Ribbon cutting (L-R) Robin McRoberts, Director of Community Programs (CFHI), Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Jenna Vaccaro, Chief Administrative Officer of the Executive Offices (CFHI), Sahai Cole, Vice President (CFHI), Christopher Rinn, President and CEO of VNA Health Group, Sebastian and Edward Trujillo, ETC Management, Denise Andino, Director of Maternal & Early Childhood Initiatives (CFHI)

Perth Amboy  — VNA Health Group’s Children & Family Health Institute (CFHI) welcomed community partners, elected officials, board members, staff, and supporters to celebrate the opening of its new first-floor space in Perth Amboy, home to its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Healthy Families programs.

The event and official ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together community leaders, partners, and elected officials, including Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, to recognize the importance of accessible services that support children, parents, and families throughout the region. Remarks were given by representatives from VNA Health Group, CFHI, and a local WIC participant.

CFHI’s WIC program serves more than 31,000 participants annually throughout Middlesex and Monmouth counties, making it one of the largest WIC programs in New Jersey. The program provides nutritious foods, breastfeeding and lactation support, health education, and referrals to additional services for eligible pregnant women, new parents, infants, and children up to age five.

CFHI’s Healthy Families program serves approximately 450 families annually across Middlesex, Monmouth, and Essex counties through home visitation services that provide education, guidance, and connections to resources for expectant parents and families with young children.

Previously located on the building's second floor, the programs now operate from a renovated first-floor space that provides a brighter, more welcoming environment while improving accessibility for families with young children. The first-floor location makes it easier for parents and caregivers with strollers to attend appointments, access resources, and connect with support services.

“VNA Health Group has always been a public health organization. For more than a century, we've been showing up in communities across New Jersey to help people stay healthy, recover from illness, and access the care and support they need,” said Christopher Rinn, VNA Health Group President and CEO. “WIC and Healthy Families are excellent examples of that mission in action. This new first-floor location may seem like a small change, but easier access, more room for strollers, and a more welcoming environment will make a difference for the families who rely on these programs.”

"We are so glad to be in this space because it is more accessible for families and makes it easier for parents with strollers to get in and out," said Sahai Cole, CFHI Vice President. "It allows us to better serve the families who rely on these programs, and we're grateful to our supporters who joined us to celebrate this milestone."

Attendees also heard from Rocio Collado, a WIC Generalist at the Perth Amboy office, who shared her experience with the program from both a staff member's and a participant's perspective.

"My experience allows me to better assist participants and bring a more compassionate approach to the families we serve," said Collado. "As a mother and a WIC participant myself, I understand the questions families have and the support they need. That connection helps us provide better support, and I see every day how WIC makes a difference in our community."

The move marks another step in CFHI's ongoing efforts to strengthen access to services for local families, ensuring parents and caregivers can more easily connect with nutrition assistance, family support programs, health education, and community resources.

About Visiting Nurse Association Health Group

Founded over 110 years ago with a mission to care for the community, Visiting Nurse Association Health Group (VNA Health Group) empowers individuals and families to live their best lives by offering high-quality, compassionate home health, hospice, visiting physicians, palliative, and community-based care, private-pay personal care services, and primary care for medically underserved patients.

Today, VNA Health Group is a leading nonprofit provider of home and community-based health services in New Jersey. Its unique partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, and Visiting Physician Services. For more information, please visit https://vnahg.org/.

About the Children and Family Health Institute

As part of its comprehensive approach to community health, VNA Health Group operates the Children and Family Health Institute (CFHI), which serves more than 54,000 clients and families each year. The Institute delivers over 20 life-changing public health programs, including pediatric home care, early intervention, prenatal care, and primary care. CFHI provides the care and resources that children and families need to live healthier, happier lives. For more information, please visit https://vnahg.org/children-family-health-institute.

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