About the Wyandanch CAB

In 2021, the Long Island Chapter of the New York State Children’s Environmental Health Centers (NYSCHECK) created the Wyandanch Community Advisory Board (CAB) to identify and address the community health needs of regional children and youth. In 2023, the CAB chose food security as its priority issue.  The CAB will outreach to the Wyandanch community to identify effective strategies for improving local food security.

In coming months, the CAB will provide guidance to:

  1. Strengthen community partnerships and foster community engagement.
  2. Promote community events across partner networks.
  3. Strengthen local community gardens and expand community involvement.

Download PDF of Wyandanch at a Glance Census Data for 2021 (2.5m)

Here are the main feeds for our CAB partners.
Follow them for their local activities and events in and around the Wyandanch Community.

BFREE Coalition at Northwell Health, https://www.bfreecoalition.org/about-us

Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health, https://childrenshospital.northwell.edu/

Concerned Citizens of Wyandanch Civic Association, https://www.facebook.com/communitylove.org/

Dots for Tots, https://docsfortots.org

Health for Youth, Health for Youth

Healthy Schools and Communities (Western Suffolk BOCES), https://www.facebook.com/HSNYWSBOCES/

Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, http://www.preventionisthecure.org

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, https://nyscheck.org/icahn-school-of-medicine-at-mount-sinai/

Long Island University, LIU Post campus, https://liu.edu/post

Smart Start Suffolk, https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Suffolk-Smart-Start-Early-Education-Initiative

Starflower Experiences, https://www.facebook.com/StarflowerExperience/

Stony Brook University, Renaissance School of Medicine, https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu

Wyandanch Community Resource Center, https://www.facebook.com/WyandanchResourceCenter/

Wyandanch Public Library, http://www.wyandanchlibrary.org/

Wyandanch Union Free School District, https://www.wyandanch.k12.ny.us

CAB Coordinator:

Scott Carlin, Ph.D.

INTERNS:

  • Aliyyah Hamid, Syosset HS
  • Geydi Venura Diaz, Wyandanch HS
  • Tara Lauther, LIU Post
  • Benjamin Lee, Roslyn HS
  • Zachary Lee, Roslyn HS

Gerald J Ryan Outreach Center Champions Health & Wellness Food Pantry Update

1434 Straight Path Wyandanch, New York, 11798

Download pdf flyer of Success Story

Presented by Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (Facebook)


PROJECT WARMTH Emergency Heating Assistance Information

As Long Island’s only non-governmental, island-wide emergency fuel fund, Project Warmth is a safety net for financially struggling individuals and families who are unable to pay their heating bill.

Flyer in English and Español

No Time to Waste Dinner and Game Show, Friday March 24th, 2023 6pm-8:30pm

Milton L Olive Middde School, Wyandanch. Download pdf flyer

Presented by The Earth Rangers (Facebook)


Gerald R Ryan Outreach Center Baby Cafe in March 2023

Drop in Breast feeding Support Group

PDF Flyer in English and and Español

Presented by The BFREE Team (Facebook and Instagram) and Wyandanch Breastfeeding Support Group (Facebook)


Black Health of Long Island Health Fair, Saturday June 25th, 2022 11am-2pm

Delano Stewart Plaza, 40 Station Drive, Wyandanch.

Download jpg flyer


SNAP ED NY Events Information in March 2023

SNAP-Ed NY teaches people how to shop for and cook healthy meals on a limited budget.

PDF Flyer in English and Español


Community Clean Up with the Earth Rangers Friday, June 17th, 2022 Starting at 2:30

Meet in the new parking lot by the football field next to Wyandanch Park.

Download jpg flyer


Wyandanch Day, June 11, 2022

See www.wyandanchday.org for more info.

The parade will begin promptly at 10:00am at Straight Path & Long Island Ave, Wyandanch, NY. The Family Day celebration begins with the parade, when the parade ends the Festival will be held in Wyandanch Park at 81-99 Birch Street, Wyandanch, NY 11798.


Saturday, April 30th, 2022 – National PreparAthon Day & Touch a Truck Event

Download Invite jpg
Download Communication jpg

Be Smart. Take Part. Prepare. Join America’s Movement to Stay Safe During Disasters. Food Trucks, Raffles and Fun!


Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 – Walk Safe with a Doc Wyandanch
Download PDF
Eventbrite 

Join Creating Healthy Schools and Communities, the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety (NYCTS) and the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) as we come together to combine Walk Safe Long Island and Walk with a Doc for a special event!


Saturday, April 16th, 2022 – Easter Egg Hunt
@ Wyandanch park

Download jpg


Friday, April 8th, 2022 – Long Island Youth Summit (Virtual)
http://www.liyouthsummit.org

The Summit will bring together talented high school students for a day of interactive workshops with experts in the fields of medicine, the environment, business and the economy, and leadership. The Summit offers students a unique opportunity to represent their high school, to interact with high school students from all over Long Island and experts in various business fields as well to win awards for their projects.  The participation in this program is free for high school students and teachers; there are no costs involved in submitting projects.


Friday March 25th, 7-8:30 No Time to Waste Virtual Event Presented by the Wyandanch Earth Rangers
PDF Flyer


February 17th – Suffolk Legislator Jason Richberg honors Concerned Citizens of Wyandanch and Sustainable Wyandanch at his recent awards.
Facebook Link

Wyandanch Case Statement 

The Case Statement examines a subset of local concerns in Wyandanch and offers a variety of creative strategies for improving children’s health.  We will use our Case Statement to broaden our network of partner organizations, empower youth, strengthen educational opportunities, seek opportunities for institutional reform, and deepen dialogue with elected officials and their staff.

Wyandanch CAB Highlights

  • 2024 Wyandanch Family Day

Why Wyandanch?

Wyandanch is a hamlet in the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, United States.

Here is a video which asks the question: Why are asthma rates in Wyandanch so much higher than in surrounding areas?

Initial community conversations in 2021 identified Wyandanch for its high rates of asthma and the need to monitor local air quality to better understand the causes of local respiratory illnesses.

Those conversations also demonstrated a strong community commitment to tackle local issues using a holistic “total wellness” health model. This offers an opportunity for a deeper rethinking of health in coming years that aligns community health, regional economics, and environmental quality.

“Build back better” is a science-based framework for community and environmental resilience. The impacts of COVID19 revealed many gaps and deficiencies in the national and regional public health system. Solutions should include small incremental reforms as well as more visionary efforts to rethink the future of community well being and quality of life. We hope that this CAB can contribute to both.

Environmental health concerns the physical, chemical, biological, and social factors external to each person that impacts their health. “It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments.” (World Health Organization Definition)

According to the National Institute on Environmental Health Sciences the environment is comprised of:

  • The Natural Environment – includes clean (or polluted) air, water, food, soil. It includes biological and chemical materials.
  • The Built Environment – includes buildings, roads, and parks where people live, travel and play. Wyandanch is now a regional leader in creating walkable downtown districts that can reduce pollution and increase opportunities for recreation and commerce.
  • The Social Environment – encompasses lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, social environmental systems and other societal influences that may affect health.

The graphic below offers examples of social and environmental factors that impact the quality of our health.

Source: National Academy of Sciences, 2017. “Conceptual Model” in Communities in Action.

For example, it is well understood that access to health insurance impacts the frequency and quality of health care available to individuals and families. Too often, a lack of access to health insurance forces families to defer health care appointments until minor problems become major health threats. This harms the health of family members and raises the costs of health care for the entire community.

Education is also a critical factor. Communities with higher rates of high school and college graduation typically have higher incomes and a greater capacity to make better health care choices.

A basic principle of public health is that each of us has a right to live a healthy life. Yet health disparities are an unfortunate reality on Long Island.

For example, we see clear and measurable differences in rates of infection with COVID-19 in lower income and minority communities compared with regional averages. Communities with higher levels of health burdens may also face reduced access to health care services. There may be fewer services (clinics or hospitals) or less access to health insurance.

Another concern is higher exposures to pollution. This often correlates with variations in race, ethnicity, and income.