New NYCHA Community Health Workers Take Care of NYCHA Communities

May 11, 2022July 8, 2022 LaToya

A new partnership is putting NYCHA residents at the forefront of public health work in their own NYCHA neighborhoods to help remove barriers to COVID-19 vaccination and address factors that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

The Vaccine Equity Partnership & Engagement (VEPE) 4 NYCHA COVID Recovery Project is an initiative of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) in partnership with NYCHA and five community-based organizations.

“COVID-19 has really opened my eyes to the health and social disparities that plague the NYCHA community,” said Sindy Stewart, VEPE 4 NYCHA Recovery Program Manager, NYC Health Department. “I was born and raised in Breukelen Houses, and as a proud NYCHA alumni, this pandemic was a call to action. I’m excited to help empower the residents of the NYCHA community so they can advocate for themselves, mitigate the social determinants of health, and increase their quality of life.”

vaccine bus outside of NYCHA development — Community Health Workers will work with residents at 43 developments and will help residents gain access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

woman talking to man — Community Health Workers will work with residents at 43 developments and will help residents gain access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

Through the initiative, community health workers (CHW) are placed in four boroughs to serve NYCHA residents at 43 developments. CHWs are trusted front-line public health workers who help people manage chronic health conditions and connect them to much-needed health and social services in a culturally appropriate manner. Fifty CHWs and 10 CHW supervisors were hired and trained, and 32 of the CHWs are NYCHA residents. The $15 million federally funded program is scheduled to last approximately 30 months.

“The launch of this program is a very special collaboration during a critical time for the health and wellness of NYC communities,” said Andrea Mata, NYCHA’s Director of Health Initiatives. “We can’t wait to see how the newly hired CHWs advance health equity across the 43 developments. The program supports the department’s twin goals of creating pathways for NYCHA residents into preventive health careers and bringing partner-led health resources to targeted NYCHA developments.”

CHWs were hired by five community-based organizations already on the ground in these neighborhoods to provide residents with one-on-one meetings to navigate resources; group wellness activities and health coaching; and educational outreach on vaccination. They received a minimum of 70 hours of training before beginning their community work. (See the list of program partners and locations they serve below.)

Mariners Harbor resident Joedy Mendoza was hired as a CHW for Community Health Action Center of Staten Island to serve all of NYCHA’s Staten Island developments. Due to the pandemic and her two children doing remote school, she had to quit her job – but now she’s happy to be employed and working in her community.

woman on phone in front of her laptop — One of Joedy Mendoza’s responsibilities is to reach out to residents to help make COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

woman holding covid-19 home test — One of Joedy Mendoza’s responsibilities is to reach out to residents to help make COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

“These are low-income communities; we don’t have the resources and the outreach other communities get,” Ms. Mendoza said. “I get to put the people in my community on to the things they need. I’m handing out personal protective equipment (PPE) like KN95 and surgical masks, sanitizer, take home COVID-19 tests. If people aren’t vaxxed, I help them get an appointment; if they’re unable to go to the appointment, I’ll help make a home appointment. I want everyone to be aware of the program; even if COVID-19 subsides, we can help with other resources. I hand out literature with resources my organization offers, including food pantry, housing services, and syringe distribution. I love people and I love helping people in my community, so this is a win-win.”

Shanna Castillo, Senior Director of NYCHA’s Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) Office, was impressed by the large number of NYCHA residents interested in serving their communities: approximately 200 residents attended two virtual information sessions.

“We are thankful to the NYC Health Department for their intentional approach in designing this program to ensure NYCHA residents are not only the recipients of quality preventative health care services but are also offered new career opportunities through community health care worker training and employment,” Ms. Castillo said. “We remain committed to working with the Health Initiatives team to expand health care sector training and employment opportunities for NYCHA residents.”

Unity Plaza resident Patricia McField was hired as a CHW with CABS Home Attendant Services based in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and is assigned to serve residents of Sheepshead Bay, Nostrand, and Glenwood Houses. She’s been distributing PPE and gathering information from residents about their concerns.

“In Sheepshead and Nostrand, there are a lot of seniors with hypertension and other health disparities,” Ms. McField said. “They live in food deserts and can’t walk that far to grocery stores; CABS is organizing food pantries to provide residents with fresh food. Before the pandemic, I spent three years as a community health worker but was furloughed, then unemployed. I found out about this opportunity through REES – they always have good opportunities. I got employment, and I think it’s awesome that I’m helping NYCHA residents and bringing the services our communities are sometimes left out of (or by the time they get to us, it’s too late). This is a really good initiative; they’re paying attention to NYCHA resident issues, which is important to me.”