Common Ground Health

12/14/2025

Last Change to Help Us Show Seniors They’re Not Forgotten ❤️ Donations Needed by Tuesday!

Social isolation is real for many older adults in nursing homes. For three years, our Senior Adult Community Engagement Project (SACE) has delivered “Not Forgotten” care bags filled with essentials like socks, t-shirts, and personal care items to residents in under-resourced facilities.
This year, the need is greater than ever. Our goal: 250 bags (up from 175 last year). You can help by donating new items or making a financial contribution. Businesses and groups can also adopt a nursing home and be recognized!

🗓 Donations needed by Dec. 16

✅ See the full list of items and donate here: https://ow.ly/KjhR50XIy3c

Let’s make sure every senior knows they are cared for. ❤️

12/12/2025

Time is running out but there is still time to help us show seniors that they are not forgotten ❤️

Social isolation is real for many older adults in nursing homes. For three years, our Senior Adult Community Engagement Project (SACE) has delivered “Not Forgotten” care bags filled with essentials like socks, t-shirts, and personal care items to residents in under-resourced facilities.
This year, the need is greater than ever. Our goal: 250 bags (up from 175 last year).

Donations have been coming in but there are still more needed. Top needs: hooded sweatshirts with zippers, t-shirts, lotion, deodorant, brushes and combs. You can help by donating new items or making a financial contribution. Businesses and groups can also adopt a nursing home and be recognized!

🗓 Donations needed by Dec. 16

✅ See the full list of items and donate here: https://ow.ly/7W8C50XIuL8

Let’s make sure every senior knows they are cared for. ❤️

12/12/2025

There's still a few weeks left in the year but it's not too early to start thinking about your goals for the New Year! Common Ground Health's Community Health and Engagement team has two opportunities in January that you won't want to miss!

First, for anyone working with young people, we've got a course on youth mental health first aid. Participants will be introduced to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. This course builds understanding of the importance of early intervention and teaches how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse challenge. January 21, 2006, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Then, if you're a clinician, your effectiveness depends on both what you notice and the meanings you give to what you notice. In this in-person session, Dr. Henry Gregory and Maisha Gregory Davis, LCSW-C, will help attendees sharpen their skills in working with Black families in clinical settings, helping participants more clearly see and name racial trauma as well as to recognize and support resiliency. The workshop, taking place on January 27, 2026 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Both courses are free and meals will be provided. All you need to do is register and show up!

Learn more and register for our course on youth mental health first aid: https://ow.ly/AvUA50XGVYM

Learn more about our course for clinicians working with Black families: https://ow.ly/tpqE50XGVYL

12/11/2025

Flu cases are surging in Monroe County and there's a new strain to contend with. But the flu shot can protect you and your family.

We know there's a lot of differing information out there, so we put together highlights based on information from the and the Public Health Communications Collaborative.

We hope it helps you get through the flu season!

12/10/2025

It's not too Late to Help Us Show Seniors They’re Not Forgotten ❤️

Social isolation is real for many older adults in nursing homes. Our Senior Adult Community Engagement Project (SACE) is once again delivering “Not Forgotten” care bags filled with essentials to residents in under-resourced facilities.

This year, the need is greater than ever. Our goal: 250 bags (up from 175 last year).

You can help by donating new items or making a financial contribution. We are in particular need of zippered hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts, lotion, deodorant, brushes & combs.

✅ See the full list of items and donate here: https://ow.ly/unTO50XGAgm

Let’s make sure every senior knows they are cared for. ❤️

🗓 Donations needed by Dec. 16

12/04/2025

Trigger warning: su***de, self-harm. If you’re struggling, help is available. Call 9-8-8, the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline, for assistance 24/7.

We've been sharing information from our newest spotlight, which draws upon a larger Behavioral Health Needs Assessment. As our co-CEO Wade Norwood says, "The children are not well."

⚠️ Youth self-harm is rising—even among kids as young as six.
➡️ 1 in 10 Monroe County students considered su***de last year
➡️ 1 in 4 feel hopeless
➡️ 1 in 3 struggle to concentrate because of emotional distress

These numbers haven’t changed in nearly a decade. But, as our spotlight outlines, together, we can change the story.

What we found: connection saves lives. When youth feel seen and supported—by schools, families, and communities—they’re more resilient. Schools can lead the way with strategies like , , and .

You can find the spotlight and the behavioral health needs assessment it was based on, on our website: https://ow.ly/3nHh50XBZ4P

🎧 ▶️ You can also listen or watch this terrific conversation with WXXI News's , where you'll hear from WXXI reporter Noelle E. C. Evans, one of our main researchers on the project, Holly Sienkiewicz, Elizabeth Devaney of Whole Child Connection at the Children's Institute, and Regional Schools Coordinator for Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Dr. Joseph Fantigrossi. Importantly, Calvin Calloway, assistant coordinator for Youth Voice One Vision: The Mayor's Advisory Council, also shares his own experiences as a young person struggling with mental health, and his work with young people today.

https://ow.ly/Jrcr50XBZ2g

12/03/2025

Youth well-being takes all of us—schools, families, and communities—working together.
When we connect care across systems, we can prevent crisis before it starts and create a foundation for lifelong wellness.

💡 Learn more in our new spotlight on youth self-harm. https://ow.ly/k7Wm50XBl1n

12/02/2025

This will you help us address social isolation among older adults in nursing homes? ❤️

For three years, our Senior Adult Community Engagement Project has delivered “Not Forgotten” care bags filled with essentials like socks, t-shirts, and personal care items to residents in under-resourced facilities. The need is greater than ever, which is why we've upped our goal to 250 bags.

You can help by donating new items or making a financial contribution. Businesses and groups can also adopt a nursing home and be recognized!

🗓 Donations needed by Dec. 16

✅ See the full list of items and donate here: https://ow.ly/V1rz50XAU8f

Let’s make sure every senior knows they are cared for. ❤️

12/02/2025

Schools are more than classrooms—they’re safe spaces that can nurture healing and resilience.

Strategies like , , and help students build coping skills and a sense of belonging—protective factors that reduce the risk of self-harm. 💙

💡 Learn more in our new spotlight on youth self-harm. https://ow.ly/Ltg250XAEv5

12/01/2025

It's no secret that people of color are less likely to access home healthcare services and resources than their white counterparts, leading to health disparities. Common Ground Health has worked to shine a light on these inequities for years. Our project manager for community health and well-being, Phyllis Jackson, R.N., spoke about those disparities with Evan Dawson on . He also spoke with Deanna Dudley of HCR Home Care, who is partnering with Pastor Bernard McNeill of New Life Fellowship Church, and other faith-based organizations, to connect African American families with culturally relevant care and resources.

We invite you to listen to this important conversation:

In the second hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 11/25/25, we explore the barriers people of color face in getting home health care and learn of a new program aimed at making it more accessible.

12/01/2025

Prevention starts with connection. When youth feel seen, valued, and supported, their mental health improves.

Families, schools, and communities can work together to give youth the tools they need to manage emotions and thrive.

💡 Learn more in our new spotlight on youth self-harm. https://ow.ly/35zp50Xx7Ua