Trenton, NJ, Selected as Finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize
by Community Health Efforts Recognized as Trenton Advances in Prize Selection Process
Trenton, NJ (March 14, 2016) – Trenton, NJ was chosen as a finalist for the fourth annual RWJF Culture of Health Prize given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As a finalist, Trenton, NJ is one step closer to the national Prize which honors communities that place a high priority on health and bring partners together to drive local change.
Selected from nearly 200 communities across the country, Trenton joins 15 other finalist communities. Trenton is the only community in New Jersey among the finalists for this year’s Prize. Winners will be announced in September.
“We are pleased to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community. It means we will be able to share some of the great work that our community has done together to improve the City’s health,” said Trenton’s mayor, Eric Jackson. “We have worked collaboratively to increase health for all citizens through multiple initiatives that focus on many determinants of health – obesity prevention, Complete Streets, increased access to care, school district wellness policies, and more. We believe this opportunity will be a powerful catalyst for further aligning and galvanizing our City-wide efforts to improve population health within our community.”
The Prize is guided by the principle that every community has the potential to improve and be a healthier place to live. To earn finalist status, Trentonhad to demonstrate how it excelled in the six Prize criteria:
- Defining health in the broadest possible terms.
- Committing to sustainable systems changes and policy-oriented long-term solutions.
- Cultivating a shared and deeply-held belief in the importance of equal opportunity for health.
- Harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members.
- Securing and making the most of available resources.
- Measuring and sharing progress and results.
“It is gratifying to see our collaborative efforts recognized in this important way,” said Gregory Paulson, Executive Director of the Trenton Health Team, which is serving as the lead applicant on behalf of the City of Trenton. “We are committed to addressing health in a holistic way, reaching across sectors to engage partners and community members in building a culture of health for all.”
“The RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist communities are working together to put good health within everyone’s reach,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “We look forward to learning more from these 16 finalist communities about how they are working across multiple fronts to help people thrive.”
If selected as a Prize winner, Trenton will be given a $25,000 cash prize and an opportunity to share their story and lessons learned with the nation. To learn about the work of the 20 previous Prize winners, visit www.rwjf.org/prize
About the Trenton Health Team
Trenton Health Team (THT) is an alliance of the city’s major providers of healthcare services including Capital Health, St. Francis Medical Center, Henry J. Austin Health Center and the City of Trenton’s Department of Health and Human Services. By forging partnerships, creating new educational pathways and engaging city residents in creative ways, the Trenton Health Team is transforming healthcare for residents of the community. THT receives generous support from The Nicholson Foundation, corporate partners and other foundations. For more information, visit www.trentonhealthteam.org
