Introducing the 2019 NJHC Board of Trustees

It is our pleasure to announce the 2019 NJHC Board of Trustees and

Please welcome our new NJHC Officers:
Peter Summers,  NJHC President/Chair
Trevor Weigle, NJHC Treasurer
Sheri Cognetti, NJHC Secretary

We would also like to thank our 2019 Funding Partners for their generous support and commitment to the North Jersey Health Collaborative. 

NJ HealthMatters Website - New Year - New Look 

Check out our new home page at www.njhealthmatters.org.  Additional enhancements are coming soon. A training webinar is being developed to ensure our web users are aware of and familiar with how to use the many tools and resources available on our site.  Stay tuned for more information! 
Special thanks to Jackie Leon, Community Outreach Coordinator at TransOptions, and a member of the NJHC Communications Committee for taking and sharing beautiful photos from across our region for the new home page. 

As we continue to assess how to make our website even better, please share your feedback with us at [email protected].  Thank you Janice. 

" Recently, while completing the NJ Health Care Quality Institute application for a Healthy Town Designation, through the Joint Mayors Wellness Advisory Committee of the Chathams, data complied through the NJHealthMatters website substantiated community assessed needs directly related to new and ongoing  activities validating resources and program focus."   -  Janice R. Piccolo, Director of Community Services,  Chatham Borough  
Progress on the 2nd NJHC Shared County Community Health Improvement Plans

During 2018, NJHC partners participated in the data review and analysis of three data streams presented as phase two of the shared community health assessment including lessons learned from our first assessment and workgroups, the secondary data analysis of the data indicators, and the results of the Community Voice Survey. This was all in preparation for the October Strategy Planning sessions, where partners identified priorities and strategies to be included in the the county-specific 2019 community health improvement plans. 

At the recent January county committee meetings, the strategies were further reviewed and refined as the county partners honed in on which strategies to focus on in the year ahead. P roposed strategies for 2019 are addressing a range of issues such as access to healthy foods, diabetes self-management, school wellness policies around nutrition and physical activity, substance misuse, access and coordination of care, including access to mental health services and reducing stigma.  Revisions to the strategy reports are being collected from each county committee and will be shared back with the county partners prior to the April meetings. 

Go here to find details regarding the April County Committee Meetings.  



Morristown United for Healthy Living Coalition
Members of the Morristown United Steering Committee, pictured here, met for a Planning & Sustainability Retreat last week.  The Coalition is excited about the addition of two new Community Organizers and Street Captains who will go out and gather input from their fellow residents to help identify needs and possible solutions for improving the safety and condition of homes within their neighborhood, while at the same time sharing information and resources. Meet the new Community Organizers and learn more here. On February 16th, the Community Organizers and Street Captains will be attending a training workshop on Community Organizing to provide tools and resources for their new role.    

To learn more about the Morristown United for Healthy Living Coalition click  here.   Follow the coalition on facebook here .


        
FFA Youth Affinity Group with Group Leader Corey Brown, Sussex YMCA 
 
The Forward Franklin Youth Affinity Group (YAG), pictured here, meets monthly at the Franklin Borough School.  The YAG designed an implemented an art contest to capture young artists portrayal of the history, people, landscape, and culture in Franklin.  The artwork will be displayed in local venues throughout Franklin. Stay tuned for an announcement of the winners. 

Following a presentation to the Franklin Town Council in December, Forward Franklin was in the news. To read the recent article go here.

The Forward Franklin Alliance (FFA) recently approved five projects funded through its Community Revitalization Fund. Projects included new furniture for the Franklin Library, water safety equipment for the Franklin Pond, and a new exhibit at the Franklin Mineral Museum which is free to Franklin residents. Additional mini-grant applications are under review and will be funded soon. 

If your organization provides services to Franklin residents and would like to participate in the 2nd Annual Health & Wellness Expo in May, p lease reach out to Laura Hawkins.

Follow Forward Franklin on facebook at 
f acebook.com/ForwardFranklinNJ/


Morris County Diabetes Pilot Initiative

The Morris County Diabetes pilot program is still accepting new participants.  If you know someone in Morris County who could benefit from the assistance of a bi-lingual community health worker in managing diabetes through education, self-management techniques and help navigating services, please contact  Community Health Worker,  Kristian Galindo.   This program is being made possible by a grant from the Horizon Foundation.

NJHC Partner Spotlight:
Winter Walking Tips from TransOptions

Winter weather tests our balance and mobility, challenging even the most agile pedestrian. 
During winter need to be alert and stay focused wherever we are walking, especially in parking lots and on stairs. Sliding on "black ice" or losing your balance could happen at any time.   
Knowing how to navigate winter walking conditions confidently can help you be mobile and stay safe. Take a moment to prepare yourself for safe winter walking with these suggestions:
  • Wear reflective or bright clothing to help you be visible to motorists.
  • Footgear that grips gives you better traction.
  • Walk on the sidewalk and cross in the crosswalks.
  • If you must walk in the street, be certain to walk facing traffic.
  • Be extra vigilant while walking in parking lots.   
  • Walk like a penguin to keep your balance
  • Walk slowly to avert slipping on icy spots.
Learn more about walking and driving safety at http://www.TransOptions.org or call (973) 267-7600.

If your organization would like to be featured in a NJHC Partner Spotlight, email Catherine Connelly.
The North Jersey Health Collaborative Partner Newsletter is distributed five times a year, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and at year-end (December) to share and highlight our collective work. Prior issues can be found in our newsletter archive here .  
Upcoming Events