The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity311Search all NYC.gov websites
Health
NYC Opportunity recognizes the link between poverty and health, and has implemented targeted solutions to address health disparities, such as access to healthy food, gun violence prevention, and improving reproductive healthcare.
NYC Opportunity health programs tackle these challenges through a diverse range of initiatives. To promote access to healthy food, NYC Opportunity created the Office of the Food Policy Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office, as well as the Shop Healthy outreach program that supports corner stores and food distributors in providing and promoting more healthy food options. To reduce gun violence in targeted communities, NYC Opportunity and the Young Men's Initiative launched the Cure Violence project, an evidence-based public health strategy that intervenes directly to stop the cycle of violence. To improve young people’s access to health, NYC Opportunity programs are making the New York City public hospital system more teen-friendly and bringing primary care and reproductive healthcare services to public high schools. Each of these initiatives has unique metrics established to track fidelity to the program models and impact on the target communities.
Health Initiatives Program Data by Fiscal Year
Programs
3-2-1...IMPACT! - Current Portfolio
3-2-1...IMPACT is a NYC Health + Hospitals initiative that advances the health and well-being of young children and families. The pilot program integrates and coordinates prenatal, primary care, and behavioral health services for families with children aged 0-3, enhancing wraparound services and referrals. In addition to improving accessibility and efficacy of care, IMPACT is improving payment and reporting systems to build towards evidence of sustainable two-generational care that supports both parents and children. The program is jointly funded by Robin Hood.
Adolescent Health Program - Current Portfolio
The Adolescent Health Program (AHP), formerly Teen Health Improvement, is a systems change effort to make the City’s public hospitals system (Health and Hospitals – H&H) more responsive to the needs of adolescents by improving provider, clinical, and billing practices and improving outreach efforts to adolescents. In alignment with these goals, the program trains H+H staff in adolescent health issues and strategies, works closely with H+H School Based Health Clinics, and engages young people in improving H+H service quality and accessibility.
To learn more about Adolescent Health Program, visit the YMI website.
Connections to Care - SIF - Current Portfolio
The Connections to Care (C2C) program, one of the 54 initiatives of ThriveNYC, is an innovative strategy that integrates mental health support into the work of community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve low-income and at-risk populations who may be struggling with unmet mental health needs. Through C2C, CBO staff are trained by Mental Health Provider partners to employ these core mental health interventions with their participants.
To learn more, visit our Connections to Care page.
Cure Violence (Formerly Ceasefire) - YMI
Cure Violence is an evidence-based violence prevention program that leverages the experiences of young men who have themselves experienced violence to act as "credible messengers" of an anti-violence message, in order to prevent and reduce youth violence. Violence interrupters work in the community and in partner hospitals to stop conflicts before they happen, and outreach workers redirect the highest-risk youth away from life on the streets. Program provider staff also engage in outreach and organizing to mobilize communities to reject violence as a social norm.
This program is currently overseen by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.
CUNY Fatherhood Academy - Current Portfolio
The CUNY Fatherhood Academy is a cohort-based education, work readiness and parenting program for young adult fathers. Based at CUNY community college campuses, the program provides parenting workshops, high school equivalency exam preparation services, work readiness services, and post-secondary education transition support.
To learn more about CUNY Fatherhood Academy, visit the YMI website.
CUNY Fatherhood Academy Evaluation Reports
Food Policy Coordinator - Current Portfolio
NYC Opportunity created the position of the Food Policy Coordinator within the Mayor’s Office in order to promote healthy food access for low-income New Yorkers.
Opportunity NYC
Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards was a privately funded, conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to help families break the cycle of poverty. The program, which was rigorously evaluated, was the first comprehensive CCT program in a developed country.
- Opportunity NYC – Family Rewards MDRC Evaluation - 2013
- Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards High School Student Study - 2012
- Learning Together: Family Rewards Qualitative Study - 2011
- Early Findings from Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards - 2010
- A Preliminary Look at Early Educational Results of the Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards Program - 2009
School-Based Health Centers (SBHC's)
SBHCs provide on-site healthcare, including reproductive health, on-site at selected NYC public schools. The facilities provide scheduled and walk-in services to students when schools are in session. SBHCs provide multiple services in the schools in which they are located:
- Primary care and reproductive health services on-site
- First aid care to all students registered in the building; and
- Emergency care to anyone in need on school premises.
SBHC's are an evidence-based strategy that have multiple evaluations have shown to positively impact student health outcomes.
Shop Healthy - Current Portfolio
Shop Healthy NYC is a New York City Department of Health (DOHMH) initiative that aims to increase access to healthy food while engaging community members to support sustainable food retail change in their neighborhoods. Shop Healthy NYC takes a place-based approach, working with a limited number of high-need zip codes each year. The ultimate goal is to improve a neighborhood’s food environment by supporting sustainable changes at multiple levels. To achieve this, Shop Healthy works directly with food retailers, community residents, and food distributors.
Visit Shop Healthy NYC on the Department of Health's Website
Shop Healthy NYC Evaluation Reports
Teen ACTION
An after-school service learning initiative designed to reduce risky behavior and enhance school performance among middle and high school students by promoting positive life skills, a sense of efficacy and self-worth, and citizenship. This program is currently inactive.
Teen ACTION Evaluation Reports