Who we are.

HISTORY

The Bronx Health Link was founded in 1998 through a collaborative effort involving the Bronx Borough President's Office, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Our Lady of Mercy Center, and St. Barnabas Hospital. These member hospitals are the largest not-for-profit institutions in the Bronx, with combined budgets that exceed $1.2 billion. The scope of their services gives TBHL the extraordinary potential of contact with more than one million Bronx residents every year.  Member hospitals sponsor hundreds of outreach events in Bronx neighborhoods. TBHL takes advantage of these opportunities to promote its research, education, and advocacy programs.

TBHL's first project quickly became its signature project – an annual community needs assessment of residents' health situations as determined by a survey and a series of focus groups and community forums.  These research methods have been used continuously and successfully to this day.

TBHL's assessment process differs from traditional methods because it functions within a true community framework.  There are focus groups, forums, and town hall meetings, some in hospital settings.  Hospital volunteers, community members, and political leaders are involved in the planning and execution processes.  The assessment findings and results lead to the revision and improvement of existing health programs.

During 23 years of continuous service in the Bronx, TBHL has engaged thousands of residents, healthcare providers, schools, researchers, community-based organizations, government agencies, and policymakers in pursuing and promoting better health outcomes for residents of the Bronx.

Since 2001, TBHL has received a steady stream of grants from the City Council’s Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative and the New York State’s Comprehensive Perinatal and Prenatal Services Network. TBHL used these grants to coordinate health and human service providers who engage in activities that promote maternal and infant health. Additionally, TBHL provides educational workshops on healthy pregnancy, postpartum depression, safe sleep, and breastfeeding classes.

Starting in 2003, and in collaboration with the Bronx Borough President's Office, TBHL has organized an annual signature event, The Community Health Education Day. This well-attended, day-long health fair is filled with scores of providers offering health information, promotional materials, and access to services to Bronx residents.

Among our activities:

• We educate borough residents and health care providers about health issues and healthcare options through workshops, conferences, resource centers, surveys, reports, and our daily e-newsletter and website.

• Since 2001, we have been funded through the City Council's Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative and the New York State's Comprehensive Perinatal and Prenatal Services Network to coordinate networks of health and human service providers in the Bronx.

• We conceptualized and coordinated the Bronx Community Research Review Board to bridge the gap between researchers and consumers, build trust, and improve research processes and outcomes.

• We do community-based research to develop policy recommendations and work with other organizations to advocate for health equity and social justice through testimony, letters, legislative visits, and action alerts.

• In order to give voice to the community's needs and concerns, we participate in numerous workgroups, advisory boards, and task forces.