Brookdale and VNA Partner to Expand Student Healthcare Access and Career Opportunities

VNA Health Group, VNACJ Community Health Center, and Brookdale Community College have formalized a new partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve healthcare access for students and create innovative career development opportunities in healthcare.

Through the agreement, Brookdale students will gain direct access to primary and preventive healthcare services at VNACJ CHC facilities and through the Caroline Huber Holistic Wellness Center. Nationwide, 1.6 million college students lack health coverage, including 13.1% of Hispanic or Latino students and 9.7% of Black or African American students—disproportionately affecting students of color. This partnership ensures students without a current healthcare provider can receive person-centered and family-centered care, supported by outreach and navigation services tailored to their needs.

The collaboration also provides Brookdale students with experiential learning opportunities in healthcare, including workshops, virtual reality lab experiences, and exposure to home health and public health practice. At the same time, VNA Health Group and VNACJ Community Health Center employees will have access to tuition discounts and training opportunities at Brookdale, forging a stronger connection between education and workforce development. This is particularly relevant in New Jersey, which faces a projected shortage of 24,000 nurses by 2036—the fourth largest shortage in the nation.

“Too many students navigate college without reliable healthcare, and our state is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in the nation. This partnership takes those challenges head-on,” said Christopher Rinn, president & CEO of VNA Health Group. “We are creating access to primary care for Brookdale students, providing hands-on training to the next generation of nurses, and giving our own employees affordable opportunities to advance their education. This is what it looks like when institutions work together to solve real problems for real people.”

“We see every day how access to primary care can change the trajectory of someone’s life,” said Sarina Brady, CEO of VNACJ Community Health Center. “Through this partnership, we’re investing in both the health of our community and the professionals who will care for it in the future.”

David Stout, Ph.D., president of Brookdale Community College, commented: “At Brookdale, we take a holistic approach to student success, and that includes ensuring our community has access to the care and support they need. By joining forces with VNA Health Group and VNACJ Community Health Center, we are building a healthier, more resilient community while creating educational and workforce opportunities that will benefit Monmouth County for years to come.”

The MOU represents a shared commitment among the three organizations to improve health outcomes, expand educational opportunities, and support career readiness for students and staff alike.

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About Brookdale Community College

Brookdale Community College, located in Lincroft, New Jersey, is an excellent resource for residents of Monmouth County. The College offers (2-year) associate degrees and certificates, plus noncredit classes in many areas of personal and professional interest. Brookdale is an open-admission, comprehensive community college. Brookdale serves over 20,000 students per year at five locations throughout Monmouth County. In fall 2020, there were 10,400 credit seeking students and in Fall 2019 almost 11,000 registrants in Brookdale non-credit courses. In fall 2020 approximately 12% of our students were dual enrolled high school students. The College was founded in 1967 and is sponsored by the citizens of Monmouth County through the County Commissioners.

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 VNACJ Community Health Center

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center, Inc. (VNACJ Community Health Center) has been integral to Monmouth County for over 27 years, providing comprehensive primary and preventative care for infants, children, and adults.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, VNACJ Community Health Center provides care at a sliding scale cost—meaning that quality of care is never dictated by a patient’s ability to pay. Ensuring equitable access and overcoming barriers in the healthcare system is centralto the organization’s approach to care.

VNACJ Community Health Centers are conveniently located in Asbury Park, Freehold, Keyport, and Red Bank. The organization works across its four locations to fulfill its mission of building healthy communities and enhancing well-being.

With a diverse and multilingual team of professionals, VNACJ Community Health Center aims to represent and reflect New Jersey’s diverse communities, focusing on expanding access to high-quality healthcare in a trusted and inclusive environment. To learn more, visit: https://vnachc.org/