PARSIPPANY — The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) hosted a community health forum in Parsippany today as part of an ongoing series of regional conversations on how all sectors of a community can work together to ensure that residents have the opportunity to lead healthier lives.
“We want to build a Culture of Health here in our home state of New Jersey – and across the country – that takes into account everything that impacts our well-being: from the neighborhoods, schools and offices where we spend our days, to our transportation options, to the location of grocery stores in our communities,” explained RWJF Chief of Staff Robin E. Mockenhaupt. “We believe health needs to be a shared value and priority across all sectors of society, which is why we are so excited to bring together so many Morris County leaders to discuss a Culture of Health here.”
The forum was moderated by Kent Manahan, former anchor for NJN News. Participants also joined the conversation online using the hashtag #CultureofHealth.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James R. Barberio agreed. “My goal as mayor is to have a healthy town and a healthy workforce,” said Barberio. “We hired a wellness coach in 2011, and the result has been happier, healthier workers – including myself! I’ve lost 40 pounds, I’m controlling my diabetes, and I feel better than ever. We use our Mayor’s Wellness Campaign to reach out to members of the community, to help them lead healthier lives.”
According to Chris M. Kirk, president and chair of the North Jersey Health Collaborative: “We have worked with over 100 partner organizations across North Jersey, to help them to identify community needs and use their resources to help people live healthier lives. With their help, we’ve identified the top factors affecting Morris County residents’ health, including obesity, affordable housing shortage, alcohol abuse, and socioeconomic disparities. By working together, we can use the funding and resources we have for to the most impact.”
Xiomara Guevara, executive director of the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs drilled down even further into the health concerns facing some residents. “One of the ways we help the minority population in Morris County is through our Center for Citizenship and Legal Immigration. By providing affordable and quality immigration legal services, we are improving the Hispanic and Latino community’s ability to access preventative services, health insurance coverage, and health literacy.”
Rina Ramirez, chief medical officer for Zufall Health Center, offered an overview of how her organization contributes to the health of Morris County: “We help the underserved communities within our county, and in addition to primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, we provide an array of programs to promote health,” she explained. “These include patient navigators to assist with access to services, group visits for patients with diabetes and asthma, support groups for breast cancer survivors, cooking classes, exercise classes and yoga at our Wellness Center, and more.”
Bob Parker, chief executive officer of New Bridge Services, also addressed the mental health component. “We help provide mental health counseling to homebound senior citizens, through in-home professionals. We have also been working with the United Way of Northern New Jersey and the College of Saint Elizabeth to address some of the ongoing mental health needs that remain in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.”
Representing the Morris County Chamber of Commerce was president Paul A. Boudreau. Earlier this year, RWJF announced a two-year initiative called “Better Health through Economic Opportunity” as part of its efforts to make sure the business community is included in discussions on how to build a Culture of Health.
“We are looking into ways to leverage our contacts and resources to have a bigger impact on making Morris County a healthier place to live and work,” said Boudreau. “We have a diverse membership with more than 900 companies, including not only hospital systems and pharmaceutical companies, but also hundreds of small businesses. Our Health & Wellness Committee meets monthly and we focus on a variety of topics including health education, exercise and nutrition.”
In addition to the panel of speakers, the forum included spotlight presentations from various community stakeholders, detailing their work building a Culture of Health through practices like farm-based primary medical care, community and school gardens, increased transportation options, addiction prevention and treatment, and early-education enhancement. Those presenters included:
Asha Gala, practice manager, Ethos Health
Abby Gallo, executive director, Grow it Green Morristown
Richard Gentles, vice president, TransOptions
Lisa Gulla, health officer, Borough of Madison
Barbara Kaufman, director of prevention services, Prevention is Key
Michelle Roers, cpo, United Way of Northern New Jersey
The forum took place at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, amulti-faceted training facility that was designed for providing professional training for fire, law enforcement, corrections and first aid squad personnel, both volunteer and salaried. The academy includes a Life Safety Complex, completed in 2001, for state-of-the-art fire training. The Foundation first announced its vision for working with others to build a Culture of Health during a statewide forum in Princeton in June 2014, and has since held local events in Jersey City and Camden.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest private foundation in New Jersey and the nation’s largest philanthropy working to improve the health and health care of all. The Foundation is striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. RWJF has invested more than $900 million in New Jersey since 1972. For more information, click here. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at or on Facebook.
