July 2016
NJHC Workgroups Gather at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum


NJHC held its first Regional Workgroup meeting on June 20th at the Frelinghuysen Aboretum - Haggerty Education Center. With 40 participants representing more than 30 organizations in four counties, workgroup leads and members shared information and resources, and explored opportunities for working together on shared strategies within and across counties. The energy and creativity in the room was palpable as workgroup members networked and learned more about the results that workgroups across the collaborative are striving to achieve, and the strategies being developed to get there. 

The Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences (ACPHS) is providing technical support to the workgroups throughout the community health improvement planning process. Sharon Johnson-Hakim of ACPHS shared "the regional meeting gave the workgroup leads across the collaborative time to connect and learn from one another.  It also gave them a chance to identify what additional support or resources they need." Bringing together all the workgroup leads was an important step as we prepare to move forward in developing shared action plans. Come to the July County Committee meetings to learn more.  See information and details about each county committee meeting below.   
July County Committee Meetings: Workgroups to move forward in developing shared action plans

At the July county committee meetings, an overview of the county-specific community health improvement plan to date (needs, desired results, and final impact statements), will be presented to the committee members who will then vote to approve the impact statements and the move to action planning. Workgroup leads will provide a brief overview of their strategies, followed by a discussion of evaluation and metrics by a representative from the Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences.

The remainder of the county meeting will be a working session, giving workgroups an opportunity to begin or further their work on the development of action steps for each of their strategies. It is key that workgroup members are present to participate in the working sessions.  

Where do we go from here?
During the summer through September, workgroups will identify which partner organization(s) will lead or contribute to the defined action steps. The action plans (including evaluation metrics and contributing partners) will be shared with the county committees in October, with implementation of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to begin in January 2017 .   

New members are welcome to join the workgroups in each county. Come to the July meeting to find out how you and your organization can participate in our first shared community health improvement plan! 

July Meeting Dates:
Morris County Committee:  July 14th (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Passaic County Committee: July  27th (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM)    
Sussex County Committee:  July 14th (12:00 - 2:00 PM)
Union County Committee: July 18th (2:00 - 4:00 PM)

* Click on the calendar icon below for meeting locations.
July is National Park and Recreation Month

Do you know the power of parks and recreation in your community? Parks and recreation provide beautiful green spaces,but they do so much more. To showcase the impact of parks and recreation in every community, the National Recreation and Parks Association has put together the following video.


Proximity to exercise opportunities, such as parks and recreation facilities, has been linked to an increase in physical activity among residents. Regular physical activity has a wide array of health benefits including weight control, muscle and bone strengthening, improved mental health and mood, and improved life expectancy. Furthermore, exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and some cancers. Click on the links below to view related NJHealthMatters data indicators:


Access to Exercise Indicator by County.  This indicator measures the percentage of individuals who live reasonably close to a park or recreational facility.

Adults who are Sedentary .   This indicator shows the percentage of adults (ages 20 and up) who did not participate in any leisure-time activities (physical activities other than their regular job) during the past month.
 
To access information regarding parks and trails in your county see the following links:

NJHC Celebrates Community Health Improvement Week 

The North Jersey Health Collaborative (NJHC), celebrated Community Health Improvement Week (June 5 - 11, 2016), a national event that highlights the value community health professionals contribute to improving health in their towns, cities and communities. As part of this celebration, the NJHC would like to acknowledge our partners for their passion and commitment to working together across sectors in identifying, planning and taking action to address the most pressing health issues within our communities including the prevention and management of diabetes, heart disease and obesity; access to care and mental health services; and substance abuse education and treatment.  

To read the entire press release click  here.
 
Join the growing list of NJHC Partner organizations!

If you are interested in becoming a NJHC partner, 
contact Catherine Connelly.  

Partner organizations will be listed on our website as a  2016 NJHC Partner and included in our  Partner Resource Directory.

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