The Hunterdon County N.J. Board of Commissioners, on June 7 , approved an allocation of $300,000 from federal American Rescue funds to the county’s Department of Human Services to expand mental health and other social services, particularly in the schools, in response to concerns that mental health issues have contributed significantly to the recent violence and killings around the nation.
Board Director John E. Lanza stated, “One of the methods for keeping Hunterdon County as one of the safest places to live and to raise children, is to ensure that issues of mental health are being addressed before they become a problem. Hunterdon Behavioral Health for School Based Services, with County and State financial support, and Hunterdon Medical Center, already provide help in many of the county’s schools, but more can be done.” Lanza noted, “There are barriers to mental health services, some of which were identified in the county’s most recent needs assessment, including lack of awareness of programs, limited insurance coverage, high co-pays and out of pocket expenses, and staffing shortages, including for clinicians and psychiatrists, which lead to Long Waiting Lists.
The additional funding being provided is designed to overcome some of those barriers and expand services to more schools.” Lanza noted that Hunterdon Behavioral Health is providing services in Hampton, Milford, Kingwood Township, Delaware Township, and Califon schools, as well as at Voorhees and North Hunterdon High School and JP Case Middle School.
Hunterdon Central High School is also served by Hunterdon Behavioral Health, supported directly by the state Department of Children and Families. Lanza added, “We has also been advised that Rutgers Behavioral Health was recently awarded a grant from the State Division of Mental Health and Addiction services to open and operate an Early Intervention Support Services (EISS) program in Hunterdon County. EISS, which is due to open in the summer, is a short term, mental health service for adults who are experiencing significant emotional or psychiatric distress and need immediate intervention.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
