Empowering Community Health Programs with Data in Stafford, New Jersey

Challenge

Stafford Township, like many smaller cities, until recently lacked health data specific to its local community. Located on the Jersey Shore, Stafford’s leaders are committed to providing health resources to Township residents, particularly through community programs and events. While Stafford had been using local community health surveys and resident feedback to develop these initiatives, Stafford’s leadership often lacked the more granular data needed to know how best to target limited resources to support its residents’ health and well-being.

Impact

In 2023, Stafford applied to the Dashboard’s “Put Us on the Map Challenge”, a program through which smaller cities can apply to be added to the site. Once Stafford’s data was displayed on the Dashboard, residents had access for the first time to locally-specific, multi-year data on health measures, including rates of Obesity, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Disease Deaths, Frequent Mental Distress, among others. These metrics revealed specific health needs that the Township hopes to address. Using Dashboard data as a guide, Stafford partnered with local nonprofits, environmental advocacy organizations, and even a yoga studio to offer its residents new health resources. For example, after realizing that the percentage of adults who report frequent mental distress increased from 2018 to 2021, the Township designed and implemented mental health workshops for seniors and mindfulness sessions for City employees. These initiatives, and others like them, promoted health in Stafford and aligned with commitments made for the New Jersey’s Mayors Wellness Campaign.

Stafford Township has also used Dashboard metrics to describe the Township’s health needs in grant applications. Grant funding helps meet the costs of initiatives like community wellness events and supports the city’s ability to continue offering programming that resonates with residents and responds to local health challenges. For Stafford, City Health Dashboard data has become a catalyst for implementing evidence-driven strategies to improve community health and well-being.