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 two task forces, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force (MHSATF) and the Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force (NPATF), 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.
Every three years Healthy Bergen, in partnership with all 7 non-profit hospital systems* within Bergen County, takes part in the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). This comprehensive collection of data (and subsequent results) helps identify and prioritize the health needs most pertinent to our residents. Healthy Bergen then uses this data to develop an implementation plan/strategy to address the top concerns and needs by connecting people to the resources and services available within Bergen County.
Three organizations co-sponsor the CHIP. They are:
- The Bergen County Health Officers Society, is 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.
- 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:
Officers
- President: Stephanie Drag, MA, LAC, CPS
Children's Aid and Family Services - Vice President: Susan McVeigh, MPH
Hackensack Health Department - Treasurer: James Fedorko, MPH
Mid-Bergen Regional Health Commission - Treasurer: Elisabeth Lucas
Valley Health System
Members
- Dr. James C. Mendler, MD - Holy Name Medical Center
- Dr. Rachel Petts Santer, PhD - Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Dr. Hansel Asmar MHA, MPA, ThM, DMin - Bergen County Department of Health Services
- Lisa Pinto - Partnership Liaison, Bergen County Department of Health Services
- Lauren Savage, MPH, MSW - Englewood Health
- Lindsay Lugo, MPH - Children's Aid and Family Services
- Ann Marie Stoebling - Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
- Luisa Rivas - Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center
- Hilda Ventimiglia, MSN, RN - Holy Name Medical Center
- Florey Cruz-Cerpa - Hackensack Meridian Health
Your Voice Matters!
Help Shape the Future of Health in Bergen County.
Healthy Bergen is conducting the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)—and we need your input!
