health and wellness

Press Release:

In observance of National Rural Health Day, Nov. 21, Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, has awarded $128,000 in rural health grants to nine community-based organizations. The grants aim to assist organizations that support health and wellness in rural communities across New York, with an emphasis on serving high-need, low-income individuals and their families.

The 2024 Fidelis Care rural health grant recipients are:

• AIM Independent Living Center, Steuben County
• Cornell Cooperative Extension, Broome County
• Cornell Cooperative Extension, Steuben County
• Dutchess Outreach, Dutchess County
• Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Jefferson County
• Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, Orleans County
• Literacy West NY, Inc., Allegany County
• Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry, St. Lawrence County
• Restoration Society, Inc., Genesee County

“Fidelis Care is pleased to offer these grants ahead of National Rural Health Day to support organizations that work to improve health outcomes in rural communities across New York State,” said Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello. “The grants are centered on enhancing programs and building partnerships that address barriers to care such as health literacy, transportation, food insecurity, dental care, hygiene, and other factors faced by rural communities.”

Nearly 60 million Americans live in rural areas, including 1.5 million in New York State. The U.S. Government Accountability Office shows that these communities often face significant barriers to healthcare access, including a shortage of providers, longer travel distances to medical facilities, and limited access to specialized services. Rural residents also often experience a lack of broadband internet, which hinders the use of telehealth services that have become crucial in expanding access to care.

Literacy West NY, Inc. (LWNY) is committed to serving diverse and rural populations by offering workshops, classroom-based instruction, and community outreach that focus on practical health information. The Fidelis Care grant will help LWNY launch a health literacy program to empower adults with knowledge and skills for healthier living. Participants will gain tools to navigate healthcare systems, understand preventive care options, and make informed health-related decisions for themselves and their families.

“We are immensely grateful to receive funding from Fidelis Care for our rural health initiative,” said Literacy West NY, Inc. Executive Community Relations Coordinator Adrianna Seewaldt. “Empowering individuals with the knowledge to make informed health decisions is essential to our mission of supporting lifelong learning and self-sufficiency. With this initiative, we aim to address health disparities in our region by equipping people with the resources and confidence they need to lead healthier lives.”

Restoration Society, Inc. (RSI) is a peer-led organization that has served Western New York for over 50 years, focusing on mental health recovery. RSI’s mission is to enhance quality of life by addressing the key areas of health, home, purpose, and community. Through its Genesee ACE Employment program, RSI extends personalized support to residents in rural counties like Genesee and Orleans, where barriers to healthcare, employment, and community participation are especially pronounced.  

Restoration Society, Inc. CEO Eric Weigel said, “This funding will significantly advance our ‘Empowering Rural Participants through Integrated Support Systems’ initiative, which aims to improve healthcare access, employment opportunities, and digital literacy for rural residents in Western New York. With Fidelis Care’s support, we are excited to offer digital skills training to help participants connect with telehealth services and navigate essential healthcare resources, along with guidance on community transportation options to improve access to jobs, medical appointments, and other critical services.”

The Fidelis Care rural health grant applications were open to not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and healthcare providers in New York State. The grant program is part of a three-tiered Fidelis Care health equity giving campaign that also supports behavioral health and maternal health providers and organizations.

Press Release:

Jo Coburn was the recent speaker at the Batavia Lions Meeting.  The talk was ‘Functional Wellness - Holistic Medicine’, a Natural Health and Wellness Option.  

She noted that Holistic medicine takes a broader approach than traditional medical care by considering the individual as a whole and doesn’t treat, diagnose, or cure, but works on the foundations of a healthy lifestyle and works to restore proper functions in the body. 

Her work focuses on eliminating the need for multiple medications to maintain health.  While traditional medicine focuses on identifying specific symptoms to label conditions and treating them with medication, Holistic medicine uses natural remedies and therapies to support the body’s natural healing ability.

Mrs. Coburn, a Functional Wellness Practitioner, likened her work to helping clients build a home. It is difficult to build a house when you have missing parts.  In her work to build a strong and resilient person, you must have all the necessary nutrients and functioning parts.

It is hard to build a home without nails, or a body without magnesium.  And it is difficult to keep a home functioning without a working sewer system or a body without good elimination. To further the analogy, she considers certain behaviors as the foundation on which good health is built: nutrition, hydration, breathing, digestion, elimination, and so on.

Her clients are concerned about Stress & Mental Health, Hormone Imbalances, Digestive Issues, Fatigue and Energy Levels, Sleep Disturbances, and Chronic Pain; and she works with individuals and families. 

The initial workup begins with standard lab tests you may already have had from your medical provider along with functional testing to determine where the client is deficient in minerals and nutrients, then helps build a healthy lifestyle for the client. 

The goal is a personalized insight into health with practical tools to enhance wellness in a supportive community for maximized benefits.

Further information is available by booking a free consultation at https://jocoburn.com/. The Batavia Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and everyone is welcome to visit the American Legion, 8960 Alexander Road, Batavia.

From the YMCA of Genesee & Orleans Counties:

Jeff Townsend, executive director of the YMCA of Genesee & Orleans Counties, is calling for public support in asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to let nonprofit organizations, like the YMCA, resume using their facilities to support the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

He wants you to sign this petition to let Governor Cuomo know that communities need their YMCAs to open fully to support the health and well-being of New Yorkers.

"For hundreds of communities across New York, the Y is so much more than gym," Townsend's missive says. "The Y works with vulnerable populations to improve health outcomes, build immunity and reduce the impact of underlying conditions that make individuals more susceptible to COVID-19.

The programs Ys are not able to offer while our facilities are closed include:

• Arthritis Management Programs
• Blood Pressure Self-Management Programs
• Brain Health Programs to Prevent Cognitive Decline
• Cancer Wellness and Treatment Recovery
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
• Diabetes Prevention and Management
• Family Wellness
• Obesity or Weight-loss Intervention
• Inclusive Programming for People with Different Abilities
• Programs for People an Caretakers of Those with Parkinson's Disease

Townsend continues by saying Governor Cuomo's decision to prohibit YMCAs from reopening their membership facilities in Phase 4 jeopardizes the economic viability of one of New York State's largest nonprofit organizations and employers: "While our communities generously support the Y through donations and grants, the Y's membership operations are the primary source of funding for its community work."

To date, New York's YMCAs have lost more than $117 million in membership and program revenue due to the government's mandated closures and capacity restrictions.

Unfortunately, these growing losses hinder the Y's ability to positively impact the health and well-being of more than 1.5 million children, families, and seniors who rely on the Y for everything from childcare and meals, to housing and human interaction, according to Townsend.

Ready to Reopen

YMCAs across the state have worked together to ensure that they are reopening in a safe and responsible manner.

Since closing membership operations in March, YMCAs have renovated their facilities, enhanced cleaning protocols, and physically redesigned spaces in order to create an environment that exceeds the health and safety guidelines from the CDC and State Department of Health. During all these changes, the Y continued to serve the needs of communities across New York State.

Open for Good

While our membership operations have been closed, the Y has continued to safely serve communities throughout the State of New York:

• 2,500 children of essential personnel served each day at childcare centers during the pandemic;
• 3,000 children served at YMCA Summer Programs;
• 30,400 calls and visits to vulnerable populations to check on their health and deliver food or goods;
• 128,302 meals provided through a variety of food programs and distribution centers.

Safe Today, Safe Tomorrow

The Y has served thousands, safely, during the pandemic. It is clear that YMCAs can run safely and responsibly. Communities needs the Y, and it needs your help to make sure the Y can continue to serve our community today, tomorrow, and for years to come.