Member
Providers
Shop For a Plan

Giving Back to Our Communities

Fidelis Care Presents Brady Market with $5,000 Food Insecurity Grant

In observance of National Nutrition Month, Fidelis Care presented a $5,000 grant to support Brady Market’s programs to combat food insecurity in the Syracuse region. The grant is part of $315,000 in donations by Fidelis Care to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger across New York State. Food insecurity impacts about one in 10 New York households.

“Nutrition is healthcare,” said Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Director Shannon Lombardo.  “Fidelis Care is committed to promoting health and well-being in Syracuse and communities across New York State. That begins by partnering with organizations like Brady Market to help families and individuals gain access to healthy, nutritious foods.”

Brady Market in Syracuse, operated by not-for-profit Brady Social Enterprises, Inc., is a grocery store with retail and wholesale operations, deli and catering, job training, and wraparound support services. It was inspired by the 70-plus year history of Brady Faith Center’s engagement with generations of individuals and families in some of the community’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

“Brady Market is very grateful for this Fidelis Care grant,” said Brady Faith Center Director Kevin Frank. “We absolutely can’t do what we do without wonderful partners. For many who live in the community, Brady Market is the only place to get fresh fruits and vegetables. We plan to use the Fidelis Care funding to take the lead in collaborating with 20 neighborhood organizations to deliver meals for 220 families. One of the wonderful things about this program is that our partner organizations know who needs food support the most. It’s just one of the ways that we are more than a market in this community.”

Lombardo added, “We know that one meal is not going to solve a family’s food insecurity, but these grants give us an opportunity to connect people with agencies and organizations like Brady Market to help them find the resources they need for long-term solutions.”

Fidelis Care takes pride in supporting the vital work of Brady Market and the other food insecurity grant recipients across New York State because no one should suffer from hunger. Click here to see the full list of Fidelis Care food insecurity grant recipient organizations.


Screener Program Provides Support to Families Impacted by Social Determinants of Health

SDoH-chart

Fidelis Care’s innovative SDoH screener program was launched two years ago as a grassroots health equity initiative to address conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work, and play that affect their health, well-being, and quality of life. Social Determinants of Health can affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes – particularly among vulnerable populations and in underserved areas.

The screener enables trained Fidelis Care representatives to assess an individual’s immediate needs and challenges related to SDoH through a brief series of questions covering areas such as access to transportation, food, and secure and safe housing. More than 450,000 Fidelis Care members have participated to date.


Click 
here to learn more about the different Social Determinants of Health and find available resources.


More News:


Tips to Help Parents with the Nationwide Shortage of Infant Formulas
5/17/2022 • Posted by Dr. Lisa Moreno, Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Health and Wellness, In The Community

Fidelis-Care-Sponsorships-Partner


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, leaving the majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

With the current shortages of infant formulas, it is important to know there are resources available to help parents with feeding babies that are not exclusively breastfed. The shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and a recall from February 2021 after four babies developed bacterial infections from consuming several infant formulas.

Pediatrician and Fidelis Care Medical Director, Dr. Lisa Moreno, offers the following tips for families that may be facing a limited supply of formula for their baby.

WHAT TO DO:

  • Talk with your pediatrician and ask if they can get the infant formula from the local brand representatives or a local charity organization. Your local WIC office may also be able to suggest places to look.
  • Check smaller stores and local community pharmacies, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
  • If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. Do not import formula from overseas, since imported formula is not FDA-reviewed.
  • For most babies, it is OK to switch to any available formula, including generic store brands, unless your baby is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula. Ask your pediatrician about recommended specialty formula alternatives available for your baby.
  • When switching to appropriate formula substitutes, give your baby time to adjust to a new formula. It is normal for babies to be fussy or gassy at first.
  • Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and parenting, and members may have ideas for where to find formula. Make sure to check any advice with your pediatrician

 

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Do not make a homemade formula. This is not safe for your baby as there are specific nutritional needs for an infant. Laws and other government rules make sure that all infant formula sold in stores meets very strict rules about their ingredients, to make sure it supports healthy growth and development.
  • Do not switch to cow’s milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages (sometimes labeled as milk) for babies less than 12 months of age.
  • Do not use imported formulas from other countries that are not reviewed by the FDA.
  • Do not water down formulas. This includes adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. This affects the nutrition your baby is getting.
  • Do not purchase expired or damaged cans. Check expiration dates.
  • Do not use toddler formulas for babies less than 12 months old as there are different nutritional needs and toddler formulas do not need to be reviewed by the FDA.

 

AAP UPDATE WITH INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

Given the recent baby formula shortage, the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has provided some new revised recommendations.

  1. Cow’s milk is a temporary option of older infants as long as they are not on specialty formula. It is noted that although cow’s milk formula is not ideal, it is a better option than diluting formula or trying to make it at home. If cow’s milk is to be used, the AAP states that it should be limited to 24 ounces per day. This is not ideal and should not become routine.
  2. Toddler formulas can be substituted for a few days for infants closer to 1 year of age.
  3. Formulas designed for babies who were born premature (and have "catch-up" growth to do) can safely be used for a few weeks to feed full-term babies if nothing else is available.

 

Remember to always contact your pediatrician if you have any questions about your child’s nutrition.


References


Helpful Links

Listing of Local Agencies Providing WIC Services By NYS County

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-parents-and-caregivers-not-make-or-feed-homemade-infant-formula-infants

 

WIC Vendors in NY State

https://nyswicvendors.com/vma-locations/

https://nyswicvendors.com/find-a-wic-store/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/docs/infant_formular_supplier_list.pdf

https://nyswicvendors.com/vendor-communications/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Similac Recall Product Lookup

https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html


Tips to Help Parents with the Nationwide Shortage of Infant Formulas
5/17/2022 • Posted by Dr. Lisa Moreno, Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Health and Wellness, In The Community

Fidelis-Care-Sponsorships-Partner


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, leaving the majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

With the current shortages of infant formulas, it is important to know there are resources available to help parents with feeding babies that are not exclusively breastfed. The shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and a recall from February 2021 after four babies developed bacterial infections from consuming several infant formulas.

Pediatrician and Fidelis Care Medical Director, Dr. Lisa Moreno, offers the following tips for families that may be facing a limited supply of formula for their baby.

WHAT TO DO:

  • Talk with your pediatrician and ask if they can get the infant formula from the local brand representatives or a local charity organization. Your local WIC office may also be able to suggest places to look.
  • Check smaller stores and local community pharmacies, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
  • If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. Do not import formula from overseas, since imported formula is not FDA-reviewed.
  • For most babies, it is OK to switch to any available formula, including generic store brands, unless your baby is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula. Ask your pediatrician about recommended specialty formula alternatives available for your baby.
  • When switching to appropriate formula substitutes, give your baby time to adjust to a new formula. It is normal for babies to be fussy or gassy at first.
  • Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and parenting, and members may have ideas for where to find formula. Make sure to check any advice with your pediatrician

 

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Do not make a homemade formula. This is not safe for your baby as there are specific nutritional needs for an infant. Laws and other government rules make sure that all infant formula sold in stores meets very strict rules about their ingredients, to make sure it supports healthy growth and development.
  • Do not switch to cow’s milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages (sometimes labeled as milk) for babies less than 12 months of age.
  • Do not use imported formulas from other countries that are not reviewed by the FDA.
  • Do not water down formulas. This includes adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. This affects the nutrition your baby is getting.
  • Do not purchase expired or damaged cans. Check expiration dates.
  • Do not use toddler formulas for babies less than 12 months old as there are different nutritional needs and toddler formulas do not need to be reviewed by the FDA.

 

AAP UPDATE WITH INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

Given the recent baby formula shortage, the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has provided some new revised recommendations.

  1. Cow’s milk is a temporary option of older infants as long as they are not on specialty formula. It is noted that although cow’s milk formula is not ideal, it is a better option than diluting formula or trying to make it at home. If cow’s milk is to be used, the AAP states that it should be limited to 24 ounces per day. This is not ideal and should not become routine.
  2. Toddler formulas can be substituted for a few days for infants closer to 1 year of age.
  3. Formulas designed for babies who were born premature (and have "catch-up" growth to do) can safely be used for a few weeks to feed full-term babies if nothing else is available.

 

Remember to always contact your pediatrician if you have any questions about your child’s nutrition.


References


Helpful Links

Listing of Local Agencies Providing WIC Services By NYS County

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-parents-and-caregivers-not-make-or-feed-homemade-infant-formula-infants

 

WIC Vendors in NY State

https://nyswicvendors.com/vma-locations/

https://nyswicvendors.com/find-a-wic-store/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/docs/infant_formular_supplier_list.pdf

https://nyswicvendors.com/vendor-communications/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Similac Recall Product Lookup

https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html