Asbury Park, NJ (January 8, 2019) – The Visiting Nurse Association Health Group Prevention Resource Network is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Saunders, Director of HIV Prevention and Education for the NJ Department of Health. Steve Saunders advocated for the most vulnerable populations throughout the state of NJ for 31 years. He gained national recognition for his work in HIV prevention by continually creating and supporting programs that would become best practices nationally.
“The VNACJ HIV prevention programs and services would not be where they are today without the incredible leadership and advocacy of Steve Saunders,” said Shannon Preston, Director of HIV Community Services at Prevention Resource Network. “He was influential in our community and a strong advocate working to remove the disparities in healthcare, especially within the LGBTQ Community”.
Steve leaves behind a husband and young son. Per his request, no formal memorial services will be held. More information about charity donations in honor of Steve’s memory will be announced at a later date.
About Prevention Resource Network
Prevention Resource Network (PRN), part of the nonprofit organization Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, provides high-impact prevention services to assist both HIV negative and HIV positive persons who are at risk for HIV transmission or acquisition to reduce risk behaviors. PRN is funded by the NJ Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services. For more information, visit https://prnvnacj.org/.
About Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center Inc. (VNACJ CHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center, has provided comprehensive primary and preventive health care for infants, children, and adults of Monmouth County for more than 20 years. The VNACJ CHC’s are conveniently located in Asbury Park, Keyport and Red Bank. In 2017, staff provided more than 29,099 visits to more than 9,232 patients. For more information about VNACJ CHC please visit www.vnachc.org.
About Visiting Nurse Association Health Group
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group is New Jersey’s largest not-for-profit visiting nurse association and visiting physician service that helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being by providing home health, hospice, palliative and community-based care, and operating private-pay personal care services. A full range of primary care services is available through VNACJ Community Health Centers. Our unique joint partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to operate Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, VNA Health Group of New Jersey (Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice), Visiting Physician Services, and Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio. Currently, VNA Health Group employs more than 2,000 staff members and cares for more than 120,000 people each year.
With the support of the 2020 Vision Campaign led in collaboration with VNA Health Group’s Children and Family Health Institute, our services and resources are designed to provide primary care for
the entire family.
VNA Health Group is accredited by Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). VNA Health Group was founded in 1912 and has continued to serve vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and those with disabling and chronic illness or facing the end of life. For more information about VNA Health Group please visit www.vnahg.org.