The Bridge - Fall 2012

THE BRIDGE

Public Health Newsletter

Volume 1

The Bridge is a public health newsletter written and produced by Hofstra University students and faculty devoted to bridging the gaps in our health care system and improving the health of our communities.

Message From the Acting Dean of Hofstra University’s School of Health Sciences and Human Services, Ronald Bloom, Ph.D., Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

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he School of Health Sciences and Human Services, Hofstra’s newest school, provides an interdisciplinary environment where students learn to provide therapeutic and developmental services; prevent, diagnose and treat illness and disabilities; and design, implement, administer and evaluate health promotion programs, policies and systems.

Bringing together the fields of rehabilitation, counseling and therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, audiology, public health and health management, the school offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to educate the next generation of practitioners, advocates, managers and health care policy makers.

The rapidly changing health care environment needs leaders, policy makers and managers who conduct research, participate in essential community service initiatives, and disseminate information to change behavior and shape health policy. Our Master of Science in Community Health program has been training students in the art and design of program planning, Ronald Bloom implementation and evaluation for several years, and our students are well-connected with the community-based health care network. Our new Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program prepares students for careers in public health practice and research in community, government and private sector settings. Students develop critical skills in core public health functions such as assessment and research, program evaluation and policy development that translate well into a variety of fields and positions.

Our community and public health programs benefit from an outstanding faculty of clinicians, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and policy analysts drawn from the School of Health Sciences and Human Services, the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University, Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the Nassau County Department of Health, and various other local health and communitybased organizations. Innovative leaders in their fields, with experience Inside in community, government and private sector settings, this Director’s Welcome ..................................... Page 2 multidisciplinary faculty enhances the study of core disciplines, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health policy and The Career Corner....................................... Page 2 administration, and social and behavioral sciences.

Meet Our New Students.............................. Page 3 Interview With Dr. Martine Hackett..........Page 4-5 There is tremendous energy in the new school in general, and in the public health programs in particular. This newsletter, driven by an The American Public Health Association and You........................................................ Page 6 extremely motivated and passionate cadre of new public and community health students, is one example of the exciting initiatives happening in Can Women Pass on Diabetes and our school today. It is with great enthusiasm and optimism that I Obesity to Their Children?........................... Page 7 introduce this inaugural issue of The Bridge. I look forward to reading Public Health Emergency Preparedness and learning from the students’ articles, and sharing new knowledge and the Medical Reserve Corps................... Page 7 with my colleagues at Hofstra and in the surrounding community.

Spotlight on a Local Community-Based Organization...........................................Back cover 1

Director’s Welcome

Corinne Kyriacou Message from the Director of the M.P.H. and M.S. in Community Health programs, Corinne Kyriacou, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences and Human Services

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fter more than four years of planning and recruiting, our first cohort of M.P.H. students – 18 in total – started classes this past fall. They are joined by eight new graduate students and 13 second-year students in our Master of Science in Community Health program.

Together, these students are among the most energetic, community-minded, passionate public health advocates that you could meet. Mirroring the heterogeneity of the health care workforce, our students are clinicians, researchers, program planners, educators, administrators and front-line public health professionals. All are seeking advanced training to become more effective change agents in their communities.

The

Career Corner

In addition to a dynamic curriculum, there are a number of new initiatives underway that are helping to create a community of scholar-advocates. First, we have reached out to more than 130 health and social service organizations across Nassau and Suffolk Counties seeking partners to collaborate with us on program, research and service activities. We are sharing the response with our public/community health students and encouraging them to become involved from their very first semester in these real-time, ongoing projects. The response from both the community and our students has been overwhelming. Shirt sleeves are rolled up, thinking caps are tightened, and we are jumping head-first into activities that represent both the mission of these programs and the motivation behind student interest in obtaining these graduate degrees: improving the health of our communities.

Second, we have started a journal club to provide a space for students and faculty to engage together in an in-depth discussion about a current publication on public health research, policy analysis or practice. Our first journal club examined early childhood health, looking specifically at a paper published by Kamila Mistry and colleagues in the September 2012 month’s journal of the American Public Health Association: A New Framework for Childhood Health Promotion: The Role of Policies and Programs in Building Capacity and Foundation of Early Childhood Health.

We intend to hold three journal club meetings a semester.

Third, we have started this newsletter, The Bridge, which is spearheaded largely by the students themselves. The Bridge will report on new happenings in the M.P.H. and M.S. in Community Health programs, progress on community service projects, summaries of student research and upcoming events. The newsletter will also highlight student perspectives on various public health issues, innovative local community-based organizations, and interesting careers in public health.

Appropriately named, The Bridge depicts our programs’ dedication to creating partnerships and collaborations between Hofstra University and the community, providers, advocates and policy makers to ensure that that comprehensive, evidencebased health promotion and disease prevention activities are available to meet society’s needs to prevent and ameliorate public health problems locally, nationally and globally.

It’s an exciting time in health care and an exciting time to be a graduate student. Upon graduation, our students will be entering into a whole new world of public health. With great momentum in the states and at the federal level, new models for service delivery; new diagnostic, treatment and analytic technologies; new payment arrangements; new disease patterns; and rapidly changing population demographics, opportunities for new directions in public health are limitless.

Public health is a dynamic multidisciplinary field. The purpose of The Career Corner is to provide our readers with an example of an interesting public health profession using a real job posting. Each issue will highlight a different career.

Job Title: Health Officer About the Position: The Health Officer will hold a leadership position in his/her agency and will serve as a member of the Health and Community Service executive management team. The Health Officer must work full time (37.5 hours per week) with a starting time of 8:30 a.m. and is responsible for the overall management and administration of the activities and operations of the Macomb County Health Department. This includes managing a budget in excess of $18 million, directing and coordinating public health activities, and supervising more than 200 managerial, professional and support personnel.

Requirements: Seeking individuals with at least eight (8) years of experience in the public health administration/management field, and a master’s degree in public health or a directly related field.

Benefits & Compensation: Benefits include health, dental and vision plans that offer flexibility and choice along with a generous time off policy and defined benefit retirement plan. Salary range: $95,026.90 - $118,783.65 For more information visit the Macomb County website: macombcountymy.gov/humanresources/employment.htm All of the above information has been obtained from Publichealthjobs.net, a free public health employment resource sponsored by the Association for Schools of Public Health.

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Meet Our New Students What does public health mean to you?

For new students entering Hofstra University’s Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Community Health programs, public health means a world of opportunities to not only grow as influential leaders in healthcare, but also to promote wellness; not just for individual people, but for communities, societies and environments.

Public health is an exciting, diverse and dynamic field, and students who pursue public health degrees and careers have a wide range of interests and passions.

Some students are looking to strengthen their background as healthcare professionals, others are looking to reduce environmental hazards, and others are hoping to simply serve their communities. Passions range from specific disease prevention to improving access to healthcare, and those very passions are what make the field of public health as important as it is.

Choosing the right program in such a rapidly growing and increasingly complex field is a very important decision for students. As a new student, I can say that choosing the right school meant everything to me. I needed a program that would help me succeed so I can do what I love the most; serve the public and help create healthy communities and healthy people. So, why Hofstra?

I was particularly drawn to Hofstra because of how comprehensive their definition of public health is: Hofstra has two related programs (referred to as “sister programs” by Dr. Corinne Kyriacou, director of the M.P.H. and

by Nuzhat Quaderi, M.S., Community Health, ‘14

M.S. in Community Health programs) – the Master of Science in Community Health program focuses on planning and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs, and the M.P.H. program focuses on research skills and using data to shape program and policy decisions. Both areas are essential if our future health care system is to be more effective, more efficient, and more equitable.

Hofstra University’s graduate health programs also take seriously their role in advocating for better health in the local community, and students are presented with a variety of opportunities in the field where they can get experience in public health service, research or program development starting with their first semester.

Many students appreciate the relationship Hofstra’s graduate health programs have with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, understanding that this relationship can translate into additional volunteer, research, internship and career opportunities. Other students cite the diversity of classes and students as the greatest draw. Some new students are eager to work on global health issues,

“ With 18 students in the M.P.H. program and eight new students in the Community Health program this past fall, Hofstra’s graduate health programs have admitted a diverse group of individuals ...” while others are interested in specific diseases and developing effective advocacy skills. Several students with clinical backgrounds stated that their motivation for enrolling in Hofstra’s programs was driven by a desire to better care for their patients.

With 18 new students in the M.P.H. program and eight new students in the Community Health program this past fall, Hofstra’s graduate health programs have admitted a diverse group of individuals from different professional backgrounds and different passions. Each has found something in the Hofstra program that speaks to them. All are ready to start their advanced training in public health – both inside and outside the classroom.

All are ready to make a difference in the health of the population.

To learn more about Hofstra’s M.P.H. and M.S. in Community Health programs and to find out about upcoming events and view archived webinars, please visit: hofstra.edu/Academics/ Colleges/healthscienceshumanservices.

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Interview With

Dr. Martine Hackett

by Alicia Colangelo, M.P.H. ‘14

This interview was conducted August 15, 2012 Dr. Martine Hackett received an M.P.H. in 2008 from CUNY Hunter College; a Ph.D. in sociology in 2007 from CUNY Graduate School & University Center; a master’s degree in 2005 from CUNY Queens College; and a B.F.A. in film in 1992 from New York University. I collected questions from students in the new M.P.H. program and interviewed Dr. Hackett to find out how she began working in the field of public health and, ultimately, what led her to becoming a professor at Hofstra University.

“A great thing about this new program is the record hasn’t been written yet and it’s up to you guys to take this program in the direction you want it to go in.

What areas do you have interest in or think are in need?”

How did you end up working in the public health field? Was this what you always wanted to do?

A year ago at this time I was working at the New York City Department of Health, and I had been working there for four years. I worked there at the Bureau of Maternal Infant Reproductive Health, and I worked on programs and research on infant mortality, breast feeding and maternal mortality.

Right before that I was in graduate school.

If we take a step back, when I was 15 I knew that I wanted to work in television. I went to film school and I worked in TV for 10 years after that. Then I had this sort of epiphany like, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?” So, then I went to graduate school for a Ph.D. in sociology.

What I was interested in when I worked in TV was, “How can I communicate to people so they can sort of get something out of what they are watching? What news can you use?” For me it was always about what can people get out of what they are watching and so when I was in graduate school I had an open mind about what I wanted.

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Then I sort of stumbled on public health while I was doing an internship at Hunter College. What I worked on there was an intervention at Rikers Island for HIV prevention for men who have sex with men, but who do not consider themselves to be homosexual. Which back in 2002 was a sort of phenomenon, so it was this idea that how do you communicate something to people who are not acknowledging this behavior that they are doing (p.s., you are not allowed to have sex in Rikers, and how do you build an intervention that gets at that.) Just that concept of an intervention, creating something that did not exist before to help people change a behavior, was fascinating for me.

What made you become a professor at Hofstra University?

So I realized, oh, public health, never knew about it, totally stumbled upon it, the more I found out about it the more I realized it intersects with a lot of things I am interested in. My dissertation research was on the Back to Sleep Campaign, to put babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There were plenty of other things that killed more people and yet this was the No. 1 infant care health-related issue at one time. This brought in my sociology perspective, the creation of the campaign, and the consequences. There are unintended consequences of even your most well-intentioned campaigns that as public health professionals we have to entertain. And this led to me being at the Department of Health because I was doing interviews with people prominent in the field, and I interviewed the person who ended up being my boss. I started as a consultant there, and the rest is history.

So when I finished grad school I went to work at the Department of Health. And while there I felt these limitations, which goes back to that creative part I mentioned, and I had ideas about doing stuff and ways to do it and I got away with some of them, but it’s a very bureaucratic system working for the city and there were things I couldn’t do. I had ideas about studies I wanted to do, and I knew I couldn’t do them at work, so I did them on my own. There is one study I am about to submit to a journal this week. It was an online study I did, I paid for it myself, it’s crazy, but I couldn’t help myself. I noticed while working at the Department of Health that there were people who knew about putting their babies to sleep on their back and not sleeping with their babies, but they did it anyway and that fascinated me! They completely understand the information, but they do it anyway. I identified it as resistance, but what is it about this resistance that prevents people from doing what they know they are supposed to do. We are trained as public health professionals to make sure people understand what they need to do and they follow through with it, but there is something missing here in terms of how an audience is interpreting this. We all know things we are supposed to do and we don’t. So while I was at the Department of Health I kind of became obsessed with this idea. And I realized I can’t do this and still work here. I need to be in a place that supports this. So that is how I got to Hofstra. I wanted to explore things that were sort of considered “off the grid” while I was at the Department of Health.

Who should consider a degree in public health?

I felt the people I met in public health were really interesting ... first of all really nice; it will be hard to find a really mean person working in public health. The people who stay in it care, they want to be

able to help people and help them in a way that uses science, inspired techniques, and uses community in ways to connect with people. I find it a really great mix of a lot of things. If you’re a person who really likes crunching numbers you can be in public health. If you’re a person who really likes being out there and talking to people you can do public health. If you’re a person who likes to plan programs and manage things, you can do public health.

It is so wide that it really brings in a bunch of skill sets. So if you’re more science-minded, you’ve got that; if you’re more medical-minded, you’ve got that; if you’re more communication-minded you can do that too. It really is a fascinating mix of people. So I found that really exciting.

You have a history of working in an urban setting. What has drawn you to begin work in the local area around Hofstra?

I moved out here to the suburbs, and I realized public health in the suburbs needs some love. I came from this health department where 6,000 people worked and public health was everywhere. I didn’t see that here. I want to apply public health strategies to the suburbs and where I live.

In the coming years, what public health issues do you think are going to be of predominant concern?

I believe the aging population and immigrant populations are going to bring about unique concerns. I think people are unprepared to deal with these concerns.

The suburbs were not built in a way to deal with these challenges. Dealing with the changing demographic in the suburbs I think will definitely be a challenge.

What strengths and attributes do you believe Hofstra University has to provide students in becoming engaged and influential in public health?

I think that this is a fantastic opportunity to be in a program in public health that is starting in 2012. It is so exciting to be in a place where we are creating the particulars of this program as we are going through it. It is like that saying, “Make the road by walking,” ─ we have guidelines and competencies that we need to maintain, but how we do it, is open.

Hofstra has great support and enthusiasm for this program, from the University as a whole. People want to make this a centerpiece of the health professions school. There is a real desire, in part because this is where jobs will be, in particular to have the public health perspective understood and supported. So I’d say institutional support is the first strength.

Our second strength is our connection to North Shore-LIJ, one of the largest health systems in the country. That opportunity allows for research, faculty, and for real-world experiences. It is bringing together primary care and public health, which is really where things are going.

Third, being where we are. I really think being in this suburban area, in and of itself, is fascinating for public health.

Most people in the United States live in a suburban setting, and the concept of looking at public health from a suburban perspective is really underserved. So I think an opportunity to say what is unique about public health in the suburbs is a unique opportunity. And since we are so close to the city we can take advantage of those resources as well.

We really have an opportunity here to improve where we live.

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The American Public Health Association and You

by Anu Anish, M.P.H. ‘14

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he American Public Health Organization (APHA), established in 1872, is one of the largest and most prominent professional associations in the United States. It includes a large array of professionals, students and individuals that are passionate about the field of public health. The APHA holds annual conferences where the attendees can participate in scientific sessions and panel discussions in which more than 5,000 scientific papers are presented.

This 2013 Annual Conference will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, November 2-6 with the theme “Think Global, Act Local: Best Practices Around the World.” The conference includes “Mix and Mingle Lounges,” where you can meet potential business associates and/or colleagues.

There is also a Public Health Expo where attendees can learn about public health careers and schools. Each conference session includes unique opportunities for students to explore and educate themselves.

As students of public health it is vital for us to be acquainted with the changing needs of our nation. The APHA offers weekly updates and also a discounted membership rate for students. Benefits of a student membership include, but are not limited to, monthly subscriptions to American Journal of Public Health and The Nation’s Health. Members are also

“As students of public health it is vital for us to be acquainted with the changing needs of our nation.” given registration discounts for the APHA Annual Meeting and book discounts. They can also participate in active listservs and various leadership opportunities.

Any student that joins the APHA is automatically considered a member of the Student Assembly. The Student Assembly is one of the largest student-led organizations within the APHA and is dedicated to increasing student participation within the APHA. They advocate for student issues, as well as public and health-related policies. At the 2012 conference in California the Student Assembly held their Eighth Annual National Student Meeting in which students had the opportunity to network with other public health professionals and discuss innovative advancements in public health.

The APHA is currently seeking student liaisons to serve as regional representatives or campus liaisons to the Student Assembly (SA) of the APHA. This position provides students with opportunities to be

cognizant on student initiatives within the APHA. A regional liaison plays a key role in the SA by helping recruit new campus liaisons in their region and sharing information about SA and APHA to campus liaisons, students, faculty and administrators at colleges and universities in their region.

Other than membership opportunities, the APHA website also includes a CareerMart in which you can post your resume and look for potential job opportunities. The CareerMart has postings of jobs across the nation, which can be specified based on experience and/or area of interest. The CareerMart is open to those with public health degrees, as well as doctors, nurses, physician assistants and professors.

Regardless of whether you choose to obtain membership or just research the site, I would recommend that you join the mailing list. The APHA sends weekly updates on new health policies and areas in global and community health where help is needed. As M.P.H. students it is vital for us to educate ourselves in areas that are easily disregarded. Whether it is promoting vaccinations or raising awareness on changing policies, no amount of information is insignificant. I encourage our current M.P.H. class to continue to educate themselves outside of the classroom and to find areas that feed their hunger for change.

Dr. George Thibault is president of the Josiah Macy Foundation, and he delivered a lecture “Aligning Public Health Education to Improve the Health of Society” on December 4, 2012.

Dr. George Thibault 6

Can Women Pass on Diabetes and Obesity to Their Children?

By Sharisse Carter, M.S. Community Health, ‘14

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an women pass on diabetes and obesity to their children?

Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine seem to think so. In an article in HealthDay, Dr. Boyd Metzger, researcher and professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, is well-known for his research with gestational diabetes and its varied correlations. More specifically, this article highlights his extensive research based on women with gestational diabetes and pregnant women who are obese, overweight or slightly overweight and its correlation to postnatal health of both mother and child. His research has determined that these women are “at an increased risk for pregnancy complications” (HealthDay, 2012). Such complications can include higher risk of c-sections and abnormal blood-sugar levels and insulin levels for both mother and baby.

Pregnant women who are obese, even those

that are slightly overweight, as well as women who have gestational diabetes are also at a higher risk of having diabetes after pregnancy and can possibly pass it on to their children.

Dr. Metzger performed a research study of more than 23,000 women in nine different countries and “found that pregnant women who are obese and have gestational diabetes and those who are overweight and have slightly elevated blood sugar are more likely to have large babies.” These findings, published in the April 2012 issue of Diabetes Care, are highly significant. They reveal that babies born to overweight and/or obese women and women with gestational diabetes tend to be higher in birth weight.

More specifically, these infants weighed 6-12 ounces more than women of normal weight and women without gestational diabetes. A larger baby can also mean increased risk of injury to the baby during

vaginal delivery. In addition to a higher birth weight, it has been noted that these infants “are more likely to have higher insulin and lower blood-sugar levels. These effects eventually may trigger obesity and diabetes in the child.” (HealthDay, 2012) To fight these effects Metzger suggests that pregnant women take care of their health and weight with proper nutrition. Metzger believes that nutrition has such a huge impact on pregnancy, before, during and after, and that “each woman – on her first prenatal visit – should get a prescription for a session with a dietitian and an appropriate healthy eating plan for her pregnancy.”

(HealthDay, 2012). Early awareness and changes in dietary needs and nutrition can greatly affect mother and baby’s long-term effects, and in turn may effectively lower risks for childhood diabetes, childhood obesity as well as adult diabetes, adult obesity and gestational diabetes.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Medical Reserve Corps By Nina Scollo, M.P.H. ‘14 What would you do if your community was suddenly struck with an emergency situation such as a chemical spill, infectious disease epidemic, hurricane or act of terrorism? Disasters can occur at anytime, anywhere, and affect anyone. Emergencies can be the result of one or a combination of technological, natural or civil hazards. Luckily, there are certain public health systems in place that prepare us for such events. Here in Nassau County, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Division of Emergency Preparedness at the Department of Health work to improve the overall health and well-being of our community by engaging in appropriate initiatives throughout the year. Essentially emergency preparedness encompasses every area of public health, including disease, environmental safety and education. Being prepared can help us take better control of situations and make knowledgeable decisions.

After 9/11, hundreds of citizens stepped up to volunteer their support in emergency response. As a result, the Medical Reserve Corps was created by former President George W. Bush to address the need to better utilize volunteers and resources during an emergency. What is the Medical Reserve Corps? The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is an established network of health care professionals and others that volunteer their time and skills to respond to public health emergencies. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers vary in medical background from students in health professions, to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

MRC members typically are trained in a local emergency systems and emergency response program called Incident Command System (ICS). This system is used universally and allows for a highly coordinated effort. MRC members periodically participate in mock emergency responses and planning meetings that additionally help prepare members for activation.

This past year, the Nassau County Medical Reserve Corps participated in a number of local Incident Command events.

When H1N1 threatened our community, it was the MRC that administered vaccines in mass for flu season. In spring 2012 , the MRC provided medical response to large events such as the Long Island Marathon and the Games for the Physically Challenged. Also in the summer months, emergency preparedness is in full effect with ground treatment spraying throughout the residential areas of Nassau to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus by mosquitoes.

As one of the most challenging and underestimated areas of public health, emergency preparedness truly strengthens our community and keeps us safe.

To learn more about emergency preparedness visit ready.gov.

To get involved or learn more about the Medical Reserve Corps visit nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/OEM. 7

Spotlight on a Local Community-Based Organization:

The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

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he Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) was established in 1947. HWCLI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of residents living on Long Island. Over the years the HWCLI has advocated for the needs of the vulnerable population within Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Gwen O’ Shea, CEO of HWCLI, quotes the Alliance for Children and Families, which states, “There needs to be a disruptive force: a monumental, unexpected change that does not fit previous patterns, it is a revolutionary force – not an evolutionary progression.” Here, Ms. O’Shea emphasizes the necessity of change to be one that forces itself into society, a change that disrupts the everyday humdrum of life. If public health is to implement change, it needs one that will shake foundations.

Since 2011 the HWCLI has worked with the county to deliver a solution to the veterans, seniors, children and families of Nassau to ensure delivery of critical services. HWCLI collaborated with Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (LIVOAD), to produce a Disaster Recovery and Relief Guide, despite the recent budget cuts in disaster services on all levels of government. With our transforming government and the recent changes in health care, HWCLI established a health care committee to stay aware and informed. Ms. O’Shea also stated, “From health homes, to affordable care organizations (ACOs) to the exchange – we need to be at the forefront of information and advocacy.” It is vital now more than ever for organizations to inform and to advocate on behalf of our ever-changing policies and to make it a priority within their staff. In order to keep in

By Anu Anish, M.P.H. ‘14

accordance with the economic state, the HWCLI established a Economic Stability Membership Committee, which educates itself and refines areas in which health and human services can influence. Aside from working with the county and organizations, the HWCLI also provides direct services. These services include Child Health Plus/Family Health Plus insurance. This service allowed more than 65,000 uninsured Long Islanders to acquire health insurance. Their Community Health Advocacy (CHA) program assisted uninsured residents of Long Island with attaining benefits from the early implementation stages of the Affordable Care Act. Along with aiding the uninsured the HWCLI has worked with Long Island’s free tax preparation sites (VITA and TCE), helping clients claim $9,300,758 worth of federal tax returns. A local student stated, “The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island came to my high school during my senior year and saved me not only from collecting debt, but probably from turning away from college by helping me fill out my FAFSA.” The HWCLI filed 333 free applications for federal and state student aid, helping students’ access more than $2 million worth of federal and state grants for higher education. Not only have they filed these applications, but they also have made it a vital point to conduct education seminars for these students. The HWCLI has made an impact on Long Island and continues to be the revolutionary force that the field of public health needs. The field of public health is meant to be revolutionary, not evolutionary. Something that is evolutionary establishes itself over time, but a movement that is revolutionary awakens a society, and that is precisely the direction in which public health is heading.