February 12, 2012 · www.gothamgazette.com

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Drop in AIDS Related Deaths
The Health Department finds a 41 percent drop in HIV/AIDS related deaths among black New Yorkers between 2001 and 2010. Despite this progress, black New Yorkers accounted for 48 percent of all new HIV diagnoses from 2006 to 2010, but only represent 25 percent of the city's population. (February 8, 2012)

Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Kids on the East Side
Children under 18 make up about 30 percent of residents in both East Harlem and the Upper East Side. But according to this report by Transportation Alternatives, East Harlem children account for 43 percent of crash victims, while Upper East Side children represent less than 15 percent of neighborhood car crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists, a three-fold disparity. (January 24, 2012)

New Yorkers Living Longer
New Yorkers are living longer than ever before, according to this report by the Health Department. Babies born in the city in 2009 have the record high life expectancy of 80.6 years, an increase of nearly three years since 2000 and nearly two and a half years more than the most recently reported national rate of 78.2 years. Life expectancy for 40-year-olds in New York City increased by 2.5 years (79.5 to 82) from 2000 to 2009, a substantially greater gain than the 1.2 year increase for the same age group in the U.S. as a whole. (January 4, 2012)

Obesity in Schools Drops
Obesity rates among public elementary and middle school students in the city have decreased over the past five years across all race and ethnic groups, according to the Department of Health. This marks the biggest decline in childhood obesity by any large city and stands in sharp contrast to the stagnant nationwide rates. The overall obesity rates among kindergartners through eighth graders decreased 5.5 percent with the sharpest decline seen among children ages 5 to 6 years old. (December 20, 2011)

Eliminating Local Funding for Medicaid
The state's unusual requirement for substantial local government financing of Medicaid places an inequitable burden on taxpayers in less affluent communities, according to this report by the Citizens Budget Commission. Because Medicaid provides health care services primarily to the poor, low‐income counties pay a disproportionately large portion of Medicaid costs relative to their population size and wealth. (December 13, 2011)

Protecting Health for 200 Years
The New York City Department of Health turns 200 in 2005 and it has set up a page on its Web site celebrating its bicentennial. Among other things, the site has a timeline of public health in New York City, and a chart comparing public health in the city today to what it was like in 1805 (when major concerns for the upstart department were wild hogs running through the streets and animal carcasses decaying in public spaces). The calendar of events lists some interesting-sounding lunch forums to be held throughout the year, but doesn't have dates for them.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Includes health alerts (including West Nile info), information on restaurant sanitary conditions and information on various health-promotion programs. There are also many divisions, such as the childcare division that details the childcare industry in the city. The sites give health ratings and put inspection records into the hands of city residents.
New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
The website of the non-profit New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health includes an excellent, in-depth section -- "9/11 related occupational safety and health." It provides links to newspapers and magazines, as well as specialzed journals, covering WTC-related issues.
New York State Department of Health
More health data for New Yorkers including information on how to sign up for Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus-- the insurance programs for those who are presently not covered by other plans
The Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies
Coalition of community-based mental health providers in New York State, representing over 100 and serving more than a quarter of a million clients in NYC. Extensive site has info on the state's role in voluntary mental health agencies, action alerts, links to non-profits, member organizations and other useful resources.

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