Cape May County - Family & Community Health Sciences

Family and Community Health Sciences

What's Happening in Cape May County Family and Community Health Sciences?

Family and Community Healthy Sciences

Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) translates research into practical advice to help Cape May County residents stay healthy, enjoy life, be active and reduce health care costs. Our areas of emphasis are nutrition, family and parenting. Research shows that many chronic diseases – obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and some cancers – could be prevented through healthful eating and regular physical activity. Research also shows that active parenting and family togetherness leads to improved development and behavior of the children and a strengthened family. We offer a variety of initiatives, workshops and publications to help individuals and families make choices that will improve their health and wellbeing.

We communicate our initiatives through programs, newsletters and fact sheets. Our programs and publications are available at low or no cost. Classes are held at Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Cape May Court House as well as various locations around Cape May County. Some publications are available in Spanish.

To get more information, sign up for our programs or to receive our free newsletters, call 609-465-5115 ext. 609. We can also come speak to your group (staff or clientele). Call for details or to schedule a workshop.

Marilou Rochford, M.A., CFLE, is an associate professor with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Family and Community Health Sciences Educator for Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE). Rochford provides a comprehensive education and research program for RCE, with an emphasis on healthy lifestyles, human development, nutrition and food safety training. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics Education from Montclair State University and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Rowan University. Rochford is presently a doctoral candidate in the Childhood Studies program at Rutgers-Camden. She is a Certified Family Life Educator and holds a New Jersey Teaching Certificate, New Jersey Supervisor’s Certificate, and an Educational Administration Certificate.

In 2003, Ms. Rochford developed, facilitated, and piloted the professional conference, The Children’s Health Summit: Fighting Back Against Childhood Obesity. Under her guidance, there have been nine more successful Children’s Health Summits held across the state of New Jersey. Rochford is a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Task Force on Obesity Prevention. Rochford is nationally recognized for her work with children and fathers ( “Me and My Dad”), and has also focused her efforts on grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, tackling bullying (youth violence), and caring for the caregiver. Ms. Rochford has been honored by a variety of organizations for her professional achievements. In October 2004, she was named Parent Educator of the Year by Parenting Press Magazine, and the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences awarded her with the 2007 Distinguished Service Award.