Walter Rand Institute

IMPACT Blog

Learning, Adapting, and Advancing: Connecting Past Experiences to Strategic Direction 

Posted in All Southern NJ Counties, IMPACT Blog

Authors: Mavis Asiedu-Frimpong, Madeliene Alger   As we close the chapter on the Walter Rand Institute’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the spirit and energy of the past year was electric. Our community partners, policymakers, community members, students, faculty, former WRI directors, and staff alike joined in on the festivities– reconnecting and sharing stories about how far the Walter Rand Institute has come.   In 2024, the Walter Rand Institute completed and released its strategic plan,… continue reading

25 Years of WRI Impact as Told by the Leaders Who Helped Build It 

Posted in 25th Anniversary, IMPACT Blog

Author: Natalie Passov As communications and public engagement lead at the Walter Rand Institute (WRI) and as part of WRI’s continued 25th anniversary celebrations, I recently had the privilege of interviewing leaders who helped shape its mission, expand its reach, and navigate the complexities of public service and institutional growth over the years. I sat down with Gwendolyn (Gwendy) Harris and Sarah Allred, two former WRI directors who spent countless hours leading and shaping the Institute… continue reading

WRI in Action: Tracking Recent Engagements Across South Jersey 

Posted in All Southern NJ Counties, Education, Food Security, IMPACT Blog, Opioid Epidemic-Substance Use, Public-Population Health, Social Services Delivery

Author: Natalie PassovThe Walter Rand Institute (WRI) is deeply embedded in the communities of Southern New Jersey. Spanning across all eight counties – Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem – our mission is rooted in a simple but powerful idea championed by Senator Walter Rand: research and data not only can… continue reading

Clayton Model Expansion and Evaluation

Clayton Model Expansion and Evaluation

Posted in Education, Gloucester County

Authors: Celine Thompson, Amanda Ekelburg, Madeliene Alger, Kiersten Westley WRI is in Year V of a five-year evaluation of the Clayton Model, a social-emotional learning program in Gloucester County schools. Recent funding from the NJ Department of Education is aimed at expanding to other New Jersey schools, and WRI is evaluating this expansion over the five-year period. Below… continue reading

Supporting Healthy Communities: WRI’s Partnerships with Regional Hospital Networks on Community Health Needs Assessments and Addressing Community Needs  

Posted in 25th Anniversary, Atlantic County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, IMPACT Blog, Public-Population Health, Salem County, Social Services Delivery

Authors: Devon Ziminski, Natalie Passov As part of WRI’s 25th anniversary activities, we are highlighting a series of collaborations with our partners in the South Jersey region and across the State. We’re celebrating National Public Health Week by sharing our fruitful partnerships with AtlantiCare and Inspira Health. WRI has collaborated with both health systems over… continue reading

Inspira Health Community Health Needs Assessment 2025-2027 – Regional and County Breakout Reports

Inspira Health Community Health Needs Assessment 2025-2027 – Regional and County Breakout Reports

Posted in Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Public-Population Health, Salem County

Authors: Devon Ziminski, Madeleine Alger, Carla Villacis, Amanda Ekelburg The Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) partnered with Inspira Health to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in Inspira Health’s service region of Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. The recently released regional CHNA (2025-2027) provides a detailed overview of the unique health-related… continue reading