June 12, 2020
We at NJHCN hope that this brief and targeted communique will help you navigate the constantly changing COVID19 world. As your partner in building healthy communities, we will curate the most useful and current resources to help you and your organization during this crisis and build capacity for the future.

Resources include:
  1. Official Information
  2. Resource Pages
  3. Grants and Funding
  4. Media
  5. Training and Development

All resources will also be posted on our website for ongoing reference. Please forward to colleagues, partners and friends who may benefit from this information.

Please send us any new resources or opportunities to share.
Grantee Spotlight
Bridgeton Board of Education
NJHCN Funder: New Jersey Department of Health
The Bridgeton Food Services Department’s motto is that “Feeding Education is always on the Menu”. This couldn’t be any more true as the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools. In response the Food Services Department jumped head first into switching from feeding in the cafeteria to curb-side pick-up to ensure that the students of Bridgeton continued to receive proper nutrition. Having a full stomach is key for students to be able to focus on their school work at home. 

Official NJ COVID-19 Information
NJ COVID-19 Information Hub
The official COVID-19  Information Hub  for the  State of New Jersey . Find the latest news, guidance, resources, and support here.

Resources
Community of Solutions Framework: Skills for Change-Making
Sponsor: Community Commons
The Community of Solutions Framework is a set of interconnected skills and behaviors divided into five domains: Leading from Within, Leading Together, Leading for Outcomes, Leading for Equity, and Leading for Sustainability. 
The framework supports communities at all stages of readiness to acquire skills and apply them in practical ways to achieve meaningful community outcomes.  

The COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index
Sponsor: Surgo Foundation
Every community in the US will be affected by COVID-19 – but the impacts will not be the same in each. This index - developed by Surgo Foundation and featured as a  CDC resource  - identifies which communities may need the most support as coronavirus takes hold. Mapped to US census tract, county, and state levels, the CCVI helps inform COVID-19 planning and mitigation at a granular level.

Portal of COVID-19 Resources
Sponsor: Trust for America's Health
Resources and documents related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and response. 

Grants and Funding
Identifying the Next Phase of Leadership and Management for the RWJF Culture of Health Prize

July 31, 2020
Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
This request seeks an entity to lead the next two-year phase of the leadership and management of the RWJF Culture of Health Prize, which will include 2022–2023 cohorts of winners and initial planning for the 2024 cohort. This call for proposals provides background on the RWJF Culture of Health Prize and outlines responsibilities for an organization selected to take on the next phase of leadership and management.

News and Media
Jersey City to launch nation’s first municipal vertical farming program to promote healthy eating
Source: The Jersey Journal on nj.com
Jersey City is set to launch a vertical farming program that will bring 19,000 pounds of fresh produce to residents every year — free of charge — transforming areas of the city that traditionally lack healthy food sources.

All In COVID Listening Sessions Connect Communities Struggling with COVID-19
Source: Data Across Sectors for Health
All In collaboration members are identifying surprising new ways to make systems work for people, even as their communities are already stressed by economic hardship and inequities.
We collect, collate, and promote what is working and what isn’t. We learn from your stories, share them with others, and begin to co-create a national conversation about policy and systems changes for a post-COVID nation.

Training, Collaborations and Networking
Effective Health Communication Techniques During a Crisis
June 18 - 12 pm ET
Host: NJ SOPHE
Learn how NJ SOPHE is staying in touch and keeping members informed during the global pandemic; learn about best practices

Food Procurement for a More Just Food System
June 18 - 2 pm ET
Host: ChangeLab Solutions
I nstitutional food purchasing is crucial for fostering community health and economic prosperity. When institutions like government agencies, schools, and hospitals make food procurement decisions that center health equity and environmental considerations, their spending can generate wins for communities, workers, and businesses.

In our  upcoming webinar , we’ll explore these topics:
  • A “good food values” approach to food systems and purchasing
  • The connection between procurement and health equity
  • The value of local economies and diversity within the food business
  • Procurement policies and their intersection with COVID-19
  • Resources for incorporating good food values into food procurement policies

COVID-19: Disproportionate Impact on Black Communities
June 25 - 3 pm ET
Host: County Health Rankings
During this webinar, we will explore how COVID-19 is exposing existing disparities experienced by Black communities, the historical context, institutional and systemic racism, and how communities can begin to address these disparities now and during recovery with policy, systems, and environmental change.