Issue 38
June, 2018
Welcome to Synergy
 
We are pleased to present the thirty-eighth issue of Synergy, a monthly newsletter about the progress and processes of the Suffolk Care Collaborative (SCC).

The definition of synergy is the increased effectiveness that results when two or more entities work together. We are confident that the combined efforts of the many dedicated partners within the SCC will help the Collaborative reach its goals, leading to improved health for the residents of Suffolk County.  

About Suffolk Care Collaborative (SCC):  SCC is an alliance of healthcare providers in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY, formed to support New York State's Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) initiative. Under the guidance and leadership of Stony Brook Medicine, SCC established a Population Health Management Service Organization to improve county-wide health by addressing a wide range of challenges to health in order to improve outcomes by encouraging wellness, making healthcare more accessible and reducing costs by decreasing unnecessary hospital utilization.  For more information, visit our website:  www.suffolkcare.org.

In This Issue
Breathing Easier at World Asthma Day  

Alexandra Kranidis, Project Manager, SCC
Stony Brook Medicine recently celebrated World Asthma Day with its asthma experts from adult and pediatric pulmonology and organizations dedicated to asthma control and education.
 
Designed to increase awareness about asthma, Stony Brook Medicine's event was one of delivering interactive health education and health screenings to staff and visitors through asthma-related games, posters and demonstrations. This collaborative effort of multidisciplinary healthcare teams included respiratory therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists, physicians, students and nurses, including LPNs, RNs and NPs, from hospital, outpatient and community health areas and featured:
  • Pulmonary Function Test station, where participants could have their own pulmonary function test performed by respiratory therapists
  • Pharmacy Medications and Devices table with a Wheel of Fortune game about asthma medications and an In-Check device for participants to practice proper inhaler use
  • Ask the Experts table, featuring Lisa Romard, CPNP, AE-C; Katharine A. Kevill, MD, Pediatric Pulmonary; and Ewa Rakowski, MD, Adult Pulmonary
  • Asthma Triggers education table, led by Stony Brook Children's Hospital's outpatient nurses
  • Nutrition table with samples of a healthy, low-allergy risk salad, as well as information on asthma and nutrition, and the correlation between a pro-inflammatory diet and airway inflammation
  • Community partners table with resource information and representatives from the Asthma Coalition of Long Island, Keeping Families Healthy, Suffolk Care Collaborative and Public Health Nursing
Reprinted with permission from Stony Brook Medicine- Lifelines, June 20, 2018
COMPASS Unity Engages Bellport Business, Students and Community Members
 
COMPASS Unity through Strength and Diversity, Bellport/South Country School District's alcohol and drug prevention coalition continues to make progress within the school district and community.  With continued support by Family Service League's Underage Drinking Prevention initiative, funded by Suffolk Care Collaborative, the Coalition has been responsible for multiple events and activities that have taken place within the Bellport/South Country School District and community since the start of the new year, including:
  • The introduction of its Alcohol Sellers Initiative (ASI Program), a partnership between The Coalition and local alcohol retailers, that aims to reduce the sale and promotion of alcohol to youth within the South Country community.
  • Hosting community mapping activities and data review sessions, a process that evaluates the risk and protective factors that exist within the community, based on feedback from community members.
  • Sponsoring a vape and e-cigarette awareness workshop at South Country Central School District's Family Engagement Center, with Suffolk County's Senior Drug Educator, Stephanie Sloan, as its presenter.
  • Hosting COMPASS Unity's 5th Annual Youth Summit at Bellport Middle School, an all-day summit that consists of a keynote speaker and three workshops geared towards teaching 7th and 8th graders about making healthy decisions.
  • Submission of the application of the Drug-Free Communities Grant Program, a federal grant program that provides funding to community based coalitions whose goal is to prevent youth substance use.
In addition, the program's Prevention Specialist, Cierra Corbett graduated from The National Coalition Academy (NCA), a year-long comprehensive training program developed by Communities Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), which teaches coalition leaders and members what they need to know and do to establish and maintain a highly effective anti-drug coalition.
 
To learn more about these activities, download the latest edition of COMPASS Unity's seasonal newsletter, called Directions here.
SCC Community Engagement Updates

Health & Wellness Programs Webpage Launch

SCC has launched the new Health & Wellness Programs page on the SCC Community Engagement (CE) webpage.   The Community Engagement webpage is part of  Project 4bii Access to Chronic Disease Preventive Care Initiatives' program strategy to spread awareness on specific chronic diseases.  Since the initial launch of the CE webpage, it has been expanded to include all 11 SCC DSRIP projects, as well as key community facing resources and tools. On the Health & Wellness Programs page you will find information on the various community health programs offered by SCC and our partners.  

Our Community Engagement webpage features user-friendly tools, which include an overview of SCC DSRIP projects, patient education materials, hotline links, social services resources, an events calendar, a community bulletin board for local ongoing program postings and information on additional community resources.
SCC Participates in Islip Public Library's First Annual Health & Wellness Expo 
 
On June 4, 2018, Islip Public Library held their First Annual Health and Wellness Expo to educate community members on a variety of resources. SCC's Community Engagement Team, along with a number of local providers, participated at the Expo providing resources, screenings and special educational presentations targeting health and wellness. SCC's Community Engagement Liaisons, Lyndsey Clark and Sofia Gondal, provided an overview of SCC's community programs and conducted live demonstrations of the Community Engagement webpage .  Library attendees were also able to participate in the wellness demonstrations conducted by local providers and vendors. They included massage, chair yoga and healthy food demonstrations.  
SCC Participates in Hope Day 

On June 2, 2018, the Brentwood Recreation Center hosted its annual Hope Day event, which is a free block party for its community members.  Hope Day was established through Pastor Steve Milazzo, who led efforts to bring faith communities together to transform communites through volunteers.  

At the event, a variety of local community-serving partners provided resources, screenings and vital health and wellness information.  SCC Community Engagement Liaison, Sofia Gondal, attended Hope Day and provided attendees with  an overview of SCC's community programs and resources by using the Community Engagement webpage as a key tool.   Additionally, there were netw orking opportunities to explore collaborative work on similar community and DSRIP projects.    

The Community Engagement Team continues to participate in collaborative events to educate, engage and empower communities by raising awareness about SCC's resources and DSRIP initiatives.   For specific outreach questions or to arrange a live webpage demonstration at your organization, contact our Community Engagement Team at CommunityEngagement@stonybrookmedicine.edu .
Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Master Training Hosted by SCC

SCC's Community Engagement Team recently hosted a Cultural Competency and Health Literacy (CCHL) Train-the-Trainer class.  The class was held on May 22, 2018, and included 12 provider partners from diverse backgrounds such as health care and community based organizations serving Queens and Long Island.  The SCC provides the CCHL Training Program in partnership with Nassau-Queens Performing Provider System (NQP), Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) and curriculum creator Dr. Martine Hackett, an Assistant Professor at Hofstra University. The goal of the CCHL Training Program is to advance cultural and linguistic competency, promote effective communication to eliminate health disparities and enhance patient outcomes. Participants interactively learn about regional health equity data, unconscious bias, social determinants of health, cultural competency and humility, the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services, health literacy barriers and strategies, and the Teach-Back Method.  
 
At the conclusion of the interactive CCHL Train-the-Trainer class, the participants received certificates of completion and a resource toolkit to help prepare them to deliver the CCHL Training Program in their organization.  Congratulations to the new CCHL Master Trainers!
Back row, standing (left to right):  Karla E. Mason-Morrison, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center; Deepika Kewlani, Catholic Health Services of LI; Barry Zaks, Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center; Alice Miller, Suffolk County Division of Mental Hygiene; Candice Hulse, Meeting House Lane Medical Practice; Monica Prino, Town of Babylon, Drug and Alcohol Services; Silas W. Kelly, National Association of Social Workers-NY State; Jeffrey Marcus, Momentum at South Bay for Rehabilitation & Nursing.  Front row, sitting (left to right):  Jeanne Nissen, Northwell Health; Priti Sharma, Northwell/Dolan Family Health Center; Kerri, New Horizon Counseling Center; Florella Adams, Urban League; Lyndsey Clark (Class Instructor), SCC.

For SCC's 2018 Train-the-Trainer class dates, please explore the CCHL landing page hosted on LIHC's website.  To  learn more about the CCHL Training Program and how your organization can participate, please contact SCC's Community Engagement Team at CommunityEngagement@stonybrookmedicine.edu .
Partner Interview:  Addressing Community Needs
Name:  Gwen O'Shea, President & CEO
Organization:  Community Development Corporation of Long Island

Please give us a summary of your organization.
Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI), a regional non-profit organization, was founded in 1969 by government, business, and civic leaders who came together to address the growing demand for affordable housing. CDCLI is a regional and national leader in community development, working to revitalize and build strong communities. We serve Nassau and Suffolk Counties and parts of Brooklyn, and provide a variety of programs and services that address the dynamic challenges faced by those who live and work on Long Island. 

What is CDCLI doing to assist people in Suffolk County communities?
CDCLI has a variety of programs and services to assist people in Suffolk County communities. Through our Homeownership Center, we provide education, counseling, training, and coaching to help people achieve and sustain a healthy home, and to gain financial independence. Pre-purchase programs include homebuyer education and financial literacy. Post-purchase programs include foreclosure counseling, reverse mortgage counseling and home maintenance training. These services are available to all Suffolk County residents.
CDCLI administers over 6,000 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 rental assistance subsidies) annually, almost all of which are located in Suffolk County. This enables approximately 14,000 very low-income, the elderly, disabled and veteran individuals and families to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing on the private market.

CDCLI administers the Weatherization Assistance Program on behalf of New York State Homes and Community Renewal, enabling Long Islanders to make their homes healthier, more energy efficient and structurally sound. CDCLI also provides construction oversight for accessibility improvements, home improvements and critical safety repairs.

Through real estate development, we increase affordable housing opportunities throughout Long Island that meet each community's needs, including single and multifamily homes for rent and sale.   As an extension of our affordable housing activities, our resident services arm uses housing as a platform to help low-income, vulnerable populations build a stable life as they work toward self-defined goals on a journey to personal advancement and economic empowerment.

How does CDCLI work to address population health in Suffolk County?
CDCLI recognizes that affordable, safe, and stable housing positively impacts a person's overall health and well-being, enables families to afford other basic needs and supports economic vitality within the community. Our resident services initiative integrates health, human, housing and community development providers to holistically address resident needs by identifying service gaps and connecting them to appropriate supportive services.
 
CDCLI is working to expand services into the Wyandanch Village multifamily residential development; three residential developments for older adults in Patchogue, Deer Park and Port Jefferson; and the 43 scattered-site single family affordable rental homes in CDCLI's portfolio, targeting a total of over 1,000 households in Suffolk County. CDCLI's Resident Services staff deploys a multimodal research design to establish and analyze resident-level baseline data, develop a list of commonly identified needs, and determine interest in participating in a resident advisory group. The goal of guided focus groups and surveying is to assess what community residents need and want, and ideally bring some of those resources on site. Some of the gaps in services identified and interventions put in place may be health related.
 
Who does CDCLI partner with to address the needs of the community?
Specific to resident services, New York University is assisting in research design and the development of survey questions that will establish resident-level baseline data. CDCLI is also working toward a formalized arrangement with SUNY Stony Brook's School of Social Welfare. Student interns will assist with designing evidence-based interventions to address identified needs, and build upon the assets uncovered through the research component.
 
In general, CDCLI works with community advocates, other non-profits, elected officials at every level, financial institutions, businesses, government entities and community residents to fulfill its mission.
 
What are some of the challenges CDCLI faces? And how is CDCLI working to overcome these challenges?
One of the hallmarks of CDCLI's operations is our commitment to adapting our programs to the rapidly changing external environment by being nimble and maintaining a level of fluidity. Over the past several years, this has included expanding services in the face of the foreclosure crisis, Superstorm Sandy and most recently, in partnership with Suffolk County on its Septic Replacement Program.
 
In order to adapt our programs to long-standing and changing needs, we continually assess the impact of national and regional trends, Long Island specific challenges, and feedback and perspective from local stakeholders and clients through surveys, focus groups, CDCLI's Board of Directors and Council of Advisors, and other credible data sources. The trends in these areas and the interplay between them determine our approach to our work and our ability to address emerging needs as they are identified.

How do you see these initiatives impacting our communities, workforce and population you serve?
Though CDCLI was originally founded to address the severe lack of affordable housing on Long Island, we recognize that people need more than a home to build a stable life, and our programs and services have evolved accordingly. They are designed to help Long Islanders overcome situational and systemic barriers, promote stability, create pathways out of poverty and provide a voice to be engaged in their communities. These supports empower individuals to achieve personal advancement and economic empowerment. CDCLI has a long, successful history of meeting individuals and families where they are, empowering them to have a greater understanding of their situation and providing objective support and resources to assist them in achieving their dreams. These efforts impact our communities, our workforce and our overall economic stability.
Community Development Corporation of Long Island   
    
Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI) provides a voice for fair and sustainable community development, homeownership education and residential lending, and remains steadfast in its commitment to three pillars of focus: Community Development and Housing for All; Economic Stability; and Advocacy, because home matters for all people. As an organization, we celebrate diversity, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our consumers and our community.

CDCLI's tagline, "We Invest in Your Dreams" captures the spirit of this organization and our commitment to making dreams of long-term economic stability come true.  

For more about CDCLI and its long running commitment to community development, r ead more here .
Compliance Connection
Protecting Data Privacy

It is important to be reminded that in
today's data-driven society, privacy, security and trust are more vital and intertwined than ever before. This message comes from PwC about their recently published findings from the 2018 Global State of Information Security® Survey (GSISS).

Here are some of the findings from the survey:
  • Only 51% of respondents have an accurate inventory of where personal data for employees and customers are collected, transmitted and stored.
  • Less than half of the respondents (49%) say their organization limits collection, retention and access of personal information to the minimum necessary to accomplish the legitimate purpose for which it is collected.
  • Only 53% require employees to complete training on privacy policy and practices.
The survey findings may be surprising, and should serve as a call to action to ensure your organization is doing enough to protect data privacy. A full copy of the report from the survey results can be downloaded here.

For compliance questions, or assistance, contact the SCC Compliance Office at SCC-Compliance@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
 Milestone Dates
 NYS DOH DSRIP Program Milestone Dates
 
July 31
PPS Year 4 First Quarterly Report (4/1/18 - 6/30/18) due from PPS

Frequently Asked Questions

 

To access NYS DSRIP FAQ, click  here.
Access previously published Synergy eNewsletters  here
Job woman showing hiring sign. Young smiling Caucasian   Asian businesswoman isolated on white background.
Office of Population Health
Career Opportunities
The SCC is pleased to invite qualified career seekers to apply for open positions. All job descriptions for current opportunities are posted here.

Current Job Opportunities:
  1. Director, Behavioral Health Services Integration
  2. Performance Manager
  3. Care Manager
  4. Social Worker
  For more information, please contact the Suffolk Care Collaborative via email