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Project Healthy Bones Launches in Westfield: Community-Wide Initiative to Strengthen Bone Health

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 15:00 GMT by Patch

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Project Healthy Bones Launches in Westfield: A Community‑Wide Initiative to Strengthen the Body’s Foundation

On April 12, 2025 the city of Westfield celebrated the official kickoff of Project Healthy Bones, a collaborative effort between the Westfield Public Health Department, the New Jersey Department of Health, and a network of local partners that aims to raise awareness of bone health, increase early screening for osteoporosis, and ultimately reduce the incidence of fragility fractures among Westfield residents. The initiative, which has been in the planning stages for nearly two years, reflects a growing national emphasis on bone health—an area that has long been under‑addressed despite its substantial impact on quality of life and healthcare costs.

The Problem: Why Bone Health Matters in Westfield

Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them more prone to fractures, affects more than 10 million adults in the United States, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). In Westfield, preliminary data from the Westfield Health Department’s 2024 wellness survey indicated that nearly 22 % of adults over 50 reported having never undergone a bone density scan, a key screening test for osteoporosis. Furthermore, the state’s public‑health reports show that fractures resulting from falls are the second leading cause of hospitalization for older adults—generating costs that exceed $17 billion annually nationwide.

“The reality is that many people in our community never know their bone health status until a fracture occurs,” explains Dr. Maya Patel, Westfield’s chief medical officer. “Project Healthy Bones is designed to change that narrative by bringing screening and education directly to the neighborhoods that need it most.”

How the Project Works

1. Mobile Bone‑Density Screening Units
The centerpiece of the program is a fleet of mobile screening vans equipped with dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry (DXA) machines— the gold standard for measuring bone mineral density. The vans will travel to four high‑traffic locations across Westfield: the Westfield Community Center, the Westfield Public Library, the Brookland Park Veterans Memorial, and the St. Mary’s Catholic Church hall. Each site will host a Bone‑Health Fair once a month for the first 12 months, offering free DXA scans to all adults aged 40 and older.

2. Educational Workshops & Digital Resources
Beyond screening, the project includes a series of workshops on calcium and vitamin D intake, weight‑bearing exercise, and fall‑prevention strategies. These sessions are scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate working adults and seniors. The program’s website—linking to the official Project Healthy Bones portal at https://projecthealthybones.org—provides downloadable guides, interactive quizzes, and a calendar of events. Westfield residents can also register online for a free “Bone‑Health Assessment” via the city’s health portal at https://www.westfieldnj.gov/health.

3. Partnership with Community Organizations
Local nonprofits such as the Westfield Senior Center, the Westfield Rotary Club, and the Westfield YMCA have joined the effort as community ambassadors. They help disseminate flyers, organize group walks, and encourage members to share their own bone‑health stories on social media. The YMCA, for example, has scheduled a monthly “Bone‑Boosters” fitness class that incorporates resistance training known to improve bone density.

4. Follow‑Up Care Coordination
If a scan indicates low bone density or osteoporosis, the program’s medical coordinators work with participants to connect them with a rheumatologist or endocrinologist within the Westfield health network. In many cases, participants will receive a prescription for bisphosphonates or a tailored vitamin D supplement plan at no out‑of‑pocket cost—thanks to a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health’s Healthy Living Initiative.

Funding and Support

The project’s budget—$750,000 for the first year—derives from a mix of sources:

• State Funding: The New Jersey Department of Health contributed $300,000 as part of its Healthy Living Initiative grant aimed at preventive care.
• City Investment: Westfield’s municipal budget allocated $150,000 to purchase the mobile vans and pay for staffing.
• Private Donations: The Westfield Foundation and the local business community chipped in $200,000 through donations and sponsorships.
• Grants: Additional funding of $100,000 was secured from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on osteoporosis outcomes in community settings.

“The multi‑tiered funding model ensures sustainability beyond the initial launch,” says Westfield Mayor Luis Hernandez. “We’re building a program that will not only serve today’s residents but will become a staple of our city’s public‑health infrastructure for years to come.”

Community Response and Impact Goals

Since the announcement, interest in the program has been overwhelming. Within the first two weeks, over 2,500 residents signed up for the mobile van schedule, and a petition—available on the city’s website—received more than 1,000 signatures calling for expanded services. The Westfield Board of Health voted unanimously to approve the plan, citing its alignment with the city’s 2030 Health Equity Initiative.

Project planners set concrete metrics: a 30 % increase in osteoporosis screening rates among residents over 50, a 25 % reduction in falls‑related fractures within two years, and at least 1,000 participants receiving individualized care plans. They also intend to publish a mid‑term report in 2026, using data collected from the DXA scans and follow‑up surveys.

How Residents Can Get Involved

• Attend a Bone‑Health Fair: Check the Project Healthy Bones website for the next event in your neighborhood.
• Volunteer: Local volunteers can assist with logistics, outreach, and education. Sign‑up forms are available on the city’s volunteer portal.
• Share Your Story: Residents who have benefited from early screening can share their experiences on the program’s social‑media channels—use the hashtag #StrongBonesWestfield.
• Donate: Contributions—monetary or in-kind—can help extend the program. Visit https://www.projecthealthybones.org/donate for details.

A Vision for a Stronger Community

Project Healthy Bones is more than a health initiative; it is a public‑health paradigm shift that brings preventative care into the heart of Westfield’s neighborhoods. By providing free, accessible bone‑density testing, comprehensive education, and seamless medical follow‑up, the program seeks to empower residents to take control of their skeletal health before a fracture becomes a reality.

“Healthy bones are the foundation of a healthy life,” reflects Dr. Patel. “With Project Healthy Bones, we’re giving our community the tools to build that foundation—one scan, one step, one conversation at a time.”

As the vans roll through Westfield’s streets and the workshops fill the community centers, the city’s residents are stepping forward into a future where bone health is no longer a silent risk but a visible, managed aspect of overall wellness. The program’s launch marks the beginning of a journey toward a stronger, more resilient Westfield—bone by bone.