With just a month left of summer, it’s time to take advantage of all it has to offer. Check out these fun ideas to celebrate the end of the sunshine season!

On July 18, 2024, at Michael Lepp Spray Park in Somerset County residents gathered for the "Meet Your Community Health Worker" event, organized by the Healthy Women, Healthy Families (HWHF) program of Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC). This lively and informative event offered a unique opportunity for families to connect with their Community Health Workers (CHWs) and learn more about the impactful Healthy Women, Healthy Families initiative.

If you have something or some time to give, consider doing so today. Here’s a list of easy ways you can give something away today.

Central Jersey Family Health Consortium's Perinatal Addiction Prevention Program offers a vital resource for providers to screen patients for signs and risk factors for substance abuse in the form of the PRA Virtual Forum.

One of the most essential aspects of fitness during pregnancy and after childbirth is pelvic floor exercise. This session is a valuable opportunity for expectant and new mothers to learn how to maintain their health and well-being through exercise. We look forward to seeing you there!

This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about the Perinatal Risk Assessment (PRA) tool, how to utilize it, and how to navigate the outcomes. This forum will also explore other factors that could support substance abuse such as depression, mood and anxiety disorders, and domestic violence.

Farmers markets have so much more to offer than just the sights and smells. The following is a list of just a few reasons you should visit your local farmers market this summer.

Planning an Independence Day party shouldn’t have to be stressful. We’ve compiled a list of everything you need—from food to activities—to throw a bash your friends will rave about.

This insightful piece outlines the crucial work being done through an academic-community partnership between the Rutgers School of Public Health and the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium to tackle disparities in perinatal mental health.

Last Wednesday, June 12th, the bicameral and bipartisan Stillbirth Health Improvement and Educations (SHINE) for Autumn Act, H.R. 5012 /S. 2647 passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously (45-0) and currently awaits a vote on the House floor.

If you’re looking for a way to get outside while also improving your whole self, gardening may be the hobby for you.

Plenty of valuable information and fun activities centered around ensuring a healthy and safe summer for you and your family. We'll be covering essential topics like sun safety, hydration tips, healthy eating during the summer months, and much more. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn from experts and connect with your community members who are also prioritizing their health this summer.

This annual meeting promises to be one of our most interesting and exciting events to date. Whether you are a long-time supporter or new to the CJFHC community, your presence and participation are crucial to our ongoing success and growth.

You know volunteering has a positive influence (make friends, build connections, gain experiences, etc.), but did you know that it can actually assist your health?

Parenting is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless moments of learning. The foundation of a strong, healthy family begins with the bond between parents and their children. That's why we're excited to invite you to Connecting NJ’s upcoming education session on "Attachment Parenting," where parents can discover the golden key to fostering loving attachment and effective parenting.

Families look forward to sunny days, swimming, and outdoor fun. It's important to learn about water and outdoor safety to ensure a fun and injury-free summer. Connecting NJ is excited to announce a collaborative education session with the Brain Injury Alliance of NJ focused on “Summer & Water Safety.”

The June 2024 All-Staff meeting provided an excellent opportunity for networking, relationship building, and reaffirming the Consortium’s mission of providing an equitable and healthy future for Central New Jersey families.

There are always ways to give back to others around you, even including the presents you buy. Here are some ideas for Father’s Day gifts that give back.

We invite you to participate in a crucial and heartfelt virtual town hall event dedicated to raising awareness about stillbirth and providing support to affected families.

With the help of a bicycle, we can take better care of the environment, our physical bodies and even spend time together. So how can you mark this momentous occasion?

Central Jersey Family Health Consortium is proud to share an inspirational example of how CJFHC staff exemplifies the Consortium’s mission and vision to promote an equitable and healthy future for families through services and collaboration. Connecting NJ staff Allie Goldschlag Reinking, Early Childhood Specialist Supervisor, Ashley Watson, Community Alignment Specialist, and Kristina Montague, Connecting NJ Program Manager, collected and donated items to support an RWJUH patient, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Emergency Department team and their level I Trauma Centers Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP).

At the heart of our community lies a group of extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond to ensure the health and well-being of Central NJ families. These unsung heroes are our home-visiting nurses, and this Nurses Week, we had the immense pleasure of celebrating their incredible contributions with a special luncheon in their honor.

As the summer season approaches, Connecting NJ is excited to continue their monthly education series, dedicated to providing parents and caregivers with essential tips, tricks, and knowledge to navigate early childhood.

Memorial Day means much more than time off from work and hosting a barbecue, so if you want to get involved this weekend, check out these great ways to give back.

This forum marks a significant statewide collaboration between three consortia programs, aiming to unify providers across New Jersey in the effort to manage perinatal substance use effectively. Your participation can make a difference in this crucial initiative, helping to enhance the care and support available to pregnant individuals facing substance use challenges.

On Friday, May 17, 2024, Healthy Families proudly celebrated the graduation of participants from their intensive home visiting program. This three-year home-visiting program strengthens family bonds, promotes child development, and fosters healthy relationships, which are essential for overall well-being.

Art galleries are a beneficial component of any neighborhood. Check out some of these ways art galleries are important and why you should visit them this summer.

From birth to age five, children experience rapid and critical development. These early years are crucial for language, literacy, physical, mental, and emotional growth. Engaging in simple activities like this summer popsicle craft is an easy, hands-on way to develop these skills, and create a fun summer activity!

Are you curious about how play can help your child's development? Connecting NJ is excited to invite you to their upcoming Parenting Education Workshop: "The Role of Play in Supporting Early Childhood Development."

Connecting NJ is hosting an essential webinar focused on the impact of tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol use during pregnancy.

If you’re new to the tea game, here’s a breakdown of some of the main types of healthy teas and why you should start drinking them right away.

Connecting NJ is excited to announce an upcoming breastfeeding workshop on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 10AM designed to provide you with essential knowledge and support as you embark on this beautiful journey of motherhood.

In a world often hushed when it comes to discussing the grief and loss of stillbirth, New Jersey is breaking the silence. New Jersey Spotlight Healthcare Reporter Lilo H. Stainton captured the true essence of New Jersey’s Stillbirth Awareness and Prevention Campaign, Stillbirth: Can Happen to Any Pregnancy.

Storytelling is powerful, and it has enormous benefits in store for you and those around you. Today we’re going to talk about how storytelling can impact your life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the importance of mental well-being for individuals and families alike. Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC) has programs and services available to help alleviate the stress on parents and families.

Early Intervention week is May 13th to May 17th. Join us for a week of inspiration, education, and empowerment as we come together to celebrate Early Intervention Week. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and families across the globe.

For the second consecutive year, CJFHC has been honored to receive an incredible donation of over 5,000 diapers through the L.A.M.B.S. (Links Aiding Moms to be Strong) Diaper Drive.

May Day is a time to come together with family and friends and create festive crafts. If you’re looking for a way to get started, check out these 5 cool craft ideas to celebrate.

The Alma program emerges as a beacon of hope, offering evidence-based peer-to-peer mentoring tailored specifically for individuals navigating the challenges of parenthood in New Jersey.

The Black Maternal Health Conference serves as a powerful call to action, amplifying voices and igniting a movement to address the crisis in black maternal health.

Central Jersey Family Health Consortium's Perinatal Addiction Prevention Project visited the high school to teach students about Sexual Assault Awareness month, the impact of drug and alcohol use has on their brain development, and about the impact on pregnancy.

CJFHC staff had the opportunity to provide comments to New Jersey Spotlight News regarding the New Jersey Department of Health's proposal to add online shopping and home delivery options for WIC families. WIC currently serves about 240,000 people in New Jersey, and if approved, NJ would be the first state to offer grocery delivery.

Healthcare professionals across central New Jersey came together on April 15, 2024, for a new comprehensive perinatal bereavement training aimed at supporting their ability to provide compassionate care and support to families experiencing perinatal loss.

Whether it’s a few hours or a long commitment, volunteering not only supports those around you, but positively influences you as well. Here’s six ideas to get started.

The arts play a vital role in our society. In fact, without the arts, much of our history, expression and culture would be virtually nonexistent.

CJFHC's Black Maternal Health Conference, organized by Healthy Women, Healthy Families on April 18, 2024, focuses on "Turning up the Volume by Partnering with a Purpose" to address critical issues surrounding Black maternal health, coinciding with the 7th annual Black Maternal Health Week aimed at amplifying Black voices and advocating for change.

Join Connecting NJ and the Brain Injury Alliance of NJ for an insightful discussion on April 17 at 1 pm to learn practical tips for safety in the home and take proactive steps towards minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Join Connecting NJ's Early Childhood Specialist's on April 22, 2024 at 1pm to learn what these behaviors mean and helpful strategies to comfort your child help them build the foundation for emotional regulation while also acquiring tools to manage your own emotions.

Meditation is powerful. If you’re unsure whether or not the practice is worth looking into, check out these top ways meditation can help improve your life.

Mark your calendars for the next Milk Down Monday event! Hosted by the Healthy Women Healthy Families program, this event will give you the tools you need to build healthier lifestyle habits.