This document summarizes a presentation on designing communities for health. It discusses New Jersey's obesity rates among adults and children and efforts to address obesity through policy, systems, and environmental changes. This includes the ShapingNJ public-private partnership and the state's 10-year obesity prevention plan. The New Jersey Healthy Communities Network provides grants and technical assistance to support projects that make healthy options more accessible through improvements to schools, worksites, healthcare settings, and other community spaces. Examples of funded projects include new school breakfast programs, healthy retail initiatives, and safe routes to school. Evaluation found projects have reached thousands of residents and led to new policies, funding, and physical activity opportunities.

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