Spotlight on Your Funds

July 2022

Initiative to Improve Health Outcomes Unveiled at Benefit and Pension Funds' Annual Meeting

At June’s Joint Annual Meeting of the 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds’ Boards of Trustees, Executive Director and CEO Donna Rey, EdD, presented the Funds’ 2021 year in review and highlights from the first quarter of 2022. This marked the second Joint Annual Meeting led by Dr. Rey since she was named Executive Director and CEO last year. (An interview with Dr. Rey appears in the May/June issue of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Benefits Magazine.)

Dr. Rey detailed the Benefit Funds’ new initiative to support better health outcomes for 1199SEIU members. As she explained, the initiative rests on three basic principles: collaboration with participating institutions, empowering members to take a proactive approach to their health and supporting their emotional well-being. She outlined the Benefit Funds’ partnerships with participating 1199SEIU health systems and providers to promote primary care for all and cancer screening programs, as well as addressing gaps in care, particularly around diabetes and hypertension. To date, participating health systems include NYU Langone Health, NewYork-Presbyterian, Northwell Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Health System, SBH Health System and Pierre Toussaint Family Health Center.

At the meeting, Trustees also got a preview of the new Healthy Living Resource Center on the Benefit Funds’ website. The site, which launched June 30, will house programs and services available to 1199SEIU members, as well as tips, videos, interactive tools, resources and portals to the major health systems’ employee wellness programs. Please encourage 1199SEIU members to visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/HealthyLiving.

A more detailed report of the Annual Meeting will be available in the Funds’ upcoming Annual Report.

Open Enrollment for Spousal Health Coverage Begins July 1

The open enrollment period for 1199SEIU members to sign up their spouses for the Greater New York Benefit Fund health plan runs from July 1 through July 31, for coverage beginning September 1, 2022. To enroll a spouse, members must submit a completed Spouse Coverage and Payroll Deduction Authorization Form to their employer by August 1, authorizing premium deductions from their paycheck. 1199SEIU members and their dependent children up to age 26 are still eligible for coverage, with no premium, whether or not their spouse is enrolled. Members may call the Member Services Department at (646) 473-9200 with any questions.

Training and Employment Funds Offer Foundational and Pre-College Programs in Fall 2022

The Training and Employment Funds will offer a variety of programs in fall 2022 that provide 1199SEIU members with the academic and communication skills they need to advance in their healthcare careers. These evening and weekend programs, which start in September, will take place online through Zoom, as well as in-person based on demand.

• Prep Academy prepares members to return to school at various levels of education, including high school and college. Classes focus on reading comprehension, essay writing, math and science.
• The High School Equivalency Program helps members earn a high school equivalency diploma. The program has two options: one relies on classroom instruction and test practice, while the other is self-guided with assistance from tutors and assessors.
• Computers and Digital Literacy helps members become more comfortable with technology and proficient with the tools they need for work or school. Topics include using computer hardware, software and operating systems; the Internet; email; and video conferencing services. In-person classes are available in Manhattan.
• The Spanish for Healthcare Workers Program helps members respond to the needs of the growing Latinx patient population. Participants develop conversational skills to communicate effectively with immigrant patients and their families and improve their awareness of and sensitivity to cultural values.
• The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program helps adult learners improve their English-language conversation, reading and writing skills. The program offers six levels of instruction, from beginner to advanced, and incorporates healthcare topics into classroom teaching.

For more information and to register, 1199SEIU members may call (844) 833-1199 or email [email protected].

Child Care Fund Holds FALC Graduation

On June 27, the 1199SEIU Child Care Fund (CCF) Future of America Learning Center (FALC) held its 2021-2022 school year graduation ceremony for 60 pre-kindergarten students. The event, which took place virtually, included three separate sessions for each of FALC’s three classes. The children performed songs and dances for their families, friends, teachers and CCF staff, and they declared their career goals as part of their annual tradition, “When I grow up, I want to be….” In addition, teachers and parents shared their memories and impressions about their experiences with FALC, as well as their aspirations for the children.

FALC, which was established in 1993 and is located in the Fordham section of the Bronx, provides full-day, affordable, high-quality, educational child-care services to the children of working 1199SEIU parents and those from neighboring communities. For more information about FALC, email [email protected] or call (212) 564-2220.

World of Money Empowers Teens of 1199SEIU Members with Financial Education

More than 300 children of 1199SEIU members participated in an immersive World of Money program designed to help them develop healthy financial habits and make better financial decisions. In partnership with the Benefit Fund and the Child Care Fund, the World of Money program seeks to level the playing field for communities that have been left behind in building wealth by allowing the teens age 15 to 17 to learn at their own pace through on-demand videos, downloadable activities and automated quizzes. The Benefit Fund will sponsor up to 30 of the teenagers who completed the course to join other eligible WorkForce 2000 teens and participate in either a virtual or in-person Summer Institute program that takes place over 12 days. For more information, visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/financial-wellness/kids.

Meet Our Featured Member

Malikah Weston from Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State

Malikah Weston counted on her health benefits to help her deal with anxiety during the pandemic—and survive a brain tumor.