About Us

The Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) of Bergen County is comprised of more than 50 community organizations, businesses, schools, hospitals and also private citizens that are stakeholders in the health of the county. There are currently three task forces (see side bar at left) staffed by volunteers from these organizations along with individuals all working toward creating a healthier Bergen County. CHIP members develop, implement and promote initiatives to improve the health and lives of people who live, work, or attend school in Bergen County.

The CHIP of Bergen County has created a health needs assessment summary report for Bergen County, called the Community Health Improvement Plan (The CHIP Report), which you can access by clicking on the side bar link to the left. It is available in English, Spanish and Korean. The CHIP oversees the implementation of this plan on an ongoing county-wide basis.

Three organizations co-sponsor the CHIP. They are: the Bergen County Health Officers Society, comprised of Health Officers and Registered Environmental Health Specialists throughout Bergen County, the Bergen County Department of Health Services, a county-level governmental public health agency; and the Public Health Partnership of Bergen County, a volunteer coalition of Bergen County Health Officers.

The CHIP Core Group functions as a steering committee and oversees all CHIP functions, events and programs. This Core Group meets six times per year to review operations, membership, programs and budgets. Current Steering Committee members are:

Marla Klein, Partnership Coordinator, Bergen County Department of Health Services
Nancy Mangieri - Director/Health Officer, Bergen County Department of Health Services
Amanda Birnbaum - Assistant Professor, Department of Health & Nutrition Sciences, Montclair State University
John Christ - Health Officer, City of Hackensack - Department of Health
Nelson Xavier Cruz - Director of Health Services, Englewood Health Department
Judy Migliaccio - Assistant Health Officer, Paramus Health Department
Paul Ostrow - Community Outreach Coordinator, Holy Name Medical Center
Diana Rivera - Marketing Manager, AMERIGROUP
Emily Ruffing - Consultant
Carol Saieva, D.O. - Medical Director, Franklin Lakes Occupational Health
Vincent Urgola - Director of Operations, North Hudson Community Action Corporation Health Center
Phyllis Brown - Community Relations Manager, Englewood Hospital & Medical Center

If you would like to participate in any of these CHIP task forces, email us or call (201) 634-2693.

For a list of CHIP Committee Member Organizations, click here.

CHIP Mission:

To create a compelling Vision of a healthy Bergen County and develop a Strategic Plan leading toward its realization, supported by community, state and county resources.

CHIP Vision:

All people in Bergen County will have access to resources that enable them to reach optimum health, well being and quality of life, supported by a continually improving, clean, safe and economically sound community.

Community stakeholders will collaborate to create and leverage resources to build a healthier Bergen County.

CHIP Values:

• Systems Thinking
• Dialogue
• Shared Vision
• Data-based Assessment/Evaluation
• Strategic Thinking
• Action
• Celebration of Successes
• Partnerships

The Bergen County CHIP featured in a story by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Click here to read the entire article »