Resources

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to foster accessible and high-quality health and senior services to help all people in New Jersey achieve optimal health, dignity and independence. We work to prevent disease, promote and protect well being at all life stages and encourage informed choices that enrich quality of life for individuals and communities. We will accomplish our mission through leadership, collaborative partnerships, accountability, and advocacy -especially for those who need us most -- and a strong commitment to informing and serving the diverse consumers of this state.

URBAN MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) fosters an array of major programs that support the Urban Coordinating Council's designated neighborhoods. Examples of DHSS initiatives include: the Advisory Council on Black Infant Mortality Reduction, the Newark Partnership for Lead Safe Children, an active program for systems information and community outreach on childhood immunization, easier access to senior programs through NJ EASE and extensive outreach and community partnerships, including faith based organizations, to improve access to health care services for minorities and members of the indigent population.

DEPARTMENT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Department operates programs in four areas: Public Health Services, public Health Protection and Prevention, Senior Services, and Health Planning and Regulation. Programs particularly relevant to urban areas are highlighted below.

Public Health Services
Programs in public health services award grants to provide a wide range of health services, particularly to under served populations.

The Division of Family Health services operates a variety of programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Maternal and Child Health Services (including family planning), Community Health Services (including lead poisoning prevention), Special Child and Adult Health Services (including regional sickle cell treatment centers), and the Early Intervention Program, for developmentally delayed or disabled children from birth to age three. For further information, please contact the office of Celeste Andriot-Wood, Assistant Commissioner, at 609-292-5760.

The Division of AIDS Prevention and Control supports HIV Counseling and Testing Sites as well as HIV Care Consortia and Resource Centers. It also administers the AIDS Drug Distribution Program, which provides free treatment drugs to uninsured low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS. For additional information, please contact the office of Gloria Rodriguez, DSW, Deputy Commissioner, at 609-292-7836.

Public Health Protection and Prevention Services
The Division of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health Services works to prevent and contain the spread of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, and vaccine-preventable diseases. It supports childhood immunization programs, conducts disease surveillance, and supports local prevention, screening and outreach efforts. It offers comprehensive programs to protect New Jerseyans from health hazards in their environment and/or work place. The Lead and Asbestos Program oversees the training of lead and asbestos abatement technicians and conducts oversight and field investigations of abatement projects. For additional information, please contact the office of Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, State Epidemiologist/Assistant Commissioner at 609-588-7463.

Senior Services
The Division of Senior Affairs seeks to improve the quality of life and support services, including outreach, transportation, employment counseling, case management and health insurance counseling for Medicare enrollees. NJ EASE (easy access - single entry), a new program providing convenient one-stop-shopping for information and referral to appropriate services, is being implemented on a county-by-county basis. It is now operational in six counties, and should be statewide by the year 2000. For additional information, please contact the office of Eileen O'Connor, Assistant Commissioner, 609-292-3345.

The Division of Consumer Support seeks to offer seniors and their families the greatest choice in planning their long-term care needs, by developing home and community-based alternatives to nursing home car, providing clinical assessments of people in need of long-term care services, providing access for low-income seniors to low-cost prescription drug services, and setting reimbursement rates for publicly-funded nursing home services. For additional information, please contact the office of Leslie Hendrikson, Assistant Commissioner, 609-588-2611.

The Division of Long Term Care Systems Development and Quality is responsible for licensure and quality assurance for long term care facilities and programs, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and comprehensive personal home care. For additional information, please contact the office of Catherine Morris, Assistant Commissioner, 609-633-8977.

Health Care Planning and Regulation
The Division of Health Care Systems Analysis is responsible for licensure and quality assurance for hospitals and other primary and acute care facilities and programs. It administers the charity care program, which reimburses hospitals for health care services provided to low-income uninsured residents. It regulates managed care insurance plans, including HMOs, for quality and protection of consumer rights. For additional information, please contact the office of Marilyn Dahl, Senior Assistant Commissioner, 609-984-3939.