Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) is a non-profit public health organization founded in 2014 under the New York State Department of Health Medicaid 1115 waiver amendment known as the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program. Under that program, SI PPS received funding to build a network of medical, behavioral health, and social service agencies tasked with implementing projects to improve health outcomes, improve quality of care, and reduce costs for the Medicaid program. SI PPS succeeded in meeting the State’s targets for reducing avoidable hospital utilization and improving access to medical and behavioral health, among others. At the end of the program, SI PPS earned high performance funding which has been invested back into network partners who have continued to expand upon population health improvement initiatives.

Of the 5 boroughs of New York City, Staten Island has the highest per capita concentration of veterans, and Sector New York is the largest Coast Guard operational field command on the East Coast. Sector New York is located at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island with 1,000 active duty and reserve service members. The Army Reserve 353 Civil Service Command, also located at Fort Wadsworth, organizes, trains, and equips soldiers to mobilize, deploy and conduct civil military operations with a primary focus in the U.S. Africa and U.S. European Command regions.

Although many veterans and active-duty military service members live on Staten Island, the civilian and veteran and military communities and services are not well integrated and aware of each other. Among the veteran population, many health disparities exist, especially related to accessing behavioral health services. Veterans have high rates of serious mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide.