a whole new school year 2026
Harlem/Washington Heights, New York City
Connecting Harlem and Washington Heights Families to Care, School Supplies, and Community Resources
As food insecurity and the cost of living continue to rise, community partners across Upper Manhattan came together to support local families. On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Public Health Solutions and ModifyHealth, together with more than a dozen community organizations, hosted a back-to-school health and wellness fair at Church of the Intercession, drawing over 1,000 attendees for a day of no-cost health screenings, benefits enrollment, and school-readiness support.
“Events like this strengthen our community, and having partners doing such important work means we are able to reach more families.”
Shaun Abreu, NYC Council Majority Leader (Manhattan District 7)
A Community Effort Focused on Whole-Person Health
The fair connected families to WholeYouNYC, PHS' social care network linking eligible Medicaid members across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens to food assistance, rent and utility support, transportation, and more. Participating partners included Anthem, EmblemHealth, UnitedHealthcare, Fidelis, AIRnyc, Hunger Free America, Sentry, Sun River Health, Eve+Co, and the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation — giving families access to a broad range of neighborhood resources in one location.
Providing Accessing to Year-Round Support
"Partnering with Public Health Solutions allowed us to combine health screenings and food resources with the everyday essentials families needed to start the school year strong," said Jen Lane, SVP of Healthcare Partnerships at ModifyHealth.
For Medicaid members seeking more information about food assistance, housing support, transportation, and other free services, a dedicated resource hub is available at:
interested in making an impact?
ModifyHealth's Community Heath team is dedicated to delivering hands-on care to underserved communities in need. Interested in being part of the change? Let’s connect and make an even greater impact together.
