Recent Stories
March 24, 2015
On March 24, 2015, Darrin Anderson, PhD, deputy director of the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK), participated as a panelist in the New Jersey Learning Connection Forum. The Forum, sponsored by the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, focused on key initiatives, including bullying prevention, school nutrition and physical activity. In addition to Anderson, the panel included Dr. Anthony Dragona, business administrator, Union City Schools; Dr. Marguerite Lueze, Newark School medical director and Tonya Riggins, school nutrition director, Newark Schools. The panel addressed the topic of physical activity and its importance in the lives of New Jersey youth. Anderson’s expertise in this area helped bring to light the positive impact exercise has in the lives of students, acting as a means to improve academic performance, behavior and overall quality of life. The panelists also discussed the significance of implementing healthy practices and effective policies in the school system […]
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March 4, 2015
March 2-6 is National School Breakfast Week—a five day celebration of the school breakfast program and a way to underscore the importance of breakfast to a student’s overall health and learning ability. Research shows that eating breakfast correlates with improvements in students’ academic achievement in vocabulary, math and on standardized tests. Further, children who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to be truant or late for school. And these children are less likely to be overweight or obese. During this week, schools will be promoting the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast. Help spread the word to students and their families that the school breakfast program is an important step towards good health and good grades. SHARE:
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March 4, 2015
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids’ (NJPHK) systemic approach to healthy living through access to healthy food, school wellness and physical activity is providing a roadmap for YMCAs. Vicky Williams, senior program director of the Frost Valley YMCA Camp, conferred with NJPHK Deputy Director Darrin Anderson when Frost Valley was seeking –and later won — a $50,000 grant from the National Recreation Foundation. The grant enabled Frost Valley to pilot a wellness initiative, focused on nutrition and physical activity, at its camp in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Shannon O’Connor, food access coordinator at NJPHK-Trenton, took a sabbatical from NJPHK to spend three months at Frost Valley. She implemented the wellness summer curriculum and helped the YMCA transition into its fall education program by training instructors to run healthy cooking classes. The program went so well that Frost Valley received a two-year grant, with 75 percent more funding, to […]
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March 4, 2015
Through its 7th Grade Initiative, the YMCA provides membership to interested 7th graders for a year. It’s a chance for 7th graders to benefit from YMCA programming at a critical time in a young person’s life. Thomas Galuppo, Director of Healthy Living at the Gateway Family YMCA Five Points Branch in Union, NJ, recently shared a story about the impact of the 7th Grade Initiative on the life of one young man. Galuppo met 7th grader Kenny Noncent, when he visited Kawameeh Middle School to talk about the 7th Grade Initiative. After the talk, Kenny came to the Y with his mother and enrolled in the program. His mother said she wanted Kenny to get out more and not just sit around the house. It worked — Kenny became a very familiar face at The Five Points Branch. Kenny grew to love basketball and would shoot nonstop. Through the Y’s […]
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March 4, 2015
The Trenton Board of Education passed the District Wellness Policy on January 20, 2015. This critical achievement is the culmination of many months of research, hard work and collaboration on the part of the Board of Education, NJPHK-Trenton staff and partners and wellness champions in the Trenton schools. Marissa Davis, NJPHK-Trenton project manager said, “This is a step in the right direction, but by no means is the work over. Awareness, implementation and monitoring are in order to truly bring a culture of health and wellness to Trenton’s students and district staff. I am very excited to have the support of the Trenton Board of Education and that of the Family and Community Engagement department as we move this policy forward.” The wellness policy addresses nutrition and physical activity and applies to all Trenton public schools. The policy provides guidelines governing the nutritional quality of foods and beverages sold and […]
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March 4, 2015
In December, Dr. Nwando Anyaoku, co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Newark (NJPHK-N), started a new chapter of her life as medical director for Pediatric Medicine CHI Health System Alegent Creighton Clinic in Omaha, Nebraska. In her new role, Dr. Anyaoku will develop and direct a network of pediatric primary care and urgent care centers across the Omaha metropolitan area. “She was a tireless champion for the prevention of childhood obesity in Newark,” said Courtney Price, NJPHK-N project manager. “We are happy for her new venture, but she will be missed.” Dr. A, as she is known, was director of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital/Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She signed on as co-director of NJPHK-N in 2009 attracted by the Robert Wood Johnson philosophy of focusing on policy and environmental change. In that capacity, she spearheaded Let’s Move! in the Clinic, leading training sessions for clinics, practices and […]
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March 4, 2015
Shana Jarvis has a lot on her plate: a new position as project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Camden (NJPHK-C), a new baby, plus classes at Temple University where she’s pursuing a master’s degree in the School of Health Education. While some people might feel overwhelmed, Jarvis feels energized. “I am so excited to be taking on a leadership role with NJPHK-C. The partnership has come a long way in Camden. So much progress has occurred under the leadership of Valeria Galarza, who was recently promoted to vice president of strategic expansion for YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties. I look forward to connecting with the work being done and continuing the forward momentum,” Jarvis said. Jarvis has been with the YMCA of Burlington & Camden Counties since October 2013 as director of Public Health Programs. She managed the Campbell Healthy Communities CATCH program, Watershed Exercise on Bicycles […]
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March 3, 2015
More than 300 business and community leaders turned out for the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties’ Annual Campaign Kickoff Breakfast on March 3. Darrin Anderson, deputy director of the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids served as this year’s keynote speaker. Anderson discussed the importance of health equity. “Ultimately, we all need to work together to build a Culture of Health in communities where everyone can reach optimal health, regardless of the color of their skin or where they live,” stated Anderson. Since its inception in 2009, NJPHK and its community partners have made great strides in grassroots efforts that promote healthier policies and environments to prevent childhood obesity in the neighborhoods that are struggling with it the most. SHARE:
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February 27, 2015
Jill Horner speaks with Bill Lovett, Executive Director of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, about the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network. SHARE:
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December 17, 2014
Published in the Star Ledger/NJ.com Marguerite Leuze, special assistant for health services and nursing for the Newark Public Schools Office of Health Services, has received the “Healthy Kids Champion” award from the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Leuze received the award for her “dedicated and focused commitment to the children in the city of Newark especially those who are underserved and less privileged.” She was one of six community leaders honored for their commitment and contributions in the NJPHK-targeted communities of Newark, Camden, New Brunswick, Trenton and Vineland. “It’s an honor to present the Healthy Kids Champion award to Dr. Leuze for her tireless advocacy and commitment to providing the specialized care she does in Newark,” said Darrin Anderson, deputy director of NJPHK. “I feel privileged to have had the opportunity over the years to be able to make a difference […]
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