NJ Discretionary Funding Fiscal Year 2023

2NDFLOOR Youth Text/Helpline provides prevention and intervention services for youth, ages 10-24 throughout the state of New Jersey, 24/7, 365 days a year. 2NDFLOOR uses multi-media platforms that include phone, text and message board, creating a confidential and anonymous space for youth to discuss and receive guidance and resources from trained counselors. Issues include mental health, family/peer relationships, racial violence, and other relevant topics. Studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth indicate an increased incidence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among children and adolescents. Experts also caution that mental health consequences from the pandemic, including increases in substance abuse and suicide rates, will likely continue in the future due to losses in age-appropriate social development and self-esteem at a time when youth are trying for find themselves and their place in society. This year, the project would also begin two new initiatives: one, to provide short-term counseling (an estimated 500 sessions) for youth in Monmouth County impacted by, or at risk of domestic, sexual and dating violence; and second, to establish Youth Advisor Teams in 50 schools, as well as provide education at these schools on mental health topics. These teams will spread information about 2NDFLOOR, help answer message boards peer-to-peer, and generally help to destigmatize seeking help for relationship violence and mental health issues.

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges’ (Metro YMCA) project entitled Building Capacity for Positive Mental Health Outcomes will serve the seven branches of the association, which are: The Greater Bergen County YMCA, West Essex YMCA, East Orange YMCA, Sussex County YMCA, South Mountain YMCA, The Wayne YMCA, and Fairview Lake YMCA Camps. Through the implementation of this project, the Metro YMCA will hire and integrate three mental health professionals into the Metro YMCA’s programmatic planning and operations and serve assigned branches and/or communities through staff support, promotion of positive mental health, and early identification, intervention, and referral services for constituents experiencing mental health challenges. These professionals will be assimilated into the Metro YMCA’s programmatic planning and operations and serve assigned branches and/or communities through staff support, promotion of positive mental health, and early identification, intervention, and referral services for constituents experiencing mental health challenges. These professionals will work to integrate mental health and behavioral wellness into pre-existing programs, like pre-school and school age childcare, and free community programming, as well as create new programs that serve both youth and adults in groups. Under the direction of the Metro YMCA Director of Mental Health, the newly hired mental health professionals will also provide staff guidance on adaptable framework to support crisis services and suicide prevention activities, including awareness activities, screening, and referral to direct service treatments, when appropriate. In addition to these activities, the mental health team will create and deliver education materials and imperative training on Mental Health First Aid, diagnostic tools, and support mechanisms, and escalation pathways. The goals and objectives of this project are to: Increase organizational capacity to address the mental health needs of our staff, youth and adult members, and communities served; improve behavioral functioning of youth participants; and improve mental and emotional wellness of adult participants. The measurable objectives of this project include: hiring three mental health professionals; increase staff awareness of mental health education, early intervention tactics, de-escalation pathways, and referrals to appropriate parties through Mental Health First Aid Trainings and Mental Health and Wellbeing Certifications; integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into all pre-school and school age child care programs; implement social and emotional health enrichment programming for youth and adults across the association; and collect and analyze impact through program participant and staff assessments. Through this program, approximately 125 staff members will receive mental health education/training, 1,600 children will have SEL programming integrated into their childcare programs, 72 children will participate in SEL enrichment programming, and 30 adults will participate in mental health and social wellness programming across the association. The Metro YMCA plans to train all staff members past this project period and anticipates sustaining the above participation numbers year over year.

New Jersey (NJ) is committed to improving the response to 988 calls, chats and texts originating in this state. This project will increase the capacity of NJ's Lifeline Centers and improve access to 988 services including linkage to appropriate post-contact supports. NJ's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system will be designed to serve all individuals who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis as well as their family and friends. In the first nine months of 988, NJ has received 45425 calls. According to the Growth Model offered by Vibrant, it is expected that NJ will receive between 119000 and 187900 calls annually by year five of 988. Comparing data from June 2022 and April 2023, NJ saw a 106% increase in text demand and continues to receive an average of 1500 chat contacts per month. Meeting this demand will require a significant increase in the 988 workforce. To ensure all NJ residents are accessing and receiving appropriate services through 988, staff will be trained to respond to contacts from the diverse populations in NJ and be provided a comprehensive Resources and Referral Database for use by all NJ 988 Lifeline centers. Project goals include increasing workforce to support the growing 988 demand in NJ, improving the public communication of 988 services including for high-risk populations, and expanding post-contact support connections with services such as mobile crisis outreach and crisis stabilization services. Measurable Objectives: By October 31, 2023, NJ will begin its statewide Communications campaign. By November 30, 2023, NJ will publish a funding opportunity for funding from this grant. By December 31, 2023, NJ will submit a report of the state's current mobile crisis service options. By February 29, 2024, NJ will submit a joint report to the 911 administrators. By March 31, 2024, NJ will award funding for expansion of 988 Lifeline center capacity, have established its 988 Resources and Referral Database and submit a plan to engage and support all Tribes and Tribal Organizations. By June 30, 2024, NJ will estimate 24/7/365 in-state backup call coverage for all 21 counties, achieve and maintain a 90% in-state answer rate for 988 calls, train all 988 Lifeline center staff on use of the 988 Resource and Referral Database, estimate 24/7/365 in-state coverage of 988 chats and texts, and achieve and maintain a 90% in-state answer rate for 988 chats and texts. By August 31, 2024, NJ will develop and submit a comprehensive quality assurance plan. By February27, 2026, NJ will submit a sustainability plan.

The City of Paterson will utilize $188,000 in Congressional Directive Spending funds to support the personnel costs of one full-time Senior Program Monitor and one full-time Social Worker to support our RealFix opioid overdose prevention and response program between September 30, 2023 and September 29, 2024. The proposed project will serve individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the City of Paterson. Paterson is the third-largest city in New Jersey with a population of 159,732 according to U.S. Census data. This program provides individuals at risk of opioid overdose with quick access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) by linking them to qualified local treatment providers and has distinct pathways for housed and homeless clients to ensure sustainable pathways to recovery. The measurable objectives to be achieved through this project include (1) Staff RealFix program with one full-time Social Worker and one full-time Senior Program Monitor, (2) Assist 25 homeless individuals with OUD in entering inpatient treatment and transitioning to sober housing, (3) Initiate MAT via telehealth for 300 housed clients, and (4) Provide 600 clients with information regarding local MAT and/or a referral to a vetted MAT provider. In total, 925 individuals will be served by this project.

The Paterson Healing Collective (PHC), created through a partnership between Reimagining Justice Inc. and St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, is a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program located in Paterson, NJ that applies community-based violence intervention and prevention strategies and examines violence through a public health framework. The PHC’s innovative solution seeks to address the root causes of gun violence, including food insecurity, lack of safe housing, and a lack of access to medical care and mental health services. The PHC’s aim is to promote healing and reduce over-policing and incarceration in communities of color and provides case management, advocacy services, and mental health counseling services. Population to be Served: The Paterson Healing Collective (PHC) will serve patients that arrive at St. Joseph University Medical Center’s emergency room for medical care due to gun violence injury and stab wound injury. The ages served in the PHC are males and females between 14-40 years old and residents of Paterson, NJ and neighboring communities, with a focus on the 1st, 4th, and 5th wards, due to the prevalence of shootings in these areas. These communities are primarily comprised of people of color (61% Hispanic/Latinx and 26% Black or African American), who have been historically disadvantaged, marginalized and underserved. With nearly 150,000 residents, Paterson is New Jersey’s third most populous city, but has one of the lowest per capita income levels in the state. Nearly 30% of the city's population lives in poverty (three times the state average). The PHC anticipates serving 60 victims and their families who are impacted by violence and trauma. Although 60 victims will be enrolled in the program, the PHC receives up to 100 referrals annually. Goals & Objectives: The PHC strives to address the pressing and unmet needs and significant service gaps within the city of Paterson, resulting in a safer and healthier community and has set the following two goals to achieve during the 12-month grant period • The PHC will address gun violence intervention to reduce the risk of retaliation and also address prevention to reduce the amount of gun violence incidents that occur in the community of Paterson • The PHC will focus on healing the community impacted by violence and provide access to mental health support and services These goals will be achieved through the implementation of the strategies and interventions identified below. Strategies/Interventions: • Engage and enroll at least 60 victims and create short-term safety plans • Coordinate 20 community events (Healing Spaces) that typically engage 300 residents • Provide one-on-one counseling services • Facilitate up to 24 male and female support groups • Graduate up to 50% of enrolled clients

The Center for Great Expectation’s Roots to Recovery, an outpatient substance use, co-occurring, and mental health treatment program, is dedicated to providing a safe place, a safe presence and a safe path for women and men in recovery. Licensed both as a substance use treatment provider and as a community mental health provider, our program prides itself on maintaining a census that enables it to dedicate the time needed to craft person-centered recovery plans and to be responsive to individual needs. While the program office is located in North Brunswick, Middlesex County NJ the catchment area includes all of Middlesex and Somerset Counties, with the availability of services extending beyond these areas if requested. A dedicated team of professionals provides services using The Center for Great Expectation’s Trauma C.A.R.E.© model to help women and men claim the lives they are meant to lead. Clients are assessed using American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria based on clinical interviews. and an accounting of strengths/needs/barriers to treatment along with collateral reports from referral sources. In addition, clients complete a trauma evaluation which includes the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and UCLA Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (UCLA-PTSD) assessments, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure symptoms of depression, and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which measures symptoms of anxiety. Clients are then case-conferenced with the clinical team in order to ensure the appropriate placement in our substance use, co-occurring, or mental health programs. Psychiatric services are available to all clients which includes psychiatric evaluations, psychotropic medication management, and medication assisted treatment (MAT) utilizing Suboxone, Vivitrol, or Naltrexone. In response to the escalating opioid crisis in New Jersey, our population of focus for this project is adult women and men who have an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). In Middlesex County Opioid deaths increased 97% during the time period from 2015 to 2022, while Somerset County deaths reflected a 43% increase for the same period. The majority of the clients treated by CGE have legal involvement either through entities such as Probation, Drug Court, Parole, and Intensive Supervised Probation (ISP), or through the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). In addition, the client population served by CGE’s Outpatient Program is lacking health insurance or is reliant on Medicaid, and typically is at or below the federal poverty line. Goals: 1) increase the number of clients utilizing MAT from 20 to 50. 2) Hire additional, bi-lingual mental health clinicians to expand accessibility and opportunity for clients to engage in IOP, OP, Co-occurring, and Mental Health services. 3) Decrease the instance of trauma symptoms experienced by clients by 50% between intake and successful therapy completion using ARC, CBT, DBT and Seeking Safety. 4) Leverage current software and electronic capabilities to increase availability for telehealth services by 50%. CGE will also offer Narcan training to 10 staff and 50 clients.

Abstract Gateway Wellness Center (Gateway Community Action Partnership) provides community-based outpatient treatment to individuals and families. Our mission is to ensure community-wide access to services that promote health and wellness. Mental health professionals provide participants with holistic approaches and evidenced-based interventions to address assessed needs. Gateway Wellness Center is made up of a team of culturally competent, diverse, and bilingual Clinicians. Our clinical team holds credentials as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors (CADC), Masters Level Clinicians (MS), and bachelor’s level support staff. The operational goals of Gateway Wellness Center are: (1) Address structural- and system- level barriers to improve access to quality, mental and behavioral health care, and SUD integrated services to residents throughout southern New Jersey through the implementation of community-based program in undeserved and underinsured communities; (2) Improve the quality and sustainability of health care services through supporting health care providers with training to offer coordinated, evidenced-based, trauma-informed mental and behavioral health care, and SUD services; (3) Improve the capacity of the mental and behavioral health care system by implementing evidence-based programs to address community risk factors and social determinants of heath that affect the overall health and wellness of residents. Under this initiative, trained clinicians meet the clinical and personal needs of New Jersey residents that are vulnerable to emergency situations due to their economic status and have encountered extenuating barriers that interfere in their attempts to survive. Clinicians provide needs assessments, individualized treatment plans, and evidenced based treatment to assist them to overcome hurdles. In-person and telehealth services are provided to children, adolescence and adults. Individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions are offered. With a focus on overall wellness and community outreach, Gateway Wellness Center also provides services in school-based and recreational facilities. Additional services include drug prevention and recovery treatment, mentorship programs, art therapy for youth with behavioral challenges, Autism and ADHD, parenting and teen parenting education, and trauma-focused therapy.

The Union County Department of Human Services (UCDHS) will partner with four (4) community agencies to deliver Mental Health and Recovery Support Services in the areas of Intensive Case Management, Peer Support, & Community Base Case Management. The four (4) community agencies are: Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Prevention Links, Real House, Inc. and Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services. This partnership will deliver Mental Health and Recovery Support Services in the areas of Intensive Case Management, Peer Support, and Community Base Case Management. Each community partner agency will enhance services by increased capacity and expand their geographic footprint to deliver mental health, substance use disorder, and substance misuse prevention services to a larger portion of the 21 municipalities. This will help meet the growing demand experienced by Union County residents. The majority of the community partner agencies are located in the Elizabeth area, which is on the eastern portion of Union County. Residents throughout the County of Union are eligible for all services included in this proposal.

Acenda Integrated Health proposes to expand CCBHC services in Gloucester County NJ which currently include an accessible person-centered integrated system designed to reduce unnecessary hospital utilization, increase treatment engagement and adherence, and promote long-term wellness. The additional funding will allow the agency to expand an integrated care solution for mental health and substance misuse to more individuals who are currently not receiving access. The current model only includes resources sufficient enough to support clients with a higher acuity of need or more serious illness. Though care for this population is important, the current capacity means that the many individuals who need care but are not as high acuity as others, aren’t able to access the integrated supports of the CCBHC which can include case management, peer supports, health assessment screenings and nurse support, psychiatry, and substance use disorder treatment. Those clients are instead redirected to other Acenda’s programming, including outpatient mental health where they often are waitlisted, and go without additional supports to keep them stable, which could result in more severe escalation and even emergency room admissions. Acenda proposes to utilize expanded funding to more fully integrate the CCBHC into the agency’s robust service offering to ensure individuals in need are connected to necessary support services in a much more expeditious manner. Funding would specifically be applied to expanded staffing such as therapists, peer supports and SUD counseling. Most importantly, the funding would support the additional of a clinical supervisor, a care navigator, and front desk personnel to ensure a coordinated and seamless care management process acuity. The agency proposes to serve 2,600 individuals over the course of the grant period. The project goals include: 1. Increase access to integrated health services for individuals in need of behavioral health and/or co-occurring services through the CCBHC as the initial point of access; 2. Reduce emergency department utilization by increasing first appointment follow through and treatment adherence for individuals who are discharged from screening, hospital, or mental health urgent care; 3. Develop implementation plan to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); 4. Increase access to integrated treatment for Veterans; 5. Increase access to services for those who identify as LGBTQ+. Acenda currently administers over 120 programs and is positioned to provide and/or support all of the required CCBHC services, with limited need for DCO’s. For purposes of the Gloucester County CCBHC, Acenda will be engaging DCO’s within the county including Inspira Health (hospital system and physician practices), Jefferson Health (hospital system and physician practices), Complete Care (FQHC), Maryville Addiction Treatment Centers (substance withdrawal management, inpatient recovery), New Hope Integrated Health (substance withdrawal management, inpatient recovery), and additional partnerships Gloucester County Workforce Development, Gloucester County One Stop (employment).Although the Veterans Administration previously declined to formally partner as a DCO, Acenda intends to attempt to re-engage the VA. Acenda is actively involved with the Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB), which integrates local service provides and stakeholders with the local VA offices to address gaps in services, information sharing, and serves as a voice for Veterans and their families.

Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services (BBHS) is applying for grant funding to expand Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in Essex County, NJ. The project, titled BBHS Transition Age Youth Assertive Community Treatment (TAY ACT), will provide behavioral health ACT services for underserved and at-risk TAY, age 16-26, experiencing serious mental illness (SMI), severe emotional disturbance (SED), and who may experience co-occurring substance use disorders. TAY ACT intends to serve 62 unduplicated TAY in the first year and at least 103 unduplicated individuals over the five-year grant project with a census of 85 persons receiving services. Essex County is diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and family income. The largest locale in the county, Newark, has over 35% poverty rate compared to 15.8% of all Essex County. 30% of Newark area households experience at least one severe housing problem (overcrowding, cost, lack of kitchen, lack of plumbing). Bridgeway has selected to serve the Newark urban area, defined as Newark, Irvington, and East Orange, where there are significant disparities along many dimensions between young African Americans and their counterparts from other racial groups. The Essex County Point in Time Count identified 1695 (90.6%) of the total county homeless in Newark alone. 524 were age 24 and under, representing the second largest cohort after chronically homeless. The most prevalent disabling conditions for homeless youth were mental illness and substance abuse. Essex County, NJ is a medically underserved area with limited access to medical and mental health (MH) care. There is one primary care physician for every 1,180 people, one dentist for every 1,050 people, one mental health care provider for every 450 people, and one primary care provider (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists) for every 1,270 people. With ACT grant funding, BBHS will build on our 50+ years serving these communities by: • Increasing access to ACT Services for TAY to include multidisciplinary team outreach/in-home and in-community BH treatment service provision available 24/7. The ACT psychiatrist will provide psychiatric evaluation and prescription and the RNs will manage the medication delivery system to ensure medication availability when, where, and how the TAY, and family, prefer. The team provides the TAY, and family, support and education for housing security, employment and education, co-occurring substance use disorders, case management, activities of daily living teaching, peer support, crisis intervention, illness management and recovery, wellness recovery action planning, medical health management in coordination with primary health providers, and supportive counseling and therapy. • Improving housing stability for TAY who are homeless or housing insecure. • Expanding educational and vocational opportunities for service recipients through use of readiness assessment and supported employment/supported education EBP interventions. • Improving quality of care for TAY by incorporating evidence-based practices and tools to monitor and treat depressive disorders and co-occurring substance use disorders reducing severity of depression and substance use and improving behavioral health outcomes by reducing rates of Emergency Dept (ED) and hospitalization, substance use, homelessness, and criminal justice system involvement. • Maintaining a well-trained ACT team. The team will be trained to provide high-fidelity ACT services, as measured by the TMACT, beginning with the 5-day ACT training provided by the BBHS ACT Training and Technical Assistance Center. The team will be trained to provide evidence-based practices and trauma informed care. • Improving quality of life and perception of care as determined by TAY, and family, using survey tools and outcome measures.