2025-07-23 09:47 : Wiese (Him/His), Michael : Here is the link to the Quick Facts on CHA Priorities
2025-07-23 10:02 : Syeda Moid : Hello everyone
2025-07-23 10:09 : Wiese (Him/His), Michael : Here is the link to the Quick Facts on CHA Priorities
2025-07-23 10:16 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : Please use the chat so that your perspectives are included in developing the CHIP
2025-07-23 10:17 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Housing
2025-07-23 10:18 : Bridget Lutz : The available housing stock and overpricing of rents is a huge issue in the city of buffalo.
2025-07-23 10:18 : Diane Oyler : This is a growing issue of concern, for people of all ages and has been called out in the newly released NYS Master Plan on Aging.
2025-07-23 10:19 : Emily Beauchamp : There are some great resources to assist with housing however the waitlists for these housing options in the city of Buffalo can be years long.
2025-07-23 10:19 : SANDRA M SHEPPARD : Hundreds of small apartments in huge buildings IS NOT affordable housing that build community. The history of affordable housing in Buffalo started with two family houses that enabled ownership and affordable units. HUGE APARTMENT BUILDING only benefit the landlord developers.
2025-07-23 10:19 : Broderick Cason : I agree with the info supported, I think the issues Luanne mentions , we do need a more sustainable
plan".
2025-07-23 10:20 : Jasmine Westbrook : As a new homeowner in Buffalo, I am very concerned about the safety of our housing when purchasing old homes. Lead pipes, soil contamination, lead paint, etc.
2025-07-23 10:20 : Colleen Kristich : Some of the barriers to affordability are the low amounts for rental assistance for people receiving TANF/Safety Net Assistance, and the fact that people can get emergency rental assistance for eviction prevention from DSS only once every 5 years.
2025-07-23 10:20 : knicolson@elderjusticeny.org : Housing options for older adults (including good, quality congregate living) are very limited. Well- off senior housing is more than adequate while low-income seniors have little to no options.
2025-07-23 10:20 : Grace McKenzie : This is a huge issue and the need for more affordable housing like Section 8 is huge.
2025-07-23 10:20 : Jack Kavanaugh : discrimination and access is a significant barrier for transgender and gender nonconforming western new yorkers in accessing housing across the board
2025-07-23 10:20 : Jessica Capron - Peaceprints of WNY : There is a severe lack of options for unhoused youth.
2025-07-23 10:21 : Tara N. Burgess : Some of the biggest challenges we hear from participants is the lack of housing, cost of housing, and quality of housing. Newer programs that are designed to support this for families are at risk in today's funding landscape.
2025-07-23 10:21 : Stacy Arlain Friends of Night : Stacy Arlain
2025-07-23 10:22 : Rachel Bonsignore : In WNY, the fastest growing segment of the unhoused population is children ages 0-5.
2025-07-23 10:23 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing food access
2025-07-23 10:24 : Tara N. Burgess : The 1115 waiver has the capacity to support families around food access and preparation, however, that funding is in danger. Agree with Jackie - better information sharing about benefits.
2025-07-23 10:25 : knicolson@elderjusticeny.org : 3.2 million people in the US will see lower SNAP monthly benefits due to the recent federal cuts.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:26 : Tara N. Burgess : This will have a huge impact on families.
2025-07-23 10:25 : Kathleen Graim : In addition, the FeedMore WNY Farm Market Truck that goes out into the community also accepts SNAP and Double Up.
2025-07-23 10:26 : Tom Lowe : The connection between food and healthcare has been a growing trend (food is/as medicine), but one that should be continued and strengthened to lift up messaging around food as treatment and as a tool for prevention of health issues.
2025-07-23 10:28 : Jessica Dollendorf : Family/Group Family child care providers can access assistance for healthy food costs through CACFP at Child Care Resource Network
2025-07-23 10:29 : Roberto Bonilla : Does any food bank in WNY delivers food to families without transportation?
2025-07-23 10:29 : Tara N. Burgess : Support families with access, information and resources for healthy foods will help children when they are not in school.
2025-07-23 10:30 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing transportation
2025-07-23 10:31 : Jack Kavanaugh : this is a huge barrier for us and ends up costing us significant grant funds dedicated to bus passes, uber trips, etc.
2025-07-23 10:31 : Tera Siegfried, E1B : Transportation is a major issue in rural areas - access to grocery stores, health care, general community, - makes it difficult for people in rural spaces. Also have heard complaints on the effectiveness of public transportation in the city of Buffalo
2025-07-23 10:32 : Sarah Buckley : This is a large issue for our members to safely, dependably and affordably come to work at the medical campus if they do not have dependable private transportation. We even recently lost a member struck by a vehicle in a traffic accident.
2025-07-23 10:33 : Tara Schafer : The Ways to Work program was instrumental and effective.
2025-07-23 10:33 : Rachel Bonsignore : Transportation is a priority for multiple community initiatives - LWE, Thrive by Five of UWBEC, Liftoff WNY. By prioritizing this in the CHIP, you could leverage the work of these efforts and hundreds of providers, CBO's, community leaders, etc.
2025-07-23 10:33 : Frank Cerny : Again, rural areas, because of the low population density ,have NO access to public transportation. We need to get creative to develop a regional plan that assesses existing options, identifies gaps and gets creative to address these gaps. We know of people in rural areas who have died because they couldn't get to care they need.
2025-07-23 10:33 : Megan F Lostracco : This is a "reach goal" for sure, but if there is a way to expand transportation funding similar to what is available through the 1115 waiver that would certainly help. For now eligibility for 1115 waiver transportation is limited to those that are eligible for "level 2" services.
2025-07-23 10:33 : Emily Beauchamp : If a patient does not have Medicaid, patients really do not have a ton of options. There are great community resources like paratransit and saferide, but everyone does not qualify. Like Jack said, this ends up costing us significant funds for transportation and bus passes and its not sustainable long term. Insurance's that used to offer transportation has pulled back and no longer offer this
2025-07-23 10:35 : Grace McKenzie : This is also a huge issue for people with disabilities having access to public transportation.
2025-07-23 10:35 : Cammarata, Frank : Thanks Grace! Main issue is the need for accessible transportation options
2025-07-23 10:36 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : I love how you are all using chat. Thank you all so much for contributing to the conversation in this way. I'm going to stop adding hearts because I can't keep up. Please know how much we appreciate your participation.
2025-07-23 10:36 : Tara N. Burgess : Better sidewalk plowing and clearing needs to happen for sidewalks and bus shelters.
2025-07-23 10:36 : Mary Comtois : United Way's Work/Life Solutions also assists with transportation. Businesses/Nonprofits can join and when an issues arises that could interfere with working, employees can access a loan that they repay and establish credit. Many use for transportation issues. As LuAnne explained.
2025-07-23 10:37 : Colleen Kristich : It's not always an option, but expanding mobile services that meet people in their homes or community spaces, and improving access for telehealth are also things to think about.
2025-07-23 10:37 : Nkurunungi, Lara : Discussing Access to Community Services and Resources
2025-07-23 10:39 : Frank Cerny : It's not just access in rural areas, but also availability.
2025-07-23 10:39 : Jasmine Westbrook : Centralized calendar and/or directory for services and resources
-----> 2025-07-23 10:41 : Megan F Lostracco : great idea! If everyone can be using the FindHelp tool, even if they're not part of the 1115 services, the repository of information and warm referrals will continue to grow.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:42 : El Solh, Wafa : https://highmark.findhelp.com/
-----> 2025-07-23 10:43 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : I like this idea. Maybe even a mailer could be sent to community members that provides that information.
2025-07-23 10:40 : Diane Oyler : This is a persistent issue. There are good programs out there that help to both assess needs and connect to resources, but need more funding support. Help Me Grow is a good example
2025-07-23 10:40 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : If this does not already exist, perhaps there should be a centralized document that highlights all the community services & resources in Erie County. This should be in a paper and digital format that can be accessed at locations that are frequented by Erie County residents.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:44 : Jessica Tufte, CCNY : I think 211 was trying to fill this role, if I'm not mistaken. But I don't know if they have a version that is laid out rather than searchable.
2025-07-23 10:41 : Candace Moppins : Most not for profit/community based organizations do not have marketing funds. And rely heavily on word of mouth and low cost or free social media outlets. Making it difficult to reach those that so desperately need the resources.
2025-07-23 10:41 : Tara Schafer : Literacy Buffalo Niagara has been implementing a Digital Literacy program to help individuals access community service information online which is becoming the increasingly preferred method of communication.
2025-07-23 10:42 : Jack Kavanaugh : many transgender western new yorkers do not find other community resources to be safe/affirming and avoid going and come to us for everything (especially the pride center) but we have limited capacity to provide complex supports
2025-07-23 10:42 : Tara N. Burgess : Society and funding opportunities need to place more value on the work of our staff, who are often paid at a rate that keeps them as service beneficiaries. SDOH is 80% of health outcomes, CBO staff are life savers. We should value them as such.
2025-07-23 10:43 : SSCDC : https://www.findhelp.org/
2025-07-23 10:43 : Laurie Napoleone : I would love to see the link re: resources in multiple languages
2025-07-23 10:43 : Rebecca Champlin : My name is Rebecca Champlin, Wellness Coordinator at Beyond Support Network. In partnership with Gerard Place, we are proud to host an upcoming Community Wellness Fair focused on supporting the well-being of individuals and families across all areas of wellness—including physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, environmental, financial, and occupational health.
This event will bring together a wide range of community partners and wellness-focused vendors to connect attendees with meaningful resources, services, and hands-on activities. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people can explore new tools, build connections, and feel empowered on their wellness journey.
2025-07-23 10:43 : SSCDC : you can text and email resources directly to clients
2025-07-23 10:43 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Employment Options That Pay a Livable Wage
2025-07-23 10:43 : Laurie Napoleone : I feel not everyone knows how to access their resources... need to improve outreach
2025-07-23 10:43 : Diane Oyler : Need to be mindful that access is also greatly impacted by availability of services. Increasing wait lists for senior services and others is a risk if you raise awareness without working to address supply
2025-07-23 10:44 : Tara N. Burgess : Funding for nonprofits should include more overhead/capacity building funding to cover things like marketing so that they can get the word out better about available services.
2025-07-23 10:44 : SSCDC : trodriguez@senecastreetcdc.org - let me know if anyone has any questions on how to utilize the share feature and enable the FREE translating feature
2025-07-23 10:45 : Jack Kavanaugh : employment discrimination is a MAJOR barrier for transgender people, particularly transgender women. it is incredibly difficult to find employment as a transgender woman in erie county.
2025-07-23 10:45 : Sarah Buckley : Unionization help indivuduals earn a living wage!
2025-07-23 10:45 : Tracy Diina : Seniors have an extremely low rate of using digital health literacy services--digital access is a solution
2025-07-23 10:46 : Colleen Kristich : Erie County should have a Community Benefits Agreement law that would mandate that companies receiving public funds would meet certain standards for wages, employment, and good labor practices.
2025-07-23 10:46 : Tracy Diina : Responding to Harvest House--yes! Literacy is a huge problem!!
2025-07-23 10:47 : Tara Schafer : Literacy Buffalo Niagara works with adults reading and speaking below a 5th grade level. This is our mission. 17% of Erie county residents struggle with reading and speaking English.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:48 : Tara N. Burgess : These families will also struggle teaching and supporting literacy in their children. EPIC offers programs that support parents teaching their children literacy regardless of their literacy level.
2025-07-23 10:47 : Tracy Diina : again, yes! Low literacy levels must be increased!!
2025-07-23 10:48 : Megan F Lostracco : Transportation is a huge barrier employment that pays a livable wage. More remote/hybrid options for work are helpful, but things have trended back to in-office majority of the time and many jobs do require in-person work and/or having reliable transportation.
2025-07-23 10:50 : Rachel Bonsignore : https://www3.erie.gov/socialservices/sites/www3.erie.gov.socialservices/files/2022-09/the_true_cost_of_child_care_phase_two.layout_fordigital_september_2022.pdf
2025-07-23 10:50 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Cost of Health Care and Access to Insurance
2025-07-23 10:51 : Anne Ryan : Read to Succeed Buffalo supports the child care and preschool workforce to intentionally support literacy development from birth and high impact tutoring to help students who are behind in reading skill development to attain age appropriate skills before the end of 3rd grade.
2025-07-23 10:53 : Diane Oyler : Will be a growing problem in the next 24 months. We have learn a lot about what works in helping people to enroll in health care through Keep NY Covered and Reaching the 5%. Community Services Society works closely with NYS of Health and has several publications.
2025-07-23 10:53 : Tara N. Burgess : There is a lot of talk about the cuts to Medicaid and ACA, but another problem is high deductible plans for working families. There are many people who don't access care because their deductibles are too high.
2025-07-23 10:53 : Jack Kavanaugh : i cannot overstate how impactful this is not only on our clients but on staff and organizations as employers
2025-07-23 10:55 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : Part of the problem is that dental care is categorically distinct from medical insurance and that ends up making is much more expensive, which benefits the lucrative dental industry. Oftentimes it feels like having teeth is a luxury.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:56 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : Like mental health. Somehow our teeth and brains are not a part of our body.
-----> 2025-07-23 10:57 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : In a society where virtually everything, including our bodies can be commodified, this is what happens.
2025-07-23 10:55 : Diane Oyler : Community Health Centers provide critical care to the uninsured. They need help getting people enrolled--consider exploring co-location of county enrollers
2025-07-23 10:55 : Tracy Diina : it is hard to appeal if you have low literacy levels or do not understand technology
2025-07-23 10:55 : Jack Kavanaugh : such a massive percentage of our personnel budget goes towards healthcare costs for employees and not equitable salaries, employee retention, service provision, additional staffing, etc.
2025-07-23 10:56 : Megan F Lostracco : Working with Health Insurance companies to have representatives in our offices to help get folks set up with new or better health insurance helps remove that barrier.
2025-07-23 10:56 : Diane Oyler : Yes, Carol Murphy! We need to invest in community health centers AND work for policy change
2025-07-23 10:56 : Jasmine Westbrook : This will impact everyone. Those with public insurance, private insurance and no insurance
2025-07-23 10:57 : Danielle L Jackson : https://icannys.org/
2025-07-23 10:57 : knicolson@elderjusticeny.org : Center for Elder Law & Justice handles medicare appeals also - for free 716-853-3087
2025-07-23 10:58 : Tara N. Burgess : And payors will decline more services to save money
2025-07-23 10:58 : Colleen Kristich : I think there are structural problems with how much we rely on emergency departments/hospitals for mental health & substance use and that investing in existing community services and setting up community responder teams, crisis stabilization centers, sobering centers and other lower-acuity options would help prevent crises situations and will lower healthcare system costs due to reducing hospitalization & ambulance use. Too much of the healthcare system relies on hospitals, which is the most expensive option.
2025-07-23 10:58 : Jackie Kimbrough : https://www.lighthousefreemedicalclinic.com/
2025-07-23 10:59 : knicolson@elderjusticeny.org : Absolutely agree with this speaker. Our employee health insurance went up over 20% for the last two years.
2025-07-23 10:59 : Diane Oyler : Public contracts with CBOs need to be mindful of health care costs and provide adequate funding--and make timely payments
2025-07-23 11:00 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Cancer
2025-07-23 11:01 : Frank Cerny : Just a reminder, the incidence of cancers is higher in rural areas than metropolitan areas we less access to care AND little attention to the causes that are specific to these rural areas.
2025-07-23 11:02 : Diane Oyler : As access to insurance tightens, people will be less likely to access preventive care and screenings.
2025-07-23 11:05 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Diabetes
2025-07-23 11:05 : Tara N. Burgess : All of the things we already spoke about have a huge impact on these next areas. I know this is preaching to the choir.
2025-07-23 11:06 : Frank Cerny : Again, incidence is high(er) in rural areas with less availability and access to care.
2025-07-23 11:07 : Kathleen Graim : FeedMore partnered with GLIN through a grant through ACS. We have set up a food pantry at GLIN, and provide cancer patients that are interested in home delivered meals, with 8 weeks of medically tailored meals at no charge to the patient
2025-07-23 11:08 : Grace McKenzie : At UB we have a project right now on children of parents with diabetes and how they can have good nutrition to not get diabetes in the future. The project is in the Health Sciences Charter School.
2025-07-23 11:08 : Tara N. Burgess : Engaging families in education improves children's outcomes. The same theory extends to the health care model. Understanding and intentionally engaging families in a patient's care has the ability to improve knowledge, skills and protocol compliance.
2025-07-23 11:08 : Cammarata, Frank : đź‘Ť
2025-07-23 11:10 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Heart Issues
2025-07-23 11:12 : Grace McKenzie : Dr. Bisson at UB is working to have CPR training for all and increasing AED access across Erie County.
2025-07-23 11:13 : Tom Lowe : 1 out of 3 people in the region have high blood pressure; which can get as high as 54%+ in certain parts of Erie County. AHA has been working with several CBOs and health care organizations to meet people where they are by placing 16+ blood pressure kiosks throughout the community, in community centers, markets, YMCAs, etc., providing access to BP numbers and making connections to clinical care. See our map of kiosks and health care sites here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&ll=42.91380470660867%2C-78.83947412968749&z=11&mid=1wMTXvujKAI9GnwPf8eiOGFeO2YmeE8k
2025-07-23 11:14 : Tom Lowe : Erie County should also be commended for becoming a HEARTSafe Community this year!
2025-07-23 11:15 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Mental Health
2025-07-23 11:15 : Mary Comtois : Intervention: Low-dose aspirin campaign for individuals at high-risk and moderate-risk for preeclampsia during pregnancy by March of Dimes.
2025-07-23 11:15 : Jack Kavanaugh : massive lack of culturally competent health to work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients
2025-07-23 11:15 : Jack Kavanaugh : *mental health providers
2025-07-23 11:15 : Tara N. Burgess : This is getting worse in every pocket of society, regardless of race, gender, age, socio-economic status
2025-07-23 11:16 : Kimberly Kadziolka : This is an issue in every demographic and age group.
2025-07-23 11:16 : Tara N. Burgess : YES, Karen
2025-07-23 11:16 : Kimberly Kadziolka : Additionally we are at at staffing crisis for MH providers, therapists, counselors, etc.
2025-07-23 11:17 : La'Shea Green-Thomas : This matter affects people differently
2025-07-23 11:17 : Syeda Moid : it is very important to understand that mental health is strongly related to environment and culture
2025-07-23 11:17 : Grace McKenzie : Reducing the stigma of mental health disorders and having resources available are huge issues.
2025-07-23 11:18 : Syeda Moid : every case is unique and different from each other
2025-07-23 11:18 : Celia Spacone : The biggest issue for MH is the issue of Stigma- even when there are resources, we need people willing to accept them.
2025-07-23 11:19 : La'Shea Green-Thomas : And Trauma inform care
2025-07-23 11:19 : Tara N. Burgess : There is a lot of talk about individuals who have pretty big MH issues - rightfully so - but there is less of a community response to prevention - we could be building better resilience for everyone by investing in prevention.
2025-07-23 11:20 : Carol Murphy : Yes Jess! The provider burnout is real.
2025-07-23 11:20 : Michael Murphy RISE Buffalo : We are seeing challenges for cultural competency language access and trauma instances
2025-07-23 11:21 : Kimberly Kadziolka : Addressing this also takes a multi system approach. Often people with other challenges also struggle with their mental health as well. Unfortunately the silos we have make this difficult.
2025-07-23 11:21 : Tara N. Burgess : We shouldn't have to sacrifice to do this work.
2025-07-23 11:22 : Rachel Bonsignore : 22% of children under the age of 6 in Erie County are not on track with meeting their social-emotional milestones. (Help Me Grow WNY data dashboard, https://hmgwny.org/)
2025-07-23 11:22 : Megan F Lostracco : We're starting too late with mental health. We (as a society) are still focused in a "treatment" model instead of prevention. We should be supporting in-school counseling and not just providers in schools, but schools being required to have courses and truly incorporate trauma-informed practices and mental health care to reduce stigma at an early age and shift the culture and build resiliency skills early.
2025-07-23 11:22 : Tara N. Burgess : We have to begin to think of this all through a more collaborative approach.
2025-07-23 11:22 : Colleen Kristich : We need to invest in prevention, not just crisis response, such as with community responder teams that respond to a range of social and health needs. And we need to train and equip peers and community members to do the work within their own communities. We can't solely rely on licensed clinicians doing talk therapy in an office. That is not going to reach the people who need it the most, in the way that they need.
-----> 2025-07-23 11:31 : Jessica Pirro : Yes- prevention is truly undervalued. If proactive was priority vs. reaction we would move these mountains forward. But until then- emergency services across our system has an oath to response and are beyond strained and that is also important mental health to reflect on.
2025-07-23 11:23 : Meghan Canfield : Social workers and therapists are asked to sacrifice a lot with little pay. We find ourselves accessing the same services that are patients are when we graduate with a masters and being paid 60K a year.
2025-07-23 11:24 : Tara N. Burgess : We need some pretty drastic measures to meet the growing needs of community and our staff and utilize the dwindling resources
2025-07-23 11:24 : Jack Kavanaugh : agreed meghan and honestly 60k out of an msw program is higher than most places are paying anyway
2025-07-23 11:24 : El Solh, Wafa : A misconception is that Peer Support Specialist is for substance use disorders but they are also for other mental disorders including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation. Perhaps training more Peer Support Specialist for mental disorders helps breaking the stigma as research has shown the effectiveness of peer-to-peer support
2025-07-23 11:25 : Tara N. Burgess : Agreed Kim!
2025-07-23 11:26 : Mary Comtois : Also, we hear from the community the need to support a workforce of providers who are representative of the people they serve (actually, in all sectors of care).
2025-07-23 11:26 : Meghan Canfield : I know Jack, and it is a huge problem. Reimbursement rates are low for medicaid compared to commercial plans, but commercial plan members often have high deductibles so they don't access the services when needed
2025-07-23 11:26 : Colleen Kristich : There is an effort to remove the test requirement for MSW licensure, to increase the number of social workers from diverse backgrounds. Erie County should support that and other efforts to remove barriers to increase diversity in the field.
-----> 2025-07-23 11:27 : Meghan Canfield : Many of us are concerned if they remove that licensure we will get less pay, and there will be less MSWs practicing
-----> 2025-07-23 11:32 : Colleen Kristich : Interesting Meghan, thanks for sharing that perspective. I'm curious to hear more about it, if you'd like to discuss, please email me - colleen@ppgbuffalo.org
-----> 2025-07-23 11:42 : Jessica Pirro : There is a ripple effect that needs review to this idea- if this is consider have to assess the ripple effects- by law, certain services require licensure, billing is attached and as noted could influence what funding will be provided and ultimately how employees can be paid. A good idea but a bit of a process to assess the influence by the change.
-----> 2025-07-23 11:52 : Colleen Kristich : Thanks Jessica, that's good context. My understanding is not necessarily that the licensure would disappear, but that alternate pathways to licensure besides the exam would become the standard. Ex. successfully finishing an MSW would result in licensure, without a test. But, there may be more to the specific text of the proposed law that I'm not aware of.
2025-07-23 11:26 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Obesity, Weight Management, and Nutrition
2025-07-23 11:29 : Tara N. Burgess : Many of the solutions we have listed meet the challenges of these direct health needs. These are ALL items that society looks down on people for - increasing the communities capacity for empathy for others would be helpful.
2025-07-23 11:29 : Grace McKenzie : You cannot talk about obesity without talking about the reasons behind it. Very often obesity is because of medicine side effects, lack of knowledge of weight being connected to mental health, food access, etc. This topic is as stigmatising as mental health.
2025-07-23 11:29 : Kimberly Kadziolka : Ilona Mahar is a perfect example!
2025-07-23 11:30 : Megan F Lostracco : Totally right, Broderick! BMI originated from a small study in one part of one state in the U.S. yet it's been adopted as "the" standard.
2025-07-23 11:30 : Frank Cerny : As long as we think issues like this can be solved with a pill, we will not create the kind of societal change we need.
2025-07-23 11:38 : Megan F Lostracco : Cultural competency and trauma-informed care is crucial.
2025-07-23 11:39 : Tara N. Burgess : Thoughtful and intentional family engagement informs providers about the individual needs of each family they serve.
2025-07-23 11:39 : Rachel Bonsignore : A point of advocacy - influence the school district's RFP for a healthier standard, take the lowest bid, but for a higher quality product.
2025-07-23 11:40 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Violence Related Injury
2025-07-23 11:41 : Michael Murphy RISE Buffalo : I have a comment, I can’t unmute though can you in mute me?
-----> 2025-07-23 11:42 : Nkurunungi, Lara : You should be able to unmute now.
2025-07-23 11:41 : Tara N. Burgess : There are great programs that are designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. EPIC and BPPN are providing quality and impactful services for families.
2025-07-23 11:43 : Diane Oyler : I applaud the reduction in violence in recent years. More must be done to support neighborhood level organizations that are on the front lines of community violence efforts. Invest in coordination of these groups. Also--this is a "all hands needed" issue so look for ways to involve more organizations in these efforts
2025-07-23 11:43 : SSCDC : https://pathofwny.org/ - path provides free presentations on human trafficking
2025-07-23 11:44 : Grace McKenzie : This topic should also encompass emotional abuse and trauma related to violence-related injury.
2025-07-23 11:45 : Tara N. Burgess : EPIC, BPPN, Parent Network, Mental Health Advocates, GLYS, among others, are working together to collaborate in strategic ways to support families in comprehensive, family centered ways. We invite others to consider joining us or partnering in other ways that support. These services together help families learn skills that help them develop stress management, conflict resolution and communication skills, that support family cohesion and reduction in child abuse, neglect and other areas.
2025-07-23 11:46 : Brandy Loveland : This is a bigger conversation that needs to happen. First, we need to really think about the systems in place around interpersonal violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. First, we need to advocate, educate, and address how society responds to family violence. I know that there are several communities of color in this area who do not utilize the formal systems to address abuse because of the reception they receive from the justie syste
2025-07-23 11:46 : Jessica Pirro : Crisis Services provides 24 hour response to all hospitals when a victim of domestic or sexual violence presents for care after and incident. We are concerned with all that we speak with about health insurance, concerns about ICE or other governmental impacts people will not seek this support at the hospital and get critical care after an assault. There are several providers for domestic violence in addition to us and all trying to tackle that safe outreach for care.
2025-07-23 11:47 : Brandy Loveland : Secondly, we need to think about the how these communities are educating what "love is" when it has been historically toxic. How are we breaking those cycles, educating, and addressing the taboos around it. If your grandmother was hit and it was called love and your mother was, you also feel that translates to love
2025-07-23 11:47 : SSCDC : RAHAMA
RAHAMA (Resources And Help Against Marital Abuse) is the only female- and Muslim-led nonprofit organization in Western New York that specializes in underserved immigrant, refugee, and Muslim women facing domestic violence
2025-07-23 11:47 : Nkurunungi, Lara : We are now discussing Substance Use Disorders
2025-07-23 11:48 : Danielle L Jackson : This is sadly so true. someone in a domestic violence situation tries to leave 7 times before they are successful.
2025-07-23 11:48 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : Good morning everyone,
My name is Dr. Schuyler Lawson and I am a research and evaluation team lead of No Menthol Buffalo. We are a youth and community-led movement that seeks to ban the retail sale of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products to protect public health.
Tobacco-related illnesses should be prioritized because they are a leading cause of preventable disability and death in the United States. We should increase efforts to eliminate flavored tobacco products because they entice youth and are harder to quit (e.g., menthol cigarettes, flavored little cigars, and flavored e-cigarettes). This issue cuts across other health conditions because tobacco use tends to co-occur with mental health conditions, other types of substance use, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
From a racial justice standpoint, tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes and flavored little cigars are disproportionately marketed in Black and Brown communities, which contribute to disparities in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality relative to other populations. For example, there are more active tobacco retailer licenses on the East Side and West Side of Buffalo relative to other parts of Buffalo such as Elmwood Village and North Buffalo. Therefore, we should also prioritize limiting the expansion of tobacco retail licenses to protect public health.
This issue also relates to access to affordable, healthy food in that there are communities in Buffalo that lack adequate numbers of grocery stores. Therefore, those community residents have to go to convenience stores that also sell tobacco products, which increases their exposure to tobacco advertisements and increases their likelihood of using those products whether they are children or adults. Contrast this with other communities that have adequate numbers of grocery stores where the residents can get food without being exposed to tobacco advertisements. Advertisements play a crucial role in shaping behavior, which is why so much money is invested in them.
What we are asking for is not radical in that it has been done in other states like California and Massachusetts as well as other countries such as Canada, and European Union nations.
Please check out our website to find out more about our movement and to support us: No Menthol Buffalo
2025-07-23 11:49 : Meghan Canfield : We are seeing that AUD accounts for over 50% of ED visits and inpatient stays for SUD
2025-07-23 11:50 : Schuyler Lawson, PhD, MA : https://nomentholbflo.org/
2025-07-23 11:51 : Jessica Tufte, CCNY : Can you put the form link in the chat?
2025-07-23 11:52 : Tara N. Burgess : Will you please put this in the chat?
2025-07-23 11:53 : Rachel Bonsignore : I hope the wealth of critical insights uncovered through the CHA will be widely shared with the community to identify opportunities for action and alignment... recognizing that only 3 to 5 priorities will ultimately be selected. The findings should help shape the future strategies and efforts of CBOs, advocates, policymakers, providers, and others working to improve health outcomes in Erie County.
2025-07-23 11:53 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : Survey can be found at: https://forms.office.com/g/wsJGcPgrzc
2025-07-23 11:54 : knicolson@elderjusticeny.org : Great conversation. Thank you!
2025-07-23 11:54 : Michael Murphy RISE Buffalo : Thank you
2025-07-23 11:54 : Grace McKenzie : THank you!
2025-07-23 11:54 : Rebecca Champlin : Thank you!
2025-07-23 11:54 : Tara N. Burgess : Thank you. Good to hear everyone's thoughts. Thumbs up and hearts to all comments!
2025-07-23 11:55 : Broderick Cason : Kudos to Kelly and her entire team (Mike/Laura), for not only setting the stage to understand the work -" to do better", but to lead the way! Thank you!
2025-07-23 11:55 : Candace Moppins : Thank you. Great and important conversations!
2025-07-23 11:55 : Bernadette Franjoine : Great job to all! Thanks so much.
2025-07-23 11:55 : Michael Murphy RISE Buffalo : Michael Murphy I Director Buffalo
Refugee & Immigrant Self Empowerment (RISE) Buffalo
Office: (716) 271-4141 ext.7012
412 Niagara Street Buffalo NY 14201
Email : sidney@refugeeandimmigrant.org
Website: www.refugeeandimmigrant.org
2025-07-23 11:55 : Syeda Moid : thank you
2025-07-23 11:56 : Danessia Scott-Warren, Esq. : Thank You
2025-07-23 11:58 : Danessia Scott-Warren, Esq. : I s the information available for the training you mentioned with at least 4 people in the room?
2025-07-23 11:58 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : yes Mental health first aid. let me get you the link
2025-07-23 11:59 : Wofford (She/Her), Kelly : https://www3.erie.gov/health/mental-health-first-aid-training
2025-07-23 11:59 : Danessia Scott-Warren, Esq. : Thank you, I am with Not-For-Profit NOAH and this would be helpful