Presentation for Designing for Health session.

1. New Jersey Future
Redevelopment Forum
March 9, 2018
Designing for Health
Peri Nearon, MPA, NJ Department of Health

2. ShapingNJ
Public/private partnership – healthy eating / active
living (230+)
State Departments, businesses, philanthropies,
professional associations, YMCAs, local health
departments, local government, hospitals,
universities, League of Municipalities
Work in 6 Settings
Early Care & Education, Schools, Communities,
Healthcare, Worksites, Faith-based
Focus on Policy, Environmental and Systems Change
NJ State Obesity Prevention Plan – 2013 - 2023 (10
Year Plan)

3. ADULT OBESITY
Approximately 27.4% of New Jersey adults are obese (14th
leanest state).
Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties have the highest
prevalence of adult obesity in New Jersey; Morris, Bergen
and Hunterdon counties have the lowest prevalence.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY
The prevalence of obesity among two to four year-olds from
low-income families (NJWIC) is approximately 15.3%.
Approximately 10% of New Jersey children aged 10-17 are
obese.
Approximately 9% of New Jersey high school students are
obese and 14% are overweight.

4. Collaborative Funding
for Place-Based Impact:
The New Jersey Healthy Communities Network
Community Grants Program
Photo credit: NationalPark SchoolDistrict, WoodbridgeDepartmentof Health and HumanServices, Meadowlink– Long Branch

5. What is the
Community
Offered by Funding
Collaborative Grants
of up to $20,000,
awarded for 24 Months
Technical Assistance:
One on One Coaching
Regional Cohorts
Membership in a state-wide
community of practice
Shared Communication
Grant Program?
Goal: Enhance the built
environment and develop
policies to support healthy
eating and active living.
Supported projects make the healthy
choice the easy choice; make healthy
food and beverages the affordable,
available and desired choice; encourage
and support physical activity by
ensuring accessibility and safety; and
make healthy school, work, and
community environments the norm and
not the exception.

6. What is policy, systems & environmental change?
What does it have to do with health?

7. What's the Difference Between Policy, Systems and Environmental Change and Programs?
Setting Programs/Events Policy,Systems and Environmental
Change
School Celebrate national nutrition month Add fruits and vegetables to the a la
carte options in schools
Community Host a community bike ride and parade Implement a Complete Streets policy
to ensure community roads are
constructed for safe biking, walking
and driving
Worksite Hold health screenings for staff Implement a healthy vending
machine policy that offers healthy
snacks at an affordable price
Hospital Hold free breastfeeding courses for new
moms
Implement the WHO 10 Steps to
Successful Breastfeeding and
become a baby friendly hospital

8. .
2018-2019 Grant Cycle
66
Funded
Projects
Grantees are funded for
$20k over two years

9. Examples of 2018-2019 Grantee Organizations
Schools: Bergen County Technical Schools, ManasquanPublicSchoolDistrict,Bridgeton Public Schools
YMCAs: East Orange, RaritanValley,Gloucester, Trenton, Cumberland Cape Atlantic, Gateway
Family, Metro Y of the Oranges
Municipalities: Plainsboro, West Orange, East Orange, Ridgefield, Jersey City, North Bergen, Audubon,
Lincoln Park, Montclair, Elsinboro, Elmer, Quinton, Pennsville
Parks/Agriculture: Grow it Green, Morris Park Alliance
Local Health Departments: W Milford, JerseyCity,Freehold, Wayne, Caldwell, Bloomfield
Topical Organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Mercer, Isles, EZRide,Center for
Environmental Transformation, NJ AHPERD, FoodBank ofSouthJersey, Trenton Housing Authority

10. 2016-2017 NJHCN Grantee
Accomplishments
(Mid-Point)
Evaluation Data Provided By:
Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services, Montclair State University

11. 44Community
improvement
projects around
healthy nutrition
Photo credit: UnionCity Boardof Education

12. 9,110
Number of students
receiving new
school breakfast
programs
Photo credit: Advocates for Childrenof New Jersey

13. 280Number of children
reached in child care
centers implementing
healthy eating-related
policies
Photo credit: United Way of Passaic County

14. 78Number of policies
adopted to make it
easier to eat and drink
healthfully
Photo credit: Clifton Health Department

15. 18Number of new stores
participating in Healthy
Corner Store initiatives
Photo credit: Meadowlink– LongBranch(top);Meadowlink– Plainfield(bottom)

16. 49Community
improvement
projects around
active living
Photo credit: RWJ University HospitalFoundation

17. 848Number of children
reached in child care
centers
implementing
physical activity-
related policies
Photo credit: NORWESCAP(top);The Partnershipfor MaternalandChild Health of
NorthernNew Jersey (bottom)

18. 557Number of square
feet enhanced for
physical activity
access
Photo credit: HunterdonCountyYMCA

19. 79Number of Safe
Routes to School
activities conducted
Photo credit: Meadowlink- Plainfield

20. 26Number of new
opportunities for
physical activity created
Photo credit: Tri-State TransportationCampaign(top);RWJ University Hospital
Foundation(bottom)

21. 54%
applied for or received
additional funding

22. Funding Collaborative:
With Backbone Support
Provided by:

23. Collective Impact
for Healthier
New Jersey Communities
Technical Assistance – Regional Cohorts – Statewide Movement

24. www.njhcn.org

25. Make the Healthy
Choice the
Easy Choice
Peri L. Nearon, MPA
Community Health & Wellness
Division of Community Health Services
NJ Department of Health
peri.nearon@doh.nj.gov