The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery and Toms River community leaders recently launched the Communities That Care (CTC) initiative, a 10-year process that engages communities across the country in science-based strategies that help youth thrive.
The initiative kicked off with a Key Leader Orientation at Community Medical Center in Toms River. “We are excited to be a part of Communities That Care, an initiative that aligns with Community Medical Center’s strong commitment to fostering healthy communities,” said Teri Kubiel, DNP, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Patient Experience and Community Affairs at Community Medical Center. “By collaborating with all sectors of the community, together we will decrease risk factors and increase protective factors while promoting healthy social behaviors for our youth.”
Community leaders in attendance included Joseph Coronato, Ocean County Prosecutor; Thomas Kelaher, Mayor, Toms River Township; Lawrence Cuneo, Mayor, Pine Beach; David Healy, Superintendent, Toms River Regional Schools; Mitch Little, Chief of Police, Toms River; Brian Kubiel, Toms River Council President; as well as members of the Toms River Town Council, Toms River Regional Schools administration and school leadership, youth organizations and religious leaders.
“Engaging the Toms River leadership community is just the first step in launching Communities That Care in Toms River,” said Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator, Institute for Prevention and Recovery. “The Toms River Key Leaders will be critical to the CTC process by co-designing the changes they want to make in the community.”
For more information or to get involved in the Toms River Communities That Care process, please contact Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator, at emily.iovine@rwjbh.org.
Teri Kubiel, DNP, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Patient Experience and Community Affairs at Community Medical Center Vice President for Patient Experience and Community Affairs, welcomes attendees to Community Medical Center.
Connie Greene, Vice President, Institute for Prevention and Recovery, introduces the CTC process.
Administrators from Toms River Regional Schools Attend the Key Leader Orientation. From left to right: James Ricotta Jr., Assistant Superintendent; Debra McKenna, Assistant Superintendent; Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Andrea Zapcic, Assistant Director, Prevention Programs, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Marc Natanagara, Assistant Superintendent; Connie Greene, Vice President, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Teri Kubiel, DNP, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Patient Experience and Community Affairs, Community Medical Center; David Healy, Toms River Regional Schools.
Community Leaders attend the Toms River Communities That Care Kick-Off. From Left to Right: Daniel Rodrick, Toms River Council; Laurie Huryk, Toms River Council; Maurice Hill, Toms River Council; Debra McKenna, Assistant Superintendent, Toms River Regional Schools; Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator, Toms River Regional Schools; Andrea Zapcic, Assistant Director of Prevention Programs, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Brian Kubiel, President, Toms River Council; Connie Greene, Vice President, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Glenn Miller, Chief of Detectives, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; Teri Kubiel, DNP, MSN, NE-BC, Patient Experience and Community Affairs, Community Medical Center; James Ricotta Jr., Assistant Superintendent; Toms River Regional Schools; Joseph Coronato, Ocean County Prosecutor; David Healy, Superintendent, Toms River Regional Schools; Marc Natanagara, Assistant Superintendent, Toms River Regional Schools; Michael Fiure, Assistant County Administrator for Ocean County.
Marc Natanagara, Assistant Superintendent, Toms River Regional Schools.
Chief Mitch Little represented the Toms River Police Department at the Toms River CTC kick-off. From left to right: Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator; Mitch Little, Chief, Toms River Police Department; Connie Greene, Vice President, Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Andrea Zapcic, Assistant Director of Prevention Programs, Institute for Prevention and Recovery.
Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Coordinator, Institute for Prevention and Recovery.
Over 40 community leaders attended the Toms River CTC Orientation.