Overview
Data from 2024 shows the five leading causes of death in our community are heart disease, cancer, diabetes, covid 19, and accidents. Many factors and barriers can contribute to and create health disparities in a community: low educational attainment, language barriers, and low socioeconomic status are among the most widespread.
A significant portion of Jersey City’s population, however, is not aware of how to access and best utilize healthcare services. Medical concepts like health benefits and expense reimbursement can be difficult for residents to understand. Uncertainty of cost such as deductibles and copays may deter individuals from meeting appointments with primary care physicians and specialists and receiving proper medical care.
Navigating healthcare services can often be challenging for anyone, especially for people with chronic illnesses who may require adherence to a complex daily regimen, dietary restrictions, and regular monitoring of health indicators such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
Numerous research studies have documented that self-management and informed health decisions support informed health choices. Non-proper care of chronic diseases can lead to improved quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Health Education is at the forefront of the effort to empower individuals to make straightforward decisions. However, the Partnership for a Healthier JC advocates for support initiatives that empower individuals to be proactive and self-advocate for better health services and provide health education to help improve the management of the five leading causes of death in our community.
Action Steps & Success Indicators by 2028
Action Step 1
Increase health literacy and improve health communication through multilingual health education, provided by ward-based health educators through printed materials, workshops, and online toolkits.
Success indicator
Multi-language health educational materials, workshops, and online toolkits will be accessible to all residents.
Action Step 2
Increase residents' knowledge of HIV prevention and other chronic diseases through workshops and printed materials.
Success indicator
Reduction of chronic disease overall in the population to align with the Department of Human Health and Services initiative to reduce the disease burden in the community.
Action Step 3
FREE health information programs will be available to all residents to promote self-management techniques for chronic health conditions.
Success indicator
FREE programs to help residents self-manage chronic health diseases will be provided to all residents of Jersey City.
Action Step 4
Helping to reduce geographic health disparities through social marketing tactics and paper materials that are inclusive to all in the Jersey City community.
Success indicator
Ward-based health educators will be able to provide culturally competent education to raise awareness of the importance of health equity and reducing disparity.