About New Jersey Tracking Program

Background

NJ is the 4th smallest state by area, but the 11th most populous with nearly 9 million residents. It is the most densely populated state in the United States.

NJ is divided into 21 counties and 565 municipalities. Unlike other states, all NJ land is part of a municipality. Twenty-two of NJ's municipalities have populations over 65,000.

About 12% of NJ residents obtain their drinking water from a private well.

Core Goals

• Creating indicators that combine data and context for health and environmental datasets which can be used for ongoing surveillance, targeting activities, and evaluation
• Providing easy online access to user-customized datasets, charts, tables, and maps
• Conducting outreach and education to expand the use of health and environmental data at the local and county level

Accomplishments

Addressing Local Data Needs

New Jersey's local and county health departments need municipal-level health and environmental data to prioritize activities and outreach. New Jersey Tracking created municipal-level reports for each of the state's 564 municipalities on a Healthy Community Planning website. Gloucester County Health Department used this resource to assess which municipalities had the highest levels of radon. This information is helping the health department determine target areas for distribution of radon test kits. New Jersey used low birth weight and preterm births data to help local health departments target communication and intervention efforts. New Jersey Tracking's environmental indicators are actively being used to create actionable plans to improve the environmental health of communities.

Unique Data

All state and local tracking programs collect and display a set of standard data. But individual programs may host other data that are important to their populations. New Jersey's unique data include the following.

• NJ Private Well Testing Act Data Summary
• NJ Cancer Incidence and Mortality Data
• Portable Generator Use
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors
• Lyme Disease Incidence
• Beach Closings
• Radon Screening
• Legionellosis Incidence

Contacts

Website: http://nj.gov/health/ceohs/public-health-tracking/

Email: NJ.EPHT@doh.nj.gov

Twitter: @NJDeptofHealth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth/

Subscription to Data Portal Updates: https://nj.gov/health/chs/njshad/subscribe.shtml

Resources and tools

• NJ Tracking Data Portal: NJ SHAD
• Healthy Community Planning - NJ
• Potential Lead Exposure Mapping (PLEM)
• Overburdened Communities (OBC)
• Health Indicator Reports
• Health Disparity Priority Areas
• Community Dashboard and Profile Tool
• Custom Dataset Queries
• What's in My Community
• NJ Tracking in Action Stories