Health

Faith in Prevention is an initiative of the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to expand the role of faith-based organizations in the delivery of health prevention services in Newark, Trenton and Camden. GNHCC is the NJDOH grantee responsible for the Greater Newark geography. Initiative goals are to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and ultimately reduce the burden of chronic disease among local residents.

Faith in Prevention uses an evidence-based curriculum, Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More, which is also known as “Faithful Families”. This six-week course is co-facilitated by GNHCC staff and trained congregational lay leaders and includes classroom instruction, collection of biometrics by nurse partners at regular intervals, on-site lessons at local supermarkets, cooking demonstrations, and fitness classes. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, the faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for mini-grants to incorporate positive and sustainable policy, systems and environmental changes within their faith community over time in an effort to encourage healthy lifestyles. GNHCC has engaged over 50 Faith Based Organizations and educated 1,000 congregants through this initiative.