individuals. Both doctors and patients agree this effort is saving lives.

Amid the bitter cold Long Island has faced in recent weeks, life-changing care can even be provided in the most unconventional settings, including parking lots. Jenny, 43, and her partner Bryan, 50, both patients of Northwell’s Street Medicine Team, have been homeless for three years. Through collaboration with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, an organization which helps individuals gain greater access to care and insurance, the couple is immensely grateful for the care received.

Specifically, Bryan calls the team his “angel crew,” crediting them for saving his life numerous times. After surviving several episodes involving clots and pulmonary embolism, issues that could have killed him, the team’s intervention has provided life-saving care. Bryan’s story emphasizes the value of community outreach and how such care can mean the difference between life and death in many cases.

Human connection lies at the core of Long Island’s medical mission. Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez of Northwell Institute for Community Health states how dignity and respect are unwavering values when providing treatment. These principles remain steady as the Northwell Street Medicine Team serves a distance of 3,800 miles on Long Island. From Nassau County to the East End, approximately 93 homeless patients have received care from the team, a number that will only grow as outreach expands.

At a time when proper healthcare access is often defined by affordability, Long Island is determined to change the narrative. When care for everyone is a priority and motivation is defined by empathy and compassion, hope and comfort can be restored. Individual and community strength will grow and prosper with these efforts.

FAQs

Why is healthcare access difficult for homeless people?

Homeless individuals often lack health insurance and affordable means of accessing care. These issues make it nearly impossible to make medical appointments and receive proper treatment.

How does Northwell Health’s Street Medicine Team operate?

Northwell’s Street Medicine Team travels across Nassau and Suffolk counties, providing care services directly to homeless individuals. Also, the team collaborates with organizations like the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless to help patients access insurance, follow-up care, and additional support services. 

How does this approach benefit the overall community?

Providing consistent care reduces emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and long-term healthcare costs. Additionally, proper care prevents the spread of infectious diseases and strengthens public health within the community. 

How many individuals have received help from Northwell Health’s Street Medicine Team?

The team has provided care to approximately 93 homeless individuals and continues to expand its outreach efforts across Long Island.

See full article here: Northwell Street Medicine Team brings life-saving care straight to the homeless

 

Cell Phone Bans: What Has History Taught Us?

Posted on by praxis

This past year, New York State joined eight other states in enacting a “bell-to-bell” ban on student cell phone use in schools, set to take effect in the 2025–26 school year. The legislation was met with immediate and, at times, heated opposition. Parents voiced fears about losing communication with their children, educators raised concerns about differing socio-economic realities across districts, and social media platforms—particularly Facebook—became hotbeds of sometimes visceral debate.

Change is hard. But history shows us that resistance to change does not necessarily mean it is wrong. In fact, some of the most effective public health policies began amid deep skepticism and outrage.

If you grew up in the latter half of the 20th century, you may remember how pervasive smoking once was in everyday life. People smoked in bars, restaurants, cars, schools—and even on airplanes. It was normal, accepted, and expected.

That began to change in the 1990s, as research increasingly demonstrated the serious health risks of smoking and secondhand smoke. With greater understanding came a growing recognition that public policy had a responsibility to protect public health. Courageous lawmakers at both the local and national levels began challenging the status quo, proposing smoking bans that were met with fierce opposition. Many bar and restaurant owners predicted economic ruin if smoking were prohibited.

Locally in Suffolk County, those tensions came to a head in 1992, when the Suffolk County Legislature passed one of the broadest smoking bans in the country, reinforcing its reputation for landmark legislation protecting public health and the environment. Led by Legislators Paul Tonna (R–Huntington) and Nora Bredes (D–Stony Brook), the law prohibited smoking in public places, including schools. This move in the name of public health was not without opposition.  Both legislators reported being harassed by opponents of the legislation—harassment they believed extended beyond local residents and business owners and may have included efforts by large tobacco companies leveraging their financial power to intimidate lawmakers. 

With the benefit of hindsight, however, smoking ban legislation is now widely regarded as one of the most important public health actions of its time. Decades later, we can clearly see its positive effects. In 2009, the American College of Cardiology noted, “Public smoking bans seem to be tremendously effective in reducing heart attacks and, theoretically, might also help to prevent lung cancer and emphysema.”  The limits on smoking are now widely accepted and applauded.

The current debate over cell phone bans in schools shares striking similarities with the smoking bans of the past. At its core, the cell phone ban is a public health initiative—one focused specifically on protecting children. Governor Kathy Hochul proposed the policy to create distraction-free learning environments and to address growing concerns about youth mental health linked to smartphone use.

It is worth noting that New York City, home to the largest school district in the country, previously abandoned discussions of a cell phone ban due to parent pushback. Unlike our past local legislators, Tonna and Bredes, that were willing to take a stand for public health, NYC bowed to the pressures of their opponents.  NYC’s failure to act created the imminent need for the State to act.   The statewide effort to curtail cell phone use reflects a broader recognition that unchecked smartphone use may pose long-term risks to students’ academic performance, emotional well-being, and social development.  The State’s “bell-to-bell” rolled out for the current school year and, while opposition is still evident, the benefits are being appreciated.

History reminds us that meaningful public health progress is rarely comfortable at the outset. The smoking bans that once seemed radical and intrusive are now widely accepted—and widely credited with saving lives. As we navigate today’s cell phone debate, the lesson may be the same: resistance is not evidence of failure, but often a sign that real change is underway.

 

References 

American College of Cardiology. (2009, September 21). Banning smoking in public places and workplaces is good for the heart.

Gray, Katti. Target: Smoking. (1994, March 22) Newsday.

Rather, John. (1994, August 28). Smoking ban legislators targeted. The New York Times.

Eyewitness News. (2025, April 29). Gov. Hochul announces $254 billion New York State budget deal; includes cell phone ban.

What Food Insecurity Means for Senior Long Islanders

Posted on by melanieVMG

What Food Insecurity Means for Senior Long Islanders

Right now, over 300,000 of our Long Island neighbors live with food insecurity, meaning they don’t have reliable access to enough food and often don’t know where their next meal will come from Long Island Cares. Food insecurity disproportionately affects Long Island’s seniors, with senior hunger correlating to negative health outcomes. Senior citizens face unique challenges to accessing food that other demographics may not consider: the impacts of chronic health and mobility issues that are more likely to affect seniors, difficulty with accessing transportation (especially in food deserts), and the reality of living on a fixed income like social security which may not stretch as far as the rising cost of food and cost of living. 

Fresh Produce and Fresh Hope from Long Island Cares:

Organizations on Long Island have been working to address the food needs of older adults in various ways. Long Island Cares—the Harry Chapin Food Bank—has drawn attention for several initiatives designed to support seniors. In August, the organization held its fourth annual fresh produce distribution in Huntington, where nearly 500 older adults participated, according to coverage in Newsday. Events like these are often paired with resource fairs that bring together service providers and community groups. At a recent fair, 18 organizations shared programs and opportunities tailored to older Long Islanders.

Another program associated with Long Island Cares is the “Supporting Our Seniors” Mobile Pantry, which travels to senior centers across the region. These monthly visits focus on distributing emergency meals while also connecting participants with information on nutrition and related services. By bringing resources directly to senior centers, the program has attempted to reduce transportation challenges and make food access more consistent. For many attendees, these visits are not only about food but also about building a sense of community around shared support.

Rising Food Costs and Uncertainty about Aid: 

Rising food prices remain a concern for many households. National data indicate that grocery costs rose an average of 8.5% in the past year, marking the largest year-to-year increase in more than a decade. For seniors on Long Island who may depend on fixed incomes like Social Security, these increases can feel particularly difficult to manage. Policy changes, such as adjustments to tax deductions or work requirements tied to food assistance programs, add another layer of complexity for those already struggling.

Household budgets for older adults often have to cover not only food but also housing, medication, and transportation. Transportation can be particularly difficult in areas on Long Island that experience a shortage of full-service grocery stores. When costs rise unevenly across categories, balancing those expenses becomes more complicated.

Long Island Cares helps bridge the gap between rising grocery prices and limited incomes. By offering access to fresh produce, nutrition support, and connections to vital community services, Long Island Cares ensures that Long Islander seniors don’t have to make the impossible choice between paying bills and putting healthy meals on the table.

Deep Pockets of Food Insecurity

Even in areas of Long Island that may appear food secure, there are pockets where residents struggle with consistent access to food. For seniors, these challenges can feel hidden from public view but remain very real on a household level. Recognizing where these needs exist is an important step in directing support to the right communities.

Long Island Cares 

FAQs

What does “food insecurity” mean?

The USDA defines food insecurity as not having consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. For seniors, this can mean uncertainty about when or how they will get their next meal.

Why are seniors on Long Island especially affected?

Long Island’s older adults may face unique challenges such as fixed incomes, mobility issues, chronic health conditions, and limited access to transportation—especially in areas with fewer grocery stores.

What is Long Island Cares doing to help?

Long Island Cares runs initiatives like fresh produce distributions, annual resource fairs, and the “Supporting Our Seniors” Mobile Pantry, which delivers meals and connects seniors with community services.

 

Newsday Article Source