Promoting an equitable and healthy future for families through services, advocacy, education and collaboration.

Grants galore and expanding our teams...it's been a busy summer at CJFHC!


Here's what we've been up to.

Summer Recap

Safe Kids Celebrates 35 Years


Safe Kids celebrated its 35th anniversary during PREVCON (National Childhood Injury Prevention Convention) held on July 23 – 26, 2023 at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Safe Kids President, Torine Creppy shared the strategic plan which is heavily focused on equity.  



Porsha Moody, State Coordinator for Safe Kids NJ and Child Passenger Safety participated as a moderator and panel speaker. The panel discussion included Safe Kids Leaders from South Carolina and California. The panel speakers discussed Identifying Champions within lead agencies to support coalition activities. Porsha shared how grateful she is to have the support of the leadership at CJFHC. She also acknowledged the work of the County Coalition Coordinators to make our state a safer place for children and families.  

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CJFHC Joins Prematurity Prevention Initiative (PPI)

PPI works to prevent premature births by increasing awareness of preterm birth risk factors. Our team strives to streamline patient access to effective medication regardless of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status. We provide support and critical health information to pregnant individuals and families using resources such as:

  • Timely and relevant data
  • Community outreach
  • Provider-specific materials
  • Educational presentations

The Central Jersey Family Health Consortium is partnering up with PPI to address preterm births in the central region, especially in Hunterdon and Mercer counties. 

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Grow NJ Kids Joins Rep. Mikie Sherrill to Address Affordability and Staffing Crisis in Programs for Young Children

Stephanie Boysen, Sr TAS at the Grow NJ Kids Technical Assistance Center North, has seven years of experience supporting child care programs to improve their quality. Meghan Tavormina is a well-regarded early childhood champion, leading both The Learning Path Preschool in Chatham, NJ and the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children (NJAEYC) . Together, Stephanie and Meghan worked collaboratively to reach the goal of a quality rating for the Learning Path. As a result, the Learning Path is now recognized as a GNJK STAR rated center as well as being accredited by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).


 In April, the Learning Path was chosen as the site for a panel discussion to highlight the plans of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz to address the affordability, availability, and staffing crisis in programs for young children. When families can’t access high quality, affordable child care, our society pays a high price. The Grow NJ Kids quality rating system plays an important role in supporting programs on their journey to higher quality care for all families. Stephanie was an invited guest at this special event held at the school.


Read the full article:

 https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/2023/04/04/mikie-sherrill-nj-leaders-discuss-solutions-to-child-care-shortage/70075636007/ 

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Program Spotlight: Connecting NJ

Bringing Home Visiting Programs to New Families

Connecting NJ is a network of partners and agencies dedicated to helping NJ families thrive. We provide mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians free or affordable access to people, organizations, and other sources of information needed to raise healthy children. Some of those resources/referrals include: early education programs, domestic violence support, addiction treatment, financial and housing assistance, home visiting programs, behavioral health services, etc.  


Formerly known as Central Intake, Connecting NJ has been launched as a part of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ, statewide initiative to transform NJ into the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise baby. The re-brand supports a recommendation in the Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan to improve and transform the referral system as the state continues to act as a national leader in tackling the maternal and infant health crisis. Connecting NJ has expanded to include additional positions including Case Managers & Community Alignment Specialists. Our Case Managers will be able to complete ongoing follow up to clients and families who may be considered high risk and need additional assistance accessing resources. Our Community Alignment Specialists will be working closely with the Family Connects Program staff.  



Family Connects is a Universal Home Visiting program where the services are free, voluntary, and meant for families of all backgrounds and incomes. Families that participate in the Universal Home Visiting Program will receive a free session with a registered nurse or advanced practice nurse in the comfort of their home. During home visits, nurses will provide physical and emotional health assessments of the parents and newborn to ensure everyone’s well-being, provide information helpful to families on infant care, support for those breastfeeding, and help with getting connected to resources families may need to adjust to life with a newborn. 

The Connecting NJ program at CJFHC serves individuals residing in: Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties.  

How to make a referral: 

  • Fill out the county referral form on the CJFHC website and email it to infoCI@cjfhc.org 
  • Submit an electronic referral on the CNJ website: Connecting NJ 
  •  Call 1-888-551-6217 

If you have any questions, please contact the Program Manager, Kristina Montague at kmontague@cjfhc.org. 

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In the Community: News, Events, and Programs

Healthy Women, Healthy Families

Healthy Women, Healthy Families (HWHF) is a statewide initiative focusing on improving maternal and infant health outcomes for all women of childbearing age and their families while reducing racial, ethnic and economic disparities.


CJFHC has been awarded a second grant cycle and $805,000 to continue to fund the Healthy Women, Healthy Families (HWHF) grant serving the counties of Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Hunterdon with a focus on the cities of Trenton and New Brunswick.

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Mercer Service Coordination Unit Expands Team

Mercer Service Coordination Unit ensures that children and their family's eligible under Part C obtain the supports and services they need, as authorized under the NJ Department of Health Early Intervention Program. 



The department welcomes Nicole Bilyk and Maureen Huff to the team as Service Coordinators. The team has also successfully convened and completed 100% of their family meetings via telehealth, ensuring all families have the access to services they need.

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CJFHC Annual Meeting

September 21, 2023

8:30AM - 11:30AM

Save September 21, 2023 for CJFHC’s annual meeting of members. 


Always popular, this event brings together our community partners, membership and staff for recognition of the organization’s accomplishments of the past year and highlights keynote speakers with discussion of important Maternal-Child health topics of the day. We look forward to seeing you there. RSVP to Fran Lo Raso, floraso@cjfhc.org now and reserve your spot.




Docket Mobile App is Live!

Staying up to date on your and your child's vaccines is important. Make it easy with the Dockett mobile app!


How does the Docket® mobile app work? 

Docket® connects you directly with immunization registries (including the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS)) to deliver up-to-date personal and family immunization records, including COVID-19. You can use the Docket® app to provide proof of vaccination status as needed. Doses of vaccine reported to NJIIS will appear on the Docket® app for you or your family.





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For the Professionals: News, Events, and Programs

Fathers & Perinatal Loss: Leaving With an Empty Carseat

Wednesday, August 23, 12PM - 1PM

In the face of perinatal loss, much of the focus is on the experiences of mothers and how to assist them in the grieving process. Sadly, fathers are sometimes viewed as ancillary components of the mothers’ grief experience, when they, in fact, are in many cases 50% of the grief equation. We invite you to join us for a series of facilitated discussions with Matt Sklar and Simon Hindle, fathers of stillborn daughters, that will illuminate the unique grief experience of fathers.

 

Nursing Contact Hours

Target audience: maternal child healthcare providers, and Social Workers

Learning outcome: 80% of participants will gain knowledge specific to fathers and perinatal loss after attending one or more of these presentations.

Nursing contact hours: Each webinar has been awarded one nursing contact hour.

 

Successful completion: To receive a nursing contact hour certificate, you must register for the webinar you would like to attend, view the entire webinar, and complete an evaluation form.

 

Disclosures: The planning committee, content expert and speakers have nothing to disclose. There is no commercial support for this activity.

Central Jersey Family Health Consortium is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by New Jersey State Nurses Association an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

 

Provider # P92-10/20-23. Provider approval is valid through October 31, 2023.

Accredited status does not imply endorsement by CJFHC, NJSNA, or ANCC’s Commission on Accreditation of any commercial product discussed/displayed in conjunction with this program.



Questions regarding nursing credits: Please contact Ann Mruk at amruk@cjfhc.org

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Fathers & Perinatal Loss: Trying Again (PTSD)

Wednesday, August 30, 12PM - 1PM

In the face of perinatal loss, much of the focus is on the experiences of mothers and how to assist them in the grieving process. Sadly, fathers are sometimes viewed as ancillary components of the mothers’ grief experience, when they, in fact, are in many cases 50% of the grief equation. We invite you to join us for a series of facilitated discussions with Matt Sklar and Simon Hindle, fathers of stillborn daughters, that will illuminate the unique grief experience of fathers.

 

Nursing Contact Hours

Target audience: maternal child healthcare providers, and Social Workers

Learning outcome: 80% of participants will gain knowledge specific to fathers and perinatal loss after attending one or more of these presentations.

Nursing contact hours: Each webinar has been awarded one nursing contact hour.

 

Successful completion: To receive a nursing contact hour certificate, you must register for the webinar you would like to attend, view the entire webinar, and complete an evaluation form.

 

Disclosures: The planning committee, content expert and speakers have nothing to disclose. There is no commercial support for this activity.

Central Jersey Family Health Consortium is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by New Jersey State Nurses Association an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

 

Provider # P92-10/20-23. Provider approval is valid through October 31, 2023.

Accredited status does not imply endorsement by CJFHC, NJSNA, or ANCC’s Commission on Accreditation of any commercial product discussed/displayed in conjunction with this program.



Questions regarding nursing credits: Please contact Ann Mruk at amruk@cjfhc.org

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Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Instructor Course

Friday, September 8, 7:30AM - 3PM

Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) is an evidenced based, interprofessional, and multidisciplinary training program that equips the entire maternity care team with skills to effectively manage obstetric emergencies. This comprehensive course encourages a standardized team-based approach amongst physicians, residents, nurse midwives, registered nurses and other members of the maternity care team to improve patient safety and positively impact maternal outcomes.


Overall course objectives:

1. Plan to utilize demonstrated educational tools that can be used when giving feedback to ALSO course participants.

2. Identify strategies to assist participants with questions and conflicts that can occur during the workstations.

3. Develop plans to demonstrate teaching competence in hands-on role-play utilizing maternal-fetal mannequins, including providing timely feedback, and adaptation of teaching methods to various situations.

4. Facilitate group discussion and consider ways to implement faculty and learner feedback to enhance the educational experience.

5. Facilitate a simulated group testing scenario from set up through team observation, debriefing and evaluation.

6. Devise a plan to assist instructor Candidates in achieving and maintaining full ALSO Instructor status.


COURSE PRE-WORK: Learners will be provided with an e-mail that includes a URL/link to the Online ALSO Instructor Course. Content consists of recorded lectures and recorded workstation demonstrations. After completion of the evaluation the Learners MUST ATTEST AND CLAIM CREDIT to show as 'Complete' in the Sponsor's Course Dashboard and to qualify to attend the Live Course.



Questions regarding the course: Please contact Ann Mruk at amruk@cjfhc.org

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Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Provider Course

Saturday, September 9, 7:30AM - 4:30PM

Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) is an evidence-based, interpersonal, and multidisciplinary training program that equips the entire maternity care team with skills to effectively manage obstetric emergencies. This comprehensive course encourages a standardized team-based approach amongst physicians, residents, nurse midwives, registered nurses and other members of the maternity care team to improve patient safety and positively impact maternal outcomes.


OVERALL COURSE OBJECTIVES:

  1. Discuss methods of managing pregnancy and birth urgencies and emergencies, which standardizes the skills of practicing maternity care providers.
  2. Demonstrate content and skill acquisition as evidenced by successful completion of online course examination, skills workstations, and group testing stations.
  3. Provide safe team leadership through various emergency obstetric scenarios.
  4. Demonstrate effective team communication strategies focusing on patient safety.


COURSE PRE-WORK:

Learners will be provided an email that includes a URL/link to the Online ALSO Provider Course. Content consists of a pre-test; recorded lectures; online case studies; recorded workstation demonstrations; post test and a course evaluation. After completion of the evaluation the learners must Claim Credit to show as ‘Complete’ in the Sponsor’s Course Dashboard and to qualify to attend the Live Course.


AFTER THE LIVE COURSE:

The ALSO Course Sponsor is responsible for submitting the post-course Dashboard within one week after the Live course. After this submission, the Learners will receive an e-mail with a link which will direct them to their AAFP Account where they will find their Letter of Participation and Wallet Card. Only Learners who successfully complete both the online and the live portion of the course will receive ALSO Provider Status and a wall card stating the status and expiration date.



CME & CNE INFORMATION

The AAFP has reviewed ALSO Provider Course and deemed it acceptable for up to 8.75 Live AAFP Prescribed credit. Term of Approval is from 9/9/2023 to 9/9/2023. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is approved as a Provider of continuing nursing education by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. This course offering is approved for 10.50 contact hours applicable for APRN, RN or LPN relicensure. Kansas State Board of Nursing Provider number: LT0278-0312. This is an advanced level course and may not be suitable for all general continuing nursing education.




Questions regarding the course: Please contact Ann Mruk at amruk@cjfhc.org

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We're Hiring!


Find your next career home at CJFHC!


Do you have the energy, talent, ambition and passion for working with others to Ensure A Legacy of Health - One Family At A Time? If your answer is yes, then you should review career opportunities with the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC).

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What We Do


CJFHC is on the front lines providing resources to families, along with support and education to health care providers across the state. Read more about our programs and initiatives.

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Upcoming Events


See our full events calendar for all upcoming events this year.

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