CarePlus NJ Inc., a health services provider based in Paramus, announced Monday that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded it a $4 million grant to expand on its Supported Employment Program for individuals with persistent and serious mental illness.
The funding, which will be distributed over the next five years, has been allocated through SAMHSA’s ‘Transforming Lives Through Support Employment‘ program.
CarePlus said its current Supported Employment Program, funded by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, helps those with mental illness locate, acquire and keep jobs in their community through career planning and individualized supports. The grant will allow CarePlus to provide integrated, evidence-based Supported Employment Program, psychiatric care and complimentary activities (like Supported Education) to improve employment and recovery outcomes for adults with mental illness in Bergen and Passaic counties, with a particular focus on young adults aged 18-25.
“The funding received through The Transforming Lives program will enable us to expand our Supported Employment Services, affording more individuals with the opportunity to actively develop effective employability skills, receive assistance in finding the right job and maintain employment in an environment that best fits their needs,” Brigitte Johnson, senior vice president of corporate affairs at CarePlus, said. “With over 40 years of experience serving individuals with severe mental illness, coupled with over 25 years of providing supported employment services, CarePlus is well-equipped to utilize the expanded funding to help individuals reach and exceed their employment goals.”
CarePlus said it will also utilize its partnership with Uber Health as an emergency resource for people who need transportation but do not have access to it, with the goal of establishing a sustainable model of transportation for those enrolled in the program.
