Ocean County's five most critical health concerns will be tackled over the next four years.  It's part of the 2014 - 2018 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), recently approved by the County Board of Health.

Vaccinations
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
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Input from about 100 stakeholders and residents in 2013 gives priority to childhood obesity, immunization compliance, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention and education and access to care.

Ocean County Health Department spokeswoman Leslie Terjesen says a task force will address each of these issues, and members will be encouraged to find creative solutions.

"Several years ago we were talking about immunizations and...the importance of tetanus, diphtheria, T-DAP vaccine for pregnant women. And in the process we were able to have a specialist come down from Monmouth, we met with the different hospitals and now one of the goals was all women that come in to deliver babies at our local hospitals are offered theT-DAP vaccine," said Terjesen.

Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health Department
Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health Department (Townsquare Media NJ)
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Department officials said in a prepared statement, "CHIP is a strategic plan with evidence-based strategies, action plans, and activities for community and faith-based organizations, government and non-profit agencies, businesses and academia to utilize in their implementation of programs countywide."

Health officials also encourage the public to read the CHIP plan, available at the Health Department web page, offer personal insight into health issues affecting them, and contribute ideas about addressing them.

Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Daniel Regenye said the CHIP is easy to read and follow with specific activities for various organizations to utilize with performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of each activity.

The 2014 - 2018 Community Health Improvement Plan can be accessed under RESOURCES at the OCHD website.

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