Cape Regional Medical Center Named One of Twelve Grantees for New Jersey Health Initiatives’ $1.2 Million Upstream Action Acceleration Initiative
January 16, 2019
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Cape Regional Health System announced today that Cape Regional Medical Center is among the 12 communities selected as a grantee in a new initiative from New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI) – the statewide grant making program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The NJHI: Upstream Action Acceleration initiative supports community-focused, cross-sector coalitions to adopt and implement “upstream” environmental-, policy- and systems-change strategies, accelerating their work in areas identified as priorities to improve their communities’ health.
“The funds from the grant will be used to continue and accelerate our work with the goal of developing and implementing strategies to reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) in the communities of Lower Township, Middle Township, Wildwood and Woodbine, NJ,” stated Tom Piratzky, Executive Director, Cape Regional Foundation. “Our team, the Cape Regional Wellness Alliance, has representation from more than 32 organizations and has been developing and implementing a comprehensive education program about ACES since 2016.”
Through NJHI: Upstream Action Acceleration, 12 two‐year grants totaling $100,000 each have been awarded to organizations to build on past or current strategies toward health improvement within New Jersey’s communities. Working “upstream,” these grantees will work collaboratively to achieve statewide impact in addressing social, economic and environmental factors that are known to influence health. These factors include income, employment, early childhood development, education, housing, nutrition and the built environment.
“As we continue moving forward in making New Jersey the healthiest state, we’re learning from our grantee communities just how vital cross‐sector collaboration is,” said Bob Atkins, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, director of NJHI. “We know that by partnering with diverse stakeholders such as residents, educators, law enforcement and elected officials, we can successfully address the factors that influence health.”
Grantees will be part of a learning network and participate in opportunities for peer sharing through in‐person and virtual convening. In addition to strengthening an in‐ state network of similarly‐driven coalitions, these collaborative learning activities will help the coalition’s implement their local projects and inform the field about practice‐tested strategies to improve community health. Throughout the grant period, the coalitions will also receive ongoing coaching, resources related to their initiative focus areas and communications support to promote and share their successes, challenges and lessons learned.
To learn more about this program, visit the Kicking ACES in Cape May County web page on the New Jersey Health Initiatives web site, or call Tom Piratzky, Executive Director, Cape Regional Foundation at 609-463-4042.
About Cape Regional Health System
Cape Regional Health System is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving residents and visitors throughout Cape May County. The system includes Cape Regional Medical Center, its flagship hospital, three urgent care facilities, Cape Regional Physicians Associates with over 60 primary care providers and specialists delivering services in multiple locations throughout Cape May County, the Thomas and Claire Brodesser, Jr., Cancer Center, the Jane Osborne Center for Women’s Health, Cape Regional Miracles Fitness and numerous freestanding outpatient facilities providing wound care, sleep care, radiology, lab, endoscopy and physical therapy services.
Cape Regional Health System is a Penn Medicine Cancer Network member and a clinical affiliate of Penn Medicine for Cardiac Care, Orthopaedic Care and Vascular Care. Cape Regional Medical Center is accredited by and received the Gold Seal of approval from The Joint Commission.
About New Jersey Health Initiatives
New Jersey Health Initiatives is the statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Established in 1987 in honor of the New Jersey philanthropic legacy of RWJF's founder, Robert Wood Johnson, NJHI supports innovations and drives conversations to build healthier communities through grantmaking across the State of New Jersey. To meet the many health needs of our state's diverse populations, regions and communities, the NJHI national program encourages collaboration across sectors to foster deep relationships committed to long-term change affording all New Jerseyans the opportunity to live the healthiest life possible. Learn more about NJHI at njhi.org, and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NJHI_ or on Facebook at facebook.com/newjerseyhealthinitiatives.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 45 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working alongside others to build a national Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. RWJF has invested more than $1.2 billion in New Jersey since 1972. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at rwjf.org/facebook.
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