In a significant step to enhance mental health and substance use disorder services, New Jersey has allocated $9 million to community wellness centers in all 21 counties, officials announced Monday. The funding, administered by the Department of Human Services, aims to address gaps in care for underserved populations by expanding services, training staff, and improving accessibility through transportation initiatives.
Empowering Community Wellness Centers
“Community wellness centers are crucial resources that offer innovative support, peer assistance, social services, and education on mental health and substance use disorders — all at no cost,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “We are pleased to award these grants to help expand their services to historically underserved areas and ensure staff are well-supported.”
The initiative, funded through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, commenced this month and will continue through June 2025. Grants will be utilized to enhance services, offer competitive salaries for support staff, and provide transportation to life skills training for individuals with mental health challenges.
“For individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, it’s essential to have access to supportive environments where they can receive compassionate care and be treated with dignity by individuals who themselves are in recovery,” said Valerie Mielke, Deputy Commissioner for Health Services. “This additional funding will make these critical services available to additional underserved communities statewide.”
Funding Allocation by County
Grants have been awarded to several organizations to support community wellness centers across New Jersey:
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton: $443,460 for Burlington County.
• Center for Family Services: $383,420 for Warren County.
• Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey: Funding includes $463,434 for Bergen, $521,360 for Camden, $530,290 for Cape May, $374,490 for Cumberland, $334,463 for Gloucester, $403,433 for Middlesex, $521,360 for Monmouth, $463,473 for Passaic, $314,450 for Salem, $394,503 for Somerset, $304,095 for Union, and $608,190 each for Essex and Hudson.
• Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris: $394,503 for Morris and $314,450 for Sussex.
• Prevention Resources: $314,500 for Hunterdon.
• Mental Health Association in New Jersey: $510,277 for Atlantic and $463,473 for Ocean.
• The Rescue Mission of Trenton: $529,747 for Mercer.
Expanding Access to Help
The funding reinforces New Jersey’s commitment to accessible and dignified care for individuals struggling with mental health and substance use challenges. For those in crisis, the Department of Human Services offers several free, 24/7 hotlines:
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988, text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.
This allocation underscores the state’s dedication to creating supportive environments where individuals can access compassionate care and build resilience through community-based programs.
