Origin
A service of the Mental Health Association in NJ, NJ Connect for Recovery was launched in January 2015 in response to the recommendations of the 2014 Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse report, which detailed a strategic action plan to address the growing opioid epidemic.
Mission
NJ Connect for Recovery focuses on helping individuals and families coping with substance use disorders connect to recovery resources through a dedicated staff of certified alcohol and drug counselors, family peer specialists and public and private insurance navigation specialists.
Goals
NJ Connect for Recovery is committed to raising awareness of its call line and free resources in an effort to reach and help as many individuals and family members as possible. NJ Connect for Recovery will also continue to expand its workshops to additional counties.
Programs
Along with its free, confidential call line NJ Connect for Recovery offers a wide range of free resources and programs across the state, including free family education workshops and insurance navigation workshops. NJ Connect for Recovery specialists can also connect callers to MHANJ resources, such as family and self-help support groups, treatment options and supportive counseling, wellness workshops and other community resources.
Achievements
In the last six months, NJ Connect for Recovery has received over 2,800 calls to its helpline — the average length being 17 minutes — to ensure callers get the dedicated support and information they need. NJCR also recently expanded its resources to offer full-time hours during the week (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and partial hours on weekends (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and holidays (3 p.m. to 10 p.m.). NJ Connect for Recovery also developed a comprehensive family education workshop series to address important skills for families coping with the substance use disorder of a loved one. This expansion allowed NJCR to train 24 new facilitators to extend the reach of the workshops into several additional counties through the first quarter of 2018. NJCR also recently began offering callers direct access to an insurance specialist to help navigate the private and public insurance landscape, explain coverage options and the different levels of care.
Fundraising
Historically, most of the funding is provided through government grants, primarily from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. MHANJ also receives funding from individual and corporate contributions and special events.
Finally
Since the opioid epidemic emerged as one of the most significant public health crises in modern history, NJ Connect for Recovery has been dedicated to providing vital support services and information for free by calling 855-652-3737. This ensures that anyone with a substance use disorder and those affected by it have access to the help they need.
Conversation Starter
Please contact NJ Connect for Recovery’s free, confidential call line at: 855-652-3737.
For more information about NJCR go to: njconnectforrecovery.org.
In Brief
Name: NJ Connect for Recovery
Location: 673 Morris Ave., Suite 100, Springfield
Areas served: Statewide
Leadership: Carolyn Beauchamp, CEO and president of MHANJ; Robert Kley, chief operating officer/vice president of MHANJ
Board members
The MHANJ board of trustees 2017-2018:
- Bill Waldman, chairman of the board
- Victoria Brown, vice president
- Harold B. Garwin, vice chairperson
- William P. Murray, vice chairperson
- Paul A. Boundreau
- Amy C. Conti
- Steven E. Geltzeiler
- Michael Naughton
- Todd Polyniak
