Spotlight on Your Funds

May 2023

The 1199SEIU Citizenship Program Honors Its New U.S. Citizens

The 1199SEIU Citizenship Program will return to an in-person gathering for its 21st annual “Celebration of New Citizens” at the Family of Funds’ new headquarters on Thursday, May 18. This year’s guest speaker is Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative for New York's 13th congressional district. Three 1199SEIU members—Eliseo Custodio, a Maintenance Handyman at Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center; Aaron Morancie, a Nurse Technician in the Labor and Delivery Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital; and Valerie Dolor, a Home Health Aide with Best Choice Home Health Care—will speak at the celebration, sharing their personal journeys to becoming U.S. citizens.

Jointly administered by the Benefit and Pension Funds and the Training and Employment Funds, the 1199SEIU Citizenship Program helps members apply for U.S. citizenship by providing legal assistance to navigate the often-complex process, and educational services to prepare for the citizenship exam. Since its inception in 2001, the program has supported almost 14,000 1199SEIU members, their eligible dependents and non-members in becoming U.S. citizens. For more information, visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/citizenship.   

National Benefit Fund Launches Diabetes Reversal Program

One day after the April launch of Virta—the first clinically proven treatment program to safely reverse type 2 diabetes without medications or surgery—more than 25 1199SEIU members have enrolled. The program is offered at no cost to eligible members and their dependents living with diabetes. Members may check their eligibility and create an account at www.virtahealth.com/join/1199. For more information, they may email [email protected].

Training and Employment Funds Hold Respiratory Health Symposium

On Saturday, April 29, the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds’ Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) held a six-hour “Respiratory Health” interprofessional symposium. This live webcast was conducted in response to the ongoing health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many long COVID patients have not regained normal breathing functions and either continue to face a long recovery process or may not fully recover and must instead manage their symptoms. The symposium featured six presentations, exploring factors impacting pulmonary wellness, the importance of nutrition for respiratory health, developments in pediatric clinical asthma management and updates on controlling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For more information about TEF’s continuing education programs, including ICE seminars and symposiums, please visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/continuing-ed, call (212) 894-4390 or email [email protected].

Child Care Fund Celebrates Students at 27th Annual Science Fair

The 1199SEIU Child Care Fund’s Future of America Learning Center (FALC) celebrated its 27th Annual Science Fair. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, children’s families and guests were able to visit in person, on Saturday, April 1, with 84 children and 187 family members in attendance. The theme of this year’s event was “Earth. Air. Water. Fire. Space. How Do the Elements of Nature Affect Us?” The preschool and kindergarten students presented their research and family projects on topics including natural disasters and phenomena; technological inventions and advances; the impact of water, wind and fire on the environment; and the importance of space exploration. The event also featured virtual displays, STREAM-infused (Science, Technology, Relationship, Engineering, Art and Math) exhibits and hands-on experiments.

FALC is committed to providing children with nurturing, safe and stimulating educational environments, as well as cultural, racial, ethnic and economic diversity that foster cooperative experiences. For more information about FALC, visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/FALC.

The Institute for Continuing Education Presents Upcoming Programs

The 1199SEIU League Training and Upgrading Fund strengthens the healthcare delivery system by offering 1199SEIU members training and education programs designed to help improve patient outcomes and provide quality care. Please share these opportunities with employees and members at your institution or facility.

The schedule is also available on the program calendar.

Medical Laboratory Testing and Technology

Saturday, May 6

9:00 am to 2:00 pm

This four-hour seminar for clinical laboratory techs will focus on flow cytometry to diagnose hematological malignancies, the evolution of PCR, advances in early HIV detection and disease monitoring, and molecular tools for tuberculosis testing.

Mental and Behavioral Health

Sunday, May 21

8:45 am to 4:30 pm

This six-hour interprofessional symposium will focus on the symptoms of and treatments for addiction and depression, child and adolescent mental health, the therapeutic use of psychedelics, substance use disorders in LGBTQ populations, and the impact of racism and bias on access to mental health treatments.

For more information, visit the Institute for Continuing Education’s web page, call (212) 894-4390 or email [email protected].

Meet Our Featured Member

Tykar Williams from Mount Sinai

Why did Tykar Williams begin his health journey? Read For Your Benefit online to find out!

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1199SEIU Funds News is a monthly email produced by the 1199SEIU Funds. Copyright 2023.

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