City of Trenton Awarded Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize

The City of Trenton, New Jersey is one of nine communities from across the United States to receive the 2024 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize. The prize recognizes communities that are committed to finding healthier and more equitable solutions to structural racism and other injustices. RWJF is a leading national philanthropic organization dedicated to achieving health equity.

"As the only hospital in Trenton, Capital Health has been a driving force in creating an environment where all residents have the opportunity to thrive," said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. "Our responsibility extends well beyond the scope of traditional care, and we are proud of the role we played to help our city join the ranks of RWJF Culture of Health Prize alumni, all of whom are committed to building a healthier future for their communities."

"Every community faces its own unique health challenges, and Capital Health has been helping Trenton residents navigate them for more than 125 years," said Dr. Eric Schwartz, vice president of Community Health and Transformation and executive director of Capital Health Institute for Urban Care. "Outside the walls of our hospitals, we remain committed to working with community partners like the city's health care providers, local government, and churches, schools, and food banks throughout the city to create a safer and healthier environment for our neighbors."

Capital Health and its Institute for Urban Care currently lead or provide support by working with community partners for programs for Trenton residents that advocate for victims of violence, maternal and infant health, food security, and community investment:

• The Violence Intervention for the Community Through Outreach Recovery (VICTORY) program is a hospital-based intervention effort that aims to break the cycle of violence by reaching out to victims of violence when they receive medical treatment at the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
• The Maternal and Infant Health Innovation (MIHI) Authority reduces maternal and infant mortality with a focus on black and brown birthing people. An MIHI Center is being built in Trenton with Capital Health as one of three lead tenants.
• Family Connects is now a statewide home-visiting program for growing families. When Trenton stepped up to be the pilot for the program, Capital Health and other partners provided home visits and referrals to thousands of growing families and ensured that most of them completed the critical post-partum visit.
• For My Baby and Me provides comprehensive services for pregnant people impacted by opioid use disorder. Capital Health is one of five Trenton-based organizations that contribute to the program's ongoing success.
• Mobil Food Pantry events, in partnership with the Arm in Arm Hunger Prevention program and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, are held weekly at health clinics in Trenton.

In addition to its Institute for Urban Care, Capital Health's Trenton Neighborhood Initiative works with implementation partner Trenton Health Team and other community partners to address the social determinants that influence the health of Trenton residents. TNI programs support home ownership, job training and employment, digital equity, and healthy beginnings for new moms and their families.

To learn more about Capital Health's Institute for Urban Care, visit capitalhealth.org/urbancare.
To learn more about Capital Health's Trenton Neighborhood Initiative, visit tnitrenton.org.