DCF Children's System of Care Awards Community Resource Development Grants
Funding will Promote Resilience in Youth and Families
TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Children’s System of Care (CSOC) announced today nearly $1 million in Community Resource Development (CRD) funding that provides a variety of supports and services for children and youth with behavioral health needs and their families. The CRD funds are awarded through CSOC’s network of Care Management Organizations (CMOs), which provide community-based support and service planning for children, youth and their families.
"CRD-funded organizations provide services tailored to the needs of the child and family in a family-centered, community-based environment,” said DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. “At a time when youth mental health challenges are on the rise, this funding enables us to offer children and their families an array of diverse treatment, service and support options, based on their individual needs.”
DCF’s CSOC is the state’s public behavioral health system for all children up to age 21. It provides coordinated access to mental health supports, substance use treatment, and services to youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CMOs are CSOC’s integral system partner responsible for wraparound support and care management for youth with moderate and complex needs and their families, as well as local system development and coordination to support individual youth and families.
“We recognize the importance of offering quality and locally based services and programs that are an integral part of DCF’s full continuum of care, ranging from prevention to intervention to more deep end clinical services,” said Mollie Greene, Assistant Commissioner of the Children’s System of Care. “We are excited to be able to offer this annual funding, expanding availability and access to important programs and services through our local Care Management Organizations and their in-community partners. Through the distribution of CRD funding, we can meet the unique needs of at-risk youth and their families, in their home communities.”
Informed by state and local data resources, the CMO’s work to identify and understand community needs. This year’s funding, which totals approximately $950,000, is awarded through a formal Request for Proposal process, and was shared among fourteen Care Management Organizations.
By implementing new innovative programs, and supporting existing programs, CRD funds advance DCF’s vision of ensuring all NJ families are safe, healthy, and connected with accessible, community-based opportunities for youth and their families to connect with services and engage in activities that address critical needs, promote health and resilience, and build meaningful connections.
The CRD-awarded programs serve youth and families across the state. Leadership from some of the agencies that received funding in both FY 23 and FY 24 shared their perspective as to how the funding will continue to support important programs:
“Through the generous assistance of Community Resource Development Funds, Jersey Cape was able to establish a much-needed Wellness Program that serves Cape May County youth and young adults facing mental illness, behavioral issues, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse challenges. The program focuses on educating and aiding individuals in maintaining, improving, and advocating for their own health, and has become an invaluable component of Jersey Cape’s mission to foster each individual’s success. Through continued CRD funding, we look forward to making an even greater impact on the long-term health of our community,” said Jersey Cape Associate Director Anne Garrison.
"The CSOC's ongoing commitment to United Advocacy Group (UAG) has enabled us to expand our services to families in desperate need of support. While hard to reach families can easily fall through cracks in the system, this flexible funding has allowed us to be innovative and creative in filling service gaps. We are seeing marginalized and underrepresented youth and families find a renewed sense of hope and possibility when they know someone is advocating in their corner. This cooperative approach is a testament to how collectively the state and CMOs can work to improve the wellbeing of our communities (through local non-profits),” said UAG Inc. Executive Director Rich Nichols.
“The funding received at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA provided by Coordinated Family Care has been instrumental in growing our Food Insecurity Program. With this funding, we have been able to increase our capacity to help feed families in Perth Amboy and surrounding Middlesex County towns. Our food distributions have grown from serving approximately 30 families a week during the summer of 2022, to over 150 families each week now. In the first quarter of 2023, we have assisted over 400 unduplicated families representing 1,382 unduplicated individuals in our client choice model pantry giving clients the dignity to shop for their particular family’s needs. With the reduction in SNAP benefits provided during the COVID pandemic, our families count on us to supplement their food purchases. This coupled with the fact that undocumented clients are not eligible for SNAP, our food pantry is serving a critical need in the community,” said YMCA Director of Community Health Initiatives Brenda Crespo.
“On behalf of the children, teenagers, and staff of Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for DCF’s generous support of our youth programs. This contribution has had a significant impact on the lives of low-income children and teens in our community. Thanks to DCF funding, we have been able to provide an after-school program that offers a safe and nurturing environment where children can receive academic assistance, engage in extracurricular activities, and develop critical life skills. Additionally, this support has allowed us to offer a college readiness program for low-income teenagers, giving them the tools and resources necessary to achieve their higher education goals. DCF’s generosity has made a significant difference in the lives of those we serve, and we are grateful for the continued support,” said OASIS Executive Director Jennifer Brady.
To view the full list of the FY 24 CRD-funded programs, click here.
To access services from DCF’s Children’s System of Care, parents can call PerformCare’s toll-free Access Line at: 1-877-652-7624, available 24/7/365. Parents can also find more information at www.performcarenj.org
