CarePlus NJ Awarded $525,000 in Grants to Enhance Trauma Intervention and Response, Expand Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Northern NJ

Paramus, N.J. (October 12, 2022) – Care Plus NJ, Inc. (“CarePlus NJ”), a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children, announces it has been awarded three grants totaling $525,000 to execute programs that will address and enhance trauma intervention and rapid response services and increase access to substance use disorder recovery support services and comprehensive care coordination in northern New Jersey.

Through a 12-month, $75,000 grant from Bergen County, CarePlus NJ will collaborate with the Division Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services for Bergen County Department of Health, to offer the Trauma Response Team (TRT) in Bergen County. Through the grant CarePlus NJ’s TRT will operate a crisis management hotline for County-designated staff to contact for rapid response services within Bergen County following a traumatic loss or event. The goal of the TRT program is to provide responsive crisis intervention and education while addressing the emotional needs of individuals in the communities affected by traumatic incidents, and improve the quality of trauma treatment and services for individuals who experience or witness traumatic events.

To further address trauma in the community, Bergen County awarded CarePlus NJ an additional $75,000 year-long grant to fund the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) Program which will offer 200 youth and families G-TEP interventions and initiate responsive, evidence-based treatment for youth who are at risk or currently suffer from PTSD. The program will also provide youth with linkages to trauma-focused behavioral health services as appropriate. Through a dedicated Clinical Coordinator, Bergen County youth will receive the care coordination they need for traumatic stress ensuring wraparound services to meet their unique care needs.

To bolster addiction treatment and recovery support services, CarePlus NJ has been awarded $375,000 over three years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to continue the Recovery & Individualized Support Expansion (RISE) program. Established 2019, the RISE Program is designed to remove barriers and address the gaps in services that hinder the recovery efforts of adolescents and young adults (ages 14-30). Through the grant, CarePlus will offer free supportive services for youth and young adults in the community who may be at risk for substance use, or who are currently struggling with substance use related concerns. The program will increase access to targeted wraparound services that affect early recovery efforts providing specialized supportive services to help individuals identify and achieve personal goals in a supportive and personal-centered environment with the goal of serving a total of 500 individuals throughout the grant period.

“The recent grants CarePlus NJ has been awarded from Bergen County and SAMHSA will help us build upon the comprehensive trauma-informed care and addiction recovery services we provide to the northern New Jersey community by enhancing trauma intervention and response, and expanding access to substance use disorder treatment,” said Jaime Arlia, SVP of Consultation & Education, CarePlus NJ. “Given the prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders locally and nationally, these programs are essential to ensuring our communities can be seamlessly connected with the support and resources they need.”

For more information, or to make a referral, please contact Admissions at 201-986-5000.

About CarePlus NJ

For more than 40 years, Care Plus NJ, Inc. (“CarePlus NJ”) has been a pioneer in integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children in northern New Jersey. Based in Paramus, New Jersey, CarePlus NJ is committed to providing the most comprehensive integrated treatment options through 80 programs designed to meet the full spectrum of health and wellness needs for adults and children in the communities it serves. Specializing in acute care, CarePlus NJ provides immediate, high-quality health services and support programs for individuals in crisis. Nationally ranked for excellence in customer satisfaction by the Mental Health Corporations of America, CarePlus NJ is mission driven ensuring that anyone who needs it has access to specialized care. To learn more about CarePlus NJ and its wide range of programs and services, visit https://www.careplusnj.org/.