(above) Mayor Al Smith, joined by the Scotch Plains Governing Body and Township officials, unveiled the new 2019 New Jersey Healthy Town banner in front of Town Hall.
Scotch Plains Named 2019 Healthy Town
Submitted by Margaret Heisey
Scotch Plains is one of seven New Jersey communities to win recognition as a 2019 Healthy Town by participating in the Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC), a program of the Quality Institute, in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. This is the third year the Township has participated in the program.
Each year, communities participating in the MWC complete a comprehensive application outlining the research they’ve done to identify their community health needs, explain how they have organized their local MWC committee, and highlight the actions they’ve taken to make their communities healthier places to live, work, and play.
Scotch Plains received a Healthy Town to Watch designation in 2018 and has worked hard to become a 2019 Healthy Town. Again in 2019, cardiovascular disease was the primary goal for Scotch Plains’ 2019 Mayors Wellness Campaign. The town also focused on mental health concerns in the community. Some activities provided this year included:
- Summer Solstice Yoga — Outdoor yoga was offered at no charge for residents, giving them the opportunity to increase their physical and mental wellbeing as well as connect with fellow residents.
- Foodstock — A summer food collection to help food pantries generate donations during a time of year when food scarcity is high. This addressed the issue of access to healthy foods as well.
Scotch Plains makes an effort to partner with local organizations for their programming and approximately 3,000 residents participated in MWC events in 2019.
“Achieving the Healthy Town designation is a tremendous achievement for Scotch Plains,” said Mayor Al Smith. “It reflects our commitment to being a sustainable community and our recognition that healthy lifestyles on the part of our residents are a key component of our community. Thank you to the MWC partners who, day-to-day, provide great wellness programs — healthy eating, exercise, mental wellness and clean environment — for our residents. Our working together as a team to maximize the wellness opportunities for our residents is amazing. Let me finally thank Margaret Heisey, my MWC Director, who tirelessly, enthusiastically and with great love uses her expertise to make this program a success. You just never know where Margaret and I will show-up to help promote and participate in a wellness program.”
For more information on the MWC in Scotch Plains, please visit the Mayors Wellness page under “Departments” at scotchplainsnj.gov.
To learn more about the MWC and to see the complete listing of Healthy Towns, visit: njhcqi.org/MWC or contact Julie DeSimone at jdesimone@njhcqi.org.
About the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute’s (Quality Institute) mission is to improve the safety, quality, and affordability of healthcare for everyone. Our membership comes from all stakeholders in health care. Together with our 100 plus members, we are working towards a world where all people receive safe, equitable, and affordable health care and live their healthiest lives.
About the Mayors Wellness Campaign
The Mayors Wellness Campaign is a program of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The program empowers mayors across New Jersey with evidence-based tools, strategies, and support to champion health and wellness in their communities.
