2018 Highlights

  The Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services (CREEHS) at Montclair State University evaluates implementation and accomplishments of NJHCN Community Grants Program. The 2018 evaluation report is in! Following are some of the findings –

“I like the way the whole grant program is set up with the technical assistance, calls, and cohort meetings. I really like the cohort meetings because I do get a lot of ideas when I hear what other people are doing…so I think that’s really beneficial.”

– NJHCN Grantee

BY THE NUMBERS

Healthy Eating:

17,165 Number of new square feet devoted to gardens with this grant funding (9 grantees)

4,789 Number of students enrolled in school breakfast programs supported by this grant (3 grantees)

452 Number of hours of instructional content delivered in the classroom using the school garden (11 grantees)

11 Number of new or enhanced sites for farmer’s markets, stands or mobile markets (9 grantees)

11 Number of restaurants formally participating in healthy menu initiative (3 grantees)

3 Number of new stores participating in Healthy Corner Store Initiative (n=3 grantees)

Active Living:

13,660 Number of new square feet enhanced for physical activity (8 grantees)

150 Number of new opportunities for active living created through this grant (19 grantees)

18 Number of programs to support walking or biking to school (3 grantees)

4 Number of written shared-use agreements (2 grantees)

2 Number of physical/environmental changes made to address pedestrian and/or bicyclist safety (2 grantees)

Both Healthy Eating and Active Living:

3,093 Number of children reached in schools, preschools, and/or child care centers (6 grantees)

31 Number of workplaces implementing new wellness programs or policies (4 grantees)

 

 

POLICY/SYSTEMS/ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

Healthy Eating:

• Instituting “Breakfast After the Bell” at a local elementary school
• Changing vendor policy to include the availability of fresh produce at food banks
• Providing written guidelines around the types of foods that are allowed to be brought in and served to children during holidays and celebrations
• Incorporating healthy vending machines at work-site wellness locations
• Allowing a Farmers Market to take place on school property in order to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables

Active Living:

• Starting discussions around the implementation of a school policy and changes to encourage students to walk or bike to school
• Making progress toward installing a Bike Repair Station and vertical bike racks in a parking deck
• Installing outdoor lights on the property that would allow for children and adults to use the space during more hours of the day
• Meeting with city officials to try and create a more walkable neighborhood
• Creating a policy that enables part-time staff the ability to use one 30-minute wellness break during the work week
• Cultivating partnerships and mapping territories around each site in order to provide participants with safe and viable routes for physical activity