Hamilton Community Coalition
The healthy development of today's children has become increasingly
important. The real challenge is to rebuild the developmental
infrastructure for our children and adolescents.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton is uniquely positioned
to be the catalyst for community action and has recently established
a group of community leaders to be part of our Hamilton Community
Coalition.
The role of the Hamilton Community Coalition is to assess
the health needs of the community and to form partnerships
with other health related organizations to improve the community's
health. Presently the organization has enlisted the cooperation
of the Hamilton Township public and parochial schools, along
with several public health officers, allied health professionals,
business, industry, community and religious leaders, government
officials, as well as community members and teens, to develop
initiatives that will address issues concerning our community's
youth.
The Hamilton Community Coalition offers a role for everyone in the community to assist in building
assets; it provides a positive vision for children and adolescents;
it addresses the needs of the whole child rather than focusing
on one problem; it provides a common forum for organizations
that are concerned about youth in the community; and it activates
the capacity of community members to build both formal and
informal relationships with young people.
Many of the organizations that comprise the CHC have been
developing initiatives that will assist in the positive development
of our youth. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton
has developed programs in career mentoring, exercise, weight
management, and smoking prevention. One youth group plans
to implement a middle school mentoring program, which they
believe would boost younger students self-esteem through interaction
with older students. Hamilton public schools plan to expand
a "peace-making" program that educates students on conflict
resolution and McCorriston Catholic High School plans to begin
holding inter-generational activities in an effort to strengthen
community ties. The Hamilton Township Municipal Alliance will
institute a program called "Impact 2000: Safe Roads" aimed
at preventing underage drinking and driving.
The Community Education department at Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital Hamilton combines the expertise of nurses, counselors
and physicians to establish programs that provide guidance
and assistance to teenagers struggling with the transition
to adulthood. Many programs have been offered and are briefly
described throughout our Web site. For more information on
any of these programs, please contact the HealthConnection
at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at
(609) 584-5900.
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