RWJBarnabas Health‘s efforts to improve food security and reduce hunger received a monetary boost from the New Jersey Food Security Initiative. 

The health care network announced July 2 it is among five grantees that will share a combined $1.07 million from the NJFSI, which works to increase food security across the state. A representative said RWJBarnabas Health’s share is $225,000. 

RWJBarnabas said it will use its portion to support “a first-of-its-kind program” in the state to place Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) “navigators” in each of the system’s 12 acute care hospitals. 

The other NJFSI grantees include local and state community-based organizations, government agencies, universities and school districts. 

How will it work?

The health system said SNAP navigators will work with individuals to enroll them in the program and connect participants with other food access resources, including their county office. The navigators will also be able to help with the recertification process. 

The representative told NJBIZ that the hospitals expect to have the SNAP navigators in place by early next year. 

The initiative complements the health system’s current efforts to address food insecurity, including The Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Sadie Vickers Community Garden in South Toms River, RWJBH’s Food Farmacy Program, the Common Market Farm to Pantry deliveries and Summer Feeding programs. 

“We are excited to join NJFSI in driving transformational practices, policies, systems, and environments to boost food security, enhance nutrition and address health equity across New Jersey,” Barbara Mintz, senior vice president, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health, said in a statement. “This work underscores our commitment to address food insecurity as a social determinant of health and as integral to the achievement of our mission to build and sustain healthier communities in the state.” 

Several other health care providers across the Garden State are also working to help their communities fight food insecurity. AtlantiCare recently rolled out its Community Mobile Market, which offers fresh produce and pantry items at affordable prices. Additionally, in October 2023, Hackensack Meridian Health announced a new initiative supported by a $3 million state grant that aims to help low-income families eat healthier. 

More news out of RWJBarnabas Health

The health network also announced a slew of new appointments at the end of June, all effective immediately: 

Deirdre Blaus will serve as interim chief administrative officer for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset. Blaus has served as vice president of operations at RWJUH Somerset since 2023. She also previously served in other leadership roles at the hospital.

Patrick Delaney was named senior vice president and chief operating officer of RWJUH New Brunswick. Delaney has served as chief administrative officer at RWJUH Somerset since 2023. He also previously served in several other roles at RWJUH Somerset. Delaney will be responsible for overall hospital operations including the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Children’s Hospital, perioperative services, transplant services, support services, plant operations and facilities, risk management and health equity.

Judy Lane was named senior vice president of operations for RWJBarnabas Health Southern Region. Lane has served as vice president of operations at RWJUH since 2020. Prior, she served in various clinical leadership positions and also served as a bedside nurse for more than a decade.

Jordan Solop was appointed chief operating officer of Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. Solop joins Clara Maass from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, where he served as vice president, hospital operations, clinical services.