In 2022, Public Health Solutions launched WholeYouNYC (www.wholeyou.nyc), a citywide community resource network that addresses New Yorkers’ health-related social needs — or the conditions in the places where people live and work that affect health risks and outcomes. WholeYouNYC develops reliable connections between healthcare and community partners so that a person receives the right resources, in the right place, at the right time.
Our ultimate goal is to improve access to needed services by essentially creating “one-stop” for community resources that will:
- Remove the burden and challenges that exist for vulnerable New Yorkers in finding, applying for, and receiving community services they need.
- Make long-lasting improvements in a person’s health trajectory.
- Reduce the reliance on and costs to the healthcare system.
Areas of Focus
WholeYouNYC is already transforming the local health and human services landscape in New York City. The network employs a dynamic referral technology platform plus a culturally and linguistically diverse team of navigators to address critical challenges for New Yorkers, including:
- Connecting public housing residents to community health education, chronic disease self-management resources, affordable healthcare options, social services, advocacy services, and benefits. To learn more, please contact HHAP@healthsolutions.org or by phone at (646) 619-6737.
- Reducing food insecurity among public hospital patients and health plan members by connecting them to a myriad of food and nutrition-related community services including SNAP, WIC, home-delivered meals, food pantries, soup kitchens, senior shared meal sites, discounted source of fresh produce, and diabetes self-management education programs. We work across 40+ community partner sites. Learn more about our work in PHS’ FNS Bundle Network Report.
- Connecting pregnant and newly parenting families to comprehensive healthcare and social support which increases healthy birth outcomes and supports positive early child development. Individuals are connected to services that meet their interests and needs such as home visiting, doulas, fatherhood support, the NYC Breastfeeding Warmline, education, food, diapers, and much more.
- Supporting older adults’ quality of life and success in aging in place. Our network connects older adults to nutritious food resources, senior services, health insurance, benefits, and health care services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PHS’ Get Connected campaign supported these older adults with tablets, internet service, and technology training so that they can safely access telehealth services, groceries, medicine, interactive classes, and more.
- Optimizing access to benefit program impact by connecting WIC participants to over 20 local organizations that address high-priority social needs in their communities. This program improves health outcomes among vulnerable women and children by increasing retention to receive ongoing support in food checks, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.