MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – The Middlesex County Office of Health Services’ Preparedness for the Future: Public Health and Youth Collaboration Programs has been recognized as a Promising Practice at the 2026 National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 360 Conference. The recognition highlights the County’s innovative approach to strengthening public health and emergency preparedness through youth-centered programs that expand public health education, community engagement, and emergency preparedness skills.

As part of the conference, Director of Nursing Marybeth Caruso and Assistant Public Health Nurse Supervisor Joan Miller presented the collaborative initiative, “Seeing is Believing – Focusing on what Matters,” a partnership between the Middlesex County Office of Health Services and the New Jersey Department of Health. The initiative was presented to local health department leaders and public health professionals from across the country as an example of how local partnerships and community-based strategies can address critical public health needs. Through education, outreach, and collaboration, “Seeing Is Believing – Focusing on What Matters” aims to improve eye health among underserved and at-risk populations.

Recognition at the NACCHO 360 Conference underscores Middlesex County’s continued investment in innovative public health programming, comprehensive emergency preparedness, and collaborative approaches that build healthier and more resilient communities. To learn more about Middlesex County’s health initiatives and services, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov.

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