Targeted Disparity Small Grant in Bronx

2026

According to the US 2020 Census, the Bronx is considered to be "the most diverse area in the country." "There is an 89.7% chance that any 2 residents, chosen at random, would be of different race or ethnicity." It's the poorest, most diverse, youngest urban population in the US. The Borough Includes 2/5 of the poorest congressional districts in US and it has a very young population with 42% of households with children less than 18 years of age living below the poverty level. The proposed project's three components align with the UCEDD missions of Education, Research and Service. Each component is based upon the voices and lived experiences of persons with IDD and their families, per below: 1. Education: Bronx DD Community residents' involvement is essential to fulfilling their ongoing support request to include their lived experience and voices of people with DD within medical school training. This interactive communication and participation is vital to break down barriers that prevent quality health care. The major aim of this effort is to address the lack of medical staff and provide educational opportunities in which early career medical students can learn the basics of developmental disability health care directly from family/caretakers and self-advocates in addition to more senior health care providers. 2. Research: This project inclusion of family/self-advocates in surveys and discussions is necessary to important to address the major barriers to successful medical care. The project is entirely based on involving specially trained members of the local DD community as disability doulas/community health workers to support and guide families and individuals (who consistently face major obstacles) in achieving successful physician visits and routine medical treatments and auxiliary diagnostic procedures. The aim of this effort will be to provide incentives for family members and self-advocates to participate in both project surveys and focus groups to expand upon survey findings. 3. Service: Participants will have a greater understanding of the complexities of the systems that impact their DD family members, and they will have a firmer understanding of what services are available through these systems and how to secure them. Included in the sessions will be resources for the family to seek legal and advocacy assistance in their efforts. The major aim of the Hybrid models of technical information dissemination needed to accomplish securing services. It will be a direct response of expressed needs on families living in Bronx community. A community lacking in many services due to its high density population and low scores in social determinants of health, such as high unemployment, lack of affordable housing leading to overcrowded housing, high levels of poverty, poor access to quality health care and low levels of formal education. The Bronx Developmental Disabilities Council and our UCEDD Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) will be included in the advisory role to ensure a variety of voices will be included in all aspects of the project.

Adolescent Health, Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Child Health, Clinical Care, Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood – Developmental Health (including developmental screening), Health Care Transition, Medical Home, Mental/Behavioral Health – General , Nutrition, Obesity, Oral Health, Preventive Services, Social Determinants of Health, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs, Women's Health

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Demonstration Services

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Leadership

Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Urban, Specific Groups

Single-County

N/A