Healthier Somerset: Community Health Improvement Plan Announced

Melissa Feltmann | Healthier Somerset Project Manager
February 26, 2019
mycentraljersey.com

Healthier Somerset has announced that the 2019-2021 Somerset County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is now available.

The CHIP is a long-term strategic planning tool that identifies a community’s priority health issues and outlines a recommended action plan to address those needs, based on data collected from a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The health priority areas identified for Somerset County are access to care, chronic disease, mental health/substance abuse and obesity.

Typically developed every three years, the CHIP is designed to guide community decision-making related to health improvement by providing a vision for the health of the community and a framework for organizations to utilize in developing services and programs to improve the health of the community.

Development of the CHIP was led by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset (RWJUH-S) and RWJBarnabas Health, in collaboration with Healthier Somerset and members of the Strategic Planning and Internal Oversight Committee, a subcommittee of representatives from Healthier Somerset and RWJUH-S staff.

READ: Healthier Somerset improves residents’ well-being

“The CHIP provides an important framework for us to identify and develop programs that address the biggest health needs throughout the county,” explained Serena Collado Director, community health and convener of Healthier Somerset. “Using the connections made within Healthier Somerset, organizations from across Somerset County will utilize the CHIP to work together to help improve the health and wellness of all who live and work here.”

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Healthier Somerset is a coalition comprised of over 50 members including representatives from businesses, healthcare, education, faith-based communities, non-profit organizations and local and county government.  The coalition’s goal is to make Somerset County the healthiest county in New Jersey by engaging those who live and work in Somerset County in active participation in good health habits, increasing access to choices that promote healthy lifestyles, and promoting policy changes that improve health.

To view the CHIP, please visit www.healthiersomerset.org.

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