TRENTON, N.J. — The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey recently awarded Millhill Child & Family Development Corporation $11,000 in grant to support its Health Literacy Program. 
– Provided photo
The grant will help to provide health education, access to developmental and behavioral health care screenings, as well as public health interventions.
“Millhill is excited to continue our partnership with The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey to bring health and wellness education to our children and families,” explains Nicole Cowan, Millhill’s health literacy coordinator. “We especially look forward to collaborating again this year for our fourth annual health fair in September to provide health information to the Trenton community.”
In addition to providing youth, families and caregivers with health literacy training and tools necessary to leading healthy lives, Millhill also aims to eliminate barriers to education and care.
According to Karen Schoenitz, director of development, barriers to health were identified in a Trenton Health Team Community Needs Assessment in 2013 with an update and addendum in 2016.
“We also witness firsthand the health disparities and challenges our clients experience both accessing health care and they also have a general lack of understanding an education around basic health literacy,” states Schoenitz.
Thus, with the support of its partners, Millhill has expanded its health literacy initiative across core programs including early education, family support and counseling services.
Millhill services and topics include proper medicine use, communicating with your doctor, coping with stress, mental illness, addiction, oral health, technology, community resources and nutrition, among others.
With the support of the Horizon Foundation for NJ, Millhill’s Fourth Annual Health Fair will take place Sept. 29 at 101 Oakland St., Trenton, where they are expecting about 200 children and families.
“The Health Fair is the highlight of our year round health literacy initiatives,” states Schoenitz.
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey has been supporting Millhill and its Health Literacy Program since 2014, she said.
She explained that Millhill also benefited last year from capacity building assistance from the foundation’s pervious partnership with The Support Center.
And, NJ Horizon Health volunteers are also assisting in Camp RISE this year, which is Millhill’s summer camp.
The Horizon Foundation for NJ is committed to working with those who can help them to improve health care in the community. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ is the sole member of The Horizon Foundation for NJ. Both are independent licensees of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit www.community.horizonblue.com.
Millhill Child & Family Development Coporation is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping families in the Greater Trenton area. For more information about their programs, visit www.millhillcenter.org or call (609)989-7333.