Page 28 - NYC Imagine Awards Journal

Innovation

Laura Lazarus, CEO & Co-Founder Jane Pfitsch, LMSW, NYU Langone Social Worker
Anthos|Home NYU Langone Pain Reprocessing Therapy Program
90 Broad St, Suite 1703A, New York, NY 10004 240 East 38 Street, 14 Floor, New York, NY 10016
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(212) 606-0785 | www.anthoshome.org (212) 201-1004 | www.nyulangone.org
Anthos|Home is transforming the way New York City’s housing voucher system works by
removing barriers and accelerating the path from shelter and unstable living situations to The mission behind our Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) program at NYU Langone is to bring
permanent housing. On average, it takes families more than a year to find housing after receiving nonopioid and noninvasive chronic pain treatments to marginalized and underprivileged
a voucher. Anthos|Home reduces that timeline substantially. populations. PRT is designed around the understanding that pain is a danger signal from the
brain and not always a sign of structural damage in the body. Chronic pain is often caused by
Through our innovative model which uses key technological tools, we proactively reserve units learned neural pathways that keep that danger signal “on,” even when the body is safe. PRT
with trusted landlords, deploy flexible funds to cover repairs and moving costs, and guide uses psychoeducation, mindfulness, and exposure-based somatic exercises to reprogram these
families through every step of the housing process. Our expert team provides ongoing support pathways, reducing and often eliminating chronic pain and other symptoms.
to both tenants and landlords, ensuring housing stability for one year after move-in. Since our
2023 launch, we’ve helped more than 400 households—nearly 700 people, including young PRT has its roots in methods practiced for decades, and there is a growing evidence base
adults aging out of foster care and families with complex medical needs—to secure permanent supporting its efficacy. However, the mainstream medical system has been slow to adopt these
homes, all with a 100% retention rate to date. interventions, leading to a gap between knowledge and practice, particularly with underprivileged
populations. Many PRT practitioners are only accessible to patients paying out-of-pocket, thus
At Anthos|Home, we believe home is the foundation for opportunity, dignity, and belonging. By restricting access to the most vulnerable – who not coincidentally experience the highest rates
working closely with our government and nonprofit partners, and combining hands-on support of chronic pain. Our innovative program brings these groundbreaking interventions into the
with bold, scalable innovation, we are building a better path to home here in NYC. medical establishment, enabling us to accept public insurance and open the door to these
populations. Working alongside our physician colleagues also facilitates a change in the larger
conversation around pain – highlighting the biopsychosocial aspects and bringing an integrative
approach that empowers both patients and clinicians.
We have great hopes to increase our reach as our program grows and we continue to bring relief
to patients experiencing debilitating symptoms and providers searching for ways to help them.

Lauren Blodgett, Executive Director & Founder Nancy Easton, Founder & Executive Director
The Brave House Wellness in the Schools
155 Water Street, 3 Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 31 West 125th Street/5th Floor, New York, NY 10027
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www.thebravehouse.com (212) 724-2130 | www.wellnessintheschools.org
The Brave House supports young immigrant and refugee women, ages 16-24, with a focus
on survivors of gender-based violence. From our hub in Brooklyn, we provide free legal aid, Wellness In The Schools (WITS) is a national nonprofi t that teaches kids healthy habits to learn,
mental health care, community events, leadership development, and holistic services within an live and thrive. Our partnerships with public school districts allow us to promote nutritious food
environment of joy and friendship. Launched in 2018, the Brave House grew from our founder's and active play to support students’ overall well-being.
work as an immigration attorney, where she gained a unique perspective on the complex
challenges immigrant children face in accessing crucial services such as therapy, help with Our core programs - Cook for Kids and Coach for Kids - place trained culinary and fi tness
school, health insurance, housing, and making friends. We emerged as a sisterhood for young professionals into schools to ensure access to nourishing food and active play for children in
immigrant and refugee women navigating life in NYC. We provide sustained, wraparound public schools. In the Cook for Kids program, we develop scratch-cooked, plant-based, and
support—always free of charge—while centering the voices and leadership of our members. culturally inclusive recipes, train school cooks on the preparation of those meals, and provide
regular tasting and nutrition education opportunities for children and their care givers. The
An innovative tool is our custom-built Brave House App, designed to put community and Coach for Kids model provides movement breaks throughout the school day, Family Fitness
resources directly into the hands of immigrant youth navigating complex legal and personal Fun Nights, WITS Play Days and WITS Fit Bits, to improve focus and behavior.
challenges. Alongside a resource library, event calendar, and peer-to-peer messaging, the App’s
standout feature is “My Case”: a secure, private space where members can view personalized Founded in 2005, WITS has been dedicated to promoting wellness nationwide as a vital part of
legal information, court dates, and attorney details. student achievement across communities. We believe that healthy habits learned early sets the
foundation for lifelong well-being and academic success.
While most legal services focus solely on representation, we emphasize legal empowerment. By
placing critical information at our members’ fingertips, we shift from a gatekeeper model to
one that builds agency and self-advocacy. The App also connects members to mental health,
education, and housing resources—all in one place—strengthening both individual resilience
and collective community power.

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