RELEASE: October 12, 2005

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Human Services announces expansion of children's behavioral health services in South Jersey
Part of state's ongoing child welfare reform efforts

MANTUA — Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy and State Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (D-3) joined community provider CGS Family Partnership, Inc. today to kick off the expansion of children's behavioral health services in Cumberland , Gloucester and Salem counties.

"Access to basic, decent health and mental health care should be a right and not a privilege," said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. "The State of New Jersey is committed to making this a reality. With the continued expansion of behavioral health services, children and their families can now get the services they need in their own community."

As part of the state's child welfare reform plan, DHS' Division of Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS) is continuing to expand local community based services for children with behavioral health issues. As part of the system of care, a variety of services are offered including intensive case management, mentoring and mobile response and stabilization services. In addition, each locally based system includes a family support organization (FSO) to assist families.

“In the past, children needing behavioral health services were served by our children protection system (DYFS) and often fell between the cracks,” said Commissioner Davy. “Children would often have to go to the other end of the state for services or go without any help at all. By expanding services, we can now keep children at home and in school and more importantly out of trouble.”

Since its inception, the DCBHS has provided services to 39,000 children. As part of the state's child welfare reform efforts, DCBHS has:

•  Added 187 youth case managers (YCMs) throughout the state to link children with appropriate behavioral health services and prevent inappropriate institutional placements

•  Increased the number of children served through YCM threefold compared to a year ago- 4,700 children today versus 1,400 children

•  Created an additional 515 treatment beds since April 2004 so children can receive services in their own

•  Expanded mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) to 16 of 21 counties- allowing 90 percent of children receiving MRSS to remain in their present living arrangement and reducing unnecessary and inappropriate placements.

•  Expanded care management and family support organizations to 16 of 21 counties compared to only 10 counties pre-reform. The remaining five counties will be online this fiscal year.

“Providing appropriate services to our children is of the utmost importance,” said Senator Sweeney. “The new programs launched today will have a major impact on these children and help ensure a bright future for many of them.”

Today's expansion into Cumberland , Gloucester and Salem counties through CGS Family Partnership, Inc. is funded at an annualized cost of $2.7 million. It is anticipated the agency will upwards to 180 children at a time. Recently opened, the agency currently provides case management services to 22 children – Cumberland eight children, Gloucester 10 children and Salem four children.

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