August 2025
CEO's Letter
Robin Hood Provides Additional Funding to Support Early Intervention for NYC Children
New FPHNYC Board Member
Preparing for the Back-to-School Season
Calendar Notes
Dear friends,
As Labor Day weekend approaches, we hope you find time to relax and enjoy the last stretch of summer. If you're traveling or gathering with friends, make sure to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and practice mindful drinking. And even as temperatures drop, mosquitoes are still active through October. Bug spray and some mindful outdoor habits—like avoiding outdoor activity in the evening and wearing protective clothing—can go a long way in keeping bites at bay while you enjoy the season.
For families getting ready for the school year, now’s a good time to check on immunizations. Staying current helps keep everyone healthy, especially in busy classrooms and shared spaces.
Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and smooth transition into fall.
Warmly,
Sara Gardner, Chief Executive Officer
Robin Hood Provides Additional Funding to Support Early Intervention for NYC Children
An innovative program helping to connect children in New York City with Early Intervention (EI) services will continue to scale up to serve more families thanks to renewed funding from Robin Hood, New York City's largest poverty-fighting philanthropy. The Electronic Health Record-Early Intervention (EHR-EI) initiative is streamlining the technology and processes used by clinicians to ensure that children with suspected developmental delays receive timely referrals to services and resources.
FPHNYC helped the NYC Health Department launch EHR-EI in 2021 by securing initial support from Robin Hood. In 2023, Viking Global Foundation and Tiger Foundation joined with Robin Hood to provide additional funding for EHR-EI, helping clinicians expand EI referral and retention efforts among children from underserved communities. As of spring 2025, the EHR-EI has facilitated more than 9,000 referrals to NYC's EI program.
With Robin Hood's new $1,060,000 grant, the Health Department and its hospital partners will further develop the technical infrastructure necessary to eliminate gaps in access to EI, develop long-term automation for the referral process, and continue to improve equity in access to developmental services. Thank you, Robin Hood!
New FPHNYC Board Member
We’re thrilled to welcome Gail B. Nayowith, serving ex officio and representing NYC’s Board of Health, as the newest member of our Board of Directors at the Fund for Public Health NYC! From her early work in NYC government to leading organizations such as the Citizens’ Committee for Children and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Gail has helped secure policy wins and drive significant improvements in the health and human services sector. We’re honored to have her insight and expertise guiding our work. Welcome, Gail! 🎉
Preparing for the Back-to-School Season
Vaccines protect the health of your child and the other children at their school. All NYC students ages 2 months to 18 years must receive certain vaccinations. That includes children in public, private, or parochial school, as well as those in Daycare, Head Start, pre-K, or nursery school.
We can prevent common illnesses—and resulting school absences—by ensuring all children receive their vaccines on time. As you prepare for back-to-school season, schedule an annual health check with your child’s pediatrician to make sure they are up to date on immunizations.
Calendar Notes: August is…
National Breastfeeding Month: Breastfeeding offers important physical, emotional, and developmental benefits—and everyone deserves access to the support they need to begin and continue their journey. Learn more
National Immunization Awareness Month: Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect health at every stage of life. Staying up to date with routine vaccinations helps prevent serious illnesses and keeps communities strong. Learn more
Opportunities
FPHNYC is hiring! View open positions and share with your network. Stay up to date with our most recent Request for Proposals (RFPs).
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