Healthy Communities Need A Voice, Power, And Fair Policy

At CHEW-NJPHI, we work at the intersection of democracy and public health to support communities in shaping the decisions that affect everyday life. Health is influenced by more than healthcare. It is shaped by policies related to housing, education, economic opportunity, transportation, and neighborhood conditions. Democracy and Health reflects our commitment to strengthening civic participation and advancing policy solutions that create the conditions for people and communities to thrive.

Democracy Matters for Health

When people have meaningful opportunities to be heard and engaged in decision-making, communities are better positioned to advocate for what they need to be healthy. We believe civic participation is a core part of public health. Communities should not only receive services but also help shape the systems, investments, and policies that affect their lives. This is especially important for communities that have historically been excluded from decision- making. Better health outcomes depend on more than services; they depend on whether communities have a real seat at the table.

Focused on Civic Engagement

We support nonpartisan civic engagement that helps residents understand how decisions are made and how to participate in ways that are informed, accessible, and meaningful. This includes community learning, leadership development, and partnerships with trusted organizations. We focus on creating inclusive, nonpartisan pathways to participation that are connected to real community priorities.

To advance CHEW-NJPHI’s commitment to civic engagement, funded partners must host one to two civic engagement workshops for the communities they serve during each contract period. In partnership with civic engagement organizations, these workshops are designed to connect health-related social needs with civic participation and public policy, helping residents better understand and influence the systems that shape their health.

Civic Engagement in Practice
Partnership with Vote-ER

CHEW-NJPHI is proud to partner with Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps healthcare and public health professionals integrate civic engagement into care settings. Vot-ER provides simple, digital tools that allow patients and community members to register to vote, check their registration status, or request an absentee ballot.

Through this collaboration, CHEW-NJPHI is raising awareness of these tools and supporting our public health and healthcare partners in doing our part to increase active participation in society. By making civic engagement more accessible within trusted settings, we are also helping advance upstream approaches to addressing the root causes of systemic inequities.

Together, we are making it easier for residents to engage in the democratic process, seamlessly, respectfully, and as part of everyday interactions with systems that already serve them.

Voting Resources Hub
To check your registration, register to vote, make a plan to vote, request a mail-in ballot, vote from the hospital when admitted, contact the election protection hotline, or get voter ID help, click the following link to get started:

Provider Voting Toolkit
Calling all direct service/resident-facing providers! You can access Vot+ER badges, conversation starters, discharge additions, voter registration drive information, phone backgrounds on voting, posters, QR codes, waiting room slides, and more at this link:

PUBLIC POLICY

This includes monitoring policy developments, applying an equity lens, translating complex issues into plain language, and supporting informed, community-centered advocacy. Stay tuned for policy priorities, a public health agenda, a bill tracker, legislative recaps, and policy positions.

  • Who We Work With

    CHEW-NJPHI partners with residents and community leaders; community- and faith-based organizations; policy and advocacy groups; research and academic institutions; public agencies and health systems; and philanthropic and cross-sector partners. Together, we bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and lived experience to strengthen civic engagement and advance policies that support healthier, more equitable communities. Our work is collaborative by design.

  • How We Know It Matters

    We are committed to learning and accountability. We look at both engagement and impact, how communities are participating, how partnerships are growing, and how public health perspectives are helping shape more equitable policy conversations.

  • Build With Us

    Healthier communities are built when people are informed, engaged, and able to influence the systems around them. We welcome opportunities to partner, collaborate, and advance this work together. Connect with us to learn more.

Scroll to Top