RWJBarnabas Health first in NJ to deploy SNAP navigators in each hospital, serving patients, local communities
Nearly 1 in 10 NJ households report lack of reliable access to healthy foods, up 11% year over year
West Orange, NJ, February 13, 2025 – At a time when more New Jerseyans are struggling to put food on the table, RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health system in New Jersey, is the state's first health care provider to expand efforts to reduce hunger and improve food security by enhancing access to healthy food and nutrition and health education for eligible residents through its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Navigators. RWJBarnabas Health is proud to be the only health system in New Jersey to offer SNAP Navigator services at each of its acute care hospitals.
SNAP Navigators assist community members, patients and employees in applying for SNAP food assistance benefits. Through this initiative, RWJBarnabas Health hospitals are recognized as approved SNAP Navigator sites by the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development (DFD).
This designation allows highly trained navigators to provide comprehensive assistance, from initial application to recertification, helping individuals not only access but also maintain their SNAP food assistance benefits. Navigators work closely with individuals to connect them with other food access resources.
“We know that good health starts with access to healthy, nutritious foods, yet too many New Jerseyans struggle to feed themselves and their families,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health. “It is a privilege to partner with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development to address food insecurity as a critical social determinant of health. This partnership aligns with our core mission to improve the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve.”
In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ DFD and support from the New Jersey Food Security Initiative (NJFSI), the program continues to grow, offering training and resources to sustain and enhance its impact.
“Affordable access to nutritious foods has a direct impact on the health of an individual, their family and the community. I thank RWJBarnabas Health for their partnership and commitment to helping their patients who may struggle with the cost of groceries to receive SNAP food assistance. I look forward to continuing to work with all of our SNAP Navigators to end hunger in New Jersey,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.
“We are excited to partner with the State of New Jersey to provide this valuable service,” said Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are the only hospital system in the state to employ full-time SNAP navigators who work directly with patients and community members as well as community health workers and other partners to meet people where they are and to develop and implement locally tailored programs to meet the specific needs of the community.”
Food insecurity is a well-documented, significant social determinant of health that has increased across New Jersey and the nation since the pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), nearly one in 10 New Jersey households reported in 2023, the last year for available data, that they lacked regular access to healthy, nutritious foods. Studies also show SNAP lifts the average income of beneficiaries by 75 percent to help pay for food and basic necessities and every $1 in redeemed SNAP benefits leads to as much as $1.80 invested in local communities.
The SNAP Navigator program complements RWJBarnabas Health’s broader efforts to address food insecurity and promote health equity. Other initiatives include The Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Sadie Vickers Community Garden in South Toms River, Food Farmacies, Common Market Farm to Pantry deliveries, Summer Feeding programs, and KidsFit, among others.
By expanding access to SNAP food assistance and related resources, RWJBarnabas Health is making a tangible difference in the lives of New Jerseyans, reinforcing its commitment to building healthier communities and a heathier New Jersey.
For more information on the SNAP Navigator program at RWJBarnabas Health, visit rwjbh.org/snap. For more information on the SNAP Navigator program statewide, visit NJSNAPNavigators.gov.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its diverse communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate and equitable manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 43,000 employees, contributing more than $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org