Rutgers gets $4M grant to help vulnerable populations in Newark

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care announced Monday it has received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant, which will be awarded over two years, will fund the expansion of UBHC’s behavioral health outpatient program in Newark into a Certified Behavioral Health Clinics model. The model was designed to help vulnerable patients by integrating behavioral health care with physical health care and by providing services such as case management, supported employment and housing assistance.

“This infusion of SAMHSA resources will allow for improved access to care for individuals and families in the greater Newark area to address both mental health and substance abuse disorders including opioid related addiction,” Frank Ghinassi, UBHC CEO and president, said. “Enhanced services will include ambulatory withdrawal management, medication assisted treatment (MAT) induction and follow-up MAT treatment, case management and a full range of traditional ambulatory treatment services. This CCBHC expansion will allow thousands of new individuals and families in the greater Newark region to receive the care they need to improve their overall health, recovery and quality of life.”

UBHC was one out of seven New Jersey agencies to participate in the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services CCBHC Planning Grant program.