PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
August 10, 2018

Shereef Elnahal
Commissioner

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

New Jersey Department of Health Celebrates National Health Center Week, Aug. 12-18

Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes

As part of National Health Center Week, the New Jersey Department of Health is celebrating the care community health centers provide in 1.8 million visits with 530,000 patients around the state in more than 100 locations.

 

Department staff will be attending events throughout the week to emphasize the importance of health centers. Deputy Commissioner Deborah Hartel and Assistant Commissioner Nashon Hornsby will attend the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s kick-off event at North Hudson Community Action Corp. in Passaic on Monday, Aug 13.

 

“Community Health Centers are an essential health care provider in the community, providing primary prevention, medical care, dental care and behavioral health care such as mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal.

 

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, Commissioner Elnahal will join the Newark Community Health Center along with Department of Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet Ed.D and DOH’s Assistant Commissioner Hornsby for a health fair and to encourage parents to get the age appropriate back-to-school vaccinations for their children before the school year starts.

 

“Without immunizations, most children won’t be allowed to attend school or to participate in sports activities,” said Dr. Repollet. “Immunizations improve a child’s overall health and, as a result, boost their attendance in school, aid their ability to learn and ultimately, help academic performance.”

 

“August is also National Immunization Awareness Month, so now is the perfect time to remind parents to protect their children against disease by getting them vaccinated,” Commissioner Elnahal said.

 

On Thursday Assistant Commissioner Hornsby will visit the Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton and on Saturday Department staff will visit AtlantiCare.

 

Last week, Principal Deputy Commissioner Jackie Cornell and Assistant Commissioner of HIV, STD and TB Services Christopher Menschner joined the Visiting Nurse Association on Aug. 9 for the grand opening of the LGBTQ Health Center in Asbury Park, the first of its kind in Monmouth County. 

 

New Jersey has 24 community health centers — at least one in every county — with more than 119 across the state serving as critical health care safety nets for residents. The Department provides more than $30 million to support their care of uninsured and underinsured residents.

 

Nearly 30 percent of the patients are uninsured, and 55 percent are on Medicaid.

 

This month , the Department is spotlighting Public Health Innovators who are doing innovative work at a few of the state’s health centers.

 

Other Health Center Week events around the state include health fairs, screenings, community walks and educational sessions. To find an event near you, visit: www.healthcenterweek.org

Visit the Department's website to find a community health center location and services.

 

Follow New Jersey Health Commissioner Elnahal on Twitter.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter@njdeptofhealth, Facebook/njdeptofhealth, Instagram@njdeptofhealth, and Snapchat@njdoh.

Last Reviewed: 8/10/2018