Residents Asked To Participate In State Health Survey In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Officials in Washington Township are encouraging residents to pick up the phone when The New Jersey Department of Health calls and to participate in the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, an ongoing anonymous telephone survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

New Jersey has been collecting population-based data on residents' health-related behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services since 1991, according to the Department of Health.

The survey responses are kept private and are only shared with the CDC. The New Jersey State Health Analysis Data system provides access to data reports and statistics from previous years of the survey.

The survey's primary goal is to track major behavioral risk factors and chronic conditions linked to disability and death in adults. Behavioral risk factors are habits that can have a positive or negative impact on a person's health, the Department of Health said.

"By taking part in the NJBRFS, you are helping to better the NJDOH’s understanding of your health and the health of the community. With this knowledge, the NJDOH will be better prepared to provide resources to communities that experience heightened health challenges. This is a critical step in achieving health equity for all people and populations of New Jersey," Washington Township said.

You may be chosen at random as a New Jersey resident to participate in the survey. Participants in the survey must be at least 18 years old and live in a private home or a college dormitory.

"If we call you, please consider participating in this important survey. Your caller ID will show that the New Jersey Department of Health is calling, indicating that we are not spam or solicitors," the Department of Health said.

The survey, according to officials, takes about 20 minutes to complete and does not request or collect any personally identifiable information, such as your name and address.