PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
April 4, 2017

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

New Jersey Department of Health Recognizes National Public Health Week, April 3-9

The New Jersey Department of Health is recognizing National Public Health Week, April 3-9, by highlighting New Jersey's effort to build healthier communities.

National Public Health Week is organized by the American Public Health Association. This year’s theme is "Healthiest Nation 2030" with the goal of encouraging individuals and communities to help make the U.S. the “Healthiest Nation in One Generation.”

To commemorate National Public Health week, Assistant Commissioner and State Epidemiologist Dr. Tina Tan attended Rutgers School of Public Health’s “Communicating the Science of Public Health Symposium” on April 3.

As part of National Minority Health Month, the Atlantic Division of Public Health is offering a health screening on April 11, and the Ocean County Health Department is hosting a health fair on April 21.

New Jersey’s health improvement plan, Healthy New Jersey 2020, offers local communities an interactive database to monitor public health improvements and track progress on disease prevention.

“State grants to local, county and faith-based groups are funding innovative projects that are improving population health by focusing on prevention, wellness and equity, resulting in a healthier New Jersey,” Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett said. “New Jersey’s successes are owed in large part to our public health partners who help to ensure residents are given opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.” 

With the help of our local partners, in a single year there were more than:

  • 250,000 immunizations provided
  • 178,000 health screenings conducted
  • 57,000 retail food establishments inspected
  • 38,000 health-related communicable investigations conducted
  • 72,000 pets vaccinated for rabies
  • 4,400 recreational bathing facilities inspected

Last summer, members of the Governor's cabinet formed the Population Health Action Team (PHAT) to advance policies and grant opportunities to build healthy communities and improve health outcomes. The PHAT identified childhood lead exposure and nutrition and fitness as two key improvement areas.

The Department hosted its first Population Health Heroes Awards this year to recognize the state's innovative leaders who are making system, policy and environmental changes that improve public health. The goal of these awards is to showcase the work of an individual, group, business, municipalities, counties, faith-based or other community groups that have successfully implemented a program or intervention that has made a measurable difference in public health outcomes. The Department received 47 applications, and winners will be announced at the 2017 Population Health Summit in June.

National Public Health Week Happenings in New Jersey:

  • The Hunterdon County Health Division has outlined five topics it will address through its "5 Days to Health Challenge." Throughout the week, they will post a daily health challenge on social media. The challenge will address healthy eating, disease prevention, emergency preparedness, mosquito control and ways to develop healthy habits. Follow the health division on Twitter @HunterdonDOH and Facebook @HunterdonCountyDOP.
  • Passaic County will celebrate on April 7 by hosting a health equity forum. There will be a poster session as well as remarks by Dr. Charlene Gungil, Passaic County Health Officer, and presentations by New Jersey's Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, Atlantic Health System regarding Population Health Sciences, the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health and a panel discussion on bridging health equity across communities.
  • The Borough of Madison is encouraging residents to participate in the American Public Health Association’s One Billion Steps challenge.

For more information, visit http://www.nphw.org.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth.

Last Reviewed: 4/4/2017