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.

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].

Meet Our Featured Member

Bertha Motta from Personal Touch Home Care and Sunnyside Community Services.

Bertha Motta counts on her 1199SEIU mental health benefits during these stressful times.