Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Built Environment
Issue and Population: Lack of “complete streets” that provide safety for walking and biking for cyclists
and pedestrians
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Only one supermarket (Kings, which is relatively expensive) accepts WIC vouchers
in Summit; especially an issue for those with low income and/or no cars as this supermarket is not
walkable
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Limited public transportation; mentioned as an issue in Plainfield, especially for
women and seniors and those who need to travel to find work
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: No sidewalks connecting neighborhoods to town centers; poor lighting on existing
sidewalks
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Lack of green space/parks in Summit
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: No school busses (special needs only) in Summit, Wesfield, Fanwood, Scotch
Plains and kids can’t walk to school so parents must drive
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Driving/car culture is pervasive
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Lack of indoor facilities for exercise during the winter
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Perception that parks are unsafe
Stakeholders:
Data:
Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Behavioral Health
Issue and Population: Access to counseling services, especially to those who can prescribe medication;
an issue for all because it’s difficult to get an appointment even if insured
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Affordability of mental health services and prescriptions for all (even those with
insurance); huge deductibles add to the problem (many newly insured low income residents pay more
than they would have with Charity Care)
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Stigma prevents people from seeking treatment
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: High ED utilization for mental health services, especially among the uninsured and
those without primary care providers
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Lack of reliable data on substance abuse; need to maintain the “healthy town”
image
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Binge drinking and the use of ED for alcohol abuse, especially among
undocumented immigrants
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Prescription drug abuse (often leading to the abuse of other drugs, such as
heroine) occurring in those who first legitimately need the medication; average user 45 y/o white male
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Cigarette smoking rates in mental health patients
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: E-cigarettes countering the decline in tobacco use
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Shortage of psychiatrists who can prescribe appropriate meds, especially for
children
Stakeholders:
Data:
Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Issue and Population: Shortage of culturally-appropriate/competent providers for Spanish-speaking
residents
Stakeholders:
Data:
Chronic Disease
Issue and Population: Asthma in children
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Obesity in low-income preschoolers
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Lack of reliable osteoporosis data for men
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: COPD/Asthma ED use for residents aged 18-44
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Death rates from diabetes among African-Americans
Stakeholders:
Data:
Environmental Health
Issue and Population: Poor housing conditions cause mold (which in turn can give people asthma) and
increased lead levels, especially in children
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Striking increase in Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals over past
few years in Union County
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Noise pollution (increasing number of cars/trucks on roads and highways)
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Idling laws not enforced
Stakeholders:
Data:
Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Issue and Population: Lack of carpooling
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Older cars on the road emit fumes and burn oil; often an issue for those with
lower SES
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Improper disposal of hazardous waste, such as batteries, medications, and sharps
Stakeholders:
Data:
Wellness and Lifestyle
Issue and Population: Affordability of healthy food, especially for ethnic minorities and those with low
SES
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Food pantries often do not have fresh fruits and vegetables, which is an issue for
those on assistance
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Dense population makes it difficult to have centrally located spaces for grocery
stores/markets
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Foreign-born parents don’t know about how to work within the education/health
systems; an issue for first generation Americans
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Poor health literacy/knowledge of health matters among children in foster care
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Different understanding of what is healthy across generations and cultures
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Housing is an issue for undocumented head of households
Stakeholders:
Data:
Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Issue and Population: For Latino/a households, census data may not be accurate (don’t know how many
Latino/a residents we have in our communities)
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Young, low income students sleeping on couches/not getting enough rest
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Large number of single, female, head of households
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Domestic violence
Stakeholders:
Data:
Issue and Population: Shortage of facilities/programs for youth
Stakeholders:
Data:
Union County – Data Review Session 2 – 4/23/15
Parking lot Observations/Drivers
The Categories are organized in order of how we went through them during the meeting today, and
the observations (sub bullets) are list by the category in which they were made.
 Built Environment
o Transportation

Behavioral Health
o Transportation
o Cultural barriers to treatment

Chronic Disease
o Poorly maintained housing

Environmental Health

Wellness and Lifestyle
o Transportation
o Immigration status/cultural differences