Why #Not61 (Blog Post #5)

August 12, 2020 Why #Not61 (Blog Post #5)

The #Not62 campaign called for the Bronx to improve their health outcomes by 2020.  Despite the efforts of local community leaders and healthcare institutions, the Bronx has failed to overcome their social and health inequities that continue to earn them the worst health outcome ranking of all counties in the state of New York.

Not only did the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2020 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report highlight the health disparities that exist across our country, but it shined a light on the impoverished quality of life residents of the Bronx are faced with.  It was 2015 when local leaders and community organizations came together to create the #Not62 campaign which was designed as a call to action to raise awareness and improve the overall health of the Bronx.  It’s 2020, and the Bronx is still ranked 62 in the state of New York.

When designing an action plan for clients, I often refer to accountability and managing expectations as the driving force to get from the starting point to the finish line.  The #Not62 campaign can benefit from a comprehensive assessment— the problem has been identified; the action plan to solve the problem is in place— now leaders and residents must be held accountable for their failure to execute and the expectations of a persistently struggling county must be managed accordingly.

The overall goal of the #Not62 campaign is to improve the health outcomes of the Bronx.  Now despite the recent trends of gentrification currently overtaking the South Bronx, the county isn’t close to being ranked top 10 in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings & Roadmaps .  I’ll go as far as saying, the county isn’t close to top 20, 30, or 40!  Therefore, where does the Bronx stand— why not 61?

It’s not a rare occurrence to encounter clients in their early 30’s, who happen to reside in the Bronx, battling with multiple health conditions.  Marcus, a 33-year-old young man, who I helped secure an affordable housing unit in the area shared a common story about nutrition many Bronxite can relate to.  A bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast, pizza for lunch, and chopped cheese for dinner are the traditional meals that fuel the hunger of the Bronx.  A poor county makes poor choices, if education and guidance are lacking.  This speaks directly to the poorest congressional district’s high rates in diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.  Thankfully, local businesses such as Juices for Life and Fresh Wey Juice Bar are welcoming a new culture to the Bronx that prioritize health and nutritional awareness.

Juices For Life (Bronx, New York) Photo by JJH

If this was a sport, the Bronx would be the laughingstock of the league. Residents would be looked upon as those players who lack the clutch gene to close games and local leaders as the coaches and managers who fail to efficiently execute strategies.  Just like sports, someone should be held accountable for producing a losing record since the inception of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings.  But unlike sports, titles aren’t on the line— instead it’s our lives.

There’s a chance for the Bronx to gain some ground, if we can begin to manage our expectations accordingly.  We won’t go from last place to first place overnight.  It will take time, effort, and a well-designed operational plan that covers the entire landscape instead of placing all of our eggs in the basket of hope.

If there’s one thing the Bronx has been, it’s consistent.  According to the overall County Health Rankings dating back to 2010, the Bronx has consistently ranked 62 in health outcomes in the state of New York.  Chautauqua, NY, who ranks 61 in 2020, once ranked 46 in 2011.  Their downward spiral continued as the years passed: 49 [2012]; 54 [2013]; 58 [2015]; 59 [2019]; 61 [2020].

As open park spaces become available and more accessible to Bronx residents, the #Not62 campaign must revise their approach.  Local leaders and institutions should focus on interventions such as creating and funding community sports leagues and obstacle races, like the Spartan Race, for the youth and adults of all ages to increase health behaviors, specifically physical inactivity.  If the Bronx intends to overcome the dreadful burden of ranking 62 for years to come, Chautauqua’s descent serves as a shift in momentum.

After years of ranking last in the state of New York, government officials and community leaders have a fair idea of what’s working and what’s not.  With leaders such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Ritchie Torres paving the way for the expansion of our borough, the progression from 62 to 61 would indicate victory.