Throughout August and September, our Population Health team worked to reach families for Back-to-School season at our Junius Street site, located in Brownsville. Our goals were to ensure children and youth in the community received vaccines for school and to launch their school year with essential supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and crayons. Thanks to the New York Book Forum and many kind publishers, they also got to choose from a generous donation of children’s books.

Any family who came in for their vaccination appointments received MetroCards and gift cards, and their children received backpacks, crayons, notebooks, and any books they wanted to read. These vaccinations are required for children to enroll in New York City schools. But more importantly, getting vaccinated protects these families, other families, and the public at large.

We also set up tables at Women in Need (WIN)’s Back-to-School Block Parties, located just outside our site. All children who stopped by received school supplies and parents were encouraged to make appointments with the health center to tend to their healthcare needs.

Thank you to the Population Health team, health center staff, volunteers, and the families who participated in these events! Look out for more community outreach in the future.