NJ CHAPTER Tool

WHAT IS THE NJ CHAPTER TOOL

The purpose of the NJ Community Health Assessment, Policy Tracking, & Environmental Resources (NJ CHAPTER)tool is to gather and organize data that identify community strengths and areas for improvement regarding current policy, systems, and environmental change strategies prior to deciding on the critical issues to be addressed in New Jersey in the future.  Developed from the CDC’s Community Health Assessment aNd Group Evaluation (CHANGE) tool, but modified and expanded to meet the specific needs of New Jersey, this tool allows a look at strategic directions in various settings, including schools, businesses, communities-at-large and community institutions.

We worked with the subject matter experts from our Strategic Advisory Groups in all five strategic directions. Combined with their expertise, we were able to create a tool to look at the current status of policies related to health in New Jersey which surpass current requirements and laws. This tool is available for other organizations to use.

NJ CHAPTER consists of four separate tools for the four sectors below. Within each sector, there will be different key stakeholders who can help you gain the information for which the tool is asking. For a suggested list of key stakeholders for each sector, see Appendix A: “CHAPTER Sector Participant List.”

The Community-At-Large Sector includes community-wide efforts by municipalities that impact the social and built environments.  The strategies and policies are set by municipal and county governmental departments/agencies such as the local health department, planning board or mayor’s office.

The Community Institution/Organization Sector includes entities within the community that provide a broad range of human services and access to facilities, such as childcare settings, faith-based organizations, senior centers, youth servicing organizations (i.e., boys and girls clubs and YMCA), and pharmacies.

The School Sector includes all primary and secondary learning institutions (e.g., elementary, middle, and high schools, whether private, public, or parochial).

The Work Site Sector includes places of employment, such as private offices, restaurants, retail establishments, and government offices that have 100 or more employees. Within each NJ CHAPTER sector are modules that model the Community Transformation Grant five strategic directions (your training binder has more information on each strategic direction):

  1. Healthy and Safe Physical Environments,
  2. Active Living and Healthy Eating,
  3. Tobacco-Free Living,
  4. High Impact Quality Clinical and Other Preventive Services, and
  5. Social and Emotional Wellness.

To learn more about the NJ CHAPTER tool contact us below.

13 + 2 =