Community Development: Health

HEALTH
Strengthening New York’s Food Economy
EVENT | April 24, 2025
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the New York Fed will host an in-person event on building a stronger food economy in New York State. Sessions will focus on building resilience and capacity in the food economy, connecting small food producers with capital, supporting accessible and abundant local food systems, and enhancing community health.

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Because a healthy economy requires healthy people, our goal is to share the best ideas to improve health for every community.

Featured Work
Health
Social Prescribing: A Snapshot from the Field
EVENT | MARCH 21, 2025
On Friday, March 21, 2025, the New York Fed hosted a webinar on potential economic benefits of social prescribing, the practice of medical prescribing for patients to participate in community activities such as creating and viewing art, joining social groups, and volunteering. The webinar was of interest to healthcare providers, insurers, and foundations.
Health
Global Investments in Health: The Infrastructure of Everyday Well-being
Event | FEBRUARY 5, 2025
On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted a virtual event focused on investment strategies to address the social determinants of health to improve health and economic outcomes for communities. Topics included strategies for developing infrastructure that advances health, mobility, and sustainability.
Health
Exploring Healthy Longevity Cities
EVENT | SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
On Monday, September 16, 2024, the New York Fed, in partnership with the New York Academy of Medicine, hosted a hybrid event focused on how cities can foster long and healthy lives for their residents. The event explored global best practices from cities with a strong population of healthy seniors.





Health
Global Investments in Health: Investing in Early Life for Future Returns
EVENT | JUNE 27, 2024
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, the New York Fed hosted a virtual event focused on investment strategies to address the social determinants of health, such as children and teens having access to nutritious food and safe places for outdoor play. Topics included the epidemiological and economic importance of a healthy childhood and child-centric urban planning and investing.
Health
The Case for Investments Over the Life Course
EVENT | May 30, 2024
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, the New York Fed hosted a virtual event focused on investment strategies that addressed the social determinants of health, such as access to safe, sustainable housing; high-quality infrastructure; and a rewarding work and social life. The virtual event was the first of a planned series on ideas from around the world for place-based investments that address the social determinants of health.
Health
Investing in Arts and Culture for Healthy Communities
EVENT | MARCH 27, 2024
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the New York Fed, in partnership with One Nation/One Project, hosted a hybrid event focused on equitable models of arts-based health programs with measurable outcomes. The public event followed an invitation-only roundtable discussion on topics including the arts, public health, and community development finance."
All Work
Health
Fostering Neighborhoods: Hospitals and the Development of Affordable Housing
EVENT | MARCH 7, 2024
On Thursday, March 7, 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with the NYU Furman Center, hosted a hybrid event encouraging cross-sector collaboration to build more affordable housing in New York City.
Health
Health and Racial Equity Convergence: Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
Event | FEBRUARY 21, 2024
On Wednesday, February 21, the New York Fed, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, hosted an in-person event exploring how meeting social needs can improve overall health. The event focused on how addressing social needs can improve chronic disease outcomes and address racial patterns of health and social inequalities.
Health
Social Prescribing: Building a National Movement for Healthier Communities
EVENT | OCTOBER 4, 2023
On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the New York Fed, in partnership with Social Prescribing USA, hosted an in-person event discussing how medical prescriptions for patients to participate in community activities such as walking in nature, creating and viewing art, joining social groups, and volunteering can improve public health.
Health
The Economic Case for Community Health Workers
EVENT | June 23, 2023
On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with Oregon Health and Science University and Familias en Acción, presented a hybrid event on the role community health workers play in improving the health of the U.S. workforce.
Health
Investing in Health and Well-Being: Reimagining Opportunity and Accountability
EVENT | MAY 31, 2023
On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York held a hybrid event on how health systems can partner with the financial sector, community-based organizations, and government to measurably improve intergenerational health. The program highlighted investments that improve well-being from birth to adulthood.
Health
Early Investments: Improving Opportunities for Children at the Neighborhood Level
EVENT | APRIL 10, 2023
On Monday, April 10, New York Fed hosted a hybrid event exploring how investments in children’s growth and development can save society money and lead to better health and economic outcomes. David Erickson of the New York Fed discussed his new book, "The Fifth Freedom: Guaranteeing an Opportunity-Rich Childhood for All."
Health
Reimagining Public Health for NYC: A Discussion on the Racial Wealth Gap and Health Equity
EVENT | FEBRUARY 28, 202
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the New York Fed, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, hosted an in-person event on the racial wealth gap. Participants discussed the connection between health and wealth, how to better measure both, and how policy can help address racial wealth gaps.
Health
Investing in Health: A New Tool to Improve Health Outcomes in Puerto Rico
EVENT | JANUARY 12, 2023
The New York Fed, in partnership with the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, held an event on a new tool to improve population health in Puerto Rico. The event focused on how investments addressing the social determinants of health could lead to better population health outcomes.
Health
Investing in Health: A New Frontier of Health and Housing Partnerships
EVENT | NOVEMBER 3, 2022
On November 3, 2022, the New York Fed hosted an in-person event centered on investments in affordable housing by healthcare systems and health insurers. Speakers explored how partnerships between community development organizations and healthcare systems are building and maintaining affordable housing.
Health
Exploring Baby Bonds as a Tool to Improve Economic Security
EVENT | SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
On Tuesday, September 27, the New York Fed, in partnership with the Office of the State Treasurer for Connecticut and the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School hosted an in-person event on the intersection of baby bonds with health, wealth, housing, and education.
Health
Creating 21st Century Capital Markets for Better Social Outcomes: Transformative Change in Health Equity Through Debt Financing
EVENT | SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
On Tuesday, September 13, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted a hybrid event on how bond financing could create greater health equity by fundamentally transforming investments in preventative public health.
Health
Global Insights on Food Security and Economic Resilience: What Can the U.S. Learn from Abroad?
EVENT | MAY 25, 2022
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted a virtual event on domestic and international efforts to improve food security. Speakers discussed the Economist Impact's Global Food Security Index (GFSI), food and inequality in the U.S., and market opportunities in this field.
Health
Health and the Economy: Takeaways from a Conversation with the Surgeon General
BY JAVIER SILVA AND TONY DAVIS | MAY 24, 2022
Highlights from an event featuring a conversation between New York Fed President John C. Williams and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy discussing the intersection of health and economics, national efforts to promote a healthy workforce, and lessons learned during the pandemic.
Health
Investing in Health: The Intersection of Business, Public Health, and Community Development
BY DOMINIC RAMOS-RUIZ, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK, AND SAMI JARRAH, NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE | FEBRUARY 3, 2022
Key takeaways from the "Investing in Health" event that brought together experts to examine how the private sector is investing in public health, measuring outcomes, and devising mechanisms to boost private investment in underserved communities.
Health
Investing in Health: The Intersection of Business, Public Health, and Community Development
EVENT | JANUARY 19, 2022
We hosted a virtual event to bring together businesses and public health professionals to examine how the private sector invests in the health of its employees and communities, including corporate social responsibility practices.
Health
The Fourth Trimester and Beyond: The Case for Transformative Investments and Solutions in Maternal and Child Health
BY JESSICA BATTISTO, MARISA CASELLAS-BARNES, REBECCA LANDAU, DR. AUDREY LYNDON & DR. MIMI (PAULOMI) NILES | DECEMBER 9, 2021
The New York Fed released a white paper on the nation’s crisis in maternal health, calling for investments baby bonds, funding for doula and birth support programs, home nurse visitation, and other interventions to preserve the health—and lives—of mothers and babies.
Health
Combating Food Insecurity: What’s Working – and What’s Scalable?
EVENT | NOVEMBER 30, 2021
The New York Fed hosted a virtual event on November 30, 2021 that featured leaders, from all sectors of the food system, who are investing in and deploying market-based solutions and interventions to help ensure that everyone has access to healthy and affordable food.
Health
The Fourth Trimester and Beyond: The Case for Broad Investments in Maternal and Child Health
Event | September 15, 2022
The New York Fed, in collaboration with NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Low Income Investment Fund, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, hosted a virtual event on maternal health.
Health
Health and the Economy: A Moderated Discussion with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Event | April 05, 2022
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted a virtual event on health and the economy, which featured a conversation between New York Fed President John C. Williams and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy. Topics of the discussion, moderated by reporter Emily Flitter of The New York Times, included the intersection of health and economics, national efforts to promote a healthy workforce, and lessons learned during the pandemic.
Health
John Williams' Remarks at Racism and the Economy: Focus on Health
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM | September 9, 2021
In this video, John opens the eighth installment of our virtual event series examining how systemic racism impacts health and, ultimately, economic outcomes and how people without good health or health care often struggle to fully participate in the economy.
Health
Economic Inequality: Unequal Burdens—Racial Differences in ICU Stress during the Third Wave of COVID-19
LSE Blog Series | August 9, 2021
A critical risk during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the possibility of the hospital system becoming overwhelmed as patient needs exceed the capacity of intensive care units. The authors investigate the extent to which members of different racial and ethnic groups faced different levels of hospital system stress during the third wave of COVID-19 in the winter of 2021.
Health
Food Insecurity: Stakeholder Perspectives on Scaling Solutions
By Tony Davis, Dominic Ramos-Ruiz & Javier Silva | November 16, 2021
Ahead of our event "Combating Food Insecurity," we convened leaders focused on addressing the social issue of hunger, with the goal of identifying both challenges and market-based interventions to make healthy and affordable accessible to all.
Health
Economic Inequality: Unequal Burdens—Racial Differences in ICU Stress during the Third Wave of COVID-19
by New York Fed | August 9, 2021
A critical risk during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the possibility of the hospital system becoming overwhelmed as patient needs exceed the capacity of intensive care units. The authors investigate the extent to which members of different racial and ethnic groups faced different levels of hospital system stress during the third wave of COVID-19 in the winter of 2021.
Health
Exploring the Economic Benefits of Broader Support for Mental Health
by Rebecca Landau, Tony Davis, Javier Silva & Jessica Battisto | June 2, 2021
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety took a toll in the workplace, costing the global economy about $1 trillion every year in lost productivity. This article explores economic implications of mental health and how experts are responding to elevated levels of anxiety and depression since the onset of the pandemic.
Health
Mental Health in Communities of Color: Economic Implications and Policy Solutions
Event | May 26, 2021
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with Comunilife, sponsored an event on the pandemic’s impact on mental health in communities of color, including the correlation between depression and anxiety and economic factors such as lost income.
Health
New Initiative Focuses on Social Determinants of Health
by Javier Silva, Rebecca Landau, Jessica Battisto, Tony Davis & Marisa Casellas-Barnes | April 7, 2021
The New York Fed’s Community Development team has adopted a new strategy, focusing its energies on three key areas: health, household income, and climate change. Our goal is to connect emerging solutions — especially those focused on fostering racial equity and improving life for underserved communities — with funding. This post is the first of three about these focus areas.
Health
World Health Day: Global Perspectives on the Social Determinants of Health
Event | April 7, 2021
The New York Fed, in association with The International Society for Urban Health and the NYU School of Global Public Health, sponsored an event on the social determinants of health, with a focus on health equity issues, including a panel moderated by Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, Clinical Professor at NYU School of Global Public Health, discussing the social determinants of health and what actions governments, healthcare institutions, and the financial sector can take to create change.
Health
Mobilizing Capital: Artists' Impact on Community Health and Wellbeing
event | November 20, 2020
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, hosted a discussion focused on artists' role in building an equitable economy and their influence on community health and wellbeing.
Health
Communities At Risk: Data and Demographics
by New York Fed | 2020
These maps help to locate the communities that are most vulnerable to COVID-19 across the nation, in the Federal Reserve’s Second District, and in New York City.
Health
Creating Healthy Communities—A New Perspective on What Fostering Health Takes
Event | September 22, 2020
This webinar is part of the Community Health Leadership Forum, a virtual event series from U.S. News & World Report focused on improving community health across the country. Hear from leading voices from across sectors who are collaborating to address the social determinants of health, reduce inequities and make a lasting difference in the well-being of their populations.
Health
Healthy Communities Conference Series: New Sources of Place-based Capital to Improve the Upstream Social Determinants of Health
Event | December 6, 2019
The New York Fed, in partnership with Comunilife, NYC Health + Hospitals and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, held an event that explored the relationship between health and community development strategies.
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