NorthWest Bergen Regional Health Commission

11/10/2025

📣 Our November 15 Food Handler’s Class (in Spanish) has been postponed. Keep an eye out for the new date coming soon❗

11/10/2025

🍂As the weather cools down and we head into the holiday season, Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission is here to help you stay healthy, informed, and connected! You can view our 2025 Fall Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/3fe3wycc 🍂

In this issue, you’ll find helpful resources and seasonal tips, including:
🍁Fight the Flu: Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season.
🍁Where Can I Get a Flu Shot? Find local options for flu vaccination.
🍁Bergen County Office of Food Security: Discover ways to support community food efforts and the Top 5 Donation Items needed by local pantries.
🍁Staff Spotlight: Meet Carmen, our Fall Staff Spotlight feature!
🍁Environmental Health Corner: Protect your family and pets—learn how awareness and vaccination can prevent rabies.
🍁Quality Improvement Corner: See how our team is enhancing participation in Food Safety Classes and check out our completed storyboard.
🍁Healthy Living: Try our featured Healthy Meal Idea—Stuffed Butternut Squash—and explore the American Heart Association’s Seasons of Eating tips.
🍁Fun Fall Activity: Relax with a Fall Word Search!
🍁Community Resource Spotlight: Learn about the Family Support Organization of Bergen County and the vital services they provide.

We hope this edition inspires you to stay healthy, give back, and enjoy the season safely. 🍂

11/07/2025

Got questions about your Thanksgiving meal prep? Join “Turkey Talk with All the Sides to Dish.” Ask the experts about turkey, baking, leftovers, and more!

Monday, November 24 | 3–4 p.m. ET

Register now: https://fightbac.org/events/

11/06/2025

Do you have questions about your Thanksgiving meal preparation? If so, the Partnership for Food Safety Education, in collaboration with the University of Maryland Extension, is hosting 'Turkey Talk with All the Sides to Dish,' featuring a virtual office hour on Monday, November 24th, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern via Zoom.

Use this time to get the questions you need answered with
national experts. Join the meeting at any time throughout the hour, and our specialists will be happy to answer your questions and guide you towards a successful holiday!

Register now:

Get Smart with Kitchen GadgetsThursday, November 13 1 p.m. Eastern

11/05/2025

Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission is proud to share our November 2025 Community Resource Spotlight on an organization that offers vital services to residents in Bergen County:

Family Support Organization of Bergen County (FSOBC) is a family-run, county-based nonprofit 501(c)(3), incorporated in 2001 and founded “for families, by families.” FSOBC provides a supportive, family-friendly environment where caregivers can come together for mutual support, education, and shared experience.

We provide support, education, and advocacy to families and caregivers of children who have emotional/behavioral needs, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse challenges. Our staff is comprised of parents who have raised a child with similar challenges, which makes us unique in the Children's System of Care (CSOC). We can help parents, as we have been through the same obstacles they are experiencing and can truly understand their struggles.

Our primary role is to help parents fulfill their goals for themselves and their families, and we help them become better advocates for their youth and themselves. As part of New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care (CSOC), we offer peer-to-peer support through trained Family Support Partners, educational workshops, warm-line phone support, a Youth Partnership for ages 11 to 21, and community outreach. We host a caregiver support group every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at our Fair Lawn office, and a Spanish caregiver support group every Wednesday from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Guided by the belief in the worth, knowledge, and dignity of all families, we are committed to ensuring high-quality, family-centered services throughout Bergen County. All community members are welcome to use our warm line for information and resources. Additionally, all residents can attend any event, including our support group and workshops. All services are free of charge. Their office is located at: 0-108 29th Street, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410. Please note, they actively seeking youth volunteers to assist with the Youth Partnership on Sundays.

To learn more, visit www.fsobergen.org or call 201-796-6209.

11/04/2025

Join our Health Educator, Alexandra, for a 90-minute presentation on how to land a babysitting job, discussing boundaries with families, food safety, and more! You can register for this event here: https://bccls.libcal.com/event/1537621

11/02/2025

The Health Department’s annual rabies clinic is THIS SATURDAY!

Free drive-through rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats will be given at the Municipal Building (475 Corporate Drive) from 9am to 11am on Saturday, November 8.

Dogs should be on leashes and cats should be in carriers. Please bring previous vaccination records if available.

10/31/2025

From national brands to local businesses, organizations are offering free meals, special discounts, and community programs to assist residents and families.

10/30/2025

If you or someone you know needs assistance—or if you’d like to support your local pantry—please see the information below. ⬇️

10/29/2025

SNAP benefits loaded on your Families First EBT card prior to October 31, 2025 will be available for you to use after November 1, 2025. Before going to the grocery store after November 1, we encourage SNAP food assistance recipients to check their account at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling 800 997-3333. If there are SNAP benefits in your NJ FamiliesFirst account, they are available for you to use.

10/29/2025

Today, the NWBRHC team is wearing pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 🩷

Did you know that National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) was first established in October 1985?

10/27/2025

📣‼️FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE‼️📣

➡️ About Rabies
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that affects mammals and is transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Coyotes, like black bears, can lose their natural fear of humans when food is provided—either intentionally or unintentionally.

➡️ Signs and Symptoms of Rabies:

👱‍♀️ In Humans:
• Early symptoms: Fever, headache, and general weakness
• Later symptoms: Insomnia, anxiety, paralysis, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, and fear of water (hydrophobia)
• Outcome: Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal if untreated

🐾 In Animals:
• Unprovoked aggression
• Lack of coordination or paralysis
• Unusual friendliness
• Disorientation or confusion

➡️ Public Health Response:
Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission is working directly with affected residents.
Residents are urged to remain cautious—and to report any animal displaying abnormal, sick, or aggressive behavior immediately to:
• Animal Control: Contact through Police Dispatch

➡️ Safety Recommendations: Avoid Walking Pets at Dawn or Dusk
• Coyotes are most active during these hours.
• If walking your dog, use a short leash and remain alert.

➡️ Supervise Children and Pets
• Always watch children playing outdoors or waiting for school buses—especially in areas where coyotes have been seen.

➡️ Secure Your Property
• Install motion-sensor lights to deter wildlife.
• Remove attractants such as birdseed, pet food, and unsecured garbage.

➡️ Keep Pets Up to Date on Rabies Vaccinations
• Pets are not fully immunized until 28 days after their first rabies vaccine.
• Keep newly vaccinated or too-young pets (under 3 months) indoors or under close supervision.

➡️ Protect Yourself and Your Pets
• Avoid contact with wildlife or unfamiliar animals.
• Keep pets leashed and do not allow them to roam freely.
• Never feed or touch wild or stray animals—including stray cats, bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or groundhogs.
• Teach children to report animal bites or scratches immediately.

➡️ If You Are Bitten or Exposed:
• Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Contact your doctor and your local health department.

➡️ If Your Pet Is Exposed:
• Contact your veterinarian if your pet has contact with a bat, raccoon, skunk, or other wild carnivore.

➡️ Know the Law:
Most municipalities have ordinances that strictly prohibit feeding wildlife in public parks or on Borough property.
These ordinances help protect public health and safety by reducing the likelihood of wildlife being attracted to residential areas.
Violations may result in enforcement actions and penalties.

📞 Contact Information:
Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission
20 W Prospect St, Waldwick, NJ 07463
Phone: (201) 445-7217