Successful Collaboration and Integration of the Chronic Disease Self Management Program in New Jersey

Objective: Prior to January 2007, there was no capacity for the delivery of CDSMP in New Jersey.  The NJDHSS and their community partners will show that collaboration positively impacted disparate populations by implementing infrastructure for evidence based self management support systems by introducing CDSMP.

Methods: Grants to minority-based agencies provided resources for staff to train and monitor volunteer leaders who facilitate workshops for African Americans, Koreans, Chinese, Latinos and Haitians. DHSS partners integrated evidence-based programming into the scope of work for chronic disease programs, revised state policies to imbed requirements for evidence-based programming and use federal, state and local funding streams to sustain program delivery.

Results: Workshops are provided in 16 of the state’s 21 counties with master trainers and peer leaders trained to present the program in English, Spanish and Korean to impact disparate populations. Seven (7) minority-based agencies reached 180 participants and trained 80 peer leaders in six (6) months. 

Conclusion: The partnerships generated increase in CDSMP participation by disparate populations and provided self management tools for behavior change.