Summer 2011

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

At our 1199SEIU Funds, we recognize the importance of each contributed

dollar. That is why, in our day-to-day work, we focus on managing our

resources carefully to provide the most cost-effective benefits and programs to

support your 1199SEIU employees’ health, retirement security, professional

development and family life.

In this issue, we are excited to share with you how our National Benefit Fund’s

commitment to reining in rising healthcare costs has helped us achieve our

mandated cost savings goals almost four years ahead of schedule. You will

also read about how the Benefit Fund is partnering with our employers and

institutions to tackle the high financial and physical costs of chronic illness

among 1199SEIU members through an innovative, collaborative Worksite

Wellness Initiative. At the same time, our Training and Employment Funds

are working closely with our Bronx institutions on a targeted initiative

that will give your 1199SEIU employees the skills they need to tackle

the alarming rates of chronic diseases among the borough’s residents.

Finally, we applaud one of the many extraordinary teachers at our Child

Care Corporation’s Future of America Learning Center, who was recently

recognized for her exceptional work.

We hope you enjoy reading about these recent successes and exciting new

programs. As always, we look forward to working with you throughout

the year to continue improving the health of our 1199SEIU members, our

institutions, our patients and our communities.

Sincerely,

Mitra BehrooziExecutive Director

Benefit and Pension Funds

Deborah KingExecutive Director

Training and Employment Funds

Vivian FoxExecutive DirectorChild Care Funds

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDNew York, NY

Permit No. 3700

1199SEIU Funds330 West 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10036-6977

www.1199SEIUFunds.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Our National Benefit

Fund’s commitment to

reining in rising health-

care costs has helped us

achieve our mandated

cost savings goals almost

four years ahead

of schedule.

In this issue2 National Benefit Fund Set to

Exceed Cost Savings Goals Ahead of Schedule

2 Union-Management-Fund Wellness Advisory Committee Launches Workplace Wellness Initiative

3 Child Care Corporation TeacherHonored for Excellence in EarlyChildhood Education

3 Save the Date for the Annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala

4 Training and Upgrading Fund Launches Bronx Collaborative to Enhance 1199SEIU Workers’Skills and Improve Patient Outcomes

Our 1199SEIU Funds have a strong connection with theBronx, in large part because it is the borough where themajority of 1199SEIU members live and work. It is also theborough with the highest chronic disease and mortalityrates in New York City.To help our institutions and health-care workforce provide the care that Bronx residents need,the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF) hasteamed up with Bronx healthcare employers, the Union,CUNY, community-based outreach organizations (CBOs)and 1199SEIU members and other healthcare workers tolaunch the Bronx Healthcare Learning Collaborative(BHLC).At a May 5th event to launch the program, coalitionmembers identified obstacles to quality, culturally competentcare for residents of the Bronx. The discussion centered onways to support effective, safe patient care, particularlythrough improving communication with this largelySpanish-speaking population.

The BHLC will help recruit and train more bilingual –especially Spanish-speaking – healthcare workers who givedirect care to patients. By increasing the number ofbilingual Latinos in the healthcare workforce, offeringprograms to train and upgrade 1199SEIU workers, trackingthe career progress of bilingual employees and workingwith CUNY and other colleges to develop career ladders,the collaborative hopes to improve the quality of care in theborough. The project is funded, in part, by the New YorkCommunity Trust and the Jonas Foundation.

Eligible 1199SEIU workers with a high school diploma orGED can take advantage of classes to help improve theirprofessional and language skills in order to advance theircareers. Employees may be eligible for paid tuition, academicsupport and onsite childcare (while attending evening orSaturday classes). If you would like to refer your 1199SEIUemployees to this program, please have them contact MelissaCoss, Project Director, at (718) 562-3667, extension 686.

Training and Upgrading Fund Launches BronxCollaborative to Enhance 1199SEIU Workers’Skills and Improve Patient Outcomes

From left: Deborah King, 1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds Executive Director and Dr. Steve Safyer, President andCEO of Montefiore Medical Center and Co-Chair of theProject Advisory Committee.

Summer 2011 EMPLOYER NEWS 3 2 EMPLOYER NEWS Summer 2011

In the 2009 collective bargaining agreement, the NationalBenefit Fund was mandated to introduce more cost-containment programs that would save an additional$44.4 million annually, or a reduction of 3 percent in thecost of health benefits by January 1, 2015. Now, with almostfour years left to go before that deadline, the Fund’s actuariesare already predicting annualized savings of more than$46 million by 2015, easily exceeding the mandated goal.

This early success is the result of both aggressive costmanagement and creative benefit design developed with theclose involvement of our Trustees’ Cost ContainmentCommittee. Our approach has generated significant savingswithout sacrificing care, quality or access by replacing ourmultiple provider networks for care outside New York Citywith just one network, renegotiating the fee schedules forour preferred lab and radiology providers, and purchasingdurable medical equipment through a preferred network. Atthe same time, our clinical staff has worked closely withMedco to continually update our prescription programs and

Preferred Drug List to maximize our savings while ensuring1199SEIU members are receiving the most appropriate care.

Of course, this recent achievement represents only aportion of the total savings generated by the Fund’s cost-containment programs over the past several years. Whenthe totals from earlier existing initiatives – including themail-order prescription program, Medicare HMO forretirees, and preferred lab and provider networks arefactored in – the Fund is achieving annual savings of morethan $200 million per year.

These savings, along with carefully managing our resourcesand keeping our administrative costs low, have enabled theFund to hold costs below the national average, with a netaverage cost increase of 4.5 percent over the past three years,compared with the national trend of over 7 percent per year.And while the Fund’s cost to cover a family of four is$13,628, the New York City average in 2010 was $21,477,according to the Milliman Medical Index.

National Benefit Fund Set to Exceed CostSavings Goals Ahead of Schedule

In the last issue of 1199SEIU Funds Employer News, wetold you about the Labor-Management-Fund WellnessCommittee that the Union, the League of VoluntaryHospitals and Homes and the National Benefit Fund formedto support worksite collaboration that will promote betterhealth for your 1199SEIU employees.After months of planning,an Advisory Committee – comprising representatives fromNorth Shore-LIJ, Montefiore Medical Center, KingsbrookJewish Medical Center, Beth Israel/Continuum HealthPartners, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone Medical Center andNewYork-Presbyterian – was created to share best practicesand provide feedback to the Committee’s overall plans.A second meeting of the Advisory Committee, with newadditions from Lutheran Medical Center, Parker JewishInstitute for Health Care & Rehabilitation and Jewish HomeLife Care, met most recently in June to discuss financialincentives to help encourage participation in worksitewellness initiatives.

Financial Incentives Available for Up to Ten Institutions

As part of the NBF’s contract with our disease managementand health coaching service, we are able to award up to teninstitutions $4,500 a year in incentive money to encourageemployee participation in wellness initiatives in your work-places. Institutions can compete for the annual incentive bydemonstrating that they have created initiatives addressingtheir employees’ food and fitness challenges. To help getinstitutions started, the Committee has put together a menuof potential projects to choose from, such as starting awalking program or holding a contest for submitting recipesfor the new edition of the Fund’s cookbook, What’s CookingNow. Of course, institutions are free to create their ownprograms, as many already have – from Zumba workshopsto “Biggest Loser” contests! Look for more details on howto apply for the funding in the coming months.

Union-Management-Fund Wellness Advisory Committee Launches Workplace Wellness Initiative

Sponsored by the 1199SEIU/Employer Child CareCorporation (CCC), the Future of America Learning Center(FALC) offers 1199SEIU members and other workingfamilies valuable early childhood education programs thatprovide children with the tools needed for academic,cognitive and social development.

As a testament to the quality of the Learning Centercurriculum and of our highly skilled teaching staff, one ofthe Center’s head teachers, Nila Johnson, recently receivedthe Excellence in Teaching Recognition Award fromthe New York City Early Childhood ProfessionalDevelopment Institute. The Institute presents its awardtwice a year to teachers who “create nurturing environments,strong bonds with families and communities, and meaningfullearning experiences for children.”

Ms. Johnson turned to early childhood education after teachingat high school and collegiate levels domestically and abroad,in the Philippines and in Nigeria.The daughter of a teacher,she chose the profession in part because she was inspired byhow much her father’s students respected and admired him,and by the lasting impact he was able to make on their lives.

After becoming a mother, Ms. Johnson found a newappreciation for the way toddlers grow and develop. Tocontinue building her skills, she pursued a Master’s degreein Education from Lehman College. Ms. Johnson’s experience

in early childhood education professionally, personally andacademically has given her a multifaceted perspective,enriching her understanding of the ways children learn. Herobservations inside and outside of the classroom have made hermore attentive to children and more sensitive to their needs.

Ms. Johnson is proud of FALC’s commitment to exploring avariety of teaching methods and to encouraging teacherinput in curriculum planning. Her recognition has causedher to reflect on her lengthy career in education and toencourage both new and veteran teachers to never stoplearning. She makes the effort to be at her best for herstudents every day. “When is that moment of influence orimpact?” she asks. “I never know which day will be theone that has a life-changing impact on a child’s life. Everyday is preparation for that moment.”

It is clear that Ms. Johnson has had the same lasting influenceon her students as her father did. Recently, several of Ms.Johnson’s former high school students from her first job inthe Philippines located her, hoping to reunite with “theirfavorite teacher.” Now living in New York as accomplishedadults, in no small part due to her influence, they tookpride in introducing her to their own children.

Among the goals Ms. Johnson set when beginning her careerwere to attain a graduate degree in teaching and to havea positive impact on the lives of children. Indeed, herstudents and fellow staff at FALC believe Nila Johnson hasaccomplished her professional goals. This summer, as herown daughter prepares to graduate from Lehman College,Ms. Johnson’s alma mater, she witnesses the fulfillment ofher personal goals as well.

We congratulate Nila Johnson, just one of the manyextraordinarily skilled and dedicated teachers making adifference in the lives of our 1199SEIU families.

Child Care Corporation Teacher Honored for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Save the Date for the Annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala

The 1199SEIU/Employer Child Care Corporation will host itsfifth annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala on Monday,December 5, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm in New York City.

The gala is an annual fundraiser for child care and youthprograms that benefit low-income families in thecommunities that our institutions serve – families who lackaccess to affordable, collectively bargained child care benefits.In addition to supporting the 1199SEIU Future of AmericaLearning Centers, the gala also aids the Child CareCorporation in grooming a new generation of healthcareworkers who will deliver quality care in our institutions.

For more information about the gala, please call(212) 564-2220.

Summer 2011 EMPLOYER NEWS 3 2 EMPLOYER NEWS Summer 2011

In the 2009 collective bargaining agreement, the NationalBenefit Fund was mandated to introduce more cost-containment programs that would save an additional$44.4 million annually, or a reduction of 3 percent in thecost of health benefits by January 1, 2015. Now, with almostfour years left to go before that deadline, the Fund’s actuariesare already predicting annualized savings of more than$46 million by 2015, easily exceeding the mandated goal.

This early success is the result of both aggressive costmanagement and creative benefit design developed with theclose involvement of our Trustees’ Cost ContainmentCommittee. Our approach has generated significant savingswithout sacrificing care, quality or access by replacing ourmultiple provider networks for care outside New York Citywith just one network, renegotiating the fee schedules forour preferred lab and radiology providers, and purchasingdurable medical equipment through a preferred network. Atthe same time, our clinical staff has worked closely withMedco to continually update our prescription programs and

Preferred Drug List to maximize our savings while ensuring1199SEIU members are receiving the most appropriate care.

Of course, this recent achievement represents only aportion of the total savings generated by the Fund’s cost-containment programs over the past several years. Whenthe totals from earlier existing initiatives – including themail-order prescription program, Medicare HMO forretirees, and preferred lab and provider networks arefactored in – the Fund is achieving annual savings of morethan $200 million per year.

These savings, along with carefully managing our resourcesand keeping our administrative costs low, have enabled theFund to hold costs below the national average, with a netaverage cost increase of 4.5 percent over the past three years,compared with the national trend of over 7 percent per year.And while the Fund’s cost to cover a family of four is$13,628, the New York City average in 2010 was $21,477,according to the Milliman Medical Index.

National Benefit Fund Set to Exceed CostSavings Goals Ahead of Schedule

In the last issue of 1199SEIU Funds Employer News, wetold you about the Labor-Management-Fund WellnessCommittee that the Union, the League of VoluntaryHospitals and Homes and the National Benefit Fund formedto support worksite collaboration that will promote betterhealth for your 1199SEIU employees.After months of planning,an Advisory Committee – comprising representatives fromNorth Shore-LIJ, Montefiore Medical Center, KingsbrookJewish Medical Center, Beth Israel/Continuum HealthPartners, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone Medical Center andNewYork-Presbyterian – was created to share best practicesand provide feedback to the Committee’s overall plans.A second meeting of the Advisory Committee, with newadditions from Lutheran Medical Center, Parker JewishInstitute for Health Care & Rehabilitation and Jewish HomeLife Care, met most recently in June to discuss financialincentives to help encourage participation in worksitewellness initiatives.

Financial Incentives Available for Up to Ten Institutions

As part of the NBF’s contract with our disease managementand health coaching service, we are able to award up to teninstitutions $4,500 a year in incentive money to encourageemployee participation in wellness initiatives in your work-places. Institutions can compete for the annual incentive bydemonstrating that they have created initiatives addressingtheir employees’ food and fitness challenges. To help getinstitutions started, the Committee has put together a menuof potential projects to choose from, such as starting awalking program or holding a contest for submitting recipesfor the new edition of the Fund’s cookbook, What’s CookingNow. Of course, institutions are free to create their ownprograms, as many already have – from Zumba workshopsto “Biggest Loser” contests! Look for more details on howto apply for the funding in the coming months.

Union-Management-Fund Wellness Advisory Committee Launches Workplace Wellness Initiative

Sponsored by the 1199SEIU/Employer Child CareCorporation (CCC), the Future of America Learning Center(FALC) offers 1199SEIU members and other workingfamilies valuable early childhood education programs thatprovide children with the tools needed for academic,cognitive and social development.

As a testament to the quality of the Learning Centercurriculum and of our highly skilled teaching staff, one ofthe Center’s head teachers, Nila Johnson, recently receivedthe Excellence in Teaching Recognition Award fromthe New York City Early Childhood ProfessionalDevelopment Institute. The Institute presents its awardtwice a year to teachers who “create nurturing environments,strong bonds with families and communities, and meaningfullearning experiences for children.”

Ms. Johnson turned to early childhood education after teachingat high school and collegiate levels domestically and abroad,in the Philippines and in Nigeria.The daughter of a teacher,she chose the profession in part because she was inspired byhow much her father’s students respected and admired him,and by the lasting impact he was able to make on their lives.

After becoming a mother, Ms. Johnson found a newappreciation for the way toddlers grow and develop. Tocontinue building her skills, she pursued a Master’s degreein Education from Lehman College. Ms. Johnson’s experience

in early childhood education professionally, personally andacademically has given her a multifaceted perspective,enriching her understanding of the ways children learn. Herobservations inside and outside of the classroom have made hermore attentive to children and more sensitive to their needs.

Ms. Johnson is proud of FALC’s commitment to exploring avariety of teaching methods and to encouraging teacherinput in curriculum planning. Her recognition has causedher to reflect on her lengthy career in education and toencourage both new and veteran teachers to never stoplearning. She makes the effort to be at her best for herstudents every day. “When is that moment of influence orimpact?” she asks. “I never know which day will be theone that has a life-changing impact on a child’s life. Everyday is preparation for that moment.”

It is clear that Ms. Johnson has had the same lasting influenceon her students as her father did. Recently, several of Ms.Johnson’s former high school students from her first job inthe Philippines located her, hoping to reunite with “theirfavorite teacher.” Now living in New York as accomplishedadults, in no small part due to her influence, they tookpride in introducing her to their own children.

Among the goals Ms. Johnson set when beginning her careerwere to attain a graduate degree in teaching and to havea positive impact on the lives of children. Indeed, herstudents and fellow staff at FALC believe Nila Johnson hasaccomplished her professional goals. This summer, as herown daughter prepares to graduate from Lehman College,Ms. Johnson’s alma mater, she witnesses the fulfillment ofher personal goals as well.

We congratulate Nila Johnson, just one of the manyextraordinarily skilled and dedicated teachers making adifference in the lives of our 1199SEIU families.

Child Care Corporation Teacher Honored for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Save the Date for the Annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala

The 1199SEIU/Employer Child Care Corporation will host itsfifth annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala on Monday,December 5, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm in New York City.

The gala is an annual fundraiser for child care and youthprograms that benefit low-income families in thecommunities that our institutions serve – families who lackaccess to affordable, collectively bargained child care benefits.In addition to supporting the 1199SEIU Future of AmericaLearning Centers, the gala also aids the Child CareCorporation in grooming a new generation of healthcareworkers who will deliver quality care in our institutions.

For more information about the gala, please call(212) 564-2220.

Summer 2011

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

At our 1199SEIU Funds, we recognize the importance of each contributed

dollar. That is why, in our day-to-day work, we focus on managing our

resources carefully to provide the most cost-effective benefits and programs to

support your 1199SEIU employees’ health, retirement security, professional

development and family life.

In this issue, we are excited to share with you how our National Benefit Fund’s

commitment to reining in rising healthcare costs has helped us achieve our

mandated cost savings goals almost four years ahead of schedule. You will

also read about how the Benefit Fund is partnering with our employers and

institutions to tackle the high financial and physical costs of chronic illness

among 1199SEIU members through an innovative, collaborative Worksite

Wellness Initiative. At the same time, our Training and Employment Funds

are working closely with our Bronx institutions on a targeted initiative

that will give your 1199SEIU employees the skills they need to tackle

the alarming rates of chronic diseases among the borough’s residents.

Finally, we applaud one of the many extraordinary teachers at our Child

Care Corporation’s Future of America Learning Center, who was recently

recognized for her exceptional work.

We hope you enjoy reading about these recent successes and exciting new

programs. As always, we look forward to working with you throughout

the year to continue improving the health of our 1199SEIU members, our

institutions, our patients and our communities.

Sincerely,

Mitra BehrooziExecutive Director

Benefit and Pension Funds

Deborah KingExecutive Director

Training and Employment Funds

Vivian FoxExecutive DirectorChild Care Funds

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDNew York, NY

Permit No. 3700

1199SEIU Funds330 West 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10036-6977

www.1199SEIUFunds.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Our National Benefit

Fund’s commitment to

reining in rising health-

care costs has helped us

achieve our mandated

cost savings goals almost

four years ahead

of schedule.

In this issue2 National Benefit Fund Set to

Exceed Cost Savings Goals Ahead of Schedule

2 Union-Management-Fund Wellness Advisory Committee Launches Workplace Wellness Initiative

3 Child Care Corporation TeacherHonored for Excellence in EarlyChildhood Education

3 Save the Date for the Annual “Care for Kids” Awards Gala

4 Training and Upgrading Fund Launches Bronx Collaborative to Enhance 1199SEIU Workers’Skills and Improve Patient Outcomes

Our 1199SEIU Funds have a strong connection with theBronx, in large part because it is the borough where themajority of 1199SEIU members live and work. It is also theborough with the highest chronic disease and mortalityrates in New York City.To help our institutions and health-care workforce provide the care that Bronx residents need,the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF) hasteamed up with Bronx healthcare employers, the Union,CUNY, community-based outreach organizations (CBOs)and 1199SEIU members and other healthcare workers tolaunch the Bronx Healthcare Learning Collaborative(BHLC).At a May 5th event to launch the program, coalitionmembers identified obstacles to quality, culturally competentcare for residents of the Bronx. The discussion centered onways to support effective, safe patient care, particularlythrough improving communication with this largelySpanish-speaking population.

The BHLC will help recruit and train more bilingual –especially Spanish-speaking – healthcare workers who givedirect care to patients. By increasing the number ofbilingual Latinos in the healthcare workforce, offeringprograms to train and upgrade 1199SEIU workers, trackingthe career progress of bilingual employees and workingwith CUNY and other colleges to develop career ladders,the collaborative hopes to improve the quality of care in theborough. The project is funded, in part, by the New YorkCommunity Trust and the Jonas Foundation.

Eligible 1199SEIU workers with a high school diploma orGED can take advantage of classes to help improve theirprofessional and language skills in order to advance theircareers. Employees may be eligible for paid tuition, academicsupport and onsite childcare (while attending evening orSaturday classes). If you would like to refer your 1199SEIUemployees to this program, please have them contact MelissaCoss, Project Director, at (718) 562-3667, extension 686.

Training and Upgrading Fund Launches BronxCollaborative to Enhance 1199SEIU Workers’Skills and Improve Patient Outcomes

From left: Deborah King, 1199SEIU Training and EmploymentFunds Executive Director and Dr. Steve Safyer, President andCEO of Montefiore Medical Center and Co-Chair of theProject Advisory Committee.