School-Based Health Centers in NEPA Make Care Accessible

New school-based health centers are changing the way that children and community members receive care.

Nonprofit NEPA Community Health Care is helping parents, students, and staff can access healthcare services before, during, and after the school day through locations in Susquehanna and Lackawanna Counties.

With transportation being a major barrier to rural care, NEPA Community Health Care hopes that partnering with schools will increase access to medical appointments. 



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PA Counties with Their Own Health Departments See Benefits, New Research Shows

Although more than 50 Pennsylvania Counties do not have their own health departments, a new study shows that it would reap benefits.

The responsibility of public health departments includes investigating and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, inspecting restaurants, and collecting health related data.

WHYY discusses a new study showing the difference between counties with and without public health departments, and what positives hosting a county department entail. 

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The Philadelphia Nonprofit Sharing Books and Beauty with Local Kids

The Philadelphia A Book a Day Program, founded by collector Sibylla Shekerdjiska-Benatova, has helped give away over 13,000 children’s books, with plans to expand.

The program redistributes mostly hardcover children’s books to local schools and community institutions, with hopes of increasing inclusivity and literacy among all children in the region, primarily children of color, immigrant children, and children with low-income families.

Expanding into the Greater Philadelphia Region, A Book a Day has partnered with social services program Puentes de Salud, UPenn’s mobile dental clinic, and Philly FIGHT’s pediatric centers.                      

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Food Banks See Rising Hunger Among Working Americans

Across the United States, food banks are reporting a new wave of demand from working Americans struggling with the cost-of-living post-pandemic.

Increasing inflation has driven the cost of groceries up 28% in the past five years, causing a gap between economic growth and the costs of necessities.

CityLab discusses the growing hunger rates amidst middle class workers, and what the Federal Reserve may do to address the emerging concern.  



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Can Bail Reform Improve Racial Equity and Perceptions of Fairness in Pretrial Systems?

With the implementation of New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform (CJR), the state’s system changed from a money bail-reliant one to a system that uses a risk-assessment tool that informs decisions based on a person’s assessed risk.

CJR also established a pretrial monitoring program and speedy trial laws, with the goal of improving equity and fairness in the pretrial system.

MDRC presents impacts and interview findings from the CJR study, and how bail reform may help to improve racial equity in pretrial environments.



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State Variation in Black and White Life Expectancy and Evolving Disparities

Significant historical disparities between Black and White Americans in various health status metrics help to showcase structural discrimination and gaps in care.

One measure that stands out is the gap in life expectancy, with consideration of geographic areas, one which has been narrowing over the past few years.

The Urban Institute discusses why life expectancy gaps between racial groups are relevant, findings from their health metric study, and what this data suggests.



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